Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 213 (Monday, November 4, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65871-65872]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26052]



[[Page 65871]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0479; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-070-AD; 
Amendment 39-17649; AD 2013-22-17]
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 AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, 
and EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the intermediate 
gearbox (IGB) fairing for a crack and inspecting the IGB fairing gutter 
(gutter), if installed, for a crack, separation, or interference. This 
AD is prompted by reports of cracks, separation of the IGB fairing from 
the gutter and attachment supports, and subsequent interference with 
the tail rotor (T/R) inclined drive shaft. These actions are intended 
to detect a crack and prevent separation of the IGB fairing, which 
could result in interference with the T/R inclined drive shaft and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 9, 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, the foreign authority's AD, 
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 June 5, 2013, at 78 FR 33764, 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 AS332C, 
AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters with an intermediate 
gearbox (IGB) fairing, part number (P/N) 332A24-0303-0501, P/N 332A24-
0303-0601, P/N 332A081391.00, or P/N 332A081391.01 installed. The NPRM 
proposed to require, for helicopters with an IGB fairing with a gutter, 
repetitively inspecting the gutter, IGB fairing, and attachment 
supports for a crack, separation, or interference. For helicopters with 
an IGB fairing without a gutter, the NPRM proposed to require 
repetitively inspecting the IGB fairing and attachment supports for a 
crack. If during any inspection there is a crack, interference, or 
separation, the NPRM proposed replacing the cracked or damaged part 
with an airworthy part. The proposed requirements were intended to 
detect a crack and prevent separation of the IGB fairing, which could 
result in interference with the T/R inclined drive shaft and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2011-0189-E, dated September 21, 
2011 (AD 2011-0189-E), issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union. EASA advises of cracks along the rivet line joining the 
IGB fairing to the gutter and in the associated attachment points, 
which have caused some fairings to separate and interfere with the T/R 
inclined drive shaft. EASA issued AD 2011-0189-E to require inspecting 
the IGB fairing gutter and also require inspecting the IGB fairing and 
attachment supports for cracks every 15 flight hours.

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 33764, 
June 5, 2013).

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.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued one emergency alert service bulletin (ASB) 
with three numbers, revision 4, dated September 27, 2011: ASB No. 
53.01.47 for Model AS 332 series helicopters, ASB No. 53.00.48 for 
Model AS532 series helicopters, and ASB No. 53A001 for Model EC225 and 
EC725 helicopters. The ASB requires inspecting the IGB fairings and 
their attachment supports and replacing any cracked or damaged parts 
every 15 flight hours.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 10 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Inspecting the IGB fairing and attachment 
supports require about 0.5 work hours at an average labor rate of $85 
per work hour, for a total cost per helicopter of $43 per inspection 
cycle. The total cost to the U.S. operator fleet will be $430 per 
inspection cycle. Replacing a cracked IGB fairing would require about 2 
work hours at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour, and required 
parts would cost $1,905, for a total cost per helicopter of $2,075. 
Replacing a damaged T/R inclined drive shaft tube would require about 2 
work hours, and required parts would cost $16,726, for a total cost per 
helicopter of $16,896. Replacing a damaged hydraulic pipe would require 
about 2 work hours and required parts would cost $1,202, for a total 
cost per helicopter of $1,372. Replacing a damaged flight control 
component would require about 2 work hours, and required parts would 
cost $440, for a total cost per helicopter of $610.

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 65872]]

    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):

2013-22-17 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-17649; Docket No. FAA-
2013-0479; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-070-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332C, 
AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters with an 
intermediate gearbox (IGB) fairing, part number (P/N) 332A24-0303-
0501, P/N 332A24-0303-0601, P/N 332A081391.00, or P/N 332A081391.01 
installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in the IGB 
fairing, which could result in separation of the IGB fairing from 
its attachment supports, resulting in interference with the tail 
rotor (T/R) inclined driveshaft, failure of the T/R inclined 
driveshaft, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 9, 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 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 15 hours TIS:
    (1) For all helicopters, inspect the IGB fairing and both 
attachment supports for a crack. If there is a crack, replace the 
cracked part with an airworthy part.
    (2) For helicopters with an IGB fairing, part number (P/N) 
332A24-0303-0501 or P/N 332A24-0303-0601, installed, inspect the IGB 
fairing gutter (gutter) for a crack. If there is a crack, replace 
the gutter with an airworthy gutter, and inspect the IGB fairing for 
separation, or interference between the gutter and the T/R inclined 
drive shaft, hydraulic pipes, or flight controls.
    (i) If there is interference between the gutter and the T/R 
inclined drive shaft tube, replace the T/R inclined drive shaft tube 
and the IGB fairing/gutter assembly with an airworthy T/R inclined 
drive shaft tube and IGB fairing/gutter assembly.
    (ii) If there is interference between the gutter and the 
hydraulic pipes, replace the IGB fairing/gutter assembly with an 
airworthy IGB fairing/gutter assembly. Inspect the hydraulic pipes 
for a dent, score, distortion, or chafing. If there is a dent, 
score, distortion, or chafing, replace the affected hydraulic pipe 
with an airworthy hydraulic pipe.
    (iii) If there is interference between the gutter and the flight 
controls, replace the IGB fairing/gutter assembly with an airworthy 
IGB fairing/gutter assembly. Inspect the cables on the left hand 
side of the pylon, the quadrant on which the cables are coiled, the 
flight control lever, the rod, and the T/R servo-control operating 
mechanism for friction, chafing, broken strands, buckling, 
distortion, or scoring. If there is any friction, chafing, broken 
strands, buckling, distortion, or scoring, replace the affected 
flight control component with an airworthy flight control component.
    (iv) If there is any separation of the gutter, replace the IBG 
fairing/gutter assembly with an airworthy fairing/gutter assembly.

(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 Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) No. 
53.01.47 for Model AS 332 helicopters, EASB No. 53.00.48 for Model 
AS532 helicopters, and EASB No. 53A001 for Model EC225 and EC725 
helicopters, all revision 4, dated September 27, 2011, 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, 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No. 2011-0189-E, dated September 
29, 2011. You may view the EASA AD on the internet in Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0479 at http://www.regulations.gov.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5350: Aerodynamic 
Fairings.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 24, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-26052 Filed 11-1-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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