[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56755-56756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21531]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0338; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-51-AD;
Amendment 39-17172; AD 2012-17-09]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter France Model SA341G helicopters. This AD requires replacing
any rotating star with more than 12,000 hours TIS. This AD was prompted
by an analysis and tests performed by the manufacturer that indicate
that the life limit of the rotating star should be 12,000 hours time-
in-service (TIS). The actions of this AD are intended to prevent
failure of the rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective October 19, 2012.
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 AD, any incorporated-by-reference
service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On March 29, 2012, at 77 FR 18965, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Eurocopter France
Model SA341G helicopters, with rotating star, part number (P/N)
341A31.4116.21 installed. That NPRM proposed to require replacing any
rotating star with 12,000 or more hours TIS with an airworthy rotating
star with less than 12,000 hours TIS. The NPRM also proposed to revise
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness by reducing the service life of the main rotor rotating
star from unlimited hours to 12,000 hours TIS. The proposed
requirements were intended to prevent failure of the rotating star and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the
aviation authority for France, has issued DGAC AD No. F-2004-070, dated
May 26, 2004, to correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter France
Model SA 341/342 helicopters. The DGAC advises that they issued the AD
to require a new service life limit of 12,000 flight hours for the
[[Page 56756]]
rotating star, part number (P/N) 341A31.4116.21, installed on Model
SA341G helicopters.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.
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, DGAC, its 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 DGAC and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type
designs and that air safety and the public interest require adopting
the AD requirements as proposed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 21 helicopters of U.S.
registry and the actions will take approximately 6 work hours per
helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour.
Required parts will cost approximately $6,000. Based on these figures,
we estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators to be
$6,510 to replace the rotating star on each helicopter, or $136,710 for
the entire 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 helicopters identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2012-17-09 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17172; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0338; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-51-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model SA341G helicopters, with rotating star,
part number (P/N) 341A31.4116.21 installed, certificated in any
category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as a reduced service life
of the rotating star. This condition could result in failure of the
rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective October 19, 2012.
(d) Compliance
You are responsible for performing each action required by this
AD within the specified compliance time unless accomplished
previously.
(e) Required Actions
(1) Before further flight, remove any rotating star, P/N
341A31.4116.21, with 12,000 or more hours time-in-service (TIS), and
replace it with an airworthy rotating star with less than 12,000
hours TIS.
(2) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by reducing the service
life of the main rotor rotating star from unlimited hours TIS to
12,000 hours TIS.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 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.
(g) Additional Information
The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction Generale de
l'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. F-2004-070, dated May 26, 2004.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220: Main Rotor
Head.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 21, 2012.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21531 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
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