[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 61 (Thursday, March 29, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 18967-18969]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-7540]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-051-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France 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 all 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 
Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B 
Alouette III, SA 3180-Alouette Astazou, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and 
SA 318C-Alouette Astazou helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by 
incorrect positioning of the roller drive pocket recesses on the tail 
rotor drive shaft free-wheel cage, which caused a pilot to experience a 
heavy jerk in the yaw control during in-flight autorotation training. 
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to a temporary loss of 
tail rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 29, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address 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 service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 
75052, telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3775, 
or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review copies of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to 
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might 
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed 
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
    We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as 
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we 
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for 
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has 
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. 
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued AD No. 
2011-0143, dated July 26, 2011 (AD 2011-0143), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the Eurocopter model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 
Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B 
Alouette III, SA 3180-Alouette Astazou, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and 
SA 318 C-Alouette Astazou helicopters. EASA advises that during in-
flight autorotation

[[Page 18968]]

training, a pilot experienced a heavy jerk in the yaw control at the 
time of resynchronization. The free-wheel assembly of the helicopter 
had been replaced shortly before this flight. Internal inspection of 
the free-wheel assembly revealed incorrect positioning of the roller 
drive pocket recesses on the free-wheel cage. The subsequent off-
setting restricts the travel of the roller on its ramp and can cause, 
under high torque conditions, free-wheel slippage. This condition, if 
not corrected, could result in a temporary loss of rotor drive, 
jeopardizing flight safety, especially in phases of flight close to the 
ground.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant 
information and determined that an unsafe condition is likely to exist 
or develop on other products of these same type designs.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. Alouette-
65.149, Revision 0, dated March 23, 2011 (ASB 65.149), for model 3130, 
313B, 3180, 318B, 318C, 3160, 316B, 316C, and 319B helicopters; and ASB 
No. SA315-65.48, Revision 0, dated March 23, 2011 (ASB 65.48), for 
model 315B helicopters, which specify removing and disassembling the 
free-wheel assembly in order to check the free-wheel cage for correct 
positioning. EASA classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued AD 
2011-0143 to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 110 hours time-in-service 
(TIS), inspecting the cage of the free-wheel assembly for incorrect 
design and, if a free-wheel cage of incorrect design is installed, 
before further flight, replacing the affected free-wheel cage with an 
airworthy free-wheel cage. This proposed AD would also prohibit 
installation of an affected free-wheel cage on any helicopter.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 110 flight hours or 5 
months, whichever occurs first. This proposed AD does not impose a 
calendar time requirement.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 63 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this AD.
     Inspecting the free-wheel cage assembly will require 8 
work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per hour, and required parts 
will cost $13, for a total cost per helicopter of $693, and a total 
cost to the U.S. operator fleet of $43,659.
     Modifying any affected free-wheel cage assembly will 
require 8 work hours and required parts will cost $1,986, for a total 
cost per helicopter of $2,666.

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, 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);
    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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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 
Airworthiness Directive (AD):

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 
2011-SW-051-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette 
III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette 
III, SA 3180-Alouette Astazou, SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and SA 318 
C-Alouette Astazou helicopters with a free-wheel cage, part number 
(P/N) 3130S60-10-003 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect positioning of 
the roller drive pocket recesses on the cage of the tail-rotor 
driveshaft free-wheel assembly. This condition could result in loss 
of tail rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless accomplished 
previously.

(d) Required Actions

    Within 110 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) Remove the free-wheel assembly and pull out the free-wheel 
driven head.
    (2) Inspect the free-wheel cage for correct alignment of the 
roller drive pocket recesses in accordance with Figure 2 of 
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SA315-65.48, Revision 0 
or Eurocopter ASB No. Alouette-65-149, Revision 0, both dated March 
23, 2011, as appropriate for your model helicopter.
    (3) If the right edge of the tab is in line with the right edge 
of the pocket recess, before further flight, replace the free-wheel 
cage with an airworthy free-wheel cage.
    (4) Do not install an affected free-wheel assembly on any 
helicopter, unless the cage has passed inspection in accordance with 
paragraph (d)(2) through (d)(3) of this AD.

[[Page 18969]]

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-
5110, email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a Part 119 operating 
certificate or under Part 91, Subpart K, we suggest that you notify 
your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the 
manager of the local flight standards district office or certificate 
holding district office before operating any aircraft complying with 
this AD through an AMOC.

(f) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD No. 2011-0143, dated July 26, 2011.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6700: Tail Rotor 
Drive System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 20, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-7540 Filed 3-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P