[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 12, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13076-13078]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4464]


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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; 
Amendment 39-15409; AD 2008-05-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4 helicopters. This 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 European Safety Agency (EASA), 
the Technical Agent for 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.

    We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition caused by 
cracks and

[[Page 13077]]

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: This AD becomes effective on April 16, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 16, 
2008.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in Room W12-140, Docket Operations Office, on 
the ground floor of the Department of Transportation West Building, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    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.

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 AD references the MCAI and related service information that we 
considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe 
condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this 
reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Eurocopter France Model 
EC130B3 helicopters. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
October 19, 2007 (72 FR 59229). That NPRM proposed to correct the 
unsafe conditions for the specified model helicopter. The 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.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the cost to the public. We reviewed the available data and determined 
that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as 
proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 68 helicopters of U.S. 
registry and that it will 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 will 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 will 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 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 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 this AD:
    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 and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 the NPRM, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

2008-05-15 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-15409. Docket No. FAA-
2007-0056; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-06-AD.

[[Page 13078]]

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective on April 
16, 2008.

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.

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, 
contains related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the specified portions of Eurocopter Alert 
Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated November 16, 2005, to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 
(202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 14, 2008.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-4464 Filed 3-11-08; 8:45 am]
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