[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 134 (Friday, July 12, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 41888-41890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-16694]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0604; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-110-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Agusta S.p.A.) Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139
helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the nose landing
gear (NLG) pin installations for incorrect assembly. This proposed AD
is prompted by reports of incorrectly installed pins discovered on in-
service aircraft. The proposed actions are intended to detect
incorrectly installed pins, which could result in collapse of the NLG
during taxi or landing.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 10,
2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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 proposed AD, the economic
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Agusta Westland, Customer Support & Services, Via Per Tornavento 15,
21019 Somma Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Giovanni Cecchelli; telephone
39-0331-711133; fax 39 0331 711180; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bullettins. 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.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5328; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD
No. 2012-0262, dated December 14, 2012 (EASA AD 2012-0262), to correct
an unsafe condition for the Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters.
EASA advises that incorrectly installed NLG pins, part number 1661-
0001, were discovered on several aircraft. Incorrectly installed pins
create a pre-stress condition on the pin flange. According to EASA, a
subsequent technical investigation by Agusta concluded that the
incorrect installation could be present on a number of other
helicopters. EASA states that this condition could lead to NLG
structural failure and consequent collapse during landing or taxi,
resulting in damage to the helicopter and injury to the occupants. EASA
AD 2012-0262 requires inspecting the NLG pin installation on both the
left and right arms to determine if the pin, washers, and nuts are
correctly installed and, depending on findings, inspecting the bolts,
nuts, and pins for corrosion, and also inspecting the pins for surface
cracks, and correctly installing the pins.
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with Italy, EASA, its technical representative,
has notified us of the unsafe condition described in its AD. We are
proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant information
and determined that an unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop
on other products of the same type design.
[[Page 41889]]
Related Service Information
Agusta has issued Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-306, dated December
12, 2012 (BT 139-306), for Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. BT 139-
306 describes procedures to inspect for correct installation of the
bolts, nuts, washers, and pins, inspecting the bolt head and nut for
corrosion, and inspecting the pins for surface cracks.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time in service
(TIS), inspecting the pin installations in the left and right arms for
correct installation of the pin, bolts, washers, and nuts.
If the installation is not correct, this proposed AD would
require:
[cir] Inspecting the bolt and nut for corrosion. If there is any
corrosion, removing the bolt and nut from service.
[cir] Inspecting the pin for corrosion, a crack, and damage. If
there is any corrosion, removing the corrosion and measuring the pin
diameter. If the pin diameter is less than 25.36 mm (.998 in) or if
there is a crack in the pin, removing the pin from service.
[cir] Dye penetrant inspecting the pin flange for surface cracks.
If there is a surface crack, removing the pin from service.
If the installation is correct, inspecting the bolt head
and nut for corrosion would be required. If there is any corrosion,
removing the bolt or nut from service would be required.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD
The EASA AD requires compliance within 50 flight hours or 1 month,
while this proposed AD requires compliance within 50 hours TIS.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 102 helicopters of
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs
in order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per
hour, inspecting the nose landing gear arm pins would require about 1
work hour, for a cost per helicopter of $85 and a total cost to U.S.
operators of $8,670. If required, replacing a pin would require about 1
work hour, and required parts cost $1,680, for a cost per helicopter of
$1,765. The cost to replace a bolt or nut is minimal.
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 proposed regulation is
within the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe
condition that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in
this rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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, I certify this proposed regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 proposed 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):
AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Type Certificate Formerly Held By Agusta
S.p.A.) Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2013-0604; Directorate
Identifier 2012-SW-110-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139
and AW139 helicopters, serial number 31005, 31006, 31008 through
31157, 31201 through 31398, 31400 through 31412, 31414, 31416,
31418, 31419, 31421, 31425, 31426, 31428, 31432, 31440, 41001
through 41023, 41201 through 41275, 41277 through 41286, 41288,
41293, 41300, 41301, 41303, 41307, 41308, and 41310, with a nose
landing gear (NLG) pin part number (P/N) 1661-0001 installed,
certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrect
installation of a NLG pin, which could result in collapse of the NLG
during taxi or landing.
(c) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by September 10, 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 50 hours time-in-service:
(1) Inspect the NLG pin installations on the left and right arms
to determine whether the bolt (item 2), washer (item 3) under the
bolt head, washer (item 4) between the NLG arm and pin, pin (item
5), washer (item 6) under the nut, nut (item 7), and cotter pin
(item 8) are installed as depicted in Figure 1 of Agusta Bollettino
Tecnico (BT) No. 139-306, dated December 12, 2012 (BT 139-306).
(2) If any part is not installed as depicted in Figure 1 of BT
139-306, before further flight, disassemble items 2 through 8 and
accomplish the following:
(i) Inspect each bolt and nut for corrosion. If there is any
corrosion on a bolt or nut, remove the bolt and nut from service.
(ii) Inspect each pin for corrosion and damage. If there is any
corrosion or damage:
(A) Remove the corrosion and damage with an abrasive stone or
glass fiber brush.
(B) Measure the pin diameter. If the pin diameter is less than
25.36 mm (0.998 inch), remove the pin from service.
(iii) Inspect each pin for a crack. If there is a crack, remove
the pin from service.
(iv) Dye penetrant inspect the pin flange for a crack. If there
is a crack, remove the pin from service.
(3) If items 2 through 8 are installed as depicted in Figure 1
of BT 139-306, inspect each bolt head and nut for corrosion. If
there is any corrosion on a bolt head or nut, before further flight,
remove the bolt or nut from service.
[[Page 41890]]
(f) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits are prohibited.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5328; 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.
(h) Additional Information
(1) The Aircraft Maintenance Plan, DM No. 39-A-60-40-00-01A-
351A-D, which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional
information about the subject of this AD. For service information
identified in this AD, contact Agusta Westland, Customer Support &
Services, Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019 Somma Lombardo (VA) Italy,
ATTN: Giovanni Cecchelli; telephone 39-0331-711133; fax 39 0331
711180; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bullettins.
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.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
Safety Agency AD No. 2012-0262, dated December 14, 2012, which you
may view in the AD Docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
(i) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3221: Nose Landing
Gear Attach Section.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 3, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-16694 Filed 7-11-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P