Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 145 (Friday, July 27, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44118-44120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17960]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0766; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-056-AD; 
Amendment 39-17133; AD 2012-15-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC155B1 helicopters with a certain 
automated flight control system installed. This AD requires changing 
the minimum required crew for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations 
from one pilot to two. This AD is prompted by a report that an EC155B1 
helicopter experienced significant intermittent roll oscillations while 
coupled to the autopilot. These actions are intended to decrease the 
pilot's workload while experiencing any oscillations during landing, 
which could result in possible loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 13, 2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 25, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    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: Clark Davenport, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and

[[Page 44119]]

an opportunity to provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. 
However, we invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to 
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that 
resulted from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a 
specific portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended 
change, and include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not 
contain duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of 
written comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters 
should submit them only one time. We will file in the docket all 
comments that we receive, as well as a report summarizing each 
substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this 
rulemaking during the comment period. We will consider all the comments 
we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based on those 
comments.

Discussion

    During a flight test of a Model EC155B1 helicopter, intermittent 
uncommanded roll oscillations were discovered during coupled instrument 
landing system (ILS) and localizer (LOC) approaches. The aircraft, 
which was coupled to the autopilot when these oscillations occurred, 
was not able to provide a stabilized approach from the final approach 
fix through the decision altitude or the minimum descent altitude. 
These intermittent oscillations occur during the landing phase of a 
flight, at an altitude of 500 feet or less above ground level, and 
result in higher single-pilot workload.
    After an investigation, Eurocopter determined that these 
oscillations were caused by software in the automated flight control 
system (AFCS) that does not adequately filter the electronic ``noise'' 
from the U.S. ILS and LOC signals. This behavior of the autopilot was 
not experienced by aircraft operating in European airspace. An 
additional FAA flight test of an EC155B1 with unmodified AFCS software 
coupled to various ILS signals confirmed the oscillations, and that 
they can roll the helicopter up to +/-15 degrees.
    Eurocopter is developing a software modification that will update 
the filtering algorithms for U.S. category 1 ILS and LOC signals. Until 
this update is approved by the European Aviation Safety Agency and 
validated by the FAA, we have determined that single pilot IFR 
operations constitute an unsafe condition for this model helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
France and are approved for operation in the United States. We are 
issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant information and 
determined that an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or 
develop on other helicopters of the same type design.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, before further flight, changing the minimum 
flight crew requirements for IFR operations from one pilot to two by 
revising the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) Operating Limitations 
section.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD to be an interim action. The design approval 
holder is currently developing a modification that will address the 
unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this modification is 
developed, approved, and available, we might consider additional 
rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect six helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Revising the RFM will require about .25 
hour at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, for a total cost 
per helicopter of about $22 and a total cost to U.S operator fleet of 
$132.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because the required corrective 
actions must be accomplished before further flight.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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 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, 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):

[[Page 44120]]

2012-15-04 EUROCOPTER FRANCE: Amendment 39-17133; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0766; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-056-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model EC155B1 helicopters with an automated 
flight control system part number (P/N) 416-00297-161 and software 
level P/N 704A47-1332-79 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as intermittent uncommanded 
roll oscillations during coupled instrument landing system and 
localizer approaches with the autopilot coupled, which could result 
in subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 13, 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

    Before further flight, revise the Operating Limitations section 
of Eurocopter EC 155B1 Flight Manual Section 2.1, by inserting a 
copy of this AD into the Flight Manual or by making pen and ink 
changes as follows. Under paragraph 5, Minimum Flight Crew/Maximum 
Personnel Transport Capability, beneath ``Minimum flight crew,'' 
remove the phrase ``--one pilot in right-hand seat'' and replace it 
as follows:
    --VFR: One pilot in right-hand seat.
    --IFR: Two pilots required.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Clark Davenport, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 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) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2210: Autopilot 
System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 16, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17960 Filed 7-26-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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