[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 122 (Friday, June 25, 2004)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 35506-35508]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-14318]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-SW-38-AD; Amendment 39-13686; AD 2004-13-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland Model MBB-BK 117 
A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, B-2, and C-1 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
the specified Eurocopter Deutschland (ECD) model helicopters that 
requires inspecting the vertical fin skin paneling to determine if it 
was manufactured with the correct wall thickness. This amendment is 
prompted by a report from the manufacturer that some vertical fins may 
have been produced with the wrong vertical fin skin thickness. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent failure of the 
vertical fin and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective July 30, 2004.

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: A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 
include an AD for the specified model helicopters was published in the 
Federal Register on February 10, 2004 (69 FR 6214). That action 
proposed to require inspecting the vertical fin skin paneling to 
determine if it was manufactured with the correct wall thickness.

[[Page 35507]]

    The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt (LBA), the airworthiness authority for the 
Federal Republic of Germany, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition 
may exist on ECD Model MBB-BK117 helicopters, Model A-1 up to B-2, 
serial number (S/N) all, and Model C-1, S/N 7500 up to 7545. The LBA 
advises that during tail boom production, metal sheeting of 0.6-
millimeter (mm) thickness was found instead of the specified 0.8-mm 
thickness for the skin paneling of several tail booms.
    ECD has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-MBB-BK117-30-109, 
Revision 1, dated July 3, 2003, which specifies measuring the wall 
thickness of the skin paneling of the vertical fin to determine the 
thickness. The LBA classified this service bulletin as mandatory and 
issued AD No. 2003-219, dated August 21, 2003, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these helicopters in the Federal Republic of Germany.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. The FAA 
has determined that air safety and the public interest require the 
adoption of the rule as proposed.
    The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 132 helicopters of U.S. 
registry. The required actions will take about 1 hour per helicopter to 
do at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators 
to be $8580 assuming no vertical fins will need to be replaced.
    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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (1) is 
not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 
(2) is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and (3) 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 final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained from 
the Rules Docket at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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

0
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]

0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:

2004-13-05 Eurocopter Deutschland: Amendment 39-13686. Docket No. 
2003-SW-38-AD.

    Applicability: Model MBB-BK 117 A-1, A-3, A-4, B-1, and B-2, all 
serial numbers (S/N), and Model C-1, S/N 7500 through 7545, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within 100 hours time in service, unless 
accomplished previously.
    To prevent failure of the vertical fin and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, do the following:
    (a) Using external calipers, measure the wall thickness, 
including primer coating, of the skin paneling of the vertical fin 
at the locations shown in Figure 1 of this AD.

    Note 1: Eurocopter Deutschland (ECD) Alert Service Bulletin No. 
ASB-MBB-BK117-30-109, Revision 1, dated July 3, 2003, pertains to 
the subject of this AD.

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR25JN04.036

    (b) If the wall thickness, including the primer coating, of the 
paneling is less than 0.778 millimeter (0.03063 inch) at any of the 
measured locations, replace the vertical fin with an airworthy part 
before further flight.
    (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 Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
for information about previously approved alternative methods of 
compliance.
    (d) This amendment becomes effective on July 30, 2004.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Luftfahrt-
Bundesamt (Federal Republic of Germany) AD 2003-219, dated August 
21, 2003.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 16, 2004.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-14318 Filed 6-24-04; 8:45 am]
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