[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 181 (Thursday, September 18, 2003)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54688-54690]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-23834]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-SW-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS355E, 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 adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model 
helicopters. This proposal would revise the Limitations section of the 
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to prohibit using the landing light 
except for landing and takeoff until the 40 amp 10 P1 and 10P2 
contactors are replaced with 50 amp circuit breakers. Also, this 
proposal would require upgrading the electrical master boxes. This 
proposal is prompted by three reports of complete loss of electrical 
power generating systems, except for the direct battery power, due to a 
combination of high outside temperature and long flight duration with 
the landing light on that causes the nontemperature compensated trip 
switches to prematurely trip. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent failure of the helicopter power generator 
systems, loss of the use of flight instruments, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 17, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2003-SW-24-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 and Guidance 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, 
specified above, 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

[[Page 54689]]

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. 2003-SW-24-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 the specified Eurocopter model helicopters. The 
DGAC advises of three reports of complete electrical power failure, 
except direct battery power, that occurred during flights with high 
outside air temperature (above 25 degrees Celsius) and use of the 
landing light for more than 1 hour. The failures were due to the 
disengagement of 40-ampere (amp) contactors (trip switches MP 1648) in 
the electrical power systems below their nominal threshold. These trip 
switches are not temperature compensated and accordingly may trip based 
on the internal temperature of the electrical master boxes.
    Eurocopter has issued Service Telex No. 25.00.63, dated August 2, 
2000 (Telex), specifying to not use the landing light outside the 
landing and takeoff phases and Alert Service Bulletin No. 24.00.14, 
dated November 28, 2002 (ASB), specifying an upgrade of the electrical 
master boxes on or before August 1, 2003. The DGAC classified these 
service bulletins as mandatory and issued AD Nos. 2000-339-060(A), 
dated August 23, 2000; 2000-339-060(A) R1, dated September 6, 2000; and 
2000-339-060(A) R2, dated December 24, 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 airworthiness agreement. 
Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness 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.
    On July 10, 2002, the FAA issued a new version of 14 CFR part 39 
(67 FR 47997, July 22, 2002), which governs the FAA's AD system. The 
regulation now includes material that relates to altered products, 
special flight permits, and alternative methods of compliance. Because 
we have now included this material in part 39, we no longer need to 
include it in each individual AD.
    This previously described unsafe condition is likely to exist or 
develop on other Eurocopter model helicopters of these same type 
designs registered in the United States. Therefore, the proposed AD 
would require temporarily revising the Limitations section of the RFM 
to prohibit use of the landing light except for landing and takeoff by 
making pen and ink changes or adding a copy of this AD to the RFM. The 
proposed AD would also require, within 6 months, or before the next 
instrument flight rule (IFR) flight, whichever occurs first, replacing 
nontemperature compensated 40-amp contactors 10P1 and 10P2 with 
temperature compensated 50-amp circuit breakers. These actions would be 
required to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin 
described previously.
    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would:
    [sbull] Affect 442 helicopters of U.S. registry,
    [sbull] Take \1/2\ work hour per helicopter to add information to 
the Limitations section of the RFM, and
    [sbull] Take 4 hours to upgrade the electrical boxes.
    The average labor rate is $65 per work hour. The required parts 
would cost approximately $1707. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be 
$883,779.
    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. 2003-SW-24-AD.
    Applicability: Model AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the electrical power generating systems, 
loss of the use of flight instruments, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Before further flight and until you replace the circuit 
breakers in accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD, revise the 
Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to 
prohibit use of the landing light except for the landing and takeoff 
phases of flight by making pen and ink changes, or inserting a copy 
of this AD into the Limitations section of the RFM.

    Note 1: Eurocopter France Service Telex 25.00.63, dated August 
2, 2000, pertains to the subject of this AD.

    (b) Within 6 months or before the next instrument flight rule 
(IFR) operation, whichever occurs first, upgrade the electrical 
master boxes and replace the nontemperature compensated 40-amp 
contactors (circuit breakers) 10P1 and 10P2 with temperature 
compensated 50-amp circuit breakers, part number P/N 84-306-050 (B) 
or 5TC50-50 (C), in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 2.B, of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 24.00.14, 
dated November 28, 2002.
    (c) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA, for information about previously approved 
alternative methods of compliance.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) ADs 2000-339-060(A) dated 
August 23, 2000; 2000-339-060(A) R1, dated September 6, 2000; and 
2000-339-060(A) R2, dated December 24, 2002.



[[Page 54690]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 9, 2003.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-23834 Filed 9-17-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P