[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 1 (Thursday, January 2, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 74-76]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-31298]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-1090; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-017-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France 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 Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC120B and EC130B4 
helicopters. This proposed AD would require replacing parts of the 
sliding door star support attachment assembly, depending on the outcome 
of required inspections. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that 
passengers in a Eurocopter helicopter were forced to exit through the 
pilot door after landing because they could not open the sliding door 
from the inside. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure 
of the sliding door star support attachment, which could inhibit 
operation of a sliding door from inside, delaying the evacuation of 
passengers during an emergency.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 3, 2014.

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 European 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 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

[[Page 75]]

proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2013-0093, dated April 15, 2013, 
and corrected on April 17, 2013. EASA issued AD No. 2013-0093 to 
correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model EC120B and EC130B4 
helicopters after a case was reported where passengers could not open a 
helicopter's sliding door after landing. An investigation revealed a 
failure of the sliding door star axle support, EASA states.
    ``This condition, if not corrected, could delay the evacuation from 
the helicopter in case of emergency, possibly resulting in injury to 
the occupants,'' according to EASA. As a result, EASA AD No. 2013-0093 
requires inspecting the upper and lower locking pin control rod end 
fittings to determine if they are twisted or broken and replacing the 
end fittings if they are twisted or broken. If the end fittings are not 
twisted or broken, the EASA AD requires performing a dye penetrant 
inspection of the star support pin and then reinforcing the sliding 
door star support with carbon fabric plies soaked with adhesive.

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 issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC120-52A014 for 
Model EC120B helicopters and ASB No. EC130-52A009 for Model EC130B4 
helicopters, both Revision 1, and both dated January 25, 2013. The ASBs 
report that the star support pin ruptured on the kinematics of the 
sliding door locking system. The rupture prevents sliding doors from 
operating, the ASBs report. The ASBs call for visual and dye penetrant 
inspections of sections of the sliding door attachment assembly and 
reinforcement of the sliding door star support.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 165 hours time-in-service, 
visually inspecting the upper and lower locking pin control rod end 
fittings, and replacing the control end fitting before further flight 
if it is bent, twisted, or broken. This proposed AD would also require 
cleaning and dye penetrant inspecting the star support pin for a crack, 
and replacing the star support pin before further flight if there is a 
crack. Lastly, this proposed AD would require reinforcing the sliding 
door star support stringer by installing three carbon fabric plies.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 284 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on 
these estimates, we would expect the following costs:
     Visually inspecting the upper and lower locking pin 
control rod end fittings would require 1 work-hour and a minimal amount 
for consumable materials for a cost of $85 per helicopter, or $24,140 
for the U.S. fleet.
     Replacing the upper and lower locking pin control rod end 
fittings with airworthy fittings would require 5 work-hours for a labor 
cost of $425. Parts would cost $242 for a cost of $667 per helicopter.
     Dye penetrant inspecting the star support pin for a crack 
would require 2 work-hours and no parts for a cost of $170 per 
helicopter.
     Replacing the star support pin would require 5 work-hours. 
Parts would cost $200 for a total cost of $625 per helicopter.
     Installing three carbon fabric plies to reinforce the 
sliding door star support would require 5 work-hours. Parts would cost 
$200 for a total cost of $625 per helicopter.

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-2013-1090; Directorate Identifier 
2013-SW-017-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) 
helicopters, certificated in any category, except those helicopters 
with modification 07 3796 or 07 2921 installed:

[[Page 76]]

    (a) Model EC120B helicopters, serial numbers up to and including 
1367, with a sliding door, Part Number (P/N) C526A2370101, 
installed; and
    (b) Model EC130B4 helicopters with a sliding door, P/N 
C526S1101051, installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a failure of the sliding 
door star axle support. This condition could prevent operation of a 
sliding door from inside, which could delay evacuation of passengers 
during an emergency.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by March 3, 2014.

(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 165 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Visually inspect each upper and lower locking pin control 
rod end fitting (control end fitting) for a bend, twist, or 
breakage. If a control end fitting is bent, twisted, or broken, 
before further flight, replace the control end fitting with an 
airworthy control end fitting.
    (2) Clean and dye penetrant inspect the star support pin for a 
crack in the areas identified as Zone X and Zone Y in Figure 3 of 
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC120-52A014 or ASB No. 
EC130-52A009, both Revision 1, and both dated January 25, 2013, as 
applicable to your model helicopter. If there is a crack in the star 
support pin, before further flight, replace the star support pin 
with an airworthy star support pin.
    (3) Reinforce the sliding door star support stringer by 
installing three carbon fabric plies by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2.d, of ASB No. EC120-52A014 or ASB No. 
EC130-52A009, as applicable to your model helicopter, except this AD 
does not require you to comply with paragraph 3.C.

(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 (EASA) AD 2013-0093, dated April 15, 2013. You may view the 
EASA AD in Docket No. FAA-2013-1090 on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5220, Emergency 
Exits.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 18, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-31298 Filed 12-31-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P