Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA332C, L, L1, and L2 Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 16 (Thursday, January 24, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4055-4057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1028]



[[Page 4055]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0044; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-40-AD; 
Amendment 39-15341; AD 2008-02-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA332C, L, L1, 
and L2 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 the 
specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 
by an aviation authority to identify and correct an unsafe condition on 
an aviation product. The European Safety Agency (EASA), the Technical 
Agent for France, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in 
the MCAI:

    This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the 
failure of an attachment bolt securing the main rotor RH servo-
control to the non-rotating swash-plate.
    Failure of the servo-control/swash-plate attachment in flight 
leads to a catastrophic situation.
    This AD requires actions that are intended to address this same 
unsafe condition.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 8, 2008.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of Eurocoper Alert Service Bulletin No. 67.00.36, dated 
October 9, 2006, as of February 8, 2008.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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 economic evaluation, 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Uday Garadi, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5123, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Streamlined Issuance of AD

    The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance 
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt 
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce 
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD 
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure 
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our 
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct 
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
    This AD references the MCAI and related service information that we 
considered in forming the engineering basis to correct the unsafe 
condition. The AD contains text copied from the MCAI and for this 
reason might not follow our plain language principles.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the technical 
agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued 
Airworthiness Directive No. 2006-0306-E, dated October 10, 2006, to 
correct an unsafe condition for the French-certificated products. The 
MCAI states:

    This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the 
failure of an attachment bolt securing the main rotor RH servo-
control to the non-rotating swash-plate.
    Failure of the servo-control/swash-plate attachment in flight 
leads to a catastrophic situation.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI and 
service information in the AD docket.

Relevant Service Information

    ECF has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 67.00.36, dated October 
9, 2006. The actions described in the MCAI are intended to correct the 
same unsafe condition as that identified in the service information.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
member states of the European community and is approved for operation 
in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with France, 
the State of Design, a member of the European community, we have been 
notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all pertinent 
information and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to 
exist or develop on other products of these same type designs.

Differences Between the AD and the MCAI or Service Information

    We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in 
general, agree with their substance. However, our AD differs from the 
MCAI and service information as follows: We have changed the word 
``check'' to ``inspect'' to more clearly indicate that we are requiring 
the work to be performed by a certificated mechanic. Also, this AD does 
not require that the operator send the information to the manufacturer 
as specified in the ASB. In making these changes, we do not intend to 
differ substantively from the information provided in the MCAI and 
related service information. These differences are highlighted in the 
``Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI'' section within the AD.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this AD. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public justifies 
waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because the 
EASA AD was issued following the failure of an attachment bolt securing 
the main rotor right-hand servo-control or swash plate attachment in 
flight, which can lead to a complete loss of control of the helicopter. 
Therefore, we determined that notice and opportunity for public comment 
before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in fewer than 30 days.

[[Page 4056]]

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public 
comment. We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this AD. Send your comments to an address listed under 
the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0044; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-SW-40-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend this AD because of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we 
receive about this AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 4 helicopters of U.S. registry 
and will take about 3 work hours to inspect the bolts. The average 
labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about $600 
for three bolts per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
total cost to be $3,360.

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 above, I certify this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. 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

0
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 AD:

2008-02-11 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-15341. Docket No. FAA-
2008-0044; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-40-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 
8, 2008.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model AS332C, L, L1, and L2 helicopters, 
certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continued airworthiness information (MCAI) 
states:

    This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the 
failure of an attachment bolt securing the main rotor RH servo-
control to the non-rotating swash-plate.
    Failure of the servo-control/swash-plate attachment in flight 
leads to a catastrophic situation.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Within 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), unless already done, 
do the following actions:
    (1) For each swashplate attachment bolt, part number 332A31-
1340-21, having 500 or more hours time-in-service, inspect for 
tightening torque, wear, and a crack in each of these three bolts 
that attach the main servo controls to the nonrotating swashplate. 
Do this inspection by following the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 2.B. and Figure 1, of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 
No. 67.00.36, dated October 9, 2006 (ASB).
    (2) If there is a crack in a bolt or if the differential wear on 
a bolt between areas F, G, and H (as depicted in Figure 1 of the 
ASB) is more than 0.005 millimeter, replace the bolt with an 
airworthy bolt before further flight.

Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI

    (f) We have changed the word ``check'' to ``inspect'' to more 
clearly indicate that we are requiring the work to be performed by a 
certificated mechanic. Also, this AD does not require that the 
operator send the information to the manufacturer as specified in 
the ASB.

Subject

    (g) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 6700 Rotor 
Flight Controls.

Other Information

    (h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
    (1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Safety Management Group, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Send information to ATTN: Uday Garadi, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5123, fax (817) 222-
5961.
    (2) Airworthy Product: Use only FAA-approved corrective actions. 
Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved 
by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent) if the 
State of Design has an appropriate bilateral agreement with the 
United States. You are required to assure the product is airworthy 
before it is returned to service.
    (3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in 
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the 
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information 
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.

Related Information

    (i) MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness 
Directive No. 2006-0306-E, dated October 10, 2006, contains related 
information.
    (j) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 
No. 67.00.36, dated October 9, 2006, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 
part 51.
    (k) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
Texas 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527.

[[Page 4057]]

    (l) You may review copies of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 
No. 67.00.36, dated October 9, 2006, at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas, or 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 December 27, 2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1028 Filed 1-23-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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