[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 93 (Thursday, May 14, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27605-27607]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-11522]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1480; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-071-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously 
Eurocopter France)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2002-13-
11 for Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B 
helicopters. AD 2002-13-11 currently requires installing front and side 
covers on the cabin floor to protect the yaw control at both the pilot 
and co-pilot stations. Since we issued AD 2002-13-11, we have 
determined that the required actions should apply only to the cabin's 
right-hand pilot station. This proposed AD would retain the 
requirements of AD 2002-13-11 but for only the pilot station. These 
proposed actions are intended to prevent an object from sliding between 
the canopy and the cabin floor, loss of yaw control, and subsequent 
loss of helicopter control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 13, 2015.

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 Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD, the economic evaluation, 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 
Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 
telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at 
http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. You may review 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) 222-5110; 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

    On June 25, 2002, we issued AD 2002-13-11, Amendment 39-12799 (67 
FR 45295, July 9, 2002) for certain serial-numbered Eurocopter France 
(now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2002-13-11 
requires installing front and side covers to protect the yaw control at 
the pilot and co-pilot flight control stations. AD 2002-13-11 was 
prompted by a report of a mobile phone falling between the windshield 
canopy and the cabin floor, jamming the yaw control pedal. Those 
actions were intended to prevent an object from sliding between the 
canopy and the cabin floor, loss of yaw control, and subsequent loss of 
helicopter control.
    AD 2002-13-11 was prompted by AD No. 2001-386-007(A), dated 
September 5, 2001, issued by the DGAC, the airworthiness authority for 
France, to correct an unsafe condition for the Model EC120B helicopter. 
The DGAC advises of a yaw-control jamming caused by an object that slid 
between the canopy and the cabin floor.
    The DGAC AD required that front and lateral protections be 
installed no later than December 31, 2001, in compliance with paragraph 
2.B of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005, Revision 0, dated 
July 30, 2001. DGAC revised its AD and issued AD 2001-386-007(A) R1, 
dated February 6, 2002 (AD 2001-386-007(A)R1), which extended the 
compliance deadline to February 28, 2002.

Actions Since AD 2002-13-11 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2002-13-11 (67 FR 45295, July 9, 2002), we have 
determined that the front and side protections are required only at the 
pilot station. Therefore, we are proposing to remove the final sentence 
in paragraph (a) of the Compliance section of the AD, which requires 
that if the helicopter has flight controls at both the pilot and co-
pilot stations, the protections must be

[[Page 27606]]

installed at both stations. Also, since we issued AD 2002-13-11, the 
format in which we issue ADs has been revised, resulting in changes to 
the content and ordering of the AD paragraphs. Eurocopter France has 
also changed its name to Airbus Helicopters. This proposed AD reflects 
that change and updates the contact information to obtain service 
documentation.

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, the DGAC, which was France's 
technical representative when AD 2001-386-007(A)R1 was issued, 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 Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005, Revision 
0, dated July 30, 2001 (ASB), which specifies installing a front and 
side protection on the cabin floor to protect the yaw control. The DGAC 
classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD No. 2001-386-007(A), 
dated September 5, 2001, and AD 2001-386-007(A)R1, dated February 6, 
2002, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in 
France.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section of this 
NPRM.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 90 days, installing front 
and side covers (protections) on the cabin floor at the pilot station 
to protect the yaw control.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 37 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs would average $85 a work-hour. 
Required parts would cost about $584 and it would take about 2 work-
hours to accomplish the proposed actions. Based on these figures, we 
estimate that the total cost of this proposed AD would be $754 per 
helicopter and $27,898 for the U.S. 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2002-13-11, Amendment 39-12799 (67 FR 45295, July 9, 2002), and adding 
the following new AD:

Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France): Docket No. FAA-
2015-1480; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-071-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model EC120B helicopters, serial numbers 1001 
through 1278, inclusive, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an object sliding 
between the canopy and the cabin floor. This condition could result 
in loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2002-13-11, Amendment 39-12799 (67 FR 
45295, July 9, 2002).

(d) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 13, 2015.

(e) 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.

(f) Required Actions

    Within 90 days, install front and side covers (protections) to 
protect the yaw control in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 2.B., of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 
No. 67A005, Revision 0, dated July 30, 2001 (ASB), except the 
correct reference to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual in subparagraph 
2.B.2 of the ASB is 20-10-00, 3-8.

(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) 222-5110; 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.

[[Page 27607]]

(h) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in the Direction General De 
L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD No. 67A005, Revision 1, dated February 
6, 2002. You may view the DGAC AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2015-1480.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2500, Cabin 
Equipment/Furnishings.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-11522 Filed 5-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P