Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 75 (Thursday, April 18, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 23107-23109]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-08763]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1087; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-32-AD; 
Amendment 39-17424; AD 2013-08-07]
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 (ECF) Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters to require 
an initial and repetitive inspections of the outer skin, butt strap, 
and fuselage frame for a crack and modification of the helicopter. This 
AD was prompted by an AD issued by the

[[Page 23108]]

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent 
for the Member States of the European Union, which states that a crack 
was discovered in a fuselage frame during a daily check. The actions of 
this AD are intended to detect a crack, to prevent loss of airframe 
structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective May 23, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 23, 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 October 16, 2012, at 77 FR 63262, 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 certain ECF Model 
AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters without modification (MOD) 0722907. That 
NPRM proposed to require an initial and repetitive visual inspections 
for a crack in the outer skin and the butt strap in the sliding cowling 
right-hand and left-hand rail attachment areas on Frame 5295, and if 
there is a crack, inspecting for a crack in Frame 5295 and repairing 
any cracked part. The NPRM also proposed to require modifying each 
helicopter with MOD 0726478R2 on the sliding cowling rails and shims in 
the attachment areas on Frame 5295. The proposed requirements were 
intended to detect a crack, to prevent loss of airframe structural 
integrity and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    EASA issued EASA AD No. 2008-0035-E, dated February 21, 2008, to 
correct an unsafe condition for the ECF Model AS 332 C, C1, L, and L1 
helicopters. EASA advises that a crack was discovered on an ECF Model 
AS332L helicopter in fuselage frame 5295, which has plates and angles 
assembled by riveting that corresponds to the first generation frame 
(before MOD 0722907). The crack in the frame was found because of a 
crack in the outer skin and in the butt strap where the rail of the 
main gear box (MGB) sliding cowling is attached to the frame.

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 63262, 
October 16, 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 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, except we have updated the 
contact information for American Eurocopter Corporation. This minor 
editorial change is consistent with the intent of the proposals in the 
NPRM (77 FR 63262, October 16, 2012) and will not increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    This AD requires you to repair Frame 5295 before further flight 
rather than contacting the manufacturer. This AD refers to a check as 
an inspection to be performed by a mechanic versus a check that a pilot 
can do if specifically allowed by the AD. This AD also does not list 
the Model AS332C1 in the applicability because this model is not type 
certificated in the U.S. This AD also does not allow further flight 
with the outer skin or butt strap cracked unless it is a ferry flight 
to a repair facility.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.76, Revision 
0, dated February 20, 2008 (ASB), which specifies checking for a crack 
on the outside of the helicopter, on the skin, and the butt strap near 
the sliding cowling rail attachment. If a crack is found in the outer 
skin or butt strap, the ASB specifies visually checking for a crack in 
Frame 5295. The ASB specifies doing MOD 0726478R2, which consists of 
cutting out a section of the sliding cowling rails. This cut-out 
exposes the splice near the rail attachment holes, making it easier to 
detect a crack in the frame during the 10-hour repetitive inspection 
and thus reducing the risks of a crack going undetected in Frame 5295. 
Also, the ASB specifies contacting the manufacturer for the 
``appropriate repair sheet according to how the crack is situated'' if 
there is a crack in Area 1 of Frame 5295. EASA classified this ASB as 
mandatory and issued AD No. 2008-0035-E, dated February 21, 2008, to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 5 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. We estimate that it will take about 4.25 
work-hours per helicopter to initially inspect for a crack and to 
modify the MGB sliding cowling rails. Each 10-hour repetitive 
inspection will take about 0.25 work-hour. The average labor rate is 
$85 per work-hour and required parts will cost about $1,793 per 
helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on 
U.S. operators will be $17,145 or $3,429 per helicopter, assuming 60 
repetitive inspections will be performed each year and assuming the 
entire fleet is modified and no cracks are found.

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.

[[Page 23109]]

    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):

2013-08-07 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17424; Docket No. FAA-
2012-1087; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-32-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters 
without modification (MOD) 0722907, except helicopters with serial 
numbers 2078 and 2102, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in the outer 
skin, butt strap, or fuselage frame, which could result in loss of 
airframe structural integrity, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 23, 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

    (1) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) for helicopters that 
have 8,800 or more hours TIS or before or upon reaching 8,810 hours 
TIS for helicopters that have less than 8,800 hours TIS, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS, visually inspect 
for a crack on the outer skin and the butt strap in the sliding 
cowling right-hand and left-hand rail attachment areas on Frame 5295 
as shown in Figure 2 of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 
05.00.76, Revision 0, dated February 20, 2008 (ASB).
    (i) If there is a crack in the outer skin or in the butt strap 
per paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, before further flight, inspect for 
a crack in Frame 5295 in the areas shown in Figure 3, Area 1, and 
Figure 4, of the ASB.
    (ii) If there is a crack in the outer skin, the butt strap, or 
in Frame 5295 in the areas inspected as required by this AD, before 
further flight, repair the part in accordance with a method approved 
by the FAA.
    (2) Within 300 hours TIS, for each helicopter that has 8,800 or 
more hours TIS, modify the sliding cowling rails and shims in the 
attachment areas on Frame 5295 (corresponds to MOD 0726478R2), as 
depicted in Figure 5 and by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 2.B.3., of the ASB.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    A special flight permit is permitted for a helicopter with a 
crack in the outer skin or butt strap to operate the helicopter to a 
location where the requirements of this AD can be accomplished. A 
special flight permit is not permitted for a helicopter with a crack 
in Frame 5295.

(g) 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.

(h) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (France) AD No. 2008-0035-E, dated February 21, 2008.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5311, Fuselage, 
Main Frame.

(j) 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. 05.00.76, Revision 0, 
dated February 20, 2008.
    (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 (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 8, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-08763 Filed 4-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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