Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 224 (Tuesday, November 20, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69556-69558]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-28039]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0528; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD; 
Amendment 39-17261; AD 2012-23-05]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland 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 Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters with 
certain Generator Control Units (GCU) installed. This AD requires 
replacing the GCUs. This AD was prompted by reports of internal short 
circuits in certain GCUs. These actions are intended to prevent a short 
circuit, which could result in a loss of electrical generating power, 
loss of systems required for continued safe flight and landing, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 26, 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: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5114; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On May 22, 2012, at 77 FR 30230, 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 ECD Model MBB-BK117 C-2 
helicopters with a GCU, part number (P/N) 51530-021EI with no 
modification (MOD), MOD A, or MOD B installed. That NPRM proposed to 
require replacing the GCU within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 6 
months, whichever occurred earlier. The proposed requirements were 
intended to prevent loss of electrical generating power, resulting in 
the loss

[[Page 69557]]

of systems required for continued safe flight and landing, 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. 2011-0149R1, dated September 30, 2011 (AD 2011-0149R1), to correct 
an unsafe condition for the Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 
C-2 helicopters. EASA advises that during an acceptance test procedure 
of a GCU, a short circuit caused by a manufacturing discrepancy 
occurred within the unit. According to EASA, all P/N 51530-021EI ``no 
MOD,'' ``MOD A,'' and ``MOD B'' GCUs are potentially affected by this 
discrepancy. To address this potential unsafe condition, EASA issued AD 
No. 2011-0149, dated August 19, 2011, to identify and replace each 
affected GCU with an airworthy GCU. Since issuing that AD, ECD 
demonstrated that helicopters modified in accordance with ECD Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) MBB BK117 C-2-24A-008, Revision 1, dated August 
29, 2011, have a much lower risk of losing electrical generating power 
from a faulty generator control unit. EASA then revised AD No. 2011-
0149 and issued AD 2011-0149R1 to allow an extended compliance time for 
helicopters modified in accordance with the ECD ASB.

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 30230, 
May 22, 2012).

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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 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 allows a compliance time of 1,500 flight hours for 
helicopters previously modified by ECD ASB MBB BK117 C-2-24A-008 
Revision 1, while this AD requires compliance within the next 300 hours 
TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs first, for all affected helicopters.

Related Service Information

    ECD has issued ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-24A-010 Revision 2, dated 
September 14, 2011, which specifies removing any GCU with P/N 51530-
021EI with no modification (MOD), MOD A, or MOD B, and replacing it 
with a GCU P/N 51530-021EI MOD C or later MOD. EASA classified this ASB 
as mandatory and issued AD 2011-0149R1 to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 104 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Replacing a GCU with an airworthy GCU 
will require about 2 work hours at an average labor rate of $85 per 
hour. Required parts will cost $7,130, for a total cost per helicopter 
of $7,300.

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):

2012-23-05 Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH: Amendment 39-17261; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-0528; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-068-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters with a 
generator control unit (GCU), part number (P/N) 51530-021EI with no 
modification (MOD), MOD A, or MOD B installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an internal short 
circuit in certain GCUs. This condition could result in loss of 
electrical generating power, resulting in the loss of systems 
required for continued safe flight and landing, and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.

 (c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 26, 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

    (1) Within the next 300 hours time-in-service or 6 months, 
whichever occurs first, replace all GCUs with no MOD, MOD A, or MOD 
B with an airworthy GCU.

[[Page 69558]]

    (2) Do not install a GCU P/N 51530-021-EI with no MOD, MOD A, or 
MOD B on any helicopter.

 (f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5114; 
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

    (1) Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Alert Service Bulletin MBB-BK117 
C-2-24A-010 Revision 2, dated September 14, 2011, which is not 
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the 
subject of this AD.
    (2) 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 a copy 
of the service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137.
    (3) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency AD No. 2011-0149R1, dated September 30, 2011.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2436: DC Generator 
Control Unit.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 30, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-28039 Filed 11-19-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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