[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 50 (Friday, March 14, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12318-12319]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-6137]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-SW-56-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA330F, G, and 
J; AS332C, L, and L1; SA341G; SA342J; AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D; 
AS355E, F, F1, F2 and N; SA-365C, C1, and C2; SA-365N and N1; and AS-
365N2 and N3 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. This 
proposal would require determining whether specified main or tail rotor 
(rotor) parts are installed and, if so, updating and recording the 
correct hours time-in-service (TIS) or cycles of each part. If the 
hours TIS or cycles of any rotor part exceed its life limit, this AD 
would also require replacing that part with an airworthy part within 50 
hours TIS. This proposal is prompted by the need to correct the 
Equipment Log Card (FME) to accurately reflect the total hours TIS and 
cycles of certain repaired or overhauled rotor parts. The actions 
specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a life 
limited rotor part, loss of a rotor, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 13, 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-56-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: Uday Garadi, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5123, 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-56-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 ECF Model SA330F, G, and J; AS332C, L, and L1; 
SA341G; SA342J; AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D; AS355E, F, F1, F2 and N; 
SA-365C, C1, and C2; SA-365N and N1; and AS-365 N2 and N3 helicopters. 
The DGAC advises of the discovery of a discrepancy in the computer 
program used to carry over the number of operating hours of parts 
following repair or overhaul, which is the cause of incorrect 
completion of FME's.
    ECF has issued the following Alert Telexes for the helicopter model 
series specified: Nos. 65.110 for SA330, 62.00.58 for AS332, 65.60 for 
SA341 and SA342, 62.00.25 for AS350, 62.00.27 for AS355, 65.41 for SA-
365C, and 62.00.19 for AS-365N, all dated August 13, 2002. These alert 
telexes specify correcting the FME to list the correct total number of 
operating hours and cycles for specified parts installed on dynamic 
components. After correcting the FME, if the parts have

[[Page 12319]]

exceeded their life limit, the alert telexes specify removing or 
monitoring the parts. The DGAC classified these alert telexes as 
mandatory and issued AD No. 2002-452(A), dated September 4, 2002, to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in France.
    These helicopter models are manufactured in France and are 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 these type designs 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 designs registered in the United States. 
Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within 10 hours TIS, 
determining whether the specified rotor part and serial numbers are 
installed by reference to the FME and, if installed, correcting the 
hours TIS and cycles. If a part exceeds its life limit, the AD would 
require replacing the part within 50 hours TIS. The actions would be 
required for the parts listed in the appendix of the alert telexes 
described previously.
    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 760 
helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take 
approximately 1 work hour to determine the part and serial number and 8 
hours to replace each affected part on 38 helicopters (5 percent of the 
total affected helicopters), and that the average labor rate is $60 per 
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $64,560 depending on 
which part would be replaced. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$2,517,120.
    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-56-AD.
    Applicability: Model SA330F, G, and J; AS332C, L, and L1; 
SA341G; SA342J; AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D; AS355E, F, F1, F2, 
and N; SA-365C, C1, and C2; SA-365N and N1; and AS-365 N2 and N3 
helicopters, 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 as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of a main or tail rotor (rotor) part, loss of 
a rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), determine by 
reference to the equipment log card (FME) whether any rotor part and 
serial number specified in Table 1, paragraph 3, of the Appendix of 
each of the following Eurocopter France (ECF) Alert Telexes for the 
specified helicopter model series is installed: Nos. 65.110 for 
SA330, 62.00.58 for AS332, 65.60 for SA341 and SA342, 62.00.25 for 
AS350, 62.00.27 for AS355, 65.41 for SA-365C, and 62.00.19 for 
SA365N and AS-365, all dated August 13, 2002.
    (1) If none of the parts are installed, no further action is 
required.
    (2) For each affected part listed in Table 1, paragraph 3, of 
the Appendix of each applicable ECF Alert Telex specified in 
paragraph (a) of this AD, add the hours TIS and cycles to the hours 
TIS and cycles recorded on the FME. If a part exceeds its life limit 
in TIS or cycles, replace the part with an airworthy part within 50 
hours TIS.
    (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 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 No. 2002-452(A), dated 
September 4, 2002.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 2003.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-6137 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P