[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 39 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9979-9981]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-2759]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-23888; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-03-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B, BA, B1, 
B2, B3, C, D, and D1 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 (Eurocopter) Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, 
C, D, and D1 helicopters that have a Geneva Aviation, Inc. (Geneva) 
P132 console (console) installed. This proposal would require 
installing right and left side Geneva cyclic control sticks and 
modifying the cyclic grips and the co-pilot cyclic stand (receptacle). 
This proposal is prompted by reports that pilots had restricted cyclic 
stick travel when using Eurocopter factory-installed cyclic sticks in a 
helicopter that has been modified in accordance with a certain 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the installation of a Geneva 
P132 console. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent restricting full lateral movement of the cyclic control during 
high lateral center of gravity (CG) load operations in high cross winds 
and during slope takeoffs or landings, and subsequent loss of control 
of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 1, 2006.

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.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Geneva Aviation, Inc., 20021-80th Avenue Ave. South, Kent, 
Washington 98032; telephone: (800) 546-2210; fax: (800) 546-2220; 
Internet: http://www.GenevaAviation.com.
    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: Vince Massey, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, Systems and 
Equipment Branch, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, Washington 98055-4056; 
telephone (425) 917-6475, fax (425) 917-6590.

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-2006-
23888, Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-03-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.

[[Page 9980]]

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

    Geneva has issued Service Bulletin GA107-7, dated June 14, 2005, 
which describes a condition that pilots may encounter regarding 
restricted cyclic control stick movement in helicopters that have a 
Geneva P132 console installed in accordance with STC No. SH4747NM. The 
Geneva center console is wider than the factory-installed Eurocopter 
console and may limit lateral cyclic movement under certain conditions. 
After issuance of the original STC for the wider Geneva center console, 
the FAA discovered that it limited the left lateral cyclic movement 
from the right seat and the right lateral cyclic movement from the left 
seat position. Therefore, the STC was revised to include a redesigned 
right and left cyclic stick. The right-side cyclic stick has been 
redesigned so that the neutral position of that cyclic control stick is 
offset 1 to the right and the left-side cyclic control stick 
is offset 1 to the left of the neutral position when 
compared to the original design of the helicopter. However, this 
redesign reduces the available lateral movement area to the right side 
of the right-seated pilot and the left side of the left-seated co-
pilot. This may be more critical on the right side of the right-seated 
pilot because the cyclic grip flange is also on the right side of the 
cyclic stick. Therefore, during a large lateral cyclic movement to the 
right, the cyclic grip flange may contact the right-seated pilot's leg, 
thereby further limiting right cyclic movement. In helicopters with 
dual cyclic controls, even though it is less limiting because of the 
left cyclic offset, the right-sided cyclic grip flange contacting the 
right leg of the left-seated co-pilot may also limit right lateral 
cyclic movement. This reduced movement may not be noticed except during 
operations requiring cyclic movements near lateral limits (such as with 
a substantial lateral CG load, in high crosswinds, or during slope 
takeoffs and landings). The service bulletin specifies replacing the 
Eurocopter factory-installed pilot (right-side) cyclic stick and co-
pilot (left-side) cyclic stick with a Geneva-manufactured right-side 
cyclic stick, part number (P/N) G12316-26, and left-side cyclic stick, 
P/N G12324-26. For cyclic sticks that have a ``Bendix'' cyclic grip 
without any cyclic grip flange, which has a 90-degree bend at the top 
of the cyclic stick, the service bulletin specifies replacing the 
Eurocopter factory-installed pilot and co-pilot cyclic sticks with a 
Geneva-manufactured right-side cyclic stick, P/N G12425-26, and left-
side cyclic stick, P/N G12426-26 respectively. The service bulletin 
also specifies modifications of the flange at the base of the cyclic 
grips and the co-pilot cyclic stand (receptacle) to prevent inadvertent 
installation of the factory original co-pilot cyclic stick.
    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. We have reviewed 
all available information and determined that AD action is necessary 
for products of these type designs, which have been modified in 
accordance with STC No. SH4747NM, that are certificated for operation 
in the United States.
    This unsafe condition concerning the cyclic control is likely to 
exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type designs that 
have been modified in accordance with STC No. SH4747NM with the 
installation of a Geneva P132 console and are registered in the United 
States. Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within 60 days, 
replacing the left- and right-side cyclic control sticks; modifying the 
cyclic grip on both cyclic control sticks by removing a portion of the 
hand-support flange; and modifying the co-pilot cyclic stand 
(receptacle) to allow future installations of only the appropriate 
Geneva cyclic control sticks. The actions would be required to be done 
in accordance with the specified portions of the service bulletin 
described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 122 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and the proposed actions would take approximately 14 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $65 per 
work hour. The Geneva cyclic sticks cost about $300 each or $600 per 
set. Geneva, the manufacturer of the console, has stated that it will 
supply left- and right-side cyclic sticks at no charge to current 
owners of Geneva P132 consoles, regardless of when they purchased the 
console. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of 
the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $184,220 to do the replacements 
and modifications on all 122 helicopters in the fleet, or $111,020 
assuming the cyclic sticks are provided at no cost to operators.

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.

[[Page 9981]]

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. FAA-2006-23888; Directorate Identifier 
2005-SW-03-AD.

    Applicability: Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, C, D, and D1 
helicopters, with a Geneva Aviation, Inc. (Geneva) P132 Console 
installed in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate No. 
SH4747NM, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within 60 days, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent restricting full lateral movement of the cyclic 
control during high lateral center of gravity (CG) load operations 
in high cross winds and during slope takeoffs or landings, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Remove the Eurocopter France installed pilot (right-side) 
and co-pilot (left-side) cyclic control sticks in accordance with 
paragraph 2.1 of the Instructions section of Geneva Aviation, Inc. 
Service Bulletin GA107-7, dated June 14, 2005 (SB).
    (1) Install Geneva-manufactured cyclic control sticks, part 
number (P/N) G12316-26 (right side) and P/N G12324-26 (left side), 
or
    (2) For installations with a ``Bendix'' cyclic grip, which has a 
90-degree bend at the top of the cyclic control stick, install 
Geneva-manufactured cyclic control sticks, P/N G12425-26 (right 
side) and P/N G12426-26 (left side).
    (b) If the base of the cyclic grip has a flange to help support 
the pilot's hand, modify both the pilot and co-pilot cyclic control 
grips by removing a 3/8 inch section of the flange in accordance 
with paragraph 2.2 of the Instructions section of the SB.
    (c) Modify the co-pilot cyclic control stand (receptacle) by 
installing a blind rivet in accordance with paragraph 2.3 of the 
Instructions section of the SB.
    (d) 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, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
ATTN: Vince Massey, 1601 Lind Ave. SW., Renton, Washington 98055-
4056; telephone (425) 917-6475, fax (425) 917-6590, for information 
about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 2, 2006.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-2759 Filed 2-27-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P