[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 47 (Monday, March 11, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15277-15279]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04224]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 47 / Monday, March 11, 2013 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 15277]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1015; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-069-AD; 
Amendment 39-17363; AD 2013-04-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 
helicopters. This AD requires modifying the main landing gear control 
panel (control panel) 33G, connector 100G, and wiring. It also requires 
tests to ensure that these modifications function correctly. This AD 
was prompted by reports of electro-valve power supply disruptions while 
a helicopter is on the ground, causing the landing gear to retract and 
the helicopter nose to drop. This results in damage to the forward 
section of the helicopter's bottom structure. The actions of this AD 
are intended to prevent an uncommanded landing gear retraction that 
would cause the helicopter nose to drop and hit the ground while the 
rotor blades are spinning.

DATES: This AD is effective April 15, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of April 15, 2013.

ADDRESSES: 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 the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 
76137.

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, any incorporated-by-reference 
service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5114; 
fax: (817) 222-5961; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On September 25, 2012, at 77 FR 58973, the Federal Register 
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to 
amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Eurocopter 
Model AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters not modified per 
modification (MOD) 0723817, MOD 0725670, MOD 332P083218 or MOD 
332A088381, with a control panel 33G, part number 332A67-1623-00, -06, 
-0610, or -0651. That NPRM proposed to require modifying the control 
panel 33G, connector 100G, and wiring. It also proposed to require 
tests to ensure that these modifications function correctly. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent an uncommanded landing 
gear retraction that would cause the helicopter nose to drop and hit 
the ground while the rotor blades are spinning.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
No. 2006-0152, dated May 30, 2006, to correct an unsafe condition for 
Eurocopter Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. EASA 
advises of electro-valve power supply disruptions, which caused the 
landing gear to retract and the helicopter to drop, resulting in damage 
to the forward section of the helicopter's bottom structure. AD 2006-
0152 requires compliance with Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. 32.00.18, Revision 1, dated March 27, 2006, or later revisions and 
supersedes Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile France AD No. F-
2005-100, dated June 22, 2005.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 58973, 
September 25, 2012).

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 
our bilateral agreement with France, 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 EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same 
type designs and that air safety and the public interest require 
adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    This AD differs from the EASA AD as follows:
     This AD requires compliance within 90 days, while the EASA 
AD requires compliance within 3 months. The EASA AD also addresses 
spare parts, and this AD does not address spare parts.
     The EASA AD requires a repeat of the tests for helicopters 
that have been modified in compliance with AD F-2005-100, and this AD 
does not.
     The EASA AD also applies to the Model AS332C1 helicopter, 
and this AD does not because this model does not have an FAA-issued 
type certificate.

[[Page 15278]]

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Eurocopter ASB No. 32.00.18, Revision 2, dated July 12, 
2010, for Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters and 
military Model AS332B, AS332B1, AS332M, AS332M1, AS332F1 helicopters 
with the specified control panel 33G. That ASB states that electrical 
interferences on the solenoid valve power supply line have caused 
untimely retraction of the main landing gear, causing helicopters to 
sink, resulting in damage to the front section of the helicopter's 
bottom structure. The ASB describes procedures for modifying the main 
landing gear control tab on the control panel 33G, replacing the fixed 
connector on the control panel 33G, replacing the removable connector 
on the corresponding wiring, and testing the affected systems to ensure 
that these modifications function correctly. The ASB states that these 
actions are intended to prevent untimely power supply to the solenoid 
valve when the main landing gear control tab is on ``extended'' and to 
avoid main landing gear retraction. EASA AD 2006-0152 classified 
portions of the ASB as mandatory.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects three helicopters of U.S. 
registry. We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
    We estimate that modification of the control panel, connector, and 
wiring takes one work hour to complete at $85 per hour, and that parts 
cost $293. Performing function tests takes about 4.5 hours to complete, 
for a total labor cost of $383. Thus, we estimate a total cost per 
helicopter of $761, and a total cost of $2,283 for the fleet.
    We do not control warranty coverage. Accordingly, we have included 
all costs in our cost estimate.

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 helicopters identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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 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):

2013-04-06 Eurocopter France (Eurocopter): Amendment 39-17363; 
Docket No. FAA-2012-1015; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-069-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Eurocopter Model AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 
helicopters not modified per modification (MOD) 0723817, MOD 
0725670, MOD 332P083218 or MOD 332A088381, with a main landing gear 
control panel (control panel) 33G, part number (P/N) 332A67-1623-00, 
-06, -0610, or -0651; certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an uncommanded landing 
gear retraction, which could cause the helicopter nose to drop and 
hit the ground while the rotor blades are spinning.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 15, 2013.

(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

    Within 90 days, modify the control panel 33G and connector 100G, 
route the 1GA5103E wiring, and perform the tests in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions, Paragraphs 2.B 2.a. through 
2.B.3.d., and as depicted in figures 1 and 2, of Eurocopter Alert 
Service Bulletin No 32.00.18, Revision 2, dated July 12, 2010.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5114; 
fax: (817) 222-5961; 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. 2006-0152, dated May 30, 2006.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3230, landing gear 
retract/extend system.

 (i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Eurocopter France Alert Service Bulletin No. 32.00.18, 
Revision 2, dated July 12, 2010.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Eurocopter 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.

[[Page 15279]]

    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 8, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-04224 Filed 3-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P