[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69556-69558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28039]
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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;
Amendment 39-17261; AD 2012-23-05]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters with
certain Generator Control Units (GCU) installed. This AD requires
replacing the GCUs. This AD was prompted by reports of internal short
circuits in certain GCUs. These actions are intended 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: This AD is effective December 26, 2012.
ADDRESSES: 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 the referenced
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
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: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5114; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On May 22, 2012, at 77 FR 30230, 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 ECD Model MBB-BK117 C-2
helicopters with a GCU, part number (P/N) 51530-021EI with no
modification (MOD), MOD A, or MOD B installed. That NPRM proposed to
require replacing the GCU within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 6
months, whichever occurred earlier. The proposed requirements were
intended to prevent loss of electrical generating power, resulting in
the loss
[[Page 69557]]
of systems required for continued safe flight and landing, and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
No. 2011-0149R1, dated September 30, 2011 (AD 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 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, ECD
demonstrated that helicopters modified in accordance with ECD 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 ECD ASB.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (77 FR 30230,
May 22, 2012).
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
the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same
type designs and that air safety and the public interest require
adopting the AD requirements as proposed.
Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD
The EASA AD allows a compliance time of 1,500 flight hours for
helicopters previously modified by ECD ASB MBB BK117 C-2-24A-008
Revision 1, while this AD requires compliance within the next 300 hours
TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first, for all affected helicopters.
Related Service Information
ECD 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.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will 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 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):
2012-23-05 Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH: Amendment 39-17261; 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) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective December 26, 2012.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
[[Page 69558]]
(2) Do not install a GCU P/N 51530-021-EI with no MOD, MOD A, or
MOD B on any helicopter.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(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 [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
(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 AD No. 2011-0149R1, dated September 30, 2011.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2436: DC Generator
Control Unit.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 30, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28039 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
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