[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 52 (Monday, March 19, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12727-12728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4851]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25085; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-02-AD; 
Amendment 39-14996; AD 2007-06-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B, 
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 
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 France (Eurocopter) model helicopters that 
requires replacing a certain hydraulic drive belt (drive belt). Also 
required is reducing the lubrication time interval for a certain 
hydraulic pump drive shaft (drive shaft). This amendment is prompted by 
in-flight failures of the drive belt and the drive shaft. The actions 
specified by this 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: Effective April 23, 2007.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified in this AD 
from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
    Examining the Docket: You may examine the docket that contains this 
AD, any comments, and other information on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov, or at the Docket Management System (DMS), U.S. Department 
of Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Room PL-401, on the plaza 
level of the Nassif Building, Washington, DC.

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: A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 
include an AD for the specified model helicopters was published in the 
Federal Register on June 30, 2006 (71 FR 37515). That action proposed 
to require the following:
     At or before the next 500-hour time-in-service (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.
    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

[[Page 12728]]

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.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received. The commenter states that the Eurocopter 
AS350 (BA and B2) Master Servicing Recommendations along with the 
applicable Service Bulletin(s) and good preventative maintenance 
practices provide a good level of safety, therefore, he suggests that 
the requirement to grease the hydraulic pump drive splines every 110 
hours be removed from the AD because it is currently mandated by 
Eurocopter to be accomplished every 100 hours on all models of the 
AS350 Series helicopter. We do not agree with the recommendation 
because, depending on the aircraft operation, compliance with the 
manufacturer's service information may not be required, therefore, in 
order to mandate corrective action for the unsafe condition, this AD 
requires all affected aircraft to comply with the greasing interval at 
intervals not to exceed 110 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs 
first.
    Also, when finalizing this final rule, we discovered that we had 
omitted the Eurocopter Model AS355E helicopters from the applicability 
of the proposed AD. Therefore, we may supersede this action in the 
future to add the additional model helicopter to the applicability.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comments 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.
    We estimate that this AD will affect 700 helicopters of U.S. 
registry. Replacing each drive belt will take approximately 25 work 
hours and lubricating the drive shaft splines will take approximately 1 
work hour. The average labor rate is $80 an hour. Each replacement 
drive belt costs about $3,500. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators to be $4,130,000, 
assuming no helicopter has been modified with the new drive shaft belt 
and that the splines are lubricated 5 times in the first year.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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 an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD. See the DMS to examine the 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.

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:

2007-06-15 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-14996. 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.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on April 23, 2007.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 9, 2007.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4851 Filed 3-16-07; 8:45 am]
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