Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter France) (Airbus Helicopters)

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 47 (Tuesday, March 11, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13524-13526]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-04697]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0573; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-042-AD; 
Amendment 39-17781; AD 2014-05-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Eurocopter France) (Airbus Helicopters)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L1 helicopters. This AD requires 
replacing the rivets on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) Y350 
longitudinal beams (longitudinal beams Y350). This AD was prompted by a 
report that non-conforming rivets had been installed on an AS332 
helicopter during a production modification. The actions of this AD are 
intended to prevent failure of the longitudinal beams Y350 and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective April 15, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of April 15, 2014.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 
telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at 
http://www.airbushelicopters.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, 
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 3, 2013 at 78 FR 40072, the Federal Register published our 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered 
Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require replacing the non-conforming 
3.2 mm rivets, part-number (P/N) 212 15DC 3200J, on the longitudinal 
beams Y350 with airworthy 4.8 mm rivets, P/N 212 15DC 4800J. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of the 
longitudinal beams Y350 and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2012-0046-E, dated March 21, 2012 
(EAD 2012-0046-E), issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Model AS332C1 and 
AS332L1 helicopters. EASA advises that an AS332 helicopter was found on 
the production line with non-conforming rivets installed on the RH and 
LH longitudinal beams Y350 of the bottom structure of the fuselage, 
between sections X4780 and X5295. According to EASA, the investigation 
revealed that a limited number of helicopters were documented as 
receiving a production modification requiring the replacement of 
certain 3.2 mm rivets with 4.8 mm rivets, but the actual replacement of 
the rivets had not been performed. EASA states that this condition 
leads to significant reduction in the safety margins during sling 
operations and may cause failure of the web/flange assembly connections 
of the longitudinal beams Y350, possibly resulting in loss of control 
of the helicopter. For these reasons, EASA issued EAD 2012-0046-E, 
which, pending inspection of the helicopter beams Y350 and replacement 
of the affected rivets, prohibits sling operations or limits the 3-ton 
sling to external loads of 2.28 tons or less.

[[Page 13525]]

    Since the NPRM was published, we have determined that the 
applicability requirements of the proposed AD should not apply to Model 
AS332C1 helicopters, because that model is not type certificated in the 
United States. We have removed that model and its corresponding serial 
numbers from this AD. Also, Eurocopter France has changed its name to 
Airbus Helicopters. This AD reflects that change and updates to contact 
information to obtain service information.

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 40072, 
July 3, 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, except that we have removed 
Eurocopter Model AS332C1 helicopters from the Applicability paragraph 
and changed Eurocopter France to Airbus Helicopters. These changes are 
consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM (78 FR 40072, 
July 3, 2013) 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

    The EASA AD requires limiting the use of the 3-ton sling, 
inspecting the longitudinal beams Y350 for loose or missing rivets, 
black marks around the rivets, and cracks, and, depending on the 
accumulated sling operation cycles, replacing the rivets within a 
period of up to 24 months. This AD does not require the inspections as 
it would require replacing the rivets within 10 hours time-in-service, 
regardless of accumulated sling operation cycles. The EASA AD applies 
to Model AS332C1 helicopters, and this AD does not because that model 
is not type certificated in the United States.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 
01.00.81 Revision 0, dated March 19, 2012 (EASB 01.00.81) for Model 
AS332 helicopters. The EASB describes procedures for temporarily 
prohibiting sling operations or limiting the use of the 3-ton sling to 
2.28 tons until the 3.2 mm diameter rivets are replaced with 4.8 mm 
diameter rivets.
    We have subsequently reviewed Eurocopter EASB 01.00.81 Revision 1, 
dated July 6, 2012 (EASB 01.00.81 Revision 1). EASB 01.00.81 Revision 1 
deletes from the applicability of the EASB helicopters with 
Modification (MOD) 07 26082 installed. MOD 07 26082 provides for 
installation of the correct 4.8 mm diameter rivets on Eurocopter's 
production line.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 1 helicopter of U.S. Registry. 
We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Modifying the longitudinal beams Y350 with 4.8 mm 
rivets requires about 24 work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per 
hour and required parts cost about $110, for a total cost per 
helicopter of $2,150. Thus, the total cost to U.S. operators to comply 
with this AD is about $2,150.

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):

2014-05-08 Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Eurocopter France): Amendment 39-17781; Docket No. FAA-2013-0573; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-042-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L1 helicopters 
with the following serial numbers, certificated in any category: 
2635, 2641, 2644, 9007, 9008, and 9009.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as non-conforming rivets 
installed on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) Y350 
longitudinal beams (longitudinal beams Y350) of the bottom 
structure. This condition could result in failure of the web/flange 
assembly connections of the longitudinal beams Y350 and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 15, 2014.

(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.

[[Page 13526]]

(e) Required Actions

    Within 10 hours time-in-service, replace the 3.2 mm rivets, 
part-number (P/N) 21215DC3200J, of the RH and LH longitudinal beams 
Y350 of the bottom structure with 4.8 mm rivets, P/N 21215DC4800J, 
as shown in Figures 2 and 3 of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 01.00.81, Revision 0, dated March 19, 2012.

(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

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No. 2012-0046-E, dated March 21, 2012. 
You may view the EASA AD on the Internet at www.regulations.gov in 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0573.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5314: Fuselage 
Main, Keel.

(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 Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.81, 
Revision 0, dated March 19, 2012.
    Note 1 to paragraph (i)(2): Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 01.00.81, Revision 0, dated March 19, 2012, is co-
published as one document along with Eurocopter Emergency Alert 
Service Bulletin No. 01.00.46, Revision 0, dated March 19, 2012, 
which is not incorporated by reference in this AD.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD, 
contact Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand 
Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax 
(972) 641-3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.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 February 26, 2014.
Bruce E. Cain,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-04697 Filed 3-10-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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