[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 80 (Thursday, April 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24367-24368]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-09715]



[[Page 24367]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0350; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-050-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AgustaWestland S.p.A. 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 
AgustaWestland S.p.A. (AgustaWestland) Model A119 and AW119 MKII 
helicopters to require inspecting the pilot and co-pilot doors to 
ensure that the windows are properly bonded within the doors. If the 
windows are not properly bonded, the proposed AD would require applying 
bonding to the windows, the seals, and the window frames of the pilot 
and co-pilot doors. This proposed AD is prompted by the loss of a 
pilot-door window during a test flight. The proposed actions are 
intended to ensure the windows do not detach from the doors, 
potentially injuring persons on the ground and damaging the 
helicopter's tailboom and the tail rotor blades.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 24, 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 
AgustaWestland, 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, 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. 2012-0058, dated April 3, 2012, to correct an unsafe condition for 
AgustaWestland Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. EASA advises that 
the pilot-door window detached during a test flight of an AW119 MKII 
helicopter. The occupant was not injured, and the helicopter was not 
damaged.
    According to EASA, an investigation revealed that a ``lack of the 
bonding of the seal both to the window and to the door structure'' 
caused the window's detachment. To address this unsafe condition, 
AugustaWestland issued Bollettino Tecnico (BT) No. 119-47, dated March 
29, 2012, and EASA issued AD No. 2012-0058 to require an inspection of 
the bonding in the pilot and co-pilot door windows and, if there is no 
bonding, applying bonding.
    If this condition is not corrected, it could lead to detachment of 
the windows from the pilot- and co-pilot doors, potentially injuring 
persons on the ground and damaging 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, 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

    We reviewed BT No. 119-47 for all AgustaWestland A119 and AW119 
MKII helicopters, which contains procedures to ensure that the pilot- 
and co-pilot door windows are correctly bonded.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within the next 50 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or within the next five months, whichever comes first, 
inspecting the pilot and co-pilot doors to determine whether there is 
bonding between the seals, the window frames, and the windows in the 
external and internal sides of the seals' junction areas. If no bonding 
exists, before further flight, this proposed AD would require applying 
bonding to the windows, seals, and window frames.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 65 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs would average $85 an hour. Based on 
these estimates, we expect the following costs:
     Inspecting for bonding between the seals and the windows 
in the internal

[[Page 24368]]

and external sides of the junction areas would require 0.5 work-hour 
for a labor cost of about $43. No parts would be needed, so the cost 
for the U.S. fleet would total $2,795.
     Adding the bonding material if needed would require about 
1.5 work-hours for a labor cost of about $128. The cost of materials 
would be negligible.

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):

AGUSTAWESTLAND S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA-2013-0350; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-SW-050-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to AgustaWestland S.p.A. (AgustaWestland) Model 
A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters, serial numbers up to and including 
14781, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a window detaching from 
the pilot or co-pilot doors, which could result in damage to the 
helicopter and injury to persons on the ground.

(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

    Within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or within the 
next five months, whichever comes first:
    (1) Visually inspect the pilot and co-pilot doors by referencing 
Figure 1 of Bollettino Tecnico No. 119-47, dated March 29, 2012 
(BT), to determine whether there is bonding between the seal (3) and 
the window (4) in the internal and external side of the seal's 
junction area.
    (2) If there is no bonding, before further flight, apply bonding 
to the windows, seals, and window frames in accordance with the 
Compliance Instructions, paragraphs 5 through 20, of the BT.

(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, 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. 2012-0058, dated April 3, 2012.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5610, Flight 
Compartment Windows.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 12, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-09715 Filed 4-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P