[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 28 (Monday, February 11, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 9634-9636]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02989]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-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 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters, to 
require inspecting for a crack in the control lever attachment yokes, 
and if needed, replacing the tail rotor gearbox (TGB). This proposed AD 
is prompted by improper casting of TGB casing assemblies, which may 
lead to cracking. A crack in the control lever attachment yokes could 
cause a loss of tail rotor pitch control, and consequently, loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 12, 2013.

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 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: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5328; 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 EASA AD 
No. 2011-0104, dated May 27, 2011, to correct an unsafe condition for 
the Eurocopter Model AS 350 and AS 355 helicopters. EASA advises that 
cracks were found on some TGB casing assemblies when a dye-penetrant 
inspection was performed after the machining of the control lever 
attachment yokes. The inspection followed the repair of the 
manufacturing mold. EASA reports that cracks in the TGB casing 
assemblies, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a crack on the 
control lever attachment yokes, which could cause the loss of tail 
rotor pitch control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

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

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-65.00.46 
for Model AS350 helicopters and ASB AS355-65.00.22 for AS355 
helicopters. Both ASBs are Revision 0 and dated May 18, 2011. The ASBs 
call for non-destructive inspections, such as a dye-penetrant 
inspection, to check for cracks in the attachment yokes of the TGB 
casing assemblies. If there is a crack, the ASBs call for replacing the 
TGB with an airworthy TGB and returning the replaced TGB to Eurocopter.

[[Page 9635]]

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 100 hours time in service 
(TIS), dye-penetrant inspecting for a crack in the control lever 
attachment yokes of the TGB casing assembly. If a crack exists, before 
further flight, this proposed AD would require replacing the TGB with 
an airworthy TGB.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    We propose that the inspection for a crack in the attachment yokes 
of the TGB casing assemblies be performed within 100 hours TIS. EASA 
requires that the inspection be conducted within 26 months or 660 
flight hours if the TGB casing assemblies have less than 550 flight 
hours and within 110 flight hours or 13 months if the TGB casing 
assemblies have 550 or more flight hours. We do not include the Model 
AS350BB helicopter because it is not type certificated in the United 
States, but we do include models AS350C and AS350D1.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 693 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs would average $85 per work-hour. We 
estimate that it would take two hours to inspect TGB casing assemblies 
for a cost of $170 per helicopter, and $117,810 for the U.S. fleet. No 
parts would be needed. Replacing the TGB would require five work hours 
for a labor cost of $425. Parts would cost $37,825 for a total cost of 
$38,250 per helicopter.

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

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):

Eurocopter France Helicopters (Eurocopter): Docket No. FAA-2013-
0119; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-034-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Eurocopter AS350C, D, D1, B, BA, B1, B2, and 
B3; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP helicopters, with a tailrotor 
gearbox (TGB) casing assembly, part number (P/N) 350A33-1090-02 and 
serial number (S/N) MA47577, MA47585, MA47587 through MA47593, 
MA47597 through MA47600, MA47602, MA47604, MA47606, MA47610, 
MA47613, MA47615, MA47617, MA47619 through MA47624, MA47626, 
MA47628, or MA47631 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in the control 
lever attachment yoke of the TGB casing assembly, which could result 
in loss of tail rotor pitch control and loss of helicopter control.

(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

    Within 100 hours time in service:
    (1) Remove the control lever, as depicted in Figure 1, item (b), 
of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. AS350-65.00.46 or No. 
AS355-65.00.22, both Revision 0 and both dated May 18, 2011, as 
applicable for your model helicopter (ASBs).
    (2) Strip the paint from the TGB control lever attachment yokes, 
as depicted in Figure 2, item (z), of the ASBs.
    (3) Perform a Fluorescent Penetrant Inspection (Aerospace 
Material Specification 2647 or equivalent) on the TGB control lever 
attachment yokes for a crack.
    (4) If a crack exists, before further flight, replace the TGB 
with an airworthy TGB.
    (5) If there is no crack, clean the inspected area and apply 
chemical conversion coating (Alodine 1200 or equivalent), Epoxy 
primer, and top coat paint.

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5328; 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.

(f) Additional Information

    (1) For service information identified in this 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 a copy 
of the service 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 AD No. 2011-0104, dated May 27, 2011.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6520, Tail Rotor 
Gearbox.


[[Page 9636]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 1, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02989 Filed 2-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P