[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27659-27661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-11468]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0503; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-032-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 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 
certain Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model BO-105A, BO-105C, and 
BO-105S helicopters. This proposed AD is prompted by initial findings 
from an accident investigation of an ECD Model BO 105 helicopter which 
indicated deterioration of the main gearbox (MGB) caused by a 
contaminated oil supply. The proposed actions are intended to detect 
oil contamination in the MGB, which if not detected, could result in 
MGB deterioration, MGB failure, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 10, 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

[[Page 27660]]

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.: 
2011-0091, dated May 18, 2011 (AD 2011-0091), which supersedes EASA AD 
No.: 2010-0223, dated October 26, 2010 (AD 2010-0223), to correct an 
unsafe condition for all ECD BO105 A, BO105 C, BO105 D, and BO105 S 
helicopters. EASA advises that in 2010, an accident occurred with a 
BO105 helicopter and the initial findings indicated that ``the event 
was linked with'' a deterioration of the MGB due to a contaminated oil 
supply. EASA states this condition, if not detected, could lead to MGB 
failure and consequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
the EASA AD. 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 helicopters of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    ECD issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) BO105-10-125, dated 
September 2, 2010 (BO105-10-125), which specifies a one-time inspection 
of the MGB magnetic plug/chip detector (magnetic plug) and oil filter, 
and revised criteria for the corrective action to be taken as a result 
of the inspection. EASA issued AD 2010-0223, mandating the requirements 
of BO105-10-125 and applying the revised criteria to future MGB 
magnetic plug inspections.
    Since that AD was issued, it was determined that repetitive 
inspections of the magnetic plug and oil filter are necessary. ECD 
revised the ASB and issued ASB BO105-10-125, Revision 1, dated April 4, 
2001 (BO105-10-125R1), which retains the requirements of BO105-10-125 
and requires an inspection of the magnetic plug every 10 flight hours 
and an inspection of the oil filter every 100 flight hours. EASA 
classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD 2011-0091, which 
supersedes AD 2010-0223.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require inspecting the MGB oil filter and 
MGB magnetic plug. If the MGB oil filter or MGB magnetic plug contains 
metallic fuzz, depending on the amount of metallic fuzz, this proposed 
AD would require cleaning the magnetic plug, flushing the main 
transmission, changing the oil, and performing a ground run. If the MGB 
oil filter or MGB magnetic plug contains a chip, this proposed AD would 
require replacing the main transmission with an airworthy main 
transmission, and cleaning the oil cooler and oil lines. This proposed 
AD would also require repeating the MGB magnetic plug inspection every 
10 hours time-in-service (TIS), and repeating the MGB oil filter 
inspection every 100 hours TIS.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD applies to Model BO105 D helicopters; the proposed AD 
does not as this model is not type certificated in the U.S.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 97 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this AD. Inspecting and cleaning the magnetic 
plug and oil filter would require approximately 2 work-hours at an 
average labor rate of $85 per hour, for a total cost per inspection 
cycle of $170 per helicopter and a total cost to the U.S. operator 
fleet of $16,490. Flushing the main transmission, performing a ground 
run, and re-inspecting the MGB oil filter and magnetic plug would 
require approximately 4 work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per 
hour, for a cost per helicopter of $340. Replacing the main 
transmission would require approximately 40 work-hours at an average 
labor rate of $85 per hour, and required parts would cost $225,000, for 
a total cost per helicopter of $228,400.

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:

[[Page 27661]]

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 Deutschland GMBH: Docket No. FAA-2012-0503; Directorate 
Identifier 2011-SW-032-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model BO-105A, BO-105C, and BO-105S 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as deterioration of the 
main gearbox (MGB) caused by oil contamination. This condition could 
result in MGB failure 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 it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(d) Required Actions

    (1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 3 months, or at 
the next scheduled MGB magnetic plug/chip detector (magnetic plug) 
inspection, whichever occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not 
to exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the MGB oil filter for chips and 
the MGB magnetic plug for fine particles (magnetic fuzz) or chips. A 
``chip'' is a solid piece of metal but not metallic fuzz.
    (i) If there are no chips on the MGB oil filter or on the 
magnetic plug, and the metallic fuzz covers less than 25% of the 
magnetic plug, clean the magnetic plug.
    (ii) If there are no chips on the MGB oil filter or on the 
magnetic plug, but the metallic fuzz covers 25% or more of the 
magnetic plug, flush the main transmission, change the oil, perform 
a ground run for 15 minutes at the flight-idle power setting, and 
then re-inspect the MGB oil filter and magnetic plug for a chip and 
the quantity of metallic fuzz on the metallic plug.
    (iii) If there is a chip on the MGB oil filter or on the 
magnetic plug, or, after complying with paragraph (d)(1)(ii) of this 
AD, metallic fuzz covers 25% or more of the magnetic plug, replace 
the main transmission with an airworthy main transmission and clean 
the oil cooler and oil lines.
    (2) At intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS, inspect the 
magnetic plug for a chip or metallic fuzz in accordance with the 
requirements of paragraph (d)(1) of this AD.

(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

    (1) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin BO105-10-125, Revision 1, 
dated April 4, 2011, which is not incorporated by reference, 
contains additional information about the subject of this AD. You 
may review a copy of this information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2011-0091, dated May 18, 2011.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6320: Main Rotor 
Gearbox.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 2, 2012.
Carlton N. Cochran,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-11468 Filed 5-10-12; 8:45 am][FR Doc. 2012-11468 Filed 5-
10-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P