[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75934-75936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30616]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1190; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-038-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Apical Industries Inc. (Apical) 
Emergency Float Kits

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 the Apical emergency float kits installed on certain model 
helicopters under supplemental type certificates. This proposal would 
require adding placards on each side of the fuselage to identify the 
location and operation of the liferaft external inflation handle. The 
proposal would also require replacing each liferaft operation placard 
to state that external liferafts are installed. This proposal is 
prompted by a report of a helicopter that crashed into the water, and 
the pilot did not deploy the floats and liferafts. Two external T-
handles were available for deployment of the liferafts but were not 
used by the passengers because they were unaware of their location. The 
proposed actions are intended to prevent helicopter occupants from 
further injury due to unnecessary exposure to harsh water conditions 
and to aid in deploying liferafts when liferafts are available on the 
helicopter and can be activated after a water landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 7, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     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.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple

[[Page 75935]]

Heights Drive, Oceanside, California 92056-3512, telephone (760) 724-
5300, fax (760) 758-9612.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-
5337, fax (562) 627-5210.

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-2010-1190, 
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-038-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://www.regulations.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).

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for the Apical emergency 
float kits installed on certain model helicopters under Supplemental 
Type Certificate Number SR01535LA, SR01779LA, SR01813LA, SR01855LA, or 
SR00856LA. This proposal would require adding external placards (one on 
each side of the fuselage or crosstubes) to identify the location and 
operation of the liferaft external inflation handle. The proposal would 
also require replacing each liferaft operation placard to state that 
external liferafts are installed. This proposal is prompted by a report 
of a helicopter that crashed into the water, and the pilot did not 
deploy the floats or the liferafts. Two external T-handles were 
available for deployment of the liferafts but were not used because the 
passengers were unaware of their location. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in unnecessary injury or loss of life in the 
event of a helicopter landing in the water.
    We have reviewed Apical Alert Service Bulletin No. SB2008-01, 
Revision A, dated March 3, 2010 (ASB), which describes procedures for 
installing a Liferaft External Inflation Handle Placard, part number 
(P/N) 600.0897, onto the crosstube or fuselage of each affected 
helicopter. The ASB also provides instructions for replacing the 
previous Liferaft Operation Placard, P/N 634.9703, located ``typically 
above an exit''with a revised version (Revision C) stating that the 
aircraft is equipped with external liferafts.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of these same type designs modified with an Emergency Float 
with a Liferaft Kit pursuant to a supplemental type certificate issued 
to Apical Industries, Inc. Therefore, for those affected model 
helicopters, the proposed AD would require installing a Liferaft 
External Inflation Handle Placard, P/N 600.0897, onto the crosstube or 
fuselage. Also, the AD would require replacing the Liferaft Operation 
Placard, P/N 634.9703. The actions would be required to be done by 
following the ASB described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 324 helicopters of 
U.S. registry, and the proposed actions would take about \1/2\ work 
hour per helicopter to install 4 or 6 placards at an average labor rate 
of $85 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $70 per 
helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact 
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $36,450 for the entire 
fleet.

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 AD docket 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, Incorporation by 
reference, 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.

[[Page 75936]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Apical Industries Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2010-1190; Directorate 
Identifier 2010-SW-038-AD.
    Applicability: The helicopter models, certificated in any 
category, with an Emergency Float Kit with a part number (P/N) and 
serial number (S/N), installed by supplemental type certificate 
(STC), as follows:

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             Kit P/N                     Kit S/N             Affected helicopter model             STC No.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
614.3001.........................  080 and below......  Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) 407  SR01535LA
614.3003.........................  133 and below......  Bell 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4......  SR01535LA
614.3007.........................  014 and below......  Bell 206A and B...................  SR01535LA
614.7601.........................  045 and below......  Bell 210, 212, 412, 412CF, 412EP,   SR01779LA
                                                         AB412, and AB412EP.
634.2901.........................  012 and below......  Bell 427..........................  SR01813LA
644.1801.........................  031 and below......  Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh         SR01855LA
                                                         (Eurocopter) EC135.
20430-300........................  009 and below......  Eurocopter BO-105A, C, S, LS A-1    SR00856LA
                                                         and LS A-3.
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    Compliance: Within 180 days, unless accomplished previously.
    To install placards to aid in locating and deploying liferafts 
to prevent further injury or loss of life in the event of a 
helicopter landing in the water, do the following:
    (a) Install the Liferaft External Inflation Handle Placard, P/N 
600.0897, shown in Figure 1 of Apical Industries Inc. Alert Service 
Bulletin SB2008-01, Revision A, dated March 3, 2010 (ASB), on the 
crosstubes or fuselage near the external T-Handles, as shown for two 
model helicopters in Figures 2 and 3, by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, 1.0, paragraphs 1 through 5, of the 
ASB.
    (b) Remove the Liferaft Operation Placard, P/N 634.9703, 
Revision N/C through B, as shown in Figure 4 of the ASB, and install 
Liferaft Operation Placard, P/N 634.9703, Revision C, as shown in 
Figure 5, above all aircraft exits, inside the aircraft in plain 
view.
    (c) 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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Attn: Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety Engineer, 3960 Paramount 
Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-5337, 
fax (562) 627-5210, for information about previously approved 
alternative methods of compliance.
    (d) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Codes are 2564: 
Liferaft and 3212: Emergency Flotation Section.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 22, 2010.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30616 Filed 12-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P