[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 239 (Tuesday, December 13, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77375-77376]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30925]


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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; 
Amendment 39-16877; AD 2011-25-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
the Apical emergency float kits installed on certain model helicopters 
under supplemental type certificates. This AD requires adding placards 
on each side of the fuselage to identify the location and operation of 
the liferaft external inflation handle. This AD also requires replacing 
each liferaft operation placard to state that external liferafts are 
installed. This amendment 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 actions specified by this AD 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: Effective January 17, 2012.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of January 17, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified in this AD 
from Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple Heights Drive, Oceanside, 
California 92056-3512, telephone (760) 724-5300, fax (760) 758-9612, 
http://www.apicalindustries.com/.
    Examining the Docket: You may examine the docket that contains this 
AD, any comments, and other information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Docket Operations office, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.

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: A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 
include an AD for helicopters modified in accordance with certain 
supplemental type certificates with certain emergency float kits, was 
published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2010 (75 FR 75934). 
That action proposed to require, for certain model helicopters modified 
per Supplemental Type Certificate Number SR01535LA, SR01779LA, 
SR01813LA, SR01855LA, or SR00856LA, adding an external placard near the 
external T-Handles to provide instructions for the operation of the 
liferaft external inflation handle. That action also proposed to 
require replacing earlier installed liferaft operation placards with 
more recent placards.
    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on the 
determination of the cost to the public.
    We estimate that this AD will affect 324 helicopters of U.S. 
registry, and it will 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 will cost about $70 per helicopter. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators 
is $36,450 for the entire fleet.

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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that 
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
    4. 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 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 AD.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under 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:

[[Page 77376]]

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:

2011-25-01 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 a 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      SR01535LA
                                                              (Bell) 407.
614.3003...........................  133 and below.........  Bell 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-  SR01535LA
                                                              4.
614.3007...........................  014 and below.........  Bell 206A and B............  SR01535LA
614.7601...........................  045 and below.........  Bell 210, 212, 412, 412CF,   SR01779LA
                                                              412EP, 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,    SR00856LA
                                                              LS A-1 and LS A-3.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     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.
    (e) The modification shall be done in accordance with the 
specified portions of Apical Industries Inc. Alert Service Bulletin 
SB2008-01, Revision A, dated March 3, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved this incorporation by reference in 
accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be 
obtained from Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple Heights Drive, 
Oceanside, California 92056-3512, telephone (760) 724-5300, fax 
(760) 758-9612, http://www.apicalindustries.com/. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on January 17, 2012.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 18, 2011.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manger, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30925 Filed 12-12-11; 8:45 am]
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