Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 124 (Wednesday, June 27, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34103-34104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-16045]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-08-AD; Amendment 39-12284; AD 2001-13-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France Model EC 155B helicopters. This AD requires, before 
each takeoff with a cabin sliding door in the open position, visually 
checking each sliding door to ensure that each door roller is inside 
its rail. If a roller is outside its rail, before further flight, each 
roller on each door must be replaced inside its rail. This AD also 
revises the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) 
by prohibiting the opening and closing of a cabin sliding door in 
flight. This AD is prompted by the loss of a cabin sliding door in 
flight. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent in-
flight loss of a cabin sliding door, impact with the main rotor or 
fenestron, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective July 23, 2001.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before August 27, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-SW-08-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically 
to the Rules Docket at the following address: [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard Monschke, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5116, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile 
(DGAC), the airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that 
an unsafe condition may exist on Eurocopter France Model EC 155B 
helicopters. The DGAC advises of an in-flight loss of a cabin sliding 
door.
    Eurocopter France has issued Alert Service Telex No. 52A003, dated 
February 8, 2001 (AST). The AST specifies that, before takeoff with a 
cabin sliding door (door) open, the operator must visually check each 
door rail with the door in the open position to ensure that no roller 
is outside its rail. If a roller is outside its rail, the AST specifies 
correcting that condition in accordance with Aircraft Maintenance 
Manual Task 52-12-00-061 before resuming flight. The AST also forbids 
opening and closing a sliding door in flight. The DGAC classified this 
AST as mandatory and issued AD No. T2001-058-001(A) to ensure the 
continued airworthiness of these helicopters in France.
    This helicopter model is manufactured in France and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. 
Pursuant to this bilateral airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has kept 
the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined 
the findings of the DGAC, reviewed all available information, and 
determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type design 
that are certificated for operation in the United States.
    Since we have identified an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on other Eurocopter France Model EC 155B helicopters 
of the same type design registered in the United States, this AD is 
being issued to prevent in-flight loss of a door, impact with the main 
rotor or fenestron, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 
This AD requires the operator, before each flight with a sliding door 
open, to visually check the door rails of that door to ensure that each 
roller is inside its rail. If any roller is outside its rail, this AD 
requires that each roller be replaced inside its rail. Note 2 of the AD 
refers the reader to Maintenance Manual Task 52-12-00-061 that details 
a corrective procedure. This AD also revises the Limitations section of 
the RFM by prohibiting opening and closing either cabin sliding door in 
flight. The short compliance time involved is required because the 
previously described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the 
controllability and structural integrity of the helicopter. Therefore, 
visually checking the door and ensuring that each roller is inside its 
rail is required before each flight with a sliding door open, and this 
AD must be issued immediately.
    An owner/operator (pilot) may perform the visual checks required by 
this AD and must enter compliance with the visual inspection required 
by paragraph (a) of this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.11 and 
91.417(a)(2)(v)). This AD allows a pilot to perform this check because 
it involves only a visual check of a sliding cabin door to detect any 
roller outside its rail and can be performed equally well by a pilot or 
a mechanic.
    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
    The FAA estimates that 2 helicopters will be affected by this AD, 
that it will take approximately 0.1 work hour to accomplish the visual 
check, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on 
these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is 
estimated to be $6 for each flight with a sliding door open, assuming 
that no roller is outside of its rail.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by 
submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. 
Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted 
in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be

[[Page 34104]]

considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments 
received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be 
needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A 
report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the 
substance of this AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed 
comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 2001-SW-08-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.
    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and that it is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further 
that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory 
Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is 
determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be 
significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final 
regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. 
A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the 
location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2001-13-04  Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-12284. Docket No. 2001-
SW-08-AD.

    Applicability: Model EC 155B helicopters, certificated in any 
category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.


    Compliance: Required before each flight (takeoff and landing) 
with an open cabin sliding door, unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent in-flight loss of a cabin sliding door, impact with 
the main rotor or fenestron, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Visually check each cabin sliding door in the open position 
to ensure that each roller is in its rail. If any roller is outside 
its rail, before further flight, replace the roller inside the rail.

    Note 2: Maintenance Manual Task 52-12-00-061 pertains to the 
subject of this AD.


    (b) An owner/operator (pilot) may perform the visual check 
required by this AD and must record compliance with the visual check 
required by paragraph (a) of this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.11 
and 91.417(a)(2)(v)). This AD allows a pilot to perform this check 
because it involves only a visual check of each cabin sliding door 
to detect any roller outside its rail and can be performed equally 
well by a pilot or a mechanic.
    (c) This AD revises the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft 
Flight Manual (RFM) by either inserting statements prohibiting the 
opening and closing of a cabin sliding door in flight and requiring, 
before each flight with an open cabin sliding door, visually 
checking the open door to ensure each door roller is inside its 
rail, or by inserting a copy of this AD into the Limitations section 
of the RFM.
    (d) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment, and 
then send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate.
    (e) A special flight permit is prohibited.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on July 23, 2001.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. T2001-058-001(A), 
dated February 9, 2001.



    Issued Fort Worth, Texas, on June 12, 2001.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-16045 Filed 6-26-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U

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