[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 247 (Tuesday, December 24, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 77565-77567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30187]
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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;
Amendment 39-17705; AD 2013-25-09]
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: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This
AD requires inspecting the nose landing gear (NLG) pin installations
for incorrect assembly. This AD is prompted by reports of incorrectly
installed pins discovered on in-service aircraft. These actions are
intended to detect incorrectly installed pins, which could result in
collapse of the NLG during taxi or landing.
DATES: This AD is effective January 28, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of January 28,
2014.
ADDRESSES: 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.
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, the foreign authority's 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: 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:
Discussion
On July 12, 2013, at 78 FR 41888, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 to add an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered
AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with
an NLG pin part number 1661-0001 installed. The NPRM proposed to
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, the NPRM proposed to
require:
[cir] Inspecting the bolt and nut for corrosion and removing the
bolt and nut from service if there is corrosion.
[cir] Inspecting the pin for corrosion, a crack, and damage,
removing the corrosion and measuring the pin diameter if there is any
corrosion, and removing the pin from service if the pin diameter is
less than 25.36 mm (.998 in) or if there is a crack in the pin.
[cir] Dye penetrant inspecting the pin flange for surface cracks
and removing the pin from service if there is a surface crack.
If the installation is correct, the NPRM proposed to
require inspecting the bolt head and nut for corrosion and removing the
bolt or nut from service if there is any corrosion.
The proposed requirements were intended to detect incorrectly
installed pins, which could result in collapse of the NLG during taxi
or landing.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2012-0262, dated December 14, 2012,
issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, 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.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 41888,
July 12, 2013).
[[Page 77566]]
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 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 requires compliance within 50 flight hours or 1 month,
while this proposed AD requires compliance within 50 hours TIS.
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.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 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 will 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 will 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 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):
2013-25-09 AGUSTAWESTLAND S.P.A. (TYPE CERTIFICATE FORMERLY HELD BY
AGUSTA S.P.A.) HELICOPTERS: Amendment 39-17705; 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 1661-0001 installed, certificated
in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrect
installation of an NLG pin, which could result in collapse of the
NLG during taxi or landing.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective January 28, 2014.
(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.
(f) Special Flight Permits
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
[[Page 77567]]
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 in Docket No. 2013-0604.
(i) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3221: Nose Landing
Gear Attach Section.
(j) 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) Agusta Bollettino Tecnico (BT) No. 139-306, dated December
12, 2012.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Agusta 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.
(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 December 5, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-30187 Filed 12-23-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P