[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 72 (Monday, April 15, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 22213-22215]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08758]



[[Page 22213]]

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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0341; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-025-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC120B and EC130B4 helicopters 
with certain emergency flotation gear (float) installed. This proposed 
AD would require inspecting the float for chafing of the fabric 
covering and adding protectors to the float installation to prevent 
contact between the float and the protruding sections of the 
installation. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a float that 
would not inflate during overhaul because one of the float compartments 
was punctured due to chafing. The proposed actions are intended to 
prevent failure of float and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter during an emergency water landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 14, 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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 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 EASA AD 
No. 2011-0185, dated September 23, 2011 (AD 2011-0185), to correct an 
unsafe condition for the Eurocopter Model EC120 and EC130 helicopters. 
EASA advises that during overhaul of an emergency flotation gear 
installation, it was impossible to inflate the right-hand (RH) float 
according to the instructions in the equipment manufacturer's manual. 
An investigation revealed that one of the compartments in the float was 
punctured and several areas of the left-hand (LH) and RH floats were 
damaged. According to EASA, the damage was caused by chafing between 
the float and the protruding sections of the supply bars and banjo 
unions. To address this potentially unsafe condition, EASA issued AD 
No. 2009-0190, dated August 26, 2009 (AD 2009-0190), which required 
repetitive inspections of the floats to detect chafing. Since AD 2009-
0190 was issued, Aerazur, the float manufacturer, developed protectors 
to be installed on the floats to eliminate interference between the 
float and the blunt parts of the installation. EASA then issued AD 
2011-0185, which superseded AD 2009-0190 and required installation of 
the protectors on the floats as terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections.

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 
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 the same type design.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 05A011, 
Revision 0, dated June 8, 2009 (ASB 05A011), for Model EC120B 
helicopters and ASB No. 05A008, Revision 0, dated June 8, 2009 (ASB 
05A008), for Model EC130B4 helicopters. Both ASBs specify inspecting 
the floats for deterioration and chafing at specified intervals and, if 
necessary, repairing the floats.
    Eurocopter has also issued ASB No. EC120-25A026, Revision 0, dated 
July 11, 2011 (ASB EC120-25A026), for Model EC120B helicopters and ASB 
No. EC130-25A042, Revision 0, dated July 11, 2011 (ASB EC130-25A042), 
for Model EC130B4 helicopters. Both ASBs specify modifying certain 
part-numbered LH and RH emergency flotation gear by adding protectors 
onto the rear bracket and supply couplings of the float installation. 
The ASBs specify following procedures in Aerazur Service Bulletin (SB) 
No. 25-69-87, dated

[[Page 22214]]

March 14, 2011, for floats installed on Model EC120B helicopters and 
Aerazur SB No. 25-69-58, dated March 14, 2011, for floats installed on 
Model EC130B4 helicopters. Each Aerazur SB is incorporated as an 
appendix to the corresponding Eurocopter ASB.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require:
     For floats with 250 or more hours time-in-service (TIS), 
within 50 hours TIS, inspecting the floats for chafing.
     For floats with less than 250 hours TIS since 
installation, before accumulating 300 hours TIS, inspecting the floats 
for chafing.
     If, during any inspection required by this proposed AD, 
chafing is detected, before further flight, inspecting the float and 
fittings and repairing if necessary.
     Within 300 hours TIS, installing protective covers on the 
floats as described in ASB EC120-25A026 or ASB EC130-25A042, as 
appropriate for your model helicopter.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 60 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. Based on an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, we 
estimate that operators may incur the following costs to comply with 
this AD. Inspecting the floats for chafing would require about .5 hour, 
for a cost per helicopter of $43, and a cost to U.S. operators of 
$2,580. Modifying the floats with protective covers would require about 
1 hour and required parts would cost about $500, for a cost per 
helicopter of $585, and a cost to U.S. operators of $35,100. The total 
estimated cost of this proposed AD is $628 per helicopter and $37,680 
for the U.S. operator fleet.

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: Docket No. FAA-2013-0341; Directorate Identifier 
2012-SW-025-AD.

(a) Applicability

    (1) This AD applies to the following helicopters, certificated 
in any category:
    (i) Model EC120B helicopters with a left-hand (LH) emergency 
flotation gear, part number (P/N) 215674-0, 215674-1, or 215674-2 
installed, fitted with a float, P/N 215481-0; or with a right-hand 
(RH) emergency flotation gear, P/N 215675-0, 215675-1, or 215675-2 
installed, fitted with a float, P/N 215482-0; and
    (ii) Model EC130B4 helicopters with a LH emergency flotation 
gear P/N 217227-0 installed, fitted with a float P/N 217174-0; or 
with a RH emergency flotation gear P/N 217228-0 installed, fitted 
with a float, P/N 217195-0.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as chafing of the float due 
to contact with the protruding sections of the supply bars and banjo 
sections of the emergency flotation gear installation. This 
condition could result in the float becoming punctured, failure of 
the float to inflate, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter during an emergency water landing.

(c) Reserved

(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) For emergency flotation gear that have accumulated 250 or 
more hours time-in service (TIS), within 50 hours TIS, accomplish 
the following:
    (i) Undo the Velcro tapes and remove the break laces. Remove the 
caps from the cover end. Unfold the cover.
    (ii) Inspect each float area in contact with the emergency 
flotation gear protruding parts (supply bar, banjo union, and 
fittings) for chafing as shown in Figure 1 of Eurocopter Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 05A011, Revision 0, dated June 8, 2009, 
or Eurocopter ASB No. 05A008, Revision 0, dated June 8, 2009, as 
appropriate for your model helicopter.
    (iii) If there is any chafing between the protruding parts and 
the float fabric, before further flight, inspect the flotation gear.
    (A) Unfold and visually inspect the float assemblies for any 
cuts, tears, punctures, or abrasion. Replace the cover if the 
internal polycarbonate sheet is cut or if the cover is cut or 
punctured.
    (B) Lightly inflate the floats to approximately 50 hectopascals 
through the manual inflating valve and inspect the fabric panels and 
girts for any cuts, tears, punctures, or abrasion. If there is a 
cut, tear, puncture, or any abrasion, repair the float.
    (2) For emergency floatation gear that have accumulated less 
than 250 hours TIS, on or before accumulating 300 hours TIS, inspect 
the float gear as described in paragraph (e)(1)(i) through (iii) of 
this AD.
    (3) Within 300 hours TIS:
    (i) For Model EC120B helicopters, install protectors on and re-
identify the P/N of each LH and RH emergency floatation gear as 
described in the Operating Instructions, paragraph 2.C., of Aerazur 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 25-69-87, dated March 14, 2011. The 
Aerazur SB is attached as an appendix to Eurocopter Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) No. EC120-25A026, Revision 0, dated July 11, 2011.
    (ii) For Model EC130B4 helicopters, install protectors on and 
re-identify the P/N of each LH and RH emergency floatation gear as 
described in the Operating Instructions,

[[Page 22215]]

paragraph 2., of Aerazur SB No. 25-69-58, dated March 14, 2011. The 
Aerazur SB is attached as an appendix to Eurocopter ASB No. EC130-
25A042, Revision 0, dated July 11, 2011.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 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. 2011-0185, dated September 23, 2011.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3212: Emergency 
Flotation Section.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 8, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08758 Filed 4-12-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P