[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59229-59231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20684]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0056; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-06-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France Model EC130B4 helicopters. This proposed AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 
by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an 
unsafe condition on an aviation product. The aviation authority of 
France, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI:

    This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the 
discovery of several cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange 
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft.
    In one case, this loosening of rivets was associated with a 
crack in the tube which started from a loosened-rivet hole.
    These occurrences can lead to failure of the tail rotor drive 
center section shaft.

    The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address 
the unsafe condition caused by cracks and loosened rivets in the tube-
to-flange attachment of the tail rotor and the unsafe condition caused 
by the out-of-perpendicularity of the No. 1 bearing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 19, 
2007.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the economic 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas 
76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5355, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Streamlined Issuance of AD

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct 
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
    This proposed AD references the MCAI and related service 
information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to 
correct the unsafe condition. The proposed AD contains text copied from 
the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language 
principles.

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0056; 
Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-06-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this proposed AD.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued an 
MCAI in the form of EASA Airworthiness Directive No. F-2005-190, dated 
November 23, 2005 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct 
an unsafe condition for this French-certificated product. The MCAI 
states:

    This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the 
discovery of several cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange

[[Page 59230]]

attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft.
    In one case, this loosening of rivets was associated with a 
crack in the tube which started from a loosened-rivet hole.
    These occurrences can lead to failure of the tail rotor drive 
center section shaft.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI and service 
information in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated 
November 16, 2005. The actions described in the MCAI are intended to 
correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the service 
information.

FAA's Determination and Proposed Requirements

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France, 
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our 
bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, we have been 
notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and the service 
information. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all 
pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it 
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the 
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these 
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information 
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
    We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those 
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are 
highlighted in the ``FAA Differences'' section in the proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 68 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and that it would take about 1 work-hour per helicopter 
to determine if there are any cracks or loosened rivets in the tube-to-
flange attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft and to 
determine if the No. 1 bearing is out-of-perpendicularity. Also, we 
estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per helicopter to remove 
and replace any nonconforming parts. The average labor rate is $80 per 
work-hour. Required parts would cost about $15,007 per helicopter if 
replacing a tail rotor drive center section shaft is necessary. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the cost to inspect the fleet of 
helicopters to be $5,440. Assuming 3 helicopters are found to have 
nonconforming parts, we estimate the costs to replace these parts to be 
$45,981, resulting in the total cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators to be $51,421.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. 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 this 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 an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2007-0056; Directorate Identifier 
2007-SW-06-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by November 19, 2007.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model EC130 B4 helicopters, with a tail 
rotor drive center section shaft, part number (P/N) 350A340202; and 
bearing, P/N 593404, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:
    This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the 
discovery of several cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange 
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft.
    In one case, this loosening of rivets was associated with a 
crack in the tube which started from a loosened-rivet hole.
    These occurrences can lead to failure of the tail rotor drive 
center section shaft.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 3 months, whichever 
occurs first, unless already done, do the following actions.
    (1) Inspect for cracks or loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange 
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft and inspect 
the perpendicularity of bearing No. 1 in compliance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2., of Eurocopter Alert 
Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated November 16, 2005 (ASB).
    (2) If a crack or loosened rivet is found, replace the tail 
rotor drive center section shaft before further flight.
    (3) If the out-of perpendicularity of the bearing is more than 
0.1 mm, apply the corrective procedure described in the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2., of the ASB.

Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI

    (f) None.

[[Page 59231]]

Subject

    (g) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 65, Tail 
rotor drive--tail rotor drive shaft.

Other Information

    (h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Ed 
Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, 
telephone (817) 222-5355, fax (817) 222-5961.
    (2) Airworthy Product: Use only FAA-approved corrective actions. 
Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved 
by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent) if the 
State of Design has an appropriate bilateral agreement with the 
United States. You are required to assure the product is airworthy 
before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (i) MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness 
Directive No. F-2005-190, Revision A, dated November 23, 2005, and 
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated November 16, 
2005, contain related information.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 11, 2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E7-20684 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P