Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 164 (Friday, August 23, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 52412-52414]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19443]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0020; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-107-AD; 
Amendment 39-17558; AD 2013-16-20]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for ECD 
Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the 
rigging of the power-boosted control system and, if there is a 
nonparallel gap between the rigging wedges and the inner sleeves, 
performing a rigging procedure. This AD was prompted by the discovery, 
during rigging of the main rotor controls, of movement of the 
longitudinal main rotor actuator piston after shut-down of the external 
pump drive. Such movement could cause incorrect rigging results. The 
actions of this AD are intended to prevent incorrect rigging results, 
which could impair freedom of movement of the upper controls and 
subsequent reduced control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective September 27, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of September 27, 
2013.

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 foreign authority's AD, the economic 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The

[[Page 52413]]

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: Jim Grigg, Manager, FAA, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On April 22, 2013, at 78 FR 23696, 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 Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting the rigging of the 
power-boosted control system and, if there is a nonparallel gap between 
the rigging wedges and the inner sleeves, performing a rigging 
procedure. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent incorrect 
rigging results, which could impair freedom of movement of the upper 
controls and subsequent reduced control of the helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2010-0248, dated November 26, 2010 
(AD 2010-0248), issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), 
which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European 
Union. EASA issued AD 2010-0248 to correct an unsafe condition for the 
ECD Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopter. EASA advises that during rigging 
of the main rotor controls, it was discovered that the piston of the 
longitudinal main rotor actuator had moved after shut-down of the 
external pump drive.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 23696, 
April 22, 2013).

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

    We do not require inserting temporary changes into the performance 
section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual.

Related Service Information

    ECD has issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB BK117 C-2-67A-012, 
Revision 0, dated September 20, 2010 (ASB). The ASB specifies a one-
time verification of the correct adjustment of the rigging of the main 
rotor controls and provides the corresponding test procedure. The ASB 
further provides an improved rigging procedure as a temporary revision 
to the ECD BK117C2 Aircraft Maintenance Manual. EASA classified this 
ASB as mandatory and issued AD 2010-0248 to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 108 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD:
    <bullet> $680 for 8 work hours per helicopter to inspect the main 
rotor control rigging at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour;
    <bullet> No additional costs are associated with rigging 
adjustment, if necessary; and
    <bullet> $73,440 for the total cost of the AD on U.S. operators.

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):

2013-16-20 Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD): Amendment 39-17558; 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0020; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-107-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, 
certificated in any category.

 (b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as movement of the 
longitudinal main rotor actuator piston after shut-down of the 
external pump drive, during rigging of the main rotor controls, 
causing an incorrect rigging result. This condition could impair 
freedom of movement of the upper controls and subsequently reduce 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective September 27, 2013.

[[Page 52414]]

(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 300 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Inspect the rigging of the power-boosted control system, 
referencing Figure 1 of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB 
BK117 C-2-67A-012, Revision 0, dated September 20, 2010 (ASB). 
Ensure the piston of the longitudinal actuator (right-hand side) is 
held in the fully extended position and the piston of the lateral 
actuator (left-hand side) is held in the fully retracted position 
against the mechanical stop. Also, ensure the gauge block is clamped 
between the sliding sleeve and the support tube.
    (2) Insert the rigging wedges with the 25.4 degree (item 8 of 
Figure 1 of the ASB) and 19.5 degree (item 7 of Figure 1 of the ASB) 
markings in the ``A'' side of the guide grooves of the rigging 
device (item 3 of Figure 1 of the ASB).
    (3) If the gap between the rigging wedges (items 7 and 8 of 
Figure 1 of the ASB) and the inner sleeves (item 9 of Figure 1 of 
the ASB) is closed, the rigging is correct.
    (4) If there is a nonparallel gap between the rigging wedges 
(items 7 and 8 of Figure 1 of the ASB) and the inner sleeves (item 9 
of Figure 1 of the ASB), the rigging is not correct. Perform a 
rigging procedure.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Jim Grigg, Manager, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137, telephone 
(817) 222-5110, email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under 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) 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2010-0248, dated November 26, 2010. You 
may view the EASA AD at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0020.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6710 Main Rotor 
Control.

(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 ASB MBB BK117 C-2-67A-012, 
Revision 0, dated September 20, 2010.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (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 that is incorporated 
by reference at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2013-
0020.
    (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 August 2, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19443 Filed 8-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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