[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 99 (Tuesday, May 22, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30230-30232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-12349]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0528; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland 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 all
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters with
certain Generator Control Units (GCU) installed. This proposed AD is
prompted by reports of internal short circuits in certain GCUs. The
proposed actions are intended to replace any affected GCUs to prevent a
short circuit, which could result in a loss of electrical generating
power, loss of systems required for continued safe flight and landing,
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 23, 2012.
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 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 a copy of 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: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5114; email
george.schwab@faa.gov.
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
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued AD No.:
2011-0149R1, dated September 30, 2011 (AD
[[Page 30231]]
2011-0149R1), to correct an unsafe condition for the Eurocopter
Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. EASA advises that
during an acceptance test procedure of a GCU, a short circuit caused by
a manufacturing discrepancy occurred within the unit. According to
EASA, all part number (P/N) 51530-021EI ``no MOD,'' ``MOD A,'' and
``MOD B'' GCUs are potentially affected by this discrepancy. To address
this potential unsafe condition, EASA issued AD No.: 2011-0149, dated
August 19, 2011, to identify and replace each affected GCU with an
airworthy GCU. Since issuing that AD, Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
demonstrated that helicopters modified in accordance with Eurocopter
Deutschland GmbH Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) MBB BK117 C-2-24A-008,
Revision 1, dated August 29, 2011, have a much lower risk of losing
electrical generating power from a faulty generator control unit. EASA
then revised AD No.: 2011-0149 and issued AD 2011-0149R1 to allow an
extended compliance time for helicopters modified in accordance with
the Eurocopter Deutschland ASB.
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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 Deutschland GmbH has issued ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-24A-010
Revision 2, dated September 14, 2011, which specifies removing any GCU
with P/N 51530-021EI with no modification (MOD), MOD A, or MOD B, and
replacing it with a GCU P/N 51530-021EI MOD C or later MOD. EASA
classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD 2011-0149R1 to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require replacement of the GCU with an
airworthy GCU.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD
The EASA AD allows a compliance time of 500 flight hours for
helicopters previously modified by Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH ASB MBB
BK117 C-2-24A-008 Revision 1, while the proposed AD requires compliance
within the next 300 hours time-in-service for all affected helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 104 helicopters of
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs
in order to comply with this AD. Replacing a GCU with an airworthy GCU
will require about 2 work hours at an average labor rate of $85 per
hour. Required parts will cost $7,130, for a total cost per helicopter
of $7,300.
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
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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
Airworthiness Directive (AD):
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2012-0528;
Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters with a
generator control unit (GCU), part number (P/N) 51530-021EI with no
modification (MOD), MOD A, or MOD B installed, certificated in any
category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an internal short
circuit in certain GCUs. This condition could result in loss of
electrical generating power, resulting in the loss of systems
required for continued safe flight and landing, and subsequent loss
of control of the helicopter.
(c) 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.
(d) Required Actions
(1) Within the next 300 hours time-in-service or 6 months,
whichever occurs first, replace all GCUs with no MOD, MOD A, or MOD
B with an airworthy GCU.
(2) Do not install a GCU P/N 51530-021-EI with no MOD, MOD A, or
MOD B on any helicopter.
(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5114;
email george.schwab@faa.gov.
[[Page 30232]]
(2) For operations conducted under 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.
(f) Additional Information
(1) Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Alert Service Bulletin MBB-BK117
C-2-24A-010 Revision 2, dated September 14, 2011, which is not
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the
subject of this AD.
(2) For service information identified in this 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 a copy
of the service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137.
(3) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No.: 2011-0149R1, dated September 30, 2011.
(g) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2436: DC Generator
Control Unit.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 10, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-12349 Filed 5-21-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P