[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 172 (Wednesday, September 5, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54353-54354]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21262]
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Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 172 / Wednesday, September 5, 2012 /
Rules and Regulations
[[Page 54353]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0354; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-104-AD;
Amendment 39-17165; AD 2012-17-02]
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 all
Eurocopter France (EC) Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, SA-366G1, AS-365N2, AS
365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the
discovery of a cracked main rotor mast nut. This condition, if not
corrected, could lead to complete failure of the mast nut, resulting in
failure of the rotor mast and loss of control of the helicopter. This
AD will require replacing the main rotor mast nut with an airworthy
main rotor mast nut to prevent this scenario.
DATES: This AD is effective October 10, 2012.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
gary.b.roach@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On April 4, 2012, at 77 FR 20319, 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 France
(EC) Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, SA-366G1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B,
and EC155B1 helicopters. That NPRM proposed to require replacing the
main rotor mast nut with an airworthy main rotor mast nut to prevent
failure of the main rotor mast 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, has issued EASA AD
No.: 2006-0368R1, dated December 2, 2010, and corrected December 8,
2010 (AD 2006-0368R1), to correct an unsafe condition for the EC Model
SA 365 N, SA 365 N1, AS 365 N2, AS 365 N3, SA 366 G1, EC 155 B, and EC
155 B1 helicopters.
EASA advises that a cracked (partially failed) main rotor mast nut
was discovered during a complete overhaul of a main rotor mast. The
start of the crack was related to circular scoring found in the nut
threads. EASA states that this condition, if not corrected, ``could
lead to complete failure of the mast nut, possibly resulting in failure
of the rotor mast and consequent loss of control of the helicopter.''
To address this unsafe condition, EASA issued Emergency AD 2006-0368-E,
dated December 6, 2006 (AD 2006-0368-E), to require repetitive
inspections of the mast nut, and replacement of the nut if cracked.
Since issuance of AD 2006-0368-E, EC has developed modification (MOD)
0762C42 to improve the strength of the mast nut by changing its
material. Replacing mast nut part number (P/N) 360A31-1020-20 with mast
nut P/N 365A31-2060-20 or 365A31-2060-21 (as applicable to helicopter
type) ``constitutes an optional terminating action'' for the repetitive
inspection requirements. For this reason, EASA issued AD 2006-0368R1
``to inform which helicopters remain subject to inspections and
replacement requirements'' of the AD.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.
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
The EASA AD allows for either inspecting the mast nut at regular
intervals or replacing the mast nut, while this AD requires replacing
the mast nut. The EASA AD uses flight hours of the main rotor mast
assembly, while this AD uses TIS of the helicopter.
Related Service Information
We reviewed EC Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 62.00.23, Revision
1, for Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters; EC
ASB 62.12, Revision 1, for Model SA-366G1 helicopters; and EC ASB
62A014, Revision 1, for Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters, all
dated October 27, 2010. The ASBs contain procedures
[[Page 54354]]
for repetitively inspecting the mast nut for a crack or failure. The
ASBs remove any helicopter with MOD 0762C42 incorporated from the
applicability of the ASB. EASA classified this ASB as mandatory and
issued AD 2006-0368R1 to ensure the continued airworthiness of these
helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 30 helicopters of U.S. registry.
We estimate that replacing the mast nut with an airworthy mast nut will
require 32 work-hours, at an average labor cost of $85 per work-hour.
Parts will cost about $3,100. Based on these costs, we estimate a total
cost per helicopter of $5,820, and a total cost for the U.S. operator
fleet of $174,600.
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):
2012-17-02 Eurocopter France Helicopters: Amendment 39-17165; Docket
No. FAA-2012-0354; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-104-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Eurocopter France (EC) Model SA-365N, SA-
365N1, SA-366G1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1
helicopters with a mast nut, part number (P/N) 360A31-1020-20,
installed, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD describes the unsafe condition as a cracked main rotor
mast nut. This condition could result in failure of the rotor mast
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective October 10, 2012.
(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) For EC Models SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3,
prior to accumulating 1,650 hours time-in-service (TIS) or within
the next 50 hours TIS, whichever occurs later, remove mast nut P/N
360A31-1020-20 and replace with an airworthy mast nut that has a P/N
other than P/N 360A31-1020-20.
(2) For EC Model SA-366G1, prior to accumulating 990 hours TIS
or within the next 30 hours TIS, whichever occurs later, remove mast
nut P/N 360A31-1020-20 and replace with an airworthy mast nut that
has a P/N other than P/N 360A31-1020-20.
(3) For EC Models EC 155B and EC155B1, prior to accumulating 660
hours TIS or within the next 50 hours TIS, whichever occurs later,
remove mast nut P/N 360A31-1020-20 and replace with an airworthy
mast nut that has a P/N other than P/N 360A31-1020-20.
(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, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email gary.b.roach@faa.gov.
(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 No. 62.00.23, No. 62.12,
and No. 62A014, which are not incorporated by reference, contain
additional information about the subject of this AD. All of the
service bulletins are Revision 1 and all are dated October 27, 2010.
For service information identified in this AD, contact American
Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052, telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-
3775, or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. 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 in European Aviation
Safety Agency AD No.: 2006-0368R1, dated December 2, 2010, and
corrected December 8, 2010.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300, main rotor
drive system.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 16, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21262 Filed 9-4-12; 8:45 am]
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