[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 23 (Monday, February 4, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7641-7642]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-02236]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 7641]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0794; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-04-AD;
Amendment 39-17319; AD 2013-01-05]
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 (Eurocopter) Model AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters.
This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft
Flight Manual (RFM) to reduce the starter generator operating current
to 180 amperes (amps) and installing a placard in the instrument panel
indicating the revised limitation. This AD was prompted by the
determination that the manufacturer-installed Aircraft Parts
Corporation (APC) starter generator has exceeded the shaft horse power
extractions allowed for Turbomeca engines. The actions of this AD are
intended to prevent the engine surge margin being reduced, which can
result in engine failure.
DATES: This AD is effective March 11, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
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. 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: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, fax (817)
222-5961, email chinh.vuong,@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On July 30, 2012, at 77 FR 44513, 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 Model AS350B3 and
EC130B4 helicopters with an APC 200-amp starter generator, part number
200SGL130Q, installed. That NPRM proposed to require, within the next
100 hours time-in-service (TIS), revising the Limitations section of
the RFM to reduce the starter generator rating to 180 amps and
installing a placard on the instrument panel below the vehicle engine
multifunction display indicating the starter generator reduced
limitation: ``MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS GENERATOR LOAD 180A.'' The proposed
requirements were intended to prevent the engine surge margin being
reduced, which can result in engine failure.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
No. 2006-0337, dated November 7, 2006, to correct an unsafe condition
for the Eurocopter Model AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters. EASA advises
that the power drawn by an APC 200 amp starter generator from the
engine is above the consumption capacity for the specified Eurocopter
model helicopters. Excessive power consumption of the starter generator
reduces the engine surge margin, which can result in engine failure.
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 44513,
July 30, 2012).
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, 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
We require that this AD be accomplished within 100 hours TIS,
rather than 110 flight hours or 12 months as stated in the EASA AD.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs) No. 01.00.57
for the Model AS350B3 helicopters and No. 04A002 for the Model EC130B4
helicopters. Both ASBs are Revision 1 and both are dated September 14,
2006. The ASBs specify defining the limitation for the APC 200-amp
starter generator. EASA classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued
AD No. 2006-0337, dated November 7, 2006, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 363 helicopters of U.S.
Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD. It will cost $21.25, assuming it takes 15
minutes to revise the RFM and install a placard on the
[[Page 7642]]
instrument panel of each helicopter at an average labor rate of $85 per
work hour, or $7,714 for the 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):
2013-01-05 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17319; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0794; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-04-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters with an
Aircraft Parts Corporation 200-ampere (amp) starter generator, part
number 200SGL130Q, installed, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as excessive power
consumption of the starter generator, which reduces the engine surge
margin. This condition could result in engine failure and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective March 11, 2013.
(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
Within the next 100 hours time-in-service:
(1) Revise Paragraph 2, Limitations, of the Rotorcraft Flight
Manual Supplement 29 to reduce the maximum current of the starter
generator to 180 amps Max. continuous.
(2) Install a placard, 125 millimeters long by 10 millimeters
wide, on the instrument panel below the vehicle engine multifunction
display indicating the starter generator reduced limitation:
``MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS GENERATOR LOAD = 180A.''
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal
to: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft
Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort
Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, fax (817) 222-5961,
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 Alert Service Bulletins No. 01.00.57 and No.
04A002, both Revision 1, and both dated September 14, 2006, which
are not incorporated by reference, contain additional information
about the subject of this AD. For service information identified in
this AD, contact 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. You may review copies of
the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
Safety Agency AD No. 2006-0337, dated November 7, 2006.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: Starter-Generator
2435.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 9, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-02236 Filed 2-1-13; 8:45 am]
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