[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 117 (Monday, June 18, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36137-36139]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-14385]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0600; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-017-AD;
Amendment 39-17076; AD 2012-11-12]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; AGUSTA S.p.A. Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta
S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AW139 helicopters to determine if the hardware
that attaches the upper end of collective control rod C2 to torque tube
C3 is properly installed. This AD is prompted by the discovery of an
incorrectly-attached collective control rod. These actions are intended
to prevent separation of the collective control rod from the torque
tube, loss of control of the collective pitch, and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD becomes effective July 3, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 3,
2012.
We must receive comments on this AD by August 17, 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 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 AD, contact Agusta
Westland, Customer Support & Services, Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019
Somma Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Giovanni Cecchelli; telephone 39-0331-
711133; fax 39 0331 711180; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bullettins. You may review 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: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222 5110;
email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, 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 resulted
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific
portion of the AD, 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 them 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 rulemaking during the
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
No. 2011-0226-E, dated December 2, 2011 (EASA AD 2011-0226-E), to
correct an unsafe condition for the Agusta AW139 helicopters. EASA
advises that an occurrence of incorrect installation of a collective
control rod has been reported. This improper installation was
identified on an in-service helicopter during the first annual
inspection.
The subsequent investigation by the manufacturer led it to conclude
that this discrepancy could affect other helicopters because the
production quality control procedures did not require recording the
applied torque on the bolt attaching the collective control rod to the
torque tube. To address this unsafe condition, AgustaWestland issued
Bollettino Tecnico (BT) No. 139-275, dated December 1, 2011, (BT 139-
275) and EASA issued AD 2011-0226-E to require an inspection of the
attaching point of the flight control rod to the torque tube and if
improperly installed, reinstalling the parts.
This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to in-
flight separation of the collective control rod from the torque tube,
loss of control of the collective pitch, and subsequent loss of control
of the helicopter.
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with Italy, the EASA, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by the EASA and determined the unsafe condition is
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type
design.
Related Service Information
We reviewed BT 139-275, which contains procedures to inspect for
the proper installation of control rod C2 in the roof area and to
ensure that the attaching hardware that connects the control rod to the
torque tube is properly installed.
AD Requirements
This AD requires:
Within 5 hours time-in-service or 7 days, whichever occurs
earlier, visually inspecting the connection between
[[Page 36138]]
control rod C2 and torque tube C3 for the proper installation of the
bolt, washers, self locking nut, and cotter pin.
If the installed hardware is not as prescribed in this AD,
before further flight, re-installing control rod C2 with the correct
bolt, washers, self locking nut, and cotter pin.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 1 helicopter of U.S. Registry.
We estimate that this operator may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD. Inspecting and reassembling the control rod
will require about 8 work hours at an average labor rate of $85 per
hour, for a total cost per helicopter of $680. Any required parts costs
are minimal.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment
prior to the adoption of this rule because the required corrective
actions must be accomplished within 5 hours time-in-service, a very
short time period based on the average flight-hour utilization rate of
these helicopters.
Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
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 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, I certify that this AD:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 and placed it in the AD docket.
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 FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
2012-11-12 AGUSTA S.P.A.: Amendment 39-17076; Docket No. FAA-2012-
0600; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-017-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AW139
helicopters, serial number (S/N) 31306, 31314, 31317, 31319, 31320,
31322, 31323, and S/N 31325 through 31345 (except S/N 31329, 31333,
31338, 31339, and 31341), certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrectly installed
collective control rod, which could result in detachment of the
collective control rod, resulting in subsequent loss of control of
the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective July 3, 2012.
(d) 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.
(e) Required Actions
(1) Within 5 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 7 days, whichever
occurs earlier, inspect the connection between the collective
control rod C2 and the torque tube C3 for proper installation of
the: bolt, part number (P/N) NAS6604D15; washer under the bolt head,
P/N A160A0432K; self-locking nut, P/N MS17825-4; washer under the
self-locking nut, P/N NAS1149D0432K; and the cotter pin, P/N
MS24655-136, as depicted in Figures 1 and 2, of Agusta Bollettino
Tecnico No. 139-275, dated December 1, 2011, (ABT 139-275).
(2) If the connection between the collective control rod C2 and
the torque tube C3 is not as depicted in Figures 1 and 2 of ABT 139-
275, before further flight, properly connect control rod C2 to
torque tube C3. In order to obtain the correct bolt grip length and
cotter pin installation, you may use a maximum of 2 washers, P/N
NAS1149D0432K, under the self-locking nut.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email [email protected].
(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating
certificate or under 14 CFR 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.
(g) Additional Information
The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety
Agency AD No. 2011-0226-E, dated December 2, 2011.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6710: Main Rotor
Control.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service
information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use the following service information to do the
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(3) The following service information was approved for IBR on
July 3, 2012.
(i) Agusta Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-275, dated December 1,
2011.
(4) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Agusta Westland, Customer Support & Services, Via Per Tornavento 15,
[[Page 36139]]
21019 Somma Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Giovanni Cecchelli; telephone
39-0331-711133; fax 39 0331 711180; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bullettins.
(5) You may review the referenced service information at the
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Room 663, 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.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 30, 2012.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-14385 Filed 6-15-12; 8:45 am]
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