[Federal Register: March 14, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 50)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 12318-12319]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr14mr03-13]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-SW-56-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model SA330F, G, and
J; AS332C, L, and L1; SA341G; SA342J; AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D;
AS355E, F, F1, F2 and N; SA-365C, C1, and C2; SA-365N and N1; and AS-
365N2 and N3 Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive
(AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. This
proposal would require determining whether specified main or tail rotor
(rotor) parts are installed and, if so, updating and recording the
correct hours time-in-service (TIS) or cycles of each part. If the
hours TIS or cycles of any rotor part exceed its life limit, this AD
would also require replacing that part with an airworthy part within 50
hours TIS. This proposal is prompted by the need to correct the
Equipment Log Card (FME) to accurately reflect the total hours TIS and
cycles of certain repaired or overhauled rotor parts. The actions
specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a life
limited rotor part, loss of a rotor, and subsequent loss of control of
the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 13, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-SW-56-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically
to the Rules Docket at the following address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov.
Comments may be inspected at the Office of the Regional Counsel between
9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Uday Garadi, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5123, fax (817) 222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will
be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals
contained in this document may be changed in light of the comments
received.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed
comments submitted in response to this proposal must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made:
``Comments to Docket No. 2002-SW-56-AD.'' The postcard will be date
stamped and returned to the commenter.
Discussion
The Direction Generale De L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the
airworthiness authority for France, notified the FAA that an unsafe
condition may exist on ECF Model SA330F, G, and J; AS332C, L, and L1;
SA341G; SA342J; AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D; AS355E, F, F1, F2 and N;
SA-365C, C1, and C2; SA-365N and N1; and AS-365 N2 and N3 helicopters.
The DGAC advises of the discovery of a discrepancy in the computer
program used to carry over the number of operating hours of parts
following repair or overhaul, which is the cause of incorrect
completion of FME's.
ECF has issued the following Alert Telexes for the helicopter model
series specified: Nos. 65.110 for SA330, 62.00.58 for AS332, 65.60 for
SA341 and SA342, 62.00.25 for AS350, 62.00.27 for AS355, 65.41 for SA-
365C, and 62.00.19 for AS-365N, all dated August 13, 2002. These alert
telexes specify correcting the FME to list the correct total number of
operating hours and cycles for specified parts installed on dynamic
components. After correcting the FME, if the parts have
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exceeded their life limit, the alert telexes specify removing or
monitoring the parts. The DGAC classified these alert telexes as
mandatory and issued AD No. 2002-452(A), dated September 4, 2002, to
ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in France.
These helicopter models are manufactured in France and are type
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of
14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to the
applicable bilateral agreement, the DGAC has kept the FAA informed of
the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of the
DGAC, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action
is necessary for products of these type designs that are certificated
for operation in the United States.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of the same type designs registered in the United States.
Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within 10 hours TIS,
determining whether the specified rotor part and serial numbers are
installed by reference to the FME and, if installed, correcting the
hours TIS and cycles. If a part exceeds its life limit, the AD would
require replacing the part within 50 hours TIS. The actions would be
required for the parts listed in the appendix of the alert telexes
described previously.
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 760
helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take
approximately 1 work hour to determine the part and serial number and 8
hours to replace each affected part on 38 helicopters (5 percent of the
total affected helicopters), and that the average labor rate is $60 per
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $64,560 depending on
which part would be replaced. Based on these figures, the total cost
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$2,517,120.
The regulations proposed herein would 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed
regulation (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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Eurocopter France: Docket No. 2002-SW-56-AD.
Applicability: Model SA330F, G, and J; AS332C, L, and L1;
SA341G; SA342J; AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, and D; AS355E, F, F1, F2,
and N; SA-365C, C1, and C2; SA-365N and N1; and AS-365 N2 and N3
helicopters, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To prevent failure of a main or tail rotor (rotor) part, loss of
a rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter,
accomplish the following:
(a) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), determine by
reference to the equipment log card (FME) whether any rotor part and
serial number specified in Table 1, paragraph 3, of the Appendix of
each of the following Eurocopter France (ECF) Alert Telexes for the
specified helicopter model series is installed: Nos. 65.110 for
SA330, 62.00.58 for AS332, 65.60 for SA341 and SA342, 62.00.25 for
AS350, 62.00.27 for AS355, 65.41 for SA-365C, and 62.00.19 for
SA365N and AS-365, all dated August 13, 2002.
(1) If none of the parts are installed, no further action is
required.
(2) For each affected part listed in Table 1, paragraph 3, of
the Appendix of each applicable ECF Alert Telex specified in
paragraph (a) of this AD, add the hours TIS and cycles to the hours
TIS and cycles recorded on the FME. If a part exceeds its life limit
in TIS or cycles, replace the part with an airworthy part within 50
hours TIS.
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and
then send it to the Manager, Regulations Group.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Regulations Group.
(c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Direction
Generale De L'Aviation Civile (France) AD No. 2002-452(A), dated
September 4, 2002.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 2003.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-6137 Filed 3-13-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P