Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France) (Airbus Helicopters) Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 106 (Tuesday, June 3, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 31855-31857]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-12717]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0984; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-022-AD; 
Amendment 39-17859; AD 2014-11-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously 
Eurocopter France) (Airbus Helicopters) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 
Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters to require measuring the 
operating load of the cockpit fuel shut-off controls and replacing the 
tangential gearbox if the operating load threshold is exceeded. This AD 
was prompted by the jamming of the left-hand (LH) side of the fuel 
shut-off and general cut-off controls (controls). The actions of this 
AD are intended to prevent the jamming of the controls so that a pilot 
can shut down an engine during an engine fire or during an emergency 
landing.

DATES: This AD is effective July 8, 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 European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) 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: James Blyn, 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 November 25, 2013, at 78 FR 70242, 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 Eurocopter 
France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC225LP helicopters with a 
tangential gearbox, part number 200181 or 704A34112012. The NPRM 
proposed to require measuring the operating load of the cockpit fuel 
shut-off controls and replacing the tangential gearbox if the operating 
load threshold is exceeded. The proposed requirements were intended to 
prevent the jamming of the controls so that a pilot can shut down an 
engine during an engine fire or during an emergency landing.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2013-0098-E, dated April 24, 2013, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter 
France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC 225 LP helicopters. EASA 
advises that during maintenance on a helicopter, the LH side of the 
cockpit's emergency shutdown controls were reported jammed, making it 
impossible to operate the LH fuel shut-off and the general cut-out 
handles. EASA states that this condition could lead to failure to 
manually operate the emergency shutdown controls during an emergency 
landing or fire. To address this unsafe condition, EASA AD No. 2013-
0098-E requires an operating load check of the two cockpit fuel shut-
off handles and, depending on findings, lubrication and/or replacement 
of the two tangential gearboxes.
    Since we issued the NPRM, Eurocopter France changed its name to 
Airbus Helicopters, Inc. This AD reflects that change and updates the 
contact information to obtain service documentation.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (78 FR 70242, November 
25, 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 for the minor changes 
previously described. These changes are consistent with the intent of 
the proposals in the NPRM (78 FR 70242, November 25, 2013) and will not 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires differing compliance times based on when the 
helicopter's original Certificate of Airworthiness or Export 
Certificate of Airworthiness was issued. This AD makes no distinction 
regarding compliance times because there are only 4 affected aircraft 
on the U.S. registry.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 76A001, 
Revision 0, dated April 22, 2013, for the Model

[[Page 31856]]

EC225LP civil helicopter and the Model EC725AP military helicopter to 
notify its operators that during a scheduled inspection of the fuel 
shut-off controls, a mechanic noticed that one of the shut-off controls 
jammed. This jamming made maneuvering the fuel shut-off and the general 
cut-out controls impossible. After an investigation, Eurocopter 
determined that the jamming originated in the tangential gearbox 
installed on this control. Traces of corrosion were observed on the 
internal bearings of the LH tangential gearbox, Eurocopter reported. 
The jamming of the fuel cut-off control prevents the engine input fuel 
valve and the engine compartment ventilation flap from closing and 
prevents the activation of the general cut-out control.
    Eurocopter consequently called for a mandatory ``check'' of the 
fuel shut-off valve maneuvering loads, lubricating the tangential 
gearbox bearings, and depending on the load measurement, replacing the 
tangential gearbox.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 4 helicopters of U.S. Registry and 
that labor costs average $85 a work-hour. Based on these estimates, we 
expect the following costs:
    <bullet> Measuring the operating load of the two cockpit fuel shut-
off controls require .25 work-hours for a labor cost of about $21, or 
$84 for the U.S. fleet. No parts are needed.
    <bullet> Lubricating the tangential gearbox requires 4 work-hours. 
The cost of consumable materials is minimal for a total cost of $340 
per helicopter.
    <bullet> Replacing the tangential gearbox requires 4 work-hours for 
a labor cost of $340. Parts cost $4,943 for a total cost of $5,283 per 
helicopter.

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):

2014-11-08 Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France): 
Amendment 39-17859; Docket No. FAA-2013-0984; Directorate Identifier 
2013-SW-012-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model EC225LP helicopters with a tangential 
gearbox, part number (P/N) 200181 or 704A34112012, installed, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as the jamming of the fuel 
shut-off and the general cut-off controls. This condition could 
prevent a pilot from shutting down an engine during an engine fire 
or emergency landing.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective July 8, 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

    (1) Within 15 hours time-in-service or 7 days, whichever occurs 
first, measure the operating load of each cockpit fuel shut-off 
control.
    (i) If the operating load is more than 3 daN (6.74 ft-lb), 
before further flight, lubricate each tangential gearbox and measure 
the operating load of each cockpit fuel shut-off control.
    (ii) If the operating load is less than or equal to 3 daN (6.74 
ft-lb), within 6 months, lubricate each tangential gearbox and 
measure the operating load of each cockpit fuel shut-off control.
    (iii) If the operating load is more than 3 daN (6.74 ft-lb) 
after lubricating the tangential gearbox, replace the affected 
tangential gearbox before the next flight.
    (2) Before installing a tangential gearbox, P/N 200181 or 
704A34112012, lubricate the upper and lower bearings.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: James Blyn, 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 No. 76A001, 
Revision 0, dated April 22, 2013, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains additional information about the subject of this 
AD. For service information, 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2013-0098-E, dated April 24, 2013. You 
may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
in Docket No. FAA-2013-0984.

[[Page 31857]]

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: Engine Controls, 
7600.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 21, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-12717 Filed 6-2-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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