[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 93 (Friday, May 13, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27952-27954]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-11752]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-0448; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-51-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 120B
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
specified Eurocopter France Model EC 120B helicopters. This proposed AD
would require modifying the pilot cyclic control friction device by
replacing a certain thrust washer with two thrust washers. This
proposed AD is prompted by an incident in which the pilot encountered a
sudden restriction of the cyclic control movement during flight. The
actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent jamming
of a pilot cyclic control stick and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 12, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD
from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie,
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
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) 222-5130, fax (817)
222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2011-0448,
Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-51-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each
[[Page 27953]]
substantive verbal contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed
rulemaking. Using the search function of the docket Web site, you can
find and read the comments to any of our dockets, including the name of
the individual who sent or signed the comment. You may review the DOT's
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
Examining the Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
Discussion
The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile France (DGAC), which is
the aviation authority for France, has issued French AD No. F-2005-175,
dated October 26, 2005, on behalf of the European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA), the Airworthiness Authority of the State of Design for
the affected helicopters, to correct an unsafe condition for the
Eurocopter France Model EC 120B helicopters.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A011, Revision
1, dated October 7, 2005 (ASB), which specifies a modification to
preclude the risk that the pilot cyclic control stick will jam. The
modification consists of replacing the existing single-piece thrust
washer, part number (P/N) C671A1006201, with two thrust washers, P/N
C671A1018201 and P/N C671A1019201. The DGAC classified this alert
service bulletin as mandatory and issued AD No. F-2005-175, dated
October 26, 2005, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
helicopters.
FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with France, the DGAC, on behalf of the EASA, their
technical representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition
described in the DGAC AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated
all information provided by the DGAC and determined the unsafe
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of
the same type design. This proposed AD would require replacing a
single-piece thrust washer, P/N C671A1006201, with two thrust washers,
P/N C671A1018201 and P/N C671A1019201, to prevent the jamming of the
pilot cyclic control stick.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the DGAC AD
The DGAC AD requires compliance with the ASB no later than December
31, 2005. Our proposed AD would require compliance within 30 days after
the effective date of the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 114 helicopters of
U.S. registry and the proposed actions would take approximately 3 work
hours per helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $85 per
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $50 per helicopter.
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $34,770 for the entire fleet, or
$305 per helicopter, to replace the single thrust washer with two
thrust washers.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, 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 above, I certify that the 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); and
3. 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. See the AD docket to examine the economic
evaluation.
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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2011-0448; Directorate Identifier
2007-SW-51-AD.
Applicability: Model EC 120B helicopters, serial numbers up to
and including 1385, with a thrust washer, part number (P/N)
C671A1006201, installed on the pilot cyclic control stick friction
device; and a pilot cyclic stick, P/N C671A1007101, P/N
C671A1007102, or C671A1003102, installed, certificated in any
category.
Compliance: Required within 30 days, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent jamming of a pilot cyclic control stick and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the
following:
(a) Remove the pilot cyclic control stick; replace the thrust
washer, P/N C671A1006201, with two thrust washers, P/N C671A1018201
and P/N C671A1019201; reinstall the pilot cyclic control stick; and
perform a functional test of the cyclic control.
(b) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Contact the Manager, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA, ATTN: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Regulations and Policy Group, ASW-111, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort
Worth,
[[Page 27954]]
Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5130, fax (817) 222-5961, for
information about previously approved alternative methods of
compliance.
(c) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 2700:
Flight Control System.
Note: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction Generale
de l'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. F-2005-175, dated October 26,
2005, and Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A011, Revision 1,
dated October 7, 2005
.Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 27, 2011.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-11752 Filed 5-12-11; 8:45 am]
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