[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 65 (Thursday, April 4, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 20234-20236]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-07211]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1014; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-058-AD;
Amendment 39-17404; AD 2013-06-07]
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 SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3
[[Page 20235]]
helicopters. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to prohibit flight in instrument
meteorological conditions (IMC) or night visual flight rules (VFR) for
each helicopter with a vertical gyro unit GV76-1 installed upon a non-
reinforced shelf in the rear cargo compartment. Also, this AD requires
modifying the GV76-1 vertical gyro unit shelf and testing for correct
function of the navigation systems. This AD was prompted by flight crew
reports of deviations between the displayed attitude on the attitude
display screen and the independent electromechanical standby attitude
indicator. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an undetected
flight display error of a slow drift in the roll axis, disorientation
of the pilot, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective May 9, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 9, 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: Mark F. Wiley, 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 September 25, 2012, at 77 FR 58971, 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 certain
Eurocopter Model SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters, with
the GV76-1 vertical gyro unit installed on the left-hand (LH) or right-
hand (RH) shelf in the rear cargo compartment, pre-MOD 365P081895. That
NPRM proposed to require revising the Limitations section of the RFM to
prohibit flight in IMC or night VFR until the GV76-1 vertical gyro unit
shelf is reinforced and tested. The proposed requirements were intended
to prevent an undetected flight display error of a slow drift in the
roll axis, disorientation of the pilot, 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.
2010-0100R1, dated August 4, 2010, and corrected August 11, 2010, to
correct an unsafe condition for the specified Eurocopter model
helicopters. EASA advises that a slow drift in the roll axis on the
pilot's and co-pilot's attitude display screens occurred simultaneously
during flight on several helicopters equipped with the GV76-1 vertical
gyro unit installed in the rear cargo compartment. EASA advises ``these
drifts were caused by a fault in the vertical gyros unit installation
in the rear cargo.'' EASA states that in certain configurations, the
GV76-1 vertical gyro unit installation has a natural mode close to the
main rotor's harmonic frequency that generates rather significant
vibratory levels on the GV76-1 unit by amplifying the intrinsic
vibration of the aircraft. The faults are caused by these vibratory
levels. EASA also states that the critical mode is essentially due to
bending on the horizontal cross-members, which support the GV76-1
shelf.
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 58971,
September 25, 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 do not use the calendar dates, which have already passed. This
AD prohibits flight in IMC or night VFR until MOD 365P081895 is
accomplished.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 34.00.31,
Revision 1, dated July 28, 2010 (ASB 34.00.31), for FAA type-
certificated Model SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters and
for military non-FAA type-certificated Model AS-365F, Fi, and K
helicopters. ASB 34.00.31 specifies reinforcing the shelves of the
vertical gyros GV76-1 (in cargo compartment) on the RH or LH side. EASA
classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD No. 2010-0100R1, dated
August 4, 2010, and corrected August 11, 2010, to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 19 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in
order to comply with this AD. It will take about 16 work-hours to
install a shelf reinforcement kit per helicopter at an average labor
rate of $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $2,560 per
helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of this
AD on U.S. operators to be $74,480 to reinforce the shelf of the entire
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
[[Page 20236]]
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):
2013-06-07 Eurocopter France Helicopters: Amendment 39-17404; Docket
No. FAA-2012-1014; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-058-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3
helicopters, with the GV76-1 vertical gyro unit installed on the
left-hand (LH) or right-hand (RH) shelf in the rear cargo
compartment, pre-MOD 365P081895, certificated in any category, all
serial numbers except 6698, 6701, 6723, 6737, and 6741.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an undetected flight
display error of a slow drift in the roll axis. This condition could
result in disorientation of the pilot and subsequent loss of control
of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date.
This AD becomes effective May 9, 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
(1) Before further flight, revise the Limitations section of the
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) by inserting a copy of this AD into
the RFM or by pen and ink changes to the RFM that prohibits flight
in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC) or night visual flight
rules (VFR) for each helicopter with a vertical gyro unit GV76-1
installed on the rear cargo compartment shelf without reinforcement
per Modification 365P081895.
(2) Within 110 hours time-in-service, modify the GV76-1 vertical
gyro unit shelf as depicted in Figures 1 through 3 and by following
the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 2.A. through 2.B.2.e.,
of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 34.00.31, Revision 1, dated
July 28, 2010. After reinforcing the shelf, operationally test the
GV76-1 vertical gyro unit and functionally test the navigation
systems.
(3) After modifying the GV76-1 vertical gyro unit shelf, remove
this AD from the Limitations section of the RFM or remove any
changes to the Limitations section of the RFM that prohibit flight
in IMC or VFR as a result of paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
(4) Modifying the GV76-1 vertical gyro unit shelf is terminating
action for the requirements of this AD.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Mark F. Wiley, 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
The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety
Agency AD No. 2010-0100R1, dated August 4, 2010, and corrected
August 11, 2010.
(h) Subject.
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3421, Attitude
Gyro and Indicator System.
(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. 34.00.31, Revision 1,
dated July 28, 2010.
(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 (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 21, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-07211 Filed 4-3-13; 8:45 am]
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