[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 85 (Thursday, May 2, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 21976-21978]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10649]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-SW-04-AD; Amendment 39-12736; AD 2002-09-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332L2 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS332L2 helicopters. This action 
requires, before further flight, verifying that the air vent is 
installed on the inflation cylinder of each life raft assembly. If the 
air vent is missing, this AD also requires replacing the cylinder head 
with an airworthy part before further flight. This amendment is 
prompted by the discovery that an inflation cylinder in the life raft 
did not have an air vent installed. This condition, if not corrected, 
could result in inadvertent life raft inflation, loss of the life raft, 
contact with the main or tail rotor, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

DATES: Effective May 17, 2002.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before July 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-SW-04-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].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carroll Wright, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations Group, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5120, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile 
(DGAC), the airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on ECF Model AS332L2 helicopters. The 
DGAC advises of the discovery of a missing air vent on the head of the 
inflation cylinder of a life raft. Absence of an air vent on the 
cylinder head might lead to inadvertent life raft inflation and cause 
the life raft to be lost and to come into contact with the main or tail 
rotor.
    ECF has issued Alert Telex No. 25.01.06, dated September 17, 2001, 
which specifies checking that the air vent is installed on the heads of 
the cylinders of the life raft assemblies. The DGAC classified this 
service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD 2001-500-019(A), dated 
October 17, 2001, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
helicopters in France.
    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 the 
applicable 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.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design registered in the United States. 
Therefore, this AD is being issued to prevent inadvertent life raft 
inflation, loss of the life raft, contact with the main or tail rotor, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD requires, 
before further flight, verifying that the air vent is installed on the 
head of the inflation cylinders of each life raft. If the air vent is 
missing, this AD also requires replacing the cylinder head with an 
airworthy part before further flight. Replacing the cylinder head or 
verifying that the air vent is installed on the heads of the inflation 
cylinder is terminating action for the requirements of this AD.
    None of the Model AS332L2 helicopters affected by this action are 
on the U.S. Register. All helicopters included in the applicability of 
this rule are currently operated by non-U.S. operators under foreign 
registry; therefore, they are not directly affected by this AD action. 
However, the FAA considers that this rule is necessary to ensure that 
the unsafe condition is addressed in the event that any of these 
subject helicopters are imported and placed on the U.S. Register in the 
future.
    Should an affected helicopter be imported and placed on the U.S. 
Register in the future, it would require approximately \1/2\ work hour 
to accomplish the required actions, at an average labor rate of $60 per 
work hour. Based on these figures, the cost impact of this AD would be 
$30 per helicopter.
    Since this AD action does not affect any helicopter that is 
currently on the U.S. register, it has no adverse economic

[[Page 21977]]

impact and imposes no additional burden on any person. Therefore, 
notice and public procedures hereon are unnecessary and the amendment 
may be made effective in less than 30 days after publication in the 
Federal Register.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments 
received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be 
needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A 
report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the 
substance of this AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed 
comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 2002-SW-04-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    The FAA has determined that notice and prior public comment are 
unnecessary in promulgating this regulation; therefore, it can be 
issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft since 
none of these model helicopters are registered in the United States. 
The FAA has also determined that this regulation is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined 
further that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If 
it is determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be 
significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final 
regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. 
A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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 adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

2002-09-03  Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-12736. Docket No. 2002-
SW-04-AD.
    Applicability: Model AS332L2 helicopters, with a life raft 
assembly, part number 00051047 or 00051048, 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 (c) 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 before further flight, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent inadvertent life raft inflation, loss of the life 
raft, contact with the main or tail rotor, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Verify that the air vent is installed on the head of the 
inflation cylinder of each lift raft assembly as shown in FIGURE 1:

[[Page 21978]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR02MY02.000

    If the air vent is missing, replace the cylinder head with an 
airworthy cylinder head before further flight.

    Note 2: Eurocopter France Alert Telex No. 25.01.06, dated 
September 17, 2001, pertains to the subject of this AD.

    (b) Replacing the cylinder head or verifying that the air vent 
is installed on the head of the inflation cylinder is terminating 
action for the requirements of this AD.
    (c) 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (d) Special flight permits will not be issued.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on May 17, 2002.

    Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD 2001-500-019(A), dated 
October 17, 2001.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 17, 2002.
Larry M. Kelly,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10649 Filed 5-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P