[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 199 (Monday, October 17, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60244-60246]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-20679]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22696; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-46-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B and B1 
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 Eurocopter France (ECF) Model EC 155B and B1 helicopters. This 
proposal would require inspecting an electrical cable bundle for wear. 
If wear is present, the AD would require installing an airworthy cable 
bundle and modifying the routing of the electrical cable bundles. This 
proposal is prompted by reports of a short circuit in the wiring, which 
led to failure of the normal and emergency landing gear operation 
modes. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent interference of the wiring with the structure resulting in an 
electrical short circuit, failure of the landing gear to extend, and an 
emergency landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 16, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web Site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
     Government-Wide Rulemaking Web Site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically;
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590;
     Fax: 202-493-2251; or
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

[[Page 60245]]

    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jorge Castillo, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5127, fax (817) 222-
5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
22696, Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-46-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation NASSIF Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

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 EC 155 helicopters. The DGAC advises 
of the occurrence of a short circuit that occurred in the wiring of 
panel 12 Alpha making the landing gear inoperative.
    ECF has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 24A011 (ASB), dated March 
11, 2004, and subsequently revised on May 14, 2004, which specifies 
checking the condition of the wiring and modifying its routing to 
preclude the risk of interference and associated damage. The May 14, 
2004, revision to the ASB also specifies prevention of any interference 
of the wiring with the head of the vent line attaching clamp by 
replacing wiring kit 365A0739C28.71 with wiring kit 365A0739C28.72. The 
DGAC classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued AD No. F-2004-057 
R1, dated July 21, 2004, 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 us informed of the 
situation described above. We have 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 previously described 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 the following:
     Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect the wiring 
of panel 12 Alpha electrical (wiring) cable bundle for wear. If wear is 
present, replace the worn cable bundle with an airworthy cable bundle.
     Modify the routing of the electrical wiring (MOD 0739C28) 
and replace spreaders and spacers.
    The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with 
specified portions of the ASB described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 7 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and would take about 16 work hours to inspect and modify 
the wiring per helicopter at an average labor rate of $65 per work 
hour. Required parts and material would cost about $240. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $8,960, assuming that all of the helicopters will be 
modified.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed 
AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

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:

[[Page 60246]]

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. FAA-2005-22696; Directorate Identifier 
2004-SW-46-AD.

    Applicability: Model EC 155B and B1 helicopters, certificated in 
any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent interference of the wiring with the structure 
resulting in an electrical short circuit, failure of the landing 
gear to extend, and an emergency landing, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS),
    (1) Inspect the wiring of panel 12 Alpha (wiring) electrical 
cable bundle for wear. If wear is present, replace the worn cable 
bundle with an airworthy cable bundle by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 2.A.1, 2.B.1, and 2.B.2 of 
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin EC155, Revision 1, dated May 14, 
2004 (ASB).


    Note 1: Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM): Tasks 24.00.00.911 
and 32-30-00-721 and Standard Practices Manual (MTC) Work Cards 
20.02.01.415, 20.06.01.310, 20.06.01.406, and 20.02.06.409 pertain 
to the subject of this AD.


    (2) Modify the routing of the electrical wiring (MOD 0739C28) 
and replace spreaders and spacers by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 2.B.3. through 2.B.9. of the ASB.
    (b) 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, FAA, for information about 
previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (c) Special flight permits will not be issued.


    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale de l'Aviation Civile (France) AD F-2004-057 R1, dated July 
21, 2004.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 7, 2005.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-20679 Filed 10-14-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P