[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 176 (Monday, September 11, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54823-54824]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-23210]



[[Page 54823]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-30-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS-350B, BA, 
B1, B2, and D; and AS-355E, F, F1, F2, and N Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the supersedure of an existing 
airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France Model AS-350B, BA, 
B1, B2, and D; and AS-355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters.
    That AD currently requires inspecting the main gearbox suspension 
bi-directional cross beam (cross beam) for cracks, replacing the cross 
beam if a crack is found, and adding time intervals for repetitive dye-
penetrant inspections on cross beams with 5,000 or more hours time-in-
service (TIS). This action would require the same inspections as the 
existing AD but would delete repetitive dye-penetrant inspections on 
cross beams with 5,000 or more hours TIS. This proposal is prompted by 
the discovery that repetitive dye-penetrant inspections were 
erroneously required in the existing AD. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the cross beam that 
could lead to rotation of the main gearbox, severe vibrations, and a 
subsequent forced landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 13, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-SW-30-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically 
to the Rules Docket at the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments may be inspected at this location between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Grigg, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations Group, Fort Worth, Texas 
76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5490, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals 
contained in this notice may be changed in light of the comments 
received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available in the Rules Docket for 
examination by interested persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public 
contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in 
the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed 
comments submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 2000-SW-30-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    You may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request to the 
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Attention: Rules 
Docket No. 2000-SW-30-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137.

Discussion

    On May 11, 2000, the FAA issued AD 2000-10-10, Amendment 39-11734 
(65 FR 32016, May 22, 2000), to require visual and dye-penetrant 
inspections of the cross beam for cracks and replacement with an 
airworthy cross beam if a crack is found.
    That action also added a time interval for repetitive dye-penetrant 
inspections on cross beams with 5,000 or more hours TIS. That action 
was prompted by several reports of cracks in the cross beam. The 
requirements of that AD are intended to prevent failure of the cross 
beam that could lead to rotation of the main gearbox, severe 
vibrations, and a subsequent forced landing.
    Since the issuance of that AD, the FAA has received a comment from 
the manufacturer stating that the repetitive dye-penetrant inspection 
of the cross beam after 5,000 hours was in error. That error was 
corrected by Maintenance Note 05.09, dated July 11, 1997, and an 
Erratum to Eurocopter France Service Bulletin Nos. 05.00.28 and 
05.00.29, both dated May 26, 1996. The dye-penetrant inspection for 
cracks must be performed within 550 hours TIS or 2,750 operating 
cycles, whichever occurs first, after the cross beams attain 5,000 
hours TIS. The FAA has evaluated all the available information and 
agrees that the repetitive dye-penetrant inspection is not needed in 
the interest of aviation safety.
    We have identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 
develop on other Eurocopter France Model AS-350B, BA, B1, B2, and D, 
and Model AS-355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters of these same type 
designs. The proposed AD would supersede AD 2000-10-10 to contain the 
same requirements but would delete the requirement to perform 
repetitive dye penetrant inspections.
    The FAA estimates that 454 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD. It would take approximately 0.5 work hour 
to accomplish each visual inspection, with an estimated average of 150 
visual inspections, 3 work hours to accomplish a dye-penetrant 
inspection, and 6 work hours to replace the cross beam, if necessary 
per helicopter. The average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Parts 
would cost approximately $6,000 per cross beam. Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $5,012,160 to perform 150 visual inspections, one dye-penetrant 
inspection, and to replace one cross beam on all 454 helicopters.
    The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
Government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
regulation (1) is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under 
Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 
and (3) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under 
the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket.

[[Page 54824]]

A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the 
location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-11734 (65 FR 
32016, May 22, 2000) and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
to read as follows:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. 2000-SW-30-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-10-
10, Amendment 39-11734, Docket No. 99-SW-39-AD.

    Applicability: Model AS-350B, BA, B1, B2, and D; and AS-355E, F, 
F1, F2, and N helicopters, with main gearbox suspension bi-
directional cross beam (cross beam), part number (P/N) 350A38-1018-
all dash numbers, installed, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the cross beam that could lead to rotation 
of the main gearbox, severe vibrations, and a subsequent forced 
landing, accomplish the following:
    (a) For cross beams having 2,000 or more hours time-in-service 
(TIS) or 10,000 or more operating cycles, whichever occurs first:

    Note 2: The Master Service Recommendations and the flight log 
contain accepted procedures that are used to determine the 
cumulative operating cycles on the rotorcraft.
    (1) Within 30 hours TIS, and thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 30 hours TIS or 150 operating cycles, whichever occurs first, 
visually inspect the cross beam for a crack in accordance with 
paragraph 2.B.1) of Eurocopter France Service Bulletin No. 05.00.28, 
applicable to Model AS-350 helicopters, or Eurocopter France Service 
Bulletin No. 05.00.29, applicable to Model AS-355 helicopters, both 
dated May 26, 1997.
    (2) If a crack is found, remove the cross beam and replace it 
with an airworthy cross beam.
    (b) For cross beams having 5,000 or more hours TIS:
    (1) Within 550 hours TIS or 2,750 operating cycles, whichever 
occurs first, perform a dye-penetrant inspection in accordance with 
paragraph 2.B.2) of Eurocopter France Service Bulletin No. 05.00.28, 
applicable to Model AS-350 helicopters, or Eurocopter Service 
Bulletin No. 05.00.29, applicable to Model AS-355 helicopters, both 
dated May 26, 1996.
    (2) If a crack is found, remove the cross beam and replace it 
with an airworthy cross beam.
    (c) Before installing any replacement cross beams, regardless of 
TIS or operating cycles, inspect the replacement cross beam in 
accordance with paragraph (b)(1) of this AD.
    (d) Modifying the helicopter in accordance with paragraph 2.B of 
the Accomplishment Instructions in Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 
63.00.07, applicable to Model AS-350B, BA, B1, B2, and D 
helicopters, or Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 63.00.13, applicable 
to Model AS-355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters, both dated April 7, 
1997, constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this 
AD.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, FAA, Rotorcraft 
Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests through an FAA 
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and then 
send it to the Manager, Regulations Group.


    Note 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (f) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.


    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD 96-156-071(B)R1 and AD 96-
155-053(B)R1, both dated June 4, 1997.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 1, 2000.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-23210 Filed 9-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U