[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 126 (Friday, June 30, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37515-37517]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 06-5880]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25085; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-02-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B, 
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, and AS355E 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model 
helicopters. This proposal would require replacing a certain hydraulic 
drive belt (drive belt). Also proposed is reducing the lubrication time 
interval for a certain hydraulic pump drive shaft (drive shaft). This 
proposal is prompted by in-flight failures of the drive belt and the 
drive shaft. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent in-flight failure of the drive belt or drive shaft, loss of 
hydraulic power to the flight control system, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 29, 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 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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5130, 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-2006-
25085, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-02-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

[[Page 37516]]

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

    On May 4, 2004, a Eurocopter Model AS350BA helicopter lost 
hydraulic system power, resulting in a non-fatal accident. An 
investigation of the accident showed that the drive belt, part number 
(P/N) 704A33-690-004, failed in-flight, approximately 160 hours short 
of its 600-hour time-in-service (TIS) life limit. Further 
investigations showed that the drive belt had been installed inside out 
and the exterior surface, as installed, had numerous lateral cracks. 
Historical records from both the FAA's Service Difficulty Report 
database and the National Transportation Safety Board's Accidents and 
Incidents database showed that 43 failures or replacements of the 
affected P/Ned drive belts occurred between February 1995 and January 
2006. Twenty of the affected drive belts were replaced because they 
were found prematurely stretched or worn past their service limits and 
the remaining drive belts failed in-flight after averaging 277 hours 
TIS. These in-flight failures resulted in loss of hydraulic system 
pressure that required the pilots to make emergency landings; three of 
those in-flight failures, including the failure on May 4, 2004, 
resulted in accidents.
    Prior to that May 2004 accident, the Transportation Safety Board of 
Canada (TSB) investigated a fatal accident in which a Eurocopter Model 
AS350B2 helicopter experienced hydraulic system failure and crashed. 
Examination of the installed drive belt showed that it had failed at 
the manufacturing seam, similar to the drive belt involved in the May 
2004 accident. The TSB's further examinations showed that similar in-
service, intact drive belts had extensive cracking in the same 
location, but that the one improved ``Poly-V'' drive belt examined had 
no cracks. On April 22, 2004, Transport Canada issued a Canadian AD 
mandating the installation of the ``Poly-V'' drive belt.
    On January 9, 2006, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) 
recommended that we:
     Require operators of Eurocopter AS-350 series helicopters 
to comply with the provisions of Eurocopter Service Bulletin AS350, No. 
63.00.08, Revision 1, dated May 7, 2004, or subsequent revision (NTSB 
Safety Recommendation No. A-05-36).
     Identify an appropriate life limit or inspection interval 
for the existing Eurocopter AS-350 hydraulic pump flat drive belt and 
require Eurocopter AS-350 operators to comply with this limit/interval 
until they accomplish Eurocopter Service Bulletin AS350, No. 63.00.08, 
Revision 1, dated May 7, 2004 or subsequent revisions (NTSB Safety 
Recommendation No. A-05-37).
    Eurocopter has issued the following:
     Service Bulletin No. 63.00.08, dated May 27, 2002, which 
specifies installing a poly-v type drive belt on the driving hydraulic 
pump; and
     Service Bulletin No. 29.00.04, Revision 1, dated January 
27, 2004, which specifies reducing the lubrication interval and 
installing an O-ring seal in the groove of the hydraulic pump drive 
shaft in order to prevent early wear of the splines.
    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:
     At or before the next 500-hour TIS inspection, replacing 
the drive belt with an airworthy drive belt that is not included in the 
applicability of this AD, and
     Within 110 hours TIS or at the next scheduled lubrication 
interval for the drive shaft splines, and thereafter at intervals not 
to exceed 110 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first, 
lubricating the drive shaft splines.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 700 helicopters of 
U.S. registry. Replacing each drive belt would take approximately 25 
work hours and lubricating the drive shaft splines would take 
approximately 1 work hour. The average labor rate is $80 an hour. Each 
replacement drive belt would cost about $3,500. Based on these figures, 
we estimate the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators 
to be $4,130,000, assuming no helicopter has been modified with the new 
drive shaft belt and the splines are lubricated 5 times in the first 
year.

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.

[[Page 37517]]

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. FAA-2006-25085; Directorate Identifier 
2006-SW-02-AD.
    Applicability: Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, 
AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters with a hydraulic drive belt 
(drive belt), part number (P/N) 704A33-690-004, or a hydraulic pump 
drive shaft (drive shaft), P/N 704A34-310-006, installed, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated.
    To prevent loss of hydraulic power to the flight control system 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) At or before the next 500-hour time-in-service (TIS) 
inspection, unless accomplished previously, replace the drive belt 
with an airworthy drive belt that is not included in the 
applicability of this AD.
    (b) Within 110 hours TIS or at the next scheduled lubrication 
interval for the drive shaft splines, and thereafter at intervals 
not to exceed 110 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first, 
lubricate the drive shaft splines.
    (c) This action reduces the interval for lubricating the drive 
shaft splines from 550 hours TIS or 2 years, whichever occurs first, 
to 110 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first.

    Note: Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 63.00.08, dated May 27, 
2002, and No. 29.00.04, Revision 1, dated January 27, 2004, pertain 
to the subject of this AD.

    (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, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and 
Guidance Group, FAA, ATTN: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5130, fax (817) 
222-5961, for information about previously approved alternative 
methods of compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 22, 2006.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 06-5880 Filed 6-29-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P