Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18230-18232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06133]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0772; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-053-AD; 
Amendment 39-17393; AD 2013-05-21]
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 (Eurocopter) Model EC130 B4 helicopters with a cabin 
vibration damper installed. This AD requires installing a vibration 
damper casing assembly on both sides of the helicopter. This AD was 
prompted by a crack and failure of a cabin vibration damper blade. The 
actions of this AD are intended to modify the cabin vibration damper 
assembly to prevent contact with the flight controls in the event of a 
cabin vibration blade failure, jamming of a flight control, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective April 30, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of April 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On July 26, 2012, at 77 FR 43738, 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 EC130 
B4 helicopters with a cabin vibration damper installed, except those 
modified in accordance with Modification 073565. That NPRM proposed to 
require installing a vibration damper casing assembly on both sides of 
the helicopter. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent 
contact with the flight controls in the event of a cabin vibration 
blade failure, jamming of a flight control, 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, issued EASA AD No. 
2006-0278, dated September 7, 2006 (AD 2006-0278), to correct an unsafe 
condition for the Eurocopter Model EC130 B4 helicopter. EASA advises of 
a cracked cabin vibration damper blade, which could lead to jamming of 
a flight control.

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 43738, 
July 26, 2012).

FAA's 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, 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 this same 
type design 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 two daily visual inspections for cracks in the 
blade of each cabin vibration damper and replacement of a blade if 
there is a crack; this AD does not. The EASA AD requires compliance by 
a calendar date. This AD requires compliance within 100 hours time-in-
service.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 53A008, 
Revision 0, dated July 19, 2006 (ASB 53A008), which supersedes ASB No. 
05A002, Revision 0, dated July 18, 2006, and specifies installing a 
cabin vibration damper containment device. EASA classified ASB 53A008 
as mandatory and issued AD 2006-0278 to ensure the

[[Page 18231]]

continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 122 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD.
    <bullet> $340 for 4 work-hours to install a vibration damper casing 
assembly at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour,
    <bullet> $1,500 for required parts per helicopter, and
    <bullet> $224,480 total cost for the 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):

2013-05-21 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17393; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0772; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-053-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model EC130 B4 helicopters with a cabin 
vibration damper installed, except those modified in accordance with 
Modification 073565, certificated in any category.

 (b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a cracked cabin 
vibration damper blade. This condition could result in failure of 
the blade, jamming of the flight controls, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 30, 2013.

(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 the next 100 hours time-in-service:
    (1) For helicopters that have not been modified in accordance 
with Modification 073521 or Modification 073525, install a vibration 
damper casing assembly on both sides of the helicopter by following 
paragraphs 2.B.2.a and 2.B.5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of 
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 53A008, dated July 19, 2006 
(ASB 53A008).
    (2) For helicopters that have been modified in accordance with 
Modification 073521 either at the time of manufacture or pursuant to 
Eurocopter Service Bulletin (SB) No. 53-006, Revision 1, dated 
September 30, 2004; or Modification 073525 either at the time of 
manufacture or pursuant to Eurocopter SB No. 53-007, Revision 1, 
dated February 19, 2007, install a vibration damper casing assembly 
on both sides of the helicopter by following paragraphs 2.B.3.a, 
2.B.3.b, and 2.B.5 of the Accomplishment Instructions of ASB 53A008.

(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, 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) Additional Information

    (1) Eurocopter SB No. 53-006, Revision 1, dated September 30, 
2004; SB No. 53-007, Revision 1, dated February 19, 2007; and Alert 
SB No. 05A002, Revision 0, dated July 18, 2006, which are not 
incorporated by reference, contain additional information about the 
subject of this AD. For service information identified in this AD, 
contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand 
Prairie, Texas 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency AD No. 2006-0278, dated September 7, 2006.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 1810, Helicopter 
Vibration Analysis.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph 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 No. 53A008, dated July 19, 
2006.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD, 
contact American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand 
Prairie, Texas 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 FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call

[[Page 18232]]

(202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 7, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06133 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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