[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18230-18232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06133]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0772; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-053-AD;
Amendment 39-17393; AD 2013-05-21]
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 EC130 B4 helicopters with a cabin
vibration damper installed. This AD requires installing a vibration
damper casing assembly on both sides of the helicopter. This AD was
prompted by a crack and failure of a cabin vibration damper blade. The
actions of this AD are intended to modify the cabin vibration damper
assembly to prevent contact with the flight controls in the event of a
cabin vibration blade failure, jamming of a flight control, and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective April 30, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of April 30, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie,
Texas 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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On July 26, 2012, at 77 FR 43738, 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 Model EC130
B4 helicopters with a cabin vibration damper installed, except those
modified in accordance with Modification 073565. That NPRM proposed to
require installing a vibration damper casing assembly on both sides of
the helicopter. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent
contact with the flight controls in the event of a cabin vibration
blade failure, jamming of a flight control, 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, issued EASA AD No.
2006-0278, dated September 7, 2006 (AD 2006-0278), to correct an unsafe
condition for the Eurocopter Model EC130 B4 helicopter. EASA advises of
a cracked cabin vibration damper blade, which could lead to jamming of
a flight control.
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 43738,
July 26, 2012).
FAA's Determination
This helicopter 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, 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 this same
type design 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 requires two daily visual inspections for cracks in the
blade of each cabin vibration damper and replacement of a blade if
there is a crack; this AD does not. The EASA AD requires compliance by
a calendar date. This AD requires compliance within 100 hours time-in-
service.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 53A008,
Revision 0, dated July 19, 2006 (ASB 53A008), which supersedes ASB No.
05A002, Revision 0, dated July 18, 2006, and specifies installing a
cabin vibration damper containment device. EASA classified ASB 53A008
as mandatory and issued AD 2006-0278 to ensure the
[[Page 18231]]
continued airworthiness of these helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 122 helicopters of U.S.
Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD.
$340 for 4 work-hours to install a vibration damper casing
assembly at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour,
$1,500 for required parts per helicopter, and
$224,480 total cost 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):
2013-05-21 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17393; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0772; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-053-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model EC130 B4 helicopters with a cabin
vibration damper installed, except those modified in accordance with
Modification 073565, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as a cracked cabin
vibration damper blade. This condition could result in failure of
the blade, jamming of the flight controls, and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective April 30, 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) For helicopters that have not been modified in accordance
with Modification 073521 or Modification 073525, install a vibration
damper casing assembly on both sides of the helicopter by following
paragraphs 2.B.2.a and 2.B.5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 53A008, dated July 19, 2006
(ASB 53A008).
(2) For helicopters that have been modified in accordance with
Modification 073521 either at the time of manufacture or pursuant to
Eurocopter Service Bulletin (SB) No. 53-006, Revision 1, dated
September 30, 2004; or Modification 073525 either at the time of
manufacture or pursuant to Eurocopter SB No. 53-007, Revision 1,
dated February 19, 2007, install a vibration damper casing assembly
on both sides of the helicopter by following paragraphs 2.B.3.a,
2.B.3.b, and 2.B.5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of ASB 53A008.
(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, Texas 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
(1) Eurocopter SB No. 53-006, Revision 1, dated September 30,
2004; SB No. 53-007, Revision 1, dated February 19, 2007; and Alert
SB No. 05A002, Revision 0, dated July 18, 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 N. Forum Drive, Grand
Prairie, Texas 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.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
Safety Agency AD No. 2006-0278, dated September 7, 2006.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 1810, Helicopter
Vibration Analysis.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 53A008, dated July 19,
2006.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD,
contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand
Prairie, Texas 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323;
fax (972) 641-3775; or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call
[[Page 18232]]
(202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 7, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06133 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
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