[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 13 (Tuesday, January 21, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2714-2715]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-1191]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-SW-05-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B3 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350B3 helicopters. This 
proposal would require inspecting the ASU No. 2 printed circuit board 
(PCB) to determine if the resistor R8 is installed, and if it is not 
installed, replacing the PCB with an airworthy PCB with that resistor 
installed. This proposal is prompted by the discovery of a PCB without 
a critical resistor that polarizes the voltage regulator that regulates 
electrical power to a critical warning light, a critical caution light, 
and the main rotor revolutions per minute (RPM) signal to the vehicle 
engine management display (VEMD). The actions specified by the proposed 
AD are intended to prevent the malfunction of the two critical lights 
and the rotor RPM signal to the VEMD, failure of these components to 
timely alert the pilot to the associated malfunctions, further 
helicopter damage because of these malfunctions, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-SW-05-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: 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:

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. 2002-SW-05-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Discussion

    The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the 
airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe 
condition may exist on Eurocopter Model AS350B3 helicopters.

[[Page 2715]]

The DGAC advises that the absence of a resistor R8 on the ASU No. 2 
boards can lead to a malfunction of the electric circuits supplying the 
``BATT. TEMP.'' red warning light, the ``ENGINE CHIP'' amber caution 
light, and the rotor RPM signal output to the VEMD.
    This proposal is prompted by an anomaly discovered by the 
manufacturer. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent failure of the ``BATT. TEMP.'' warning light, which, if 
combined with a battery overheat, can result in a battery thermal 
runaway without the pilot's knowledge. An uncontrolled battery thermal 
runaway can result in an explosion that could cause loss of the control 
of the helicopter.
    Eurocopter has issued Service Bulletin No. 77.00.07, dated March 
27, 2000, which specifies checking to determine if the resistor R8 is 
installed on the PCB within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) and, if a 
resistor R8 is not installed, replacing the PCB with one that has a 
resitor R8 installed within 50 hours TIS. The DGAC classified this 
service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD No. 2001-319-083(A), dated 
July 25, 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 that are certificated for 
operation in the United States.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design registered in the United States. 
Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within 15 hours time-in-
service (TIS), inspecting the ASU No. 2 PCB on helicopters with serial 
numbers 3062 and earlier to determine if the resistor R8 is installed, 
and if it is not installed, replacing the PCB with an airworthy PCB 
with resistor R8 installed within 50 hours TIS.
    The FAA estimates that 30 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 1 work 
hour per helicopter to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
$1,200. The manufacturer states in its service bulletin that PCB's will 
be replaced free of charge. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $37,800, 
if a PCB is replaced in the entire fleet and there is no free 
replacement by the manufacturer.
    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. 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 adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. 2002-SW-05-AD.

    Applicability: Model AS350B3 helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 
3062 and earlier, 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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent malfunction of the electrical circuits controlling 
the ``BATT. TEMP.'' red warning light, the ``ENGINE CHIP'' amber 
caution and the rotor revolutions-per-minute (RPM) signal output to 
the vehicle engine management display (VEMD), accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Within 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect the ASU No. 2 
printed circuit board (PCB), part number SE 03022, to determine if 
resistor R8 is installed.
    (b) If the resistor R8 is not installed, within 50 hours TIS, 
replace the PCB with an airworthy PCB that has resistor R8 
installed.

    Note 2: Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 77.00.07, dated March 
27, 2000, pertains to the subject 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 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 2001-319-083(A), dated 
July 25, 2001.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 11, 2003.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-1191 Filed 1-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P