Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 185 (Tuesday, September 24, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 59777-59779]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-24181]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-SW-11-AD; Amendment 39-12886; AD 2002-19-06]
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 (Eurocopter) Model

[[Page 59778]]

EC 155B helicopters with certain SMD45H multi-functional displays. This 
action requires replacing the ``AC'' SMD45H multi-functional display 
interconnection board (interconnection board) of the affected displays 
with a ``BC'' interconnection board. This amendment is prompted by an 
incident of smoke in a cockpit caused by overheating of the 
interconnection board. The actions specified in this AD are intended to 
prevent an electrical discontinuity in the grounding plane inside the 
SMD45H multi-functional display, which can result in overheating of the 
interconnection board, smoke in the cockpit, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective October 9, 2002.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before November 25, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-SW-11-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: Jorge Castillo, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5127, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile 
(DGAC), which is the airworthiness authority for France, notified the 
FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Eurocopter Model EC 155B 
helicopters. The DGAC advises that a manufacturing anomaly on the 
``AC'' interconnection board of certain display screens might cause 
discontinuity inside the grounding plane and result in overheating of 
the board and smoke in the cockpit. One case of smoke in the cockpit 
occurred at the manufacturer's facility.
    Eurocopter has issued Alert Telex No. 04A004, dated November 22, 
2001, which specifies replacement of SMD45H screens equipped with 
interconnection boards that might show some non-conformities with the 
manufacturing requirements. The DGAC classified this alert telex as 
mandatory and issued AD 2001-617-004(A), dated December 26, 2001, 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 agreement. Pursuant to the 
applicable bilateral 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.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design registered in the United States. 
Therefore, this AD is being issued to prevent an electrical 
discontinuity inside the grounding plane, which can result in 
overheating of the interconnection board, smoke in the cockpit, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD requires, within 
30 days after the effective date of this AD, replacing the ``AC'' 
interconnection board of the affected displays with a ``BC'' 
interconnection board. The short compliance time involved is required 
because the previously described critical unsafe condition can 
adversely affect the controllability or structural integrity of the 
helicopter. Therefore, replacing the ``AC'' interconnection board of 
the affected displays with a ``BC'' interconnection board is required 
within 30 days, and this AD must be issued immediately.
    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 1 work hour to accomplish the 
interconnection board replacement, and that the average labor rate is 
$60 per work hour. Required parts cost approximately $200 per 
helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on 
U.S. operators is estimated to be $520.

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 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. 2002-SW-11-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.

[[Page 59779]]

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to 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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

2002-19-06 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-12886. Docket No. 2002-
SW-11-AD.

    Applicability: Model EC 155B helicopters, with SMD45H multi-
functional displays, part numbers C19209VF11, C19209VG11, 
C19267EF10, C19267EG10, C19267VF11, or C19267VG11, having serial 
numbers from 201 through 284 inclusive, which are not followed by 
the letter ``M'', installed, 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 (b) 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 within 30 days, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent an electrical discontinuity in the grounding plane 
inside the SMD45H multi-functional display, which can result in 
overheating of the interconnection board, smoke in the cockpit, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Replace the ``AC'' interconnection board of the affected 
SMD45H multi-functional display with a ``BC'' interconnection board.
    (b) 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, Regulations Group.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (c) Special flight permits will not be issued.
    (d) This amendment becomes effective on October 9, 2002.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction 
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. 2001-617-004(A), dated 
December 26, 2001.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 13, 2002.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-24181 Filed 9-23-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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