[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37150-37152]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14697]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0519; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-068-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) 
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 ECD 
Model BO105C (C-2 and CB-2 Variants) and BO105S (CS-2 and CBS-2 
Variants) helicopters with a certain third stage turbine wheel 
installed. This proposed AD would require installing a placard on the 
instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the rotorcraft

[[Page 37151]]

flight manual (RFM). This proposed AD is prompted by several incidents 
of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were caused by 
excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady-state 
operations. The proposed actions are intended to alert pilots to avoid 
certain engine speeds during steady-state operations, prevent failure 
of the third stage engine turbine, engine power loss, and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 19, 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: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Safety Management 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 aviation 
authority for Germany, has issued EASA AD No. 2010-0128, dated June 25, 
2010 (EASA 2010-0128), to correct an unsafe condition for Model BO 105 
C, BO 105 D, and BO 105 S helicopters, and certain variants of those 
models. EASA advises that several failures of third stage turbine 
wheels used in Rolls Royce Corporation (RRC) 250 series engines have 
occurred. According to EASA, RRC has determined that detrimental 
vibrations can occur within a particular range of turbine speeds, and 
may be a contributing factor to these failures. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in loss of engine power, possibly resulting in 
an emergency landing and injuries to the helicopter occupants. To 
address this, RRC issued Commercial Engine Bulletin (CEB) A-1400, now 
at revision 3, for engines with a third stage turbine wheel, part 
number (P/N) 23065833, installed. CEB A-1400 introduces an operational 
limitation to avoid engine power turbine (N2) steady-state operation in 
a speed range between 86.5% and 95.5% for more than 60 seconds in 
single or cumulative events. In response, ECD has revised the RFM and 
has provided a placard to inform pilots to avoid steady-state 
operations between 86.5% and 95.5% turbine speeds.
    The EASA AD requires amending the RFMs and installing a placard as 
described in ECD Alert Service Bulletin No. BO105-60-110, Revision 1, 
dated March 3, 2010 (ASB BO105).

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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 helicopters of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    ECD has issued ASB BO105, which contains procedures for installing 
a placard on the instrument panel stating the prohibited steady-state 
turbine operating range. Revision 1 of ASB BO105 removed the temporary 
RFM pages as these changes were included in the most recent revisions 
of the BO105C/CS and BO105CB/CBS RFMs.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require installing a placard on the 
instrument panel next to the triple RPM indicator and revising the 
Operating Limitations sections of the Model BO 105C/CS and BO105 CB/CBS 
RFMs to limit steady-state operations between speeds of 86.5% and 
95.5%.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 80 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry.
    Based on an average labor rate of $85 per hour, we estimate that 
operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this 
AD. Amending the RFM would require about 0.5 work-hours, for a cost per 
helicopter of about $43 and a cost to U.S. operators of $3,440. 
Installing the decal would require about 0.2 work-hours, and required 
parts would cost about $5, for a cost per helicopter of $22 and a cost 
to U.S. operators of $1,760. Based on these estimates, the total cost 
of this proposed AD would be $65 per helicopter and $5,200 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,

[[Page 37152]]

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 Deutschland GmbH (ECD): Docket No. FAA-2013-0519; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-068-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to ECD Model BO105C (C-2 and CB-2 Variants) and 
BO105S (CS-2 and CBS-2 Variants) helicopters with a third stage 
turbine wheel, part number (P/N) 23065833, installed, certificated 
in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a third stage turbine 
vibration, which could result in turbine failure, engine power loss 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 19, 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 30 days:
    (1) For BO105C-2 and BO105CS-2 Variant helicopters, revise the 
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), Section 2, Limitations Section, by 
inserting page 2-25 of ECD Flight Manual BO105 C/CS, revision 5.
    (2) For BO105CB-2 and BO105CBS-2 Variant helicopters, revise the 
RFM, Section 2, Limitations Section, by inserting pages 2-8 and 2-27 
of ECD Flight Manual BO105 CB/CBS, revision 8.
    (3) Install a placard on the instrument panel next to the triple 
RPM indicator that states:
    MIN. CONTINUOUS 98% N2
    MIN. TRANSIENT 95% N2

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management 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

    (1) ECD Alert Service Bulletin No. BO105-60-110, revision 1, 
dated March 3, 2010, which is not incorporated by reference, 
contains additional information about the subject of this AD. 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. 2010-0128, dated June 25, 2010.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7250: Turbine 
Section.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 13, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14697 Filed 6-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P