Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 227 (Monday, November 26, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70360-70362]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28033]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-051-AD; 
Amendment 39-17259; AD 2012-23-03]
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 all 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 
Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B 
Alouette III, SA 3180-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU, SA 318B-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU, and 
SA 318 C-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the 
cage of the free-wheel assembly for the correct alignment of the roller 
drive pocket recesses and replacing the free-wheel cage with an 
airworthy free-wheel cage if a defect exists. This AD was prompted by 
incorrect positioning of the roller drive pocket recesses on the tail 
rotor drive shaft free-wheel cage, which caused a pilot to experience a 
heavy jerk in the yaw control during in-flight autorotation training. 
The requirements of this AD are intended to prevent a loss of tail 
rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 31, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of December 31, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 
75052, telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3775, 
or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 
76137.
    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: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On March 29, 2012, at 77 FR 18967, 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 Model 
SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette III, 
SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette III, SA 3180-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU, 
SA 318B-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU, and SA 318C-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU helicopters. 
That NPRM proposed to require inspecting the cage of the free-wheel 
assembly for the correct alignment of the roller drive pocket recesses 
and replacing the free-wheel cage with an airworthy free-wheel cage if 
a defect exists. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a 
loss of tail rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
No. 2011-0143, dated July 26, 2011 (AD 2011-0143), to correct an unsafe 
condition for Eurocopter helicopters. EASA advises that during in-
flight autorotation training, a pilot experienced a heavy jerk in the 
yaw control at the time of resynchronization. The free-wheel assembly 
of the helicopter had been replaced shortly before this flight. 
Internal inspection of the free-wheel assembly revealed incorrect 
positioning of the roller drive pocket recesses on the free-wheel cage. 
The subsequent off-

[[Page 70361]]

setting restricts the travel of the roller on its ramp and can cause, 
under high torque conditions, free-wheel slippage.
    This condition, if not corrected, could result in a temporary loss 
of rotor drive, jeopardizing flight safety, especially in phases of 
flight close to the ground.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (77 FR 18967, 
March 29, 2012).

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

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 110 flight hours or 5 
months, whichever occurs first. This AD does not impose a calendar time 
requirement.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. Alouette-
65.149, Revision 0, dated March 23, 2011, for model 3130, 313B, 3180, 
318B, 318C, 3160, 316B, 316C, 319C and 319B helicopters; and ASB No. 
SA315-65.48, Revision 0, dated March 23, 2011, for model 315B 
helicopters, which specify removing and disassembling the free-wheel 
assembly to check the free-wheel cage for correct positioning. EASA 
classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued AD 2011-0143 to ensure 
the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 63 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry and that operators may incur the following costs to comply 
with this AD.
    <bullet> Inspecting the free-wheel cage assembly will require 8 
work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per hour, and required parts 
will cost $13, for a total cost per helicopter of $693, and a total 
cost to the U.S. operator fleet of $43,659.
    <bullet> Modifying any affected free-wheel cage assembly will 
require 8 work hours and required parts will cost $1,986, for a total 
cost per helicopter of $2,666.

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):

2012-23-03 Eurocopter France Helicopters: Amendment 39-17259; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-0339; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-051-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette 
III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette 
III, SA 3180-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU, SA 318B-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU, and SA 318 
C-ALOUETTE ASTAZOU helicopters with a free-wheel cage, part number 
(P/N) 3130S60-10-003 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect positioning of 
the roller drive pocket recesses on the cage of the tail-rotor 
driveshaft free-wheel assembly. This condition could result in loss 
of tail rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 31, 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

    Within 110 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Remove the free-wheel assembly and pull out the free-wheel 
driven head.
    (2) Inspect the free-wheel cage for correct alignment of the 
roller drive pocket recesses in accordance with Figure 2 of 
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SA315-65.48, Revision 0, 
or Eurocopter ASB No. ALOUETTE-65.149, Revision 0, both dated March 
23, 2011, as appropriate for your model helicopter.
    (3) If the right edge of the tab is in line with the right edge 
of the pocket recess, before further flight, replace the free-wheel 
cage with an airworthy free-wheel cage.
    (4) Do not install an affected free-wheel assembly on any 
helicopter, unless the cage has passed inspection in accordance with 
paragraph (e)(2) through (e)(3) of this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Rao Edupuganti, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas

[[Page 70362]]

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 European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD No. 2011-0143, dated July 26, 2011.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6700: Tail Rotor 
Drive System.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the following service 
information under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SA315-65.48, 
Revision 0, dated March 23, 2011.
    (ii) Eurocopter ASB No. ALOUETTE-65-149, Revision 0, dated March 
23, 2011.
    (3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD, 
contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand 
Prairie, TX 75052, telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323, fax 
(972) 641-3775, or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
    (5) You may also view this service information 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 November 5, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28033 Filed 11-23-12; 8:45 am]
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