[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 220 (Tuesday, November 16, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69858-69859]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-28452]
[[Page 69858]]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-1125; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-40-AD;
Amendment 39-16512; AD 2010-23-22]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model
AS332L2 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
Eurocopter Model AS332L2 helicopters. This AD results from a mandatory
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the European
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the
Member States of the European Community. The MCAI AD states that a hard
landing occurred during in-flight engine failure (one engine
inoperative (OEI)) training. An examination revealed the failure of the
right-hand main reduction gear module (module) freewheel unit due to
excessive wear on some of its components. The MCAI AD prohibits engine
failure OEI training with helicopters on which certain main gearbox
(MGB) modules with certain freewheel shafts are installed and mandates
the replacement of those modules. The actions are intended to prevent
failure of certain freewheel units, loss of power to the main rotor
system, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 1, 2010.
We must receive comments on this AD by January 18, 2011.
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 your
comments electronically.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
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.
You may get the service information identified in this AD from
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527, or at http://www.eurocopter.com.
Examining the 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, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for the Docket Operations office
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is stated in the ADDRESSES section of this
AD. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5204, fax (817) 222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
EASA has issued AD No. 2007-0312-E, dated December 21, 2007, to
correct an unsafe condition for the Eurocopter Model AS332L2
helicopters. The MCAI AD prohibits engine failure OEI training for
helicopters with MGB modules installed with certain freewheel shafts,
mandates inspection of each freewheel shaft at an approved repair
station, and mandates replacement if necessary. The MCAI AD also
mandates inserting the information prohibiting engine failure OEI
training into the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual
(RFM). The MCAI AD was issued following a hard landing, which occurred
during in-flight engine failure OEI training after failure of a
freewheel unit. In case of a freewheel unit failure on one of the two
MGB inputs, either inadvertently or as part of OEI training, the
resulting load on the remaining MGB freewheel unit may result in
failure of the second freewheel unit. The actions are intended to
prevent failure of a freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of
the helicopter.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI AD and the
related service information in the AD docket.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No.
01.00.74, dated December 20, 2007, for the Model AS332L2 helicopters,
which specifies the need for prohibiting OEI training in certain
helicopters with certain freewheel shafts installed in certain MGB main
reduction gear modules until those modules with those freewheel shafts
are replaced. The actions described in the MCAI AD are intended to
correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the service
information.
FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination
The Eurocopter Model AS332L2 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,
their technical agent, has notified us of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI 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 Model AS332L2
helicopters of the same type design.
There are no products 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 This AD and the MCAI AD
We refer to flight hours as hours time-in-service (TIS). We require
replacing each MGB module, listed in the applicability of this AD,
within 40 hours TIS rather than using 40 hours TIS for some parts and
200 hours TIS for other parts. Also, we do not use the dates listed in
the MCAI AD because the dates have passed.
Costs of Compliance
There are no costs of compliance since there are no helicopters of
this type design on the U.S. Registry.
FAA's Determination of the Effective Date
Since there are currently no affected U.S. registered helicopters,
we have determined that notice and opportunity for prior public comment
before issuing this AD are unnecessary and that good cause exists for
making this amendment 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. However, we invite you to send us any
[[Page 69859]]
written data, views, or arguments concerning this AD. Send your
comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES section of this AD.
Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1125; Directorate Identifier 2008-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.
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 product(s) 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.
Therefore, 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, 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:
2010-23-22 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-16512. Docket No. FAA-
2010-1125; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-40-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective on
December 1, 2010.
Other Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model AS332L2 helicopters, certificated
in any category, with a freewheel shaft, part number (P/N) 332A32-
2190-25, with No. 1 and No. 2 serial numbered shafts installed on a
main gearbox (MGB) main reduction gear module (main module), with a
P/N and serial number (S/N), as listed in the following table.
Table--MGB Main Modules, With
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Installed on main module P/N &
No. 1 and No. 2 Freewheel Shaft S/N S/N
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M1608, M945............................ 332A32-3011-03M and M2062.
M1078, M1087........................... 332A32-3011-03M and M2088.
M1272, M1273........................... 332A32-3011-03M and M2104.
M1688, M974............................ 332A32-3011-03M and M2016.
M1231, M937............................ 332A32-3011-03M and M2079.
M1115, M635............................ 332A32-3011-03M and M4001.
M1159, M907............................ 332A32-3011-03M and M4004.
M1124, M486............................ 332A32-3011-01M and M2044.
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Reason
(d) The MCAI AD states that a hard landing occurred during in-
flight engine failure (one engine inoperative (OEI)) training. An
examination of the main gearbox (MGB) revealed the failure of the
right-hand freewheel unit was due to excessive wear on some of its
components. The MCAI AD prohibits engine failure OEI training with
helicopters on which certain MGB modules with certain freewheel
shafts are installed and mandates the replacement of those modules.
The actions are intended to prevent failure of certain freewheel
units, loss of power to the main rotor system, and subsequent loss
of control of the helicopter.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Before further flight, unless already accomplished, insert
the following limitation into the Limitations section of the
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM): ``Engine failure (one-engine
inoperative (OEI)) training is prohibited.'' You may comply with
this requirement by making pen and ink changes to the Limitations
section of the RFM or by inserting a copy of this AD into the
Limitations section of the RFM.
(f) Within 40 hours time-in-service (TIS) or if an engine in-
flight shut down occurs, whichever occurs first, replace the MGB
main module with an airworthy main module that does not have a
freewheel shaft S/N listed in the applicability of this AD.
(g) After complying with paragraph (f) of this AD, remove the
limitation required by paragraph (e) of this AD from the RFM.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI AD
(h) We refer to flight hours as hours TIS. We require replacing
each MGB module, listed in the applicability of this AD, within 40
hours TIS rather than using 40 hours TIS for some parts and 200
hours TIS for other parts. Also, we do not use the dates listed in
the MCAI AD because those dates have passed.
Other Information
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Safety Management Group, FAA, ATTN: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, Fort
Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5204, fax (817) 222-
5961, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(j) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) MCAI AD No. 2007-
0312-E, dated December 21, 2007, and Eurocopter Emergency Alert
Service Bulletin No. 01.00.74, dated December 20, 2007, contain
related information.
Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code
(k) The JASC Code is 6300: Limitations--Main Rotor Drive System.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 1, 2010.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-28452 Filed 11-15-10; 8:45 am]
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