[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66618-66620]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27771]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-1033; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-43-AD;
Amendment 39-16815; AD 2011-20-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model
EC225LP Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
the Eurocopter Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires inspecting
the dome fairing support for a crack at the dome fairing attachment
point. If a crack is found, this AD requires replacing the dome fairing
support and the associated coning stop support assembly before further
flight. If no crack is found, this AD requires repetitive inspections
and retorquing the screws at specified intervals. This AD is prompted
by the discovery of two fatigue cracks in the dome fairing attachment
on the dome fairing support. This condition, if not corrected, could
lead to the loss of the dome fairing in flight, causing damage to the
helicopter and injury to people on the ground.
DATES: Effective November 14, 2011.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or
before December 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this 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 AD from
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75053-4005, telephone (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3710, or at http://www.eurocopter.com.
[[Page 66619]]
Examining the Docket:
You may examine the docket that contains the AD, any comments, and
other information 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 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5130; fax: 817-222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
2009-0023, dated February 20, 2009, to correct an unsafe condition for
the Eurocopter Model EC225LP helicopters. EASA advises that two fatigue
cracks were discovered in the dome fairing attachment on the dome
fairing support due to the loss of the tightening torque of the screws
which secure the assembly. Since then, Eurocopter has developed a
modification (MOD) which includes installation of redesigned parts with
``modified geometrics'' in the main rotor hub area.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 05A005,
Revision 1, dated February 3, 2009 (EASB 05A005), which applies to FAA
type-certificated Model EC225LP helicopters and non-FAA type
certificated Model EC725AP military helicopters. Eurocopter also issued
Service Bulletin No. 62-007, Revision 1, dated July 10, 2009, which
applies to FAA type-certificated Model EC225LP helicopters, and
specifies reinforcing the cone restrainer support, MOD 0743718. EASB
05A005 specifies checking the dome fairing support for a crack and
readjusting the tightening torque of the dome fairing-to-dome fairing
support attachment screws. If a crack is found, the EASB specifies
complying with MOD 0743718 before resuming flight. Eurocopter states
that installing this MOD exempts the operator from the monitoring
requirements. They also state that this MOD reinforces the coning stop
support and improves the dome fairing support attachment on the coning
stop support. The EASA classified this service information as mandatory
and issued EASA AD No. 2009-0023, dated February 20, 2009, to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.
FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination
This helicopter model 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, EASA, their technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by EASA and determined an unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type
design.
There are no products of this type currently registered in the
United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the
described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these products are
placed on the U.S. Registry in the future.
Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD
This AD differs from the EASA AD in that we:
Use ``hours time-in-service'' rather than ``flight
hours.''
Do not impose a calendar date compliance time.
Use the term ``inspect'' rather than ``check.''
Costs of Compliance
There are no costs of compliance since there are no helicopters of
this type design on the U.S. Registry.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
Since there are currently no affected U.S. registered helicopters,
we have determined that notice and opportunity for prior public comment
before issuing this AD are unnecessary and that good cause exists for
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
Requirements of This AD
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of the same type design registered in the United States.
Therefore, this AD is being issued to prevent loss of the dome fairing
in flight, causing damage to the helicopter and injury to people on the
ground. This AD requires inspecting for a crack in the dome fairing
support at the dome fairing attachment points. If a crack is found,
this AD requires replacing the dome fairing support and the associated
coning stop support assembly before further flight. If no crack is
found, this AD requires repetitive inspections and retorquing the
screws securing the dome fairing support to the dome fairing at
specified intervals. This AD is prompted by the discovery of two
fatigue cracks in the dome fairing attachment on the dome fairing
support. Accomplishing Eurocopter MOD 0743718 constitutes terminating
action for the requirements of this AD.
Comments Invited
This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under
the ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-1033; Directorate
Identifier 2009-SW-43-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because 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 substantive verbal contact
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. 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 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).
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that notice and prior public comment are
unnecessary in promulgating this regulation; therefore, it can be
issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft since
none of these model helicopters are registered in the United States. We
have also determined that this regulation is not a ``significant
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined
further that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If
it is determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be
[[Page 66620]]
significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final
regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the AD docket.
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, Incorporation by
Reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to
read as follows:
2011-20-05 Eurocopter France (Eurocopter): Amendment 39-16815;
Docket No. FAA-2011-1033; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-43-AD.
Applicability: Model EC225LP helicopters, certificated in any
category, that have not been modified in accordance with Eurocopter
Modification (MOD) 0743718.
Compliance: Required as indicated.
To prevent loss of the dome fairing in flight, damage to the
helicopter, and injury to people on the ground, accomplish the
following:
(a) Within 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), unless accomplished
previously, inspect for a crack in the dome fairing support at the
dome fairing attachment points.
(1) If a crack is found in the dome fairing support or at a dome
fairing attachment point, before further flight, replace the dome
fairing support and the associated coning stop support assembly.
(2) If no crack is found, thereafter at intervals not exceeding
165 hours TIS, inspect for a crack in the dome fairing support, and
re-torque the screws securing the dome fairing support to the dome
fairing.
Note 1: Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 05A005,
Revision 1, dated February 3, 2009, and Service Bulletin No. 62-007,
Revision 1, dated July 10, 2009, which are not incorporated by
reference, contain additional information about the subject of this
AD.
(b) Accomplishing Eurocopter MOD 0743718 constitutes terminating
action for the requirements of this AD.
(c) 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, FAA, Attn: Gary Roach,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222-5130;
fax: 817-222-5961, for information about previously approved
alternative methods of compliance.
(d) A special flight permit will not be issued.
(e) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 6300:
Main Rotor Drive System.
(f) This amendment becomes effective on November 14, 2011.
Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in European
Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2009-0023, dated February 20, 2009.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 13, 2011.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27771 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
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