[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 57121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24098]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 21
Notice of Intent To Designate as Abandoned Normal Category Type
Certificate: Silvercraft S.co.p.a., Type Certificate No. H2EU
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of intent to designate Silvercraft S.p.A. type
certificate issued in the normal category as abandoned; request for
comments.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the FAA's intent to designate
Silvercraft S.co.p.a. (Silvercraft) Type Certificate (TC) H2EU, issued
in the normal category, as abandoned. The FAA has been unable to locate
Silvercraft, the TC holder, concerning the continued airworthiness of
the aircraft certificated under its TC. The Federal Aviation
Regulations (regulations) require that TC holders report certain
failures, malfunctions, and defects to the FAA. The regulations also
require, upon request, that TC holders submit design changes to the FAA
that are necessary to correct any unsafe condition in their products.
The FAA is responsible for surveillance of Silvercraft's ability to
perform continued operational safety management and oversight of the
helicopter on its TC. This action is intended to ensure that
Silvercraft Model SH-4 helicopters are under a TC that has active
continued operational safety management and oversight by a TC holder
that can be subject to periodic safety audits by the FAA.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 21, 2016.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice must be submitted to the Federal
Aviation Administration, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, ASW-110,
Rotorcraft Directorate, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 76177;
fax: (817) 222-5961.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyrone D. Millard, Aerospace Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 76177; telephone: (817) 222-5439;
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested parties are invited to provide comments, written data,
views, or arguments relating to this notice. Comments should be
submitted to the address specified above. All comments received on or
before the closing date will be considered. All comments received will
be available in the docket for examination by interested persons.
Comments may be inspected at the office of the FAA, Rotorcraft
Standards Staff, Rotorcraft Directorate, 5th Floor, 10101 Hillwood
Pkwy, Fort Worth, Texas, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays.
Discussion
This notice is intended to inform the public that the FAA intends
to designate Silvercraft Type Certificate H2EU, issued in the normal
category, as abandoned and that no additional original airworthiness
certificates will be issued against Type Certificate H2EU.
On September 8, 1968, Registro Aeronautico Italiano (now Ente
Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile) issued Silvercraft an Italian TC. On
September 11, 1968, the FAA issued TC H2EU for Model SH-4 helicopters
to Silvercraft S.co.p.a., Via Carlo Alberto n. 42, 14049 Nissa
Monfferrato (At), Italy. On May 2, 2011, the European Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, revoked Silvercraft's TC SO/A-145. The reason for
the revocation is Silvercraft's failure to apply for a design
organization approval or an alternative, which is required as an EASA
TC holder. Additionally, Silvercraft has failed to respond to all
communications from EASA.
As a result of the information provided by EASA, the FAA sent a
registered letter to Silvercraft dated February 27, 2015, informing the
company that we intend to classify TC H2EU as abandoned unless, within
60 days of receipt of the letter, we receive a written statement from
them stating they are the holder of TC H2EU. The FAA has also attempted
to make contact with Silvercraft by other means including telephone
communication and internet searches but without success. A review of
the FAA National Aircraft Registration Database confirms that there are
no U.S.- registered SH-4 helicopters.
The basis for issuance of a TC not only includes the applicant's
submittal of various reports and data, but also the submittal of
information about periodic inspections and maintenance to assure the
continued operational safety of the helicopter. Among other regulatory
requirements, 14 CFR 21.3 requires TC holders to report certain
failures, malfunctions, and defects to the FAA; and 14 CFR 21.99
requires that TC holders submit design changes that are necessary to
correct any unsafe condition in its products. Silvercraft is obligated
to meet these requirements for all aircraft under its TC.
The FAA is responsible for surveillance of a TC holder's ability to
perform continued operational safety management and oversight of each
helicopter on its TC. The FAA continues to monitor the safety
performance of a helicopter type design after the aircraft is approved
and placed into service. This is accomplished through post-
certification review of TC holder data, review of service difficulty
reports, communication with aircraft owners and operators, and other
information provided by a TC holder. Periodic safety audits cannot be
accomplished if the TC holder cannot be located. To date, the FAA has
been unsuccessful in all attempts to locate Silvercraft.
Hence, the FAA proposes to flag TC H2EU and consider it abandoned.
This notice informs the public that the FAA intends to designate TC
H2EU as abandoned and no additional original airworthiness certificates
will be issued against that TC. This action is not intended as a
surrender, suspension, revocation, or termination of the TC as those
terms are used in 14 CFR part 21. However, this action is intended to
ensure that each Silvercraft Model SH-4 helicopter is under a TC that
has active continued operational safety management and oversight by a
TC holder that can be subject to periodic safety audits by the FAA.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas on September 10, 2015.
James A. Grigg,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24098 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P