[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 234 (Tuesday, December 7, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 75934-75936]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-30616]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-1190; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-038-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Apical Industries Inc. (Apical)
Emergency Float Kits
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 Apical emergency float kits installed on certain model
helicopters under supplemental type certificates. This proposal would
require adding placards on each side of the fuselage to identify the
location and operation of the liferaft external inflation handle. The
proposal would also require replacing each liferaft operation placard
to state that external liferafts are installed. This proposal is
prompted by a report of a helicopter that crashed into the water, and
the pilot did not deploy the floats and liferafts. Two external T-
handles were available for deployment of the liferafts but were not
used by the passengers because they were unaware of their location. The
proposed actions are intended to prevent helicopter occupants from
further injury due to unnecessary exposure to harsh water conditions
and to aid in deploying liferafts when liferafts are available on the
helicopter and can be activated after a water landing.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 7, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
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 proposed AD
from Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple
[[Page 75935]]
Heights Drive, Oceanside, California 92056-3512, telephone (760) 724-
5300, fax (760) 758-9612.
You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-
5337, fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2010-1190,
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-038-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light 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
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the
search function of our docket web site, you can find and read the
comments to any of our dockets, including the name of the individual
who sent or signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
Examining the Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
Discussion
This document proposes adopting a new AD for the Apical emergency
float kits installed on certain model helicopters under Supplemental
Type Certificate Number SR01535LA, SR01779LA, SR01813LA, SR01855LA, or
SR00856LA. This proposal would require adding external placards (one on
each side of the fuselage or crosstubes) to identify the location and
operation of the liferaft external inflation handle. The proposal would
also require replacing each liferaft operation placard to state that
external liferafts are installed. This proposal is prompted by a report
of a helicopter that crashed into the water, and the pilot did not
deploy the floats or the liferafts. Two external T-handles were
available for deployment of the liferafts but were not used because the
passengers were unaware of their location. This condition, if not
corrected, could result in unnecessary injury or loss of life in the
event of a helicopter landing in the water.
We have reviewed Apical Alert Service Bulletin No. SB2008-01,
Revision A, dated March 3, 2010 (ASB), which describes procedures for
installing a Liferaft External Inflation Handle Placard, part number
(P/N) 600.0897, onto the crosstube or fuselage of each affected
helicopter. The ASB also provides instructions for replacing the
previous Liferaft Operation Placard, P/N 634.9703, located ``typically
above an exit''with a revised version (Revision C) stating that the
aircraft is equipped with external liferafts.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of these same type designs modified with an Emergency Float
with a Liferaft Kit pursuant to a supplemental type certificate issued
to Apical Industries, Inc. Therefore, for those affected model
helicopters, the proposed AD would require installing a Liferaft
External Inflation Handle Placard, P/N 600.0897, onto the crosstube or
fuselage. Also, the AD would require replacing the Liferaft Operation
Placard, P/N 634.9703. The actions would be required to be done by
following the ASB described previously.
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 324 helicopters of
U.S. registry, and the proposed actions would take about \1/2\ work
hour per helicopter to install 4 or 6 placards at an average labor rate
of $85 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $70 per
helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $36,450 for the entire
fleet.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed
AD 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the AD docket to examine the draft
economic evaluation.
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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, 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.
[[Page 75936]]
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Apical Industries Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2010-1190; Directorate
Identifier 2010-SW-038-AD.
Applicability: The helicopter models, certificated in any
category, with an Emergency Float Kit with a part number (P/N) and
serial number (S/N), installed by supplemental type certificate
(STC), as follows:
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Kit P/N Kit S/N Affected helicopter model STC No.
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614.3001......................... 080 and below...... Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) 407 SR01535LA
614.3003......................... 133 and below...... Bell 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4...... SR01535LA
614.3007......................... 014 and below...... Bell 206A and B................... SR01535LA
614.7601......................... 045 and below...... Bell 210, 212, 412, 412CF, 412EP, SR01779LA
AB412, and AB412EP.
634.2901......................... 012 and below...... Bell 427.......................... SR01813LA
644.1801......................... 031 and below...... Eurocopter Deutschland Gmbh SR01855LA
(Eurocopter) EC135.
20430-300........................ 009 and below...... Eurocopter BO-105A, C, S, LS A-1 SR00856LA
and LS A-3.
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Compliance: Within 180 days, unless accomplished previously.
To install placards to aid in locating and deploying liferafts
to prevent further injury or loss of life in the event of a
helicopter landing in the water, do the following:
(a) Install the Liferaft External Inflation Handle Placard, P/N
600.0897, shown in Figure 1 of Apical Industries Inc. Alert Service
Bulletin SB2008-01, Revision A, dated March 3, 2010 (ASB), on the
crosstubes or fuselage near the external T-Handles, as shown for two
model helicopters in Figures 2 and 3, by following the
Accomplishment Instructions, 1.0, paragraphs 1 through 5, of the
ASB.
(b) Remove the Liferaft Operation Placard, P/N 634.9703,
Revision N/C through B, as shown in Figure 4 of the ASB, and install
Liferaft Operation Placard, P/N 634.9703, Revision C, as shown in
Figure 5, above all aircraft exits, inside the aircraft in plain
view.
(c) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Contact the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
Attn: Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety Engineer, 3960 Paramount
Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-5337,
fax (562) 627-5210, for information about previously approved
alternative methods of compliance.
(d) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Codes are 2564:
Liferaft and 3212: Emergency Flotation Section.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 22, 2010.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-30616 Filed 12-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P