Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 179 (Friday, September 14, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 56755-56756]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21531]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0338; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-51-AD; 
Amendment 39-17172; AD 2012-17-09]
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 
Eurocopter France Model SA341G helicopters. This AD requires replacing 
any rotating star with more than 12,000 hours TIS. This AD was prompted 
by an analysis and tests performed by the manufacturer that indicate 
that the life limit of the rotating star should be 12,000 hours time-
in-service (TIS). The actions of this AD are intended to prevent 
failure of the rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective October 19, 2012.

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 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On March 29, 2012, at 77 FR 18965, 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 Eurocopter France 
Model SA341G helicopters, with rotating star, part number (P/N) 
341A31.4116.21 installed. That NPRM proposed to require replacing any 
rotating star with 12,000 or more hours TIS with an airworthy rotating 
star with less than 12,000 hours TIS. The NPRM also proposed to revise 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by reducing the service life of the main rotor rotating 
star from unlimited hours to 12,000 hours TIS. The proposed 
requirements were intended to prevent failure of the rotating star and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    The Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC), which is the 
aviation authority for France, has issued DGAC AD No. F-2004-070, dated 
May 26, 2004, to correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter France 
Model SA 341/342 helicopters. The DGAC advises that they issued the AD 
to require a new service life limit of 12,000 flight hours for the

[[Page 56756]]

rotating star, part number (P/N) 341A31.4116.21, installed on Model 
SA341G helicopters.

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, DGAC, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
the DGAC AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all 
information provided by DGAC and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type 
designs and that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD requirements as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 21 helicopters of U.S. 
registry and the actions will take approximately 6 work hours per 
helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. 
Required parts will cost approximately $6,000. Based on these figures, 
we estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$6,510 to replace the rotating star on each helicopter, or $136,710 for 
the entire U.S. fleet.

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):

2012-17-09 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17172; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0338; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-51-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model SA341G helicopters, with rotating star, 
part number (P/N) 341A31.4116.21 installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a reduced service life 
of the rotating star. This condition could result in failure of the 
rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 19, 2012.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless accomplished 
previously.

(e) Required Actions

    (1) Before further flight, remove any rotating star, P/N 
341A31.4116.21, with 12,000 or more hours time-in-service (TIS), and 
replace it with an airworthy rotating star with less than 12,000 
hours TIS.
    (2) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by reducing the service 
life of the main rotor rotating star from unlimited hours TIS to 
12,000 hours TIS.

(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 [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) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction Generale de 
l'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. F-2004-070, dated May 26, 2004.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220: Main Rotor 
Head.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 21, 2012.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21531 Filed 9-13-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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