Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332L2 Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28469-28471]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11418]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0491; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-64-AD; 
Amendment 39-16293; AD 2010-10-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS332L2 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

[[Page 28470]]


ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332L2 helicopters. This AD 
results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD 
issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. The 
MCAI AD states that the AD was issued after the discovery of broken 
swashplate bearing attaching screw heads. Failure of these screw heads 
could lead to the loss of the coupling between the non-rotating and the 
rotating swashplate. This AD is intended to prevent loss of power to 
the rotating swashplate and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on June 7, 2010.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 62.00.66, dated 
September 13, 2006, as of June 7, 2010.
    We must receive comments on this AD by July 20, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this AD from 
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.
    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, the economic 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5130, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The EASA, which is the technical agent for the Member States of the 
European Community, has issued EASA AD No. 2006-0339, dated November 9, 
2006, to correct an unsafe condition for the specified helicopters. The 
MCAI AD was issued after the discovery of broken swashplate bearing 
attaching screw heads. Failure of these screw heads could lead to the 
loss of the coupling between the non-rotating and the rotating 
swashplate. This AD is intended to prevent loss of power to the 
rotating swashplate and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI AD in the 
AD docket.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 62.00.66, dated 
September 13, 2006. The actions described in the MCAI AD are intended 
to correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the service 
information.

FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination

    This helicopter has been approved by the aviation authority of 
France and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with France, EASA, their Technical Agent, has 
notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 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 the same type design.
    There are no helicopters of this type currently registered in the 
United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the 
described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these helicopters are 
placed on the U.S. register in the future.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI AD

    <bullet> This AD does not require you to send the assembly to an 
``approved repair center for investigation and reconditioning.''
    <bullet> This AD uses ``hours time-in-service'' instead of ``flying 
hours.''
    <bullet> This AD does not apply to non-installed parts.
    <bullet> This AD does not include an inspection for masts that were 
inspected per a previous MCAI AD.

Costs of Compliance

    There are no costs of compliance since there are no helicopters of 
this type design on the U.S. registry.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    Since there are currently no domestic operators of these 
helicopters, notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing 
this AD are unnecessary, and this amendment can be made effective in 
less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0491; Directorate 
Identifier 2009-SW-64-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

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

[[Page 28471]]

products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that 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 this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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 AD:

2010-10-14 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-16293. Docket No. FAA-
2010-0491; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-64-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 7, 
2010.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model AS332L2 helicopters, with a main 
rotor mast assembly (mast) that has not been modified per MOD 
0743714, installed, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: MOD 0743714 includes replacing the plastic peel shim 
with a stainless steel peel shim, installing improved swashplate 
bearing attachment screws, and increasing the torque on those 
screws.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continued airworthiness information (MCAI) AD 
was issued after the discovery of broken swashplate bearing 
attaching screw heads. Failure of these screw heads could lead to 
the loss of the coupling between the non-rotating and the rotating 
swashplate. This AD is intended to prevent loss of power to the 
rotating swashplate and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) For each mast that has less than 750 hours TIS since it was 
installed on any helicopter or since its last overhaul, within 20 
hours time-in-service (TIS), unless already done, and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS, and for each mast that has 750 
or more hours TIS since it was installed on any helicopter or since 
its last overhaul, within 25 hours TIS, unless already done, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS:
    (1) Inspect for the presence of each mast swashplate bearing 
attachment screw head by either using a mirror or by feeling for the 
screw heads under the flange. Do the inspections by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, Operational Procedure, paragraphs 
2.B.1. through 2.B.2. and Figure 1, of Eurocopter Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) No. 62.00.66, dated September 13, 2006, except this 
AD does not require you to send the assembly to an ``approved repair 
center for investigation and reconditioning.''
    (2) If an attachment screw head is missing, before further 
flight, replace the unairworthy mast with an airworthy mast.

    Note 2: If you have complied with ASB No. 62.00.66, dated 
September 13, 2006, you have met the intent of this AD.

Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI AD

    (f) This AD differs from the MCAI AD as follows:
    (1) This AD does not require you to send the assembly to an 
``approved repair center for investigation and reconditioning.''
    (2) This AD uses ``hours TIS'' instead of ``flying hours.''
    (3) This AD does not apply to non-installed parts.
    (4) This AD does not include an inspection for masts that were 
inspected per a previous MCAI AD.

Other Information

    (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested, using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send AMOC request to DOT/FAA 
Southwest Region, Gary Roach, ASW-111, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5130, fax (817) 
222-5961.

Related Information

    (h) Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) 
Airworthiness Directive No. 2006-0339, dated November 9, 2006, 
contains related information.

Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code

    (i) The JASC Code is 6230--Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the specified portions of Eurocopter Alert 
Service Bulletin No. 62.00.66, dated September 13, 2006, to do the 
actions required.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information under 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.
    (3) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas, or at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 4, 2010.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11418 Filed 5-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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