FR Doc E8-1701

[Federal Register: February 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 24)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 6584-6586]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05fe08-5]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0100; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-41-AD;
Amendment 39-15356; AD 2008-03-07]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Model AS 332 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
Eurocopter Model AS 332 L2 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 Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), the Technical
Agent of France, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in
the MCAI:

A borescope inspection during scheduled maintenance revealed
wear on the internal skin of a Life Raft Inflation Cylinder, P/N
41918001, that had been installed on a Eurocopter AS 332 L2
helicopter. The plunger tube end is fitted with a metal end-fitting
that presses against the internal surface of the cylinder due to its
installation horizontally aboard the aircraft. Vibrations generated
by helicopter operation are therefore causing such wear, which may
result in a drop of internal pressure of the cylinder. This internal
damage, if not corrected, could lead to functional failure of the
cylinder, making the life raft inflation no longer possible.

This AD requires actions that are intended to address the failure of a
life raft to inflate during an emergency landing on water (ditching),
which could result in loss of the crew and passengers.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on February 20, 2008.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.71, dated July
31, 2007, as of February 20, 2008.
We must receive comments on this AD by April 7, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

[[Page 6585]]

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.
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 Policy 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 helicopters.
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 EASA
AD No. 2007-0244, dated September 4, 2007 (referred to after this as
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified
helicopters. The MCAI states:

Relevant Service Information

Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.71, dated
July 31, 2007. 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 helicopter 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 this
State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe
condition described in the MCAI and the 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 helicopters of the same type design.
There are no helicopters of this type currently registered in the
United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the
described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these products are
placed on the U.S. Registry in the future.

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. We have limited the
``Applicability'' section of our AD to those helicopters type
certificated in the United States. We also changed ``flight hours'' to
``hours time-in-service.'' In making these small 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 in the
AD.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

Since there are currently no domestic operators of these
helicopters, notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing
this AD are unnecessary, and this amendment can be made effective in
less than 30 days.

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-2008-0100; Directorate
Identifier 2007-SW-41-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

There are no costs of compliance since there are no helicopters of
this type design on the U.S. Registry.

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.

[[Page 6586]]

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.

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:

2008-03-07 Eurocopter: Amendment 39-15356. Docket No. FAA-2008-0100;
Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-41-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February
20, 2008.

Other Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) This AD applies to Eurocopter Model AS 332 L2, with Life
Raft, part number (P/N) 00051047 or P/N 00051048, that has a Life
Raft Inflation Cylinder, P/N 41918001, installed, certificated in
any category.

Reason

(d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
A borescope inspection during scheduled maintenance revealed
wear on the internal skin of a Life Raft Inflation Cylinder, P/N
41918001, that had been installed on a Eurocopter AS 332 L2
helicopter. The plunger tube end is fitted with a metal end-fitting
that presses against the internal surface of the cylinder due to its
installation horizontally aboard the aircraft. Vibrations generated
by helicopter operation are therefore causing such wear, which may
result in a drop of internal pressure of the cylinder. This internal
damage, if not corrected, could lead to functional failure of the
cylinder, making the life raft inflation no longer possible.
Pending the development of a modification to the inflation
cylinder, this AD requires identification of all affected cylinders
and the removal from service of those that have accumulated 2,500
Flight Hours (FH) or more since installation or since overhaul.

Actions and Compliance

(e) Unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Within the next 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD, remove each life raft inflation cylinder,
P/N 41918001, that has accumulated or exceeded 2,500 hours TIS since
first installation or since last overhaul, whichever is later, in
accordance with Appendix 1, paragraph 3.1., of Eurocopter Alert
Service Bulletin No. 05.00.71, dated July 31, 2007 (ASB), and
replace it with an airworthy cylinder in accordance with Appendix 1,
paragraph 3.2 of the ASB.
(2) After the effective date of this AD, no person shall install
a life raft inflation cylinder, P/N 41918001, on a helicopter, if
that cylinder has accumulated or exceeded 2,500 hours TIS since
first installation or since last overhaul, or if it is older than 3
years since manufacture and has never been overhauled.

Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI

(f) This AD does not apply to Model EC 225 LP helicopters as
does the MCAI because that model helicopter is not type certificated
in the United States. Additionally, we have changed ``flight hours''
to ``hours time-in-service.'' We also clarified the applicable
paragraphs from the ASB in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

Subject

(g) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 2564: Life
Raft.

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 Policy 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) Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2007-0244, dated September 4, 2007 contains
related information.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(j) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No.
05.00.71, dated July 31, 2007, 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.
(l) You may review copies of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin
No. 05.00.71, dated July 31, 2007, 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 January 23, 2008.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-1701 Filed 2-4-08; 8:45 am]

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