[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 164 (Thursday, August 23, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44319-44320]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-21232]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-23-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC120B 
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 (ECF) Model EC120B 
helicopters. That AD currently requires adjusting the clearance of the 
cabin sliding door if necessary. This action would require adding an 
end stop to the front rail and modifying the rear stop of the middle 
rail to increase its adjustment range for certain cabin sliding doors. 
This proposal is prompted by an in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door, 
which had been locked in the open position. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to prevent in-flight loss of a cabin 
sliding door, impact with the horizontal stabilizer or fenestron tail 
rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 22, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-SW-23-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 the Office of the Regional Counsel between 
9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Monschke, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5116, 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 document 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, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, 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 proposal must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 2001-SW-23-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person 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. 2001-SW-23-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    On August 21, 2000, the FAA issued AD 2001-17-07, Amendment 39-
11881 (65 FR 52012, August 28, 2000), to require adjusting the 
clearance of any cabin sliding door to a minimum of 3 mm from the aft 
end of the rail before further flight with the door in the open 
position. This action was prompted by a report of an in-flight loss of 
the cabin sliding door. An investigation determined that the loss of 
the door was due to the forward upper roller being out of its guide 
rail. The door edge thus exposed to the slipstream caused the forward 
lower roller train to be driven out of the guide rail due to the 
aerodynamic loads. The door aft hinges failed, and the door departed 
from the helicopter. The requirements of that AD are intended to 
prevent in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door; impact with the 
horizontal stabilizer, main rotor, or fenestron tail rotor; and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    Since issuing that AD, which requires adjusting the cabin sliding 
doors, the manufacturer has issued ECF Alert Service Bulletin No. 
52A004, Revision 1, dated April 19, 2001 (ASB). That ASB specifies 
adding a stop to the front rail and modifying the rear stop of the 
middle rail of the cabin sliding doors. In addition, the Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the airworthiness authority for 
France, issued AD 2000-285-005(A) R2, dated May 16, 2001, which 
required compliance with the ASB.
    This helicopter model is manufactured in France and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed of the 
situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the 
DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action 
is necessary for products of this type design that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    We have identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 
develop on other ECF Model EC120B helicopters of the same type design. 
The proposed AD would supersede AD 2000-17-07 to require, within 90 
days after the effective date of the AD or before the next flight with 
a door open, whichever occurs first, adding a stop to the front rail 
and modifying the rear stop of the middle rail of the cabin sliding 
doors.
    The FAA estimates that 24 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work 
hours per helicopter to add and modify the cabin sliding door stops, 
and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts 
would cost approximately $25 per helicopter. Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated 
to be $3480.
    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.

[[Page 44320]]

    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. 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 39-11881 (65 FR 
52012, August 28, 2000), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), to read as follows:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. 2001-SW-23-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-17-
07, Amendment 39-11881, Docket No. 2000-SW-33-AD.

    Applicability: Model EC120B, serial number 1169 and below, with 
a cabin sliding door rail, part number C533C8102201, C533C8102202, 
C533C8103201, or C533C8103202, 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 (b) 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 within 90 days or before the next flight 
with the door open, whichever occurs first, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door, impact with 
the horizontal stabilizer or fenestron tail rotor, and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Add a stop to the front rail and modify the rear stop of the 
middle rail in accordance with the Operational Procedure, paragraph 
2.B., of Eurocopter France Alert Service Bulletin No. 52A004, 
Revision 1, dated April 19, 2001.
    (b) 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, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA. 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 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter with the sliding 
cabin doors closed or removed to a location where the requirements 
of this AD can be accomplished.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD 2000-285-005(A) R2, dated 
May 16, 2001.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 14, 2001.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-21232 Filed 8-22-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U