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

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 101 (Tuesday, May 27, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 30015-30017]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-11528]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0306; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-046-AD; 
Amendment 39-17850; AD 2014-10-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L1 and Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD 
requires relocating the power supply circuit breaker source of one 
engine's multi-purpose air intake (MPAI). This AD is prompted by a 
report that power loss to the MPAI could open the engine air intakes, 
which could result in engine ice ingestion during flight in icing 
conditions. These actions are intended to prevent ice ingestion by both 
engines, which could result in complete loss of engine thrust, and 
possible loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 11, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of June 11, 2014.
    We must receive comments on this AD by July 28, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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 European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD, any incorporated by reference service information, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.
    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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, Aviation Safety

[[Page 30016]]

Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, we 
invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to the 
economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit them only one time. We will file in the docket all comments that 
we receive, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2013-0173, dated August 1, 2013, 
to correct an unsafe condition for certain serial-numbered Eurocopter 
France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS 332 L1 and Model EC 225 LP 
helicopters. EASA advises that after a power generation failure, some 
helicopters equipped with electrical MPAIs would lose electrical power 
to the engine electro-valves that control inflation of the MPAI seals 
that close the engine air intakes. This power supply loss results in 
deflation or non-inflation of the MPAI seals on both engine air 
intakes. During flight in icing conditions, this condition could result 
in ice ingestion by the engines and a dual engine flame-out. To correct 
this unsafe condition, EASA AD No. 2013-0173 requires accomplishing 
Eurocopter modification (MOD) 332P083736.05 for Model AS 332 L1 
helicopters, and MOD 332P083736.01 or MOD 332P083736.02, depending on 
the helicopter serial number, for Model EC225 LP helicopters. These 
MODs describe procedures for relocating the power supply circuit 
breaker of one engine's MPAI to an electrical bus that cannot be shut 
off in the event of battery powered emergency flight.

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.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS332-30.00.74 
for Model AS332L1 helicopters and ASB No. EC225-30A032 for Model 
EC225LP helicopters, both Revision 0 and dated July 31, 2013. ASB 
AS332-30.00.74 contains the procedures for Eurocopter MOD 
332P083736.05, and ASB EC225-30A032 contains the procedures for 
Eurocopter MOD 332P083736.01 and MOD 332P083736.02. Each ASB specifies 
relocating one of the two electric MPAI power supply circuit breakers 
to a bus bar that cannot lose power during emergency flight under 
battery power only.

AD Requirements

    Before flying into known icing conditions, this AD requires 
complying with the manufacturer's service information to relocate an 
engine MPAI power supply circuit breaker. This AD also requires 
performing a functional test of each MPAI after relocating the MPAI 
power supply circuit breaker.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 110 flight hours. This AD 
requires compliance before any flight into known icing conditions, as 
the unsafe condition does not exist unless icing conditions are 
encountered concurrently with a dual generator or dual transformer-
rectifier unit failure.

Costs of Compliance

    There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no 
helicopters affected by this AD on the U.S. Registry.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    There are no helicopters affected by this AD on the U.S. Registry. 
Therefore, we believe it is unlikely that we will receive any adverse 
comments or useful information about this AD from U.S. Operators.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary because there are 
none of these products on the U.S. Registry and that good cause exists 
for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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 products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that 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, 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

[[Page 30017]]

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):

2014-10-03 Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate previously held by 
Eurocopter France): Amendment 39-17850; Docket No. FAA-2014-0306; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-046-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model AS332L1 helicopters, serial number (S/
N) 2774, and Model EC225LP helicopters, S/N 2600, 2623, 2645, 2656, 
2659, 2663, 2666, 2670, 2673, 2685, 2691, 2692, 2693, 2702, 2715, 
2716, 2721, 2725, 2739, 2744, 2747, 2753, 2756, 2759, 2767, 2779, 
and 2794, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as engine ice ingestion 
during flight, which could result in complete loss of engine thrust 
and possible loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective June 11, 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.

(e) Required Actions

    Before flight into known icing conditions:
    (1) For Model AS332L1 helicopter, S/N 2774, relocate the engine 
1 Multi-Purpose Air Intake (MPAI) power supply circuit breaker as 
described in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2., and 
Figures 1, 2, and 3 of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
AS332-30.00.74, Revision 0, dated July 31, 2013.
    (2) For Model EC225LP helicopters, S/N 2600, 2623, 2645, 2656, 
2659, 2663, 2666, 2670, 2673, and 2693, relocate the engine 2 MPAI 
power supply circuit breaker as described in the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2.a., and Figures 1 and 2 of Eurocopter 
ASB No. EC225-30A032, Revision 0, dated July 31, 2013.
    (3) For Model EC225LP helicopters, S/N 2685, 2691, 2692, 2702, 
2715, 2716, 2721, 2725, 2739, 2744, 2747, 2753, 2756, 2759, 2767, 
2779, and 2794, relocate the engine 2 MPAI power supply circuit 
breaker as described in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 
3.B.2.b., and Figures 1 and 3 of Eurocopter ASB No. EC225-30A032.
    (4) For all model helicopters, perform a functional test of each 
MPAI after relocating the MPAI power supply circuit breaker.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited for flights into known 
icing conditions.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management 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 (EASA) AD No. 2013-0173, dated August 1, 2013. You may view 
the EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2014-0306.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3097: Ice/Rain 
Protection System Wiring.

(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. AS332-30.00.74, 
Revision 0, dated July 31, 2013.
    (ii) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. EC225-30A032, 
Revision 0, dated July 31, 2013.
    (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 May 6, 2014.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-11528 Filed 5-23-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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