[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27952-27954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11752]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0448; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 120B 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
specified Eurocopter France Model EC 120B helicopters. This proposed AD 
would require modifying the pilot cyclic control friction device by 
replacing a certain thrust washer with two thrust washers. This 
proposed AD is prompted by an incident in which the pilot encountered a 
sudden restriction of the cyclic control movement during flight. The 
actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent jamming 
of a pilot cyclic control stick and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 12, 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 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://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 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-2011-0448, 
Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-51-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

[[Page 27953]]

substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed 
rulemaking. Using the search function of the 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

    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile France (DGAC), which is 
the aviation authority for France, has issued French AD No. F-2005-175, 
dated October 26, 2005, on behalf of the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA), the Airworthiness Authority of the State of Design for 
the affected helicopters, to correct an unsafe condition for the 
Eurocopter France Model EC 120B helicopters.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A011, Revision 
1, dated October 7, 2005 (ASB), which specifies a modification to 
preclude the risk that the pilot cyclic control stick will jam. The 
modification consists of replacing the existing single-piece thrust 
washer, part number (P/N) C671A1006201, with two thrust washers, P/N 
C671A1018201 and P/N C671A1019201. The DGAC classified this alert 
service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD No. F-2005-175, dated 
October 26, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
helicopters.

FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination

    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 France, the DGAC, on behalf of the EASA, their 
technical representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition 
described in the DGAC AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated 
all information provided by the DGAC and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design. This proposed AD would require replacing a 
single-piece thrust washer, P/N C671A1006201, with two thrust washers, 
P/N C671A1018201 and P/N C671A1019201, to prevent the jamming of the 
pilot cyclic control stick.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the DGAC AD

    The DGAC AD requires compliance with the ASB no later than December 
31, 2005. Our proposed AD would require compliance within 30 days after 
the effective date of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 114 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and the proposed actions would take approximately 3 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $85 per 
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $50 per helicopter. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $34,770 for the entire fleet, or 
$305 per helicopter, to replace the single thrust washer with two 
thrust washers.

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 an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this proposed AD. See the AD docket 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.

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-2011-0448; Directorate Identifier 
2007-SW-51-AD.

    Applicability: Model EC 120B helicopters, serial numbers up to 
and including 1385, with a thrust washer, part number (P/N) 
C671A1006201, installed on the pilot cyclic control stick friction 
device; and a pilot cyclic stick, P/N C671A1007101, P/N 
C671A1007102, or C671A1003102, installed, certificated in any 
category.
    Compliance: Required within 30 days, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent jamming of a pilot cyclic control stick and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Remove the pilot cyclic control stick; replace the thrust 
washer, P/N C671A1006201, with two thrust washers, P/N C671A1018201 
and P/N C671A1019201; reinstall the pilot cyclic control stick; and 
perform a functional test of the cyclic control.
    (b) 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, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA, ATTN: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Regulations and Policy Group, ASW-111, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth,

[[Page 27954]]

Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5130, fax (817) 222-5961, for 
information about previously approved alternative methods of 
compliance.
    (c) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 2700: 
Flight Control System.

    Note:  The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction Generale 
de l'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. F-2005-175, dated October 26, 
2005, and Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A011, Revision 1, 
dated October 7, 2005


    .Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 27, 2011.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-11752 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P