[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 233 (Monday, December 5, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 75772-75774]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-30939]
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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;
Amendment 39-16841; AD 2011-21-18]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 120B
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
the Eurocopter France Model EC 120B helicopters. This AD requires
modifying the pilot cyclic control friction device by replacing a
certain thrust washer with two thrust washers. This 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 AD
are intended to prevent jamming of a pilot cyclic control stick and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Effective December 20, 2011.
ADDRESSES: You may get the service information identified in this AD
from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie,
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
Examining the Docket: You may examine the docket that contains this
AD, any comments, and other information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Docket Operations office, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.
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:
[[Page 75773]]
Discussion
On April 27, 2011, we issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM)
to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Eurocopter
France Model EC 120B helicopters. That NPRM was published in the
Federal Register on May 13, 2011 (76 FR 27952). That NPRM proposed to
modify the pilot cyclic control friction device by replacing a certain
thrust washer with two thrust washers. The proposed AD was prompted by
an incident in which the pilot encountered a sudden restriction of the
cyclic control movement during flight.
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 24, 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 issuing 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 AD requires 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 AD and the DGAC AD
The DGAC AD requires compliance with the ASB no later than December
31, 2005. Our AD requires compliance within 30 days after the effective
date of the AD.
Comments
By publishing the NPRM (76 FR 27952, May 13, 2011), we gave the
public an opportunity to participate in developing this AD. However, we
received no comment on the NPRM or on our determination of the cost to
the public. Therefore, based on our review and evaluation of the
available data, we have determined that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 114 helicopters of U.S. registry
and the required actions will take approximately 3 work hours per
helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour.
Required parts cost approximately $50 per helicopter. Based on these
figures, we estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators
to 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 AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 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 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 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, 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:
2011-21-18 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-16841; 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
[[Page 75774]]
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, 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.
(d) This amendment becomes effective on December 20, 2011.
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 24, 2005.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 5, 2011.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-30939 Filed 12-2-11; 8:45 am]
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