[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41888-41890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16694]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0604; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-110-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Agusta 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 
certain AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139 
helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the nose landing 
gear (NLG) pin installations for incorrect assembly. This proposed AD 
is prompted by reports of incorrectly installed pins discovered on in-
service aircraft. The proposed actions are intended to detect 
incorrectly installed pins, which could result in collapse of the NLG 
during taxi or landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 10, 
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 
Agusta Westland, 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: 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. 2012-0262, dated December 14, 2012 (EASA AD 2012-0262), to correct 
an unsafe condition for the Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. 
EASA advises that incorrectly installed NLG pins, part number 1661-
0001, were discovered on several aircraft. Incorrectly installed pins 
create a pre-stress condition on the pin flange. According to EASA, a 
subsequent technical investigation by Agusta concluded that the 
incorrect installation could be present on a number of other 
helicopters. EASA states that this condition could lead to NLG 
structural failure and consequent collapse during landing or taxi, 
resulting in damage to the helicopter and injury to the occupants. EASA 
AD 2012-0262 requires inspecting the NLG pin installation on both the 
left and right arms to determine if the pin, washers, and nuts are 
correctly installed and, depending on findings, inspecting the bolts, 
nuts, and pins for corrosion, and also inspecting the pins for surface 
cracks, and correctly installing the pins.

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.

[[Page 41889]]

Related Service Information

    Agusta has issued Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-306, dated December 
12, 2012 (BT 139-306), for Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. BT 139-
306 describes procedures to inspect for correct installation of the 
bolts, nuts, washers, and pins, inspecting the bolt head and nut for 
corrosion, and inspecting the pins for surface cracks.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time in service 
(TIS), inspecting the pin installations in the left and right arms for 
correct installation of the pin, bolts, washers, and nuts.
     If the installation is not correct, this proposed AD would 
require:
    [cir] Inspecting the bolt and nut for corrosion. If there is any 
corrosion, removing the bolt and nut from service.
    [cir] Inspecting the pin for corrosion, a crack, and damage. If 
there is any corrosion, removing the corrosion and measuring the pin 
diameter. If the pin diameter is less than 25.36 mm (.998 in) or if 
there is a crack in the pin, removing the pin from service.
    [cir] Dye penetrant inspecting the pin flange for surface cracks. 
If there is a surface crack, removing the pin from service.
     If the installation is correct, inspecting the bolt head 
and nut for corrosion would be required. If there is any corrosion, 
removing the bolt or nut from service would be required.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 50 flight hours or 1 month, 
while this proposed AD requires compliance within 50 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 102 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per 
hour, inspecting the nose landing gear arm pins would require about 1 
work hour, for a cost per helicopter of $85 and a total cost to U.S. 
operators of $8,670. If required, replacing a pin would require about 1 
work hour, and required parts cost $1,680, for a cost per helicopter of 
$1,765. The cost to replace a bolt or nut is minimal.

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 proposed 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. (Type Certificate Formerly Held By Agusta 
S.p.A.) Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2013-0604; Directorate 
Identifier 2012-SW-110-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 
and AW139 helicopters, serial number 31005, 31006, 31008 through 
31157, 31201 through 31398, 31400 through 31412, 31414, 31416, 
31418, 31419, 31421, 31425, 31426, 31428, 31432, 31440, 41001 
through 41023, 41201 through 41275, 41277 through 41286, 41288, 
41293, 41300, 41301, 41303, 41307, 41308, and 41310, with a nose 
landing gear (NLG) pin part number (P/N) 1661-0001 installed, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrect 
installation of a NLG pin, which could result in collapse of the NLG 
during taxi or landing.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 10, 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 50 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Inspect the NLG pin installations on the left and right arms 
to determine whether the bolt (item 2), washer (item 3) under the 
bolt head, washer (item 4) between the NLG arm and pin, pin (item 
5), washer (item 6) under the nut, nut (item 7), and cotter pin 
(item 8) are installed as depicted in Figure 1 of Agusta Bollettino 
Tecnico (BT) No. 139-306, dated December 12, 2012 (BT 139-306).
    (2) If any part is not installed as depicted in Figure 1 of BT 
139-306, before further flight, disassemble items 2 through 8 and 
accomplish the following:
    (i) Inspect each bolt and nut for corrosion. If there is any 
corrosion on a bolt or nut, remove the bolt and nut from service.
    (ii) Inspect each pin for corrosion and damage. If there is any 
corrosion or damage:
    (A) Remove the corrosion and damage with an abrasive stone or 
glass fiber brush.
    (B) Measure the pin diameter. If the pin diameter is less than 
25.36 mm (0.998 inch), remove the pin from service.
    (iii) Inspect each pin for a crack. If there is a crack, remove 
the pin from service.
    (iv) Dye penetrant inspect the pin flange for a crack. If there 
is a crack, remove the pin from service.
    (3) If items 2 through 8 are installed as depicted in Figure 1 
of BT 139-306, inspect each bolt head and nut for corrosion. If 
there is any corrosion on a bolt head or nut, before further flight, 
remove the bolt or nut from service.

[[Page 41890]]

(f) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (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.

(h) Additional Information

    (1) The Aircraft Maintenance Plan, DM No. 39-A-60-40-00-01A-
351A-D, which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional 
information about the subject of this AD. For service information 
identified in this AD, contact Agusta Westland, 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency AD No. 2012-0262, dated December 14, 2012, which you 
may view in the AD Docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3221: Nose Landing 
Gear Attach Section.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 3, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16694 Filed 7-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P