[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 236 (Friday, December 7, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72913-72915]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28044]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0500; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-014-AD;
Amendment 39-17263; AD 2012-23-07]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model EC135 helicopters, except the
EC 135 P2+ and T2+. This AD requires inspecting each upper and lower
plain journal bearing (bearing) and replacing the swashplate assembly
with an airworthy swashplate assembly if a bearing is not correctly
positioned. This AD was prompted by two reports of the bearings moving
in relation to the main rotor swashplate sliding sleeve (sliding
sleeve). The actions of this AD are intended to detect shifting of the
bearing, which could limit the movement of the collective control and
result in subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective January 11, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75053-4005, telephone (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3710, or at http://www.eurocopter.com. 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,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On May 11, 2012, at 77 FR 27661, 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 all Eurocopter Deutschland
GmbH (ECD) model EC135 helicopters, except the EC 135 P2+ and T2+. That
NPRM proposed to require repetitively inspecting the
[[Page 72914]]
bearings and replacing the swashplate assembly if a bearing is not
correctly positioned. The NPRM also provided that replacing the
swashplate assembly terminated the proposed inspection requirements.
The proposed requirements were intended to detect shifting of a
bearing, which could limit the movement of the collective control and
result in 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, has issued AD No.
2009-0272, dated December 18, 2009 (AD 2009-0272), to correct an unsafe
condition for Eurocopter Model EC 135 and EC 635 helicopters. EASA
advises that during two separate pre-flight checks on Model EC 135
helicopters in 2005, it was detected that one of the bearings of the
sliding sleeve had moved to the outside of the sliding sleeve. EASA
states that this condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead
to a complete shift of the bearing to the inside or outside, creating
the possibility of a limited movement of the collective, which could
result in reduced control of the helicopter.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 27661, May 11,
2012).
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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
This AD differs from the EASA AD as follows:
This AD requires the visual inspection to be performed by
a mechanic, and repeated every 5 hours TIS. The EASA AD allows the
visual inspection to be accomplished by a pilot during a preflight
inspection.
This AD does not require contacting ECD customer service
for corrective actions.
This AD provides terminating action for the inspection
requirements for the bearings by replacing the swashplate assembly with
a later-design swashplate assembly, part number L623M2005103.
The EASA AD applies to ECD model EC635 aircraft, and this
AD does not because the EC635 does not have an FAA issued type-
certificate.
Related Service Information
We reviewed Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EC135-62A-021,
dated June 23, 2005 (EC135-62A-021). EC135-62A-021 describes procedures
for visually checking the bearings of the sliding sleeve during
preflight. EASA classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD 2009-
0272 to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 218 helicopters of U.S.
registry and that operators will incur the following costs to comply
with this AD:
Inspecting the bearings requires about 15 minutes at an
average labor rate of $85 per hour, for a cost per helicopter of about
$22 and a total cost to the U.S. operator fleet of $4,796 per
inspection cycle.
If required, replacing the swashplate assembly will take
about 8 work hours at an average labor rate of $85 per hour, and
required parts will cost about $38,586, for a total cost per helicopter
of $39,266.
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):
2012-23-07 Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Helicopters: Amendment 39-
17263; Docket No. FAA-2012-0500; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-014-
AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to all Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model
EC135 helicopters, except EC 135 P2+ and EC135 T2+, with a
swashplate assembly, part number (P/N) L623M2006101, installed,
certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as movement of the plain
journal bearings to the outside of the main rotor swashplate sliding
sleeve (sliding sleeve). This condition could limit movement of the
collective and result in subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
[[Page 72915]]
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective January 11, 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 5 hours time-in-service (TIS), and thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 5 hours TIS:
(1) Visually inspect the position of the upper plain journal
bearing and determine if it is flush with the sliding sleeve.
Note to paragraph (e)(1) of this AD: Figure 1 of Eurocopter
Alert Service Bulletin EC135-62A-021, dated June 23, 2005, which is
not incorporated by reference, contains additional information about
the inspection.
(2) Visually inspect the lower plain journal bearing and
determine if it is recessed 2 millimeters from the sliding sleeve.
(3) If the upper plain journal bearing is not flush with the
sliding sleeve or the lower plain journal bearing is not recessed 2
mm, before further flight, replace the swashplate assembly with an
airworthy swashplate assembly.
(4) Replacing the swashplate assembly, P/N L623M2006101, with a
later designed swashplate assembly, P/N L623M2005103, constitutes a
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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group,
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 Alert Service Bulletin EC135-62A-021, dated June
23, 2005, which is not incorporated by reference, contains
additional information about the subject of this AD. For service
information identified in this AD, contact American Eurocopter
Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75053-4005,
telephone (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3710, or at http://www.eurocopter.com. 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 2009-0272, dated December 18, 2009.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6230: Main Rotor
Mast/Swashplate.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 8, 2012.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28044 Filed 12-6-12; 8:45 am]
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