7312 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0021; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–040–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

(Eurocopter) Model MBB–BK 117 C–2 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require changing the direction of the 

bolt connecting the upper clevis bolt of 

a specific bellcrank in the main rotor 

assembly, repetitively inspecting the 

bearings in the bellcrank assemblies for 

correct staking, and replacing a 

bellcrank if a bearing is staked 

incorrectly. This proposed AD is 

prompted by improperly staked 

bellcrank bearings, which may cause the 

bellcrank to shift in the axial direction 

and cause chafing. The proposed actions 

are intended to prevent contact between 

the bolts on certain main rotor 

bellcranks, which could result in 

chafing and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 2, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Send comments to the U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590–0001. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to the 

‘‘Mail’’ address 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 proposed 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 service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232– 

0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim 

Grigg, ASW–112, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 

Management Group, 2601 Meacham 

Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 

telephone (817) 222–5126, fax (817) 

222–5961, email Jim.Grigg@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to participate in this 

rulemaking by submitting written 

comments, data, or views. We also 

invite comments relating to the 

economic, environmental, energy, or 

federalism impacts that might result 

from adopting the proposals in this 

document. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. To ensure the docket 

does not contain duplicate comments, 

commenters should send only one copy 

of written comments, or if comments are 

filed electronically, commenters should 

submit only one time. 

We will file in the docket all 

comments that we receive, as well as a 

report summarizing each substantive 

public contact with FAA personnel 

concerning this proposed rulemaking. 

Before acting on this proposal, we will 

consider all comments we receive on or 

before the closing date for comments. 

We will consider comments filed after 

the comment period has closed if it is 

possible to do so without incurring 

expense or delay. We may change this 

proposal in light of the comments we 

receive. 

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. 

2010–0045, 2nd Correction, dated 

March 30, 2010, to correct an unsafe 

condition for the Eurocopter Model 

MBB–BK 117 C–2 helicopters. EASA 

advises that during inspections on these 

model helicopters, bellcrank bearings 

have been discovered that were 

incorrectly staked. EASA advises that 

this condition, if not detected and 

corrected, may cause the affected 

bellcrank to shift in the axial direction 

and cause chafing. This could lead to 

interference between the bolts 

connecting the control rods to 

Bellcrank-Q and Bellcrank-K, possibly 

resulting in reduced control of the 

helicopter. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of the Federal 

Republic of Germany and are approved 

for operation in the United States. 

Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with 

the Federal Republic of Germany, 

EASA, its technical representative, has 

notified us of the unsafe condition 

described in its AD. We are proposing 

this AD because we evaluated all known 

relevant information and determined 

that an unsafe condition exists and is 

likely to exist or develop on other 

helicopters of the same type design. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Alert Service 

Bulletin No. MBB BK117 C–2–67A–011, 

Revision 1, dated February 23, 2010 

(ASB), which specifies checking the 

attachment of the bearings, changing the 

direction of the bellcrank bolt, and, if 

necessary, replacing damaged parts. 

EASA classified this ASB as mandatory 

and issued EASA AD No. 2010–0045, 

2nd Correction, dated March 30, 2010, 

to ensure the continued airworthiness of 

these helicopters. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

compliance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions, paragraph 3.B. and 3.C., of 

the manufacturer’s service bulletin. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

We refer to a check of the bearings as 

an inspection of the bearings. We 

require an inspection within 100 hours 

time-in-service rather than mandating a 

date or requiring that the part 

accumulate 50 flight hours after 

installation. We refer to the 

‘‘attachment’’ of the bearings as 

‘‘staking’’ of the bearings. We added the 

words ‘‘chafing or corrosion’’ to define 

damage to the parts. We do not mandate 

compliance with the entire ASB, but 

rather specific paragraphs. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 22 / Friday, February 1, 2013 / Proposed Rules 7313 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 96 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. We estimate that operators may 

incur the following costs in order to 

comply with this AD. 

• 1 work hour to inspect the bolt, and 

• 2 work hours to replace the bolt at 

an average labor rate of $85 per work 

hour. 

Based on these figures ($85 × 3 hours), 

we estimate the total cost impact of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators in the 

first year to be $255 per helicopter or 

$24,480 for the U.S. fleet. 

If a bellcrank or bearing block is to be 

replaced, we estimate the following 

costs: 

• 10 hours to change a bellcrank 

(assuming all 3 are replaced) for a labor 

cost of $850 per helicopter, and 

• 10 hours to change a bearing block 

for a labor cost of $850 per helicopter. 

Required parts would cost about: 

• $4,632 for a Bellcrank-Q, 

• $3,294 for a Bellcrank-K, 

• $4,411 for a Bellcrank-L, and 

• $1,150 for a bearing block. 

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 proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. 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, I certify 

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); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction; and 

4. 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 proposed 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. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new Airworthiness 

Directive (AD): 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH: Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0021; Directorate Identifier 

2010–SW–040–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model MBB–BK 117 C– 

2 helicopters with Bellcrank-Q part number 

(P/N) B671M7004101, Bellcrank-K P/N 

B670M7021101, or Bellcrank-L P/N 

B671M7003101 installed, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

interference between the connecting control 

rods to bolts on Bellcranks Q and K. This 

condition could result in chafing and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Compliance 

You are responsible for performing each 

action required by this AD within the 

specified compliance time unless it has 

already been accomplished prior to that time. 

(d) Required Actions 

(1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

change the direction of the bolt connecting 

the upper clevis bolt of Bellcrank-Q as 

depicted in Figure 1 of Eurocopter Alert 

Service Bulletin No. MBB BK117 C–2–67A– 

011, Revision 1, dated February 23, 2010 

(ASB), and by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, paragraph 3.B. of the ASB. 

(2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 

300 hours TIS, using a suitable light source 

and a mirror, inspect the bearings in the 

bellcrank assemblies for correct staking of the 

bearings as depicted in Figure 2 of the ASB. 

The bearings should be flush mounted, and 

there should be a space between the 

bellcrank and bearing block. 

(3) If there is an incorrectly staked bearing, 

before further flight: 

(i) Replace the bellcrank with an airworthy 

bellcrank; and 

(ii) Inspect the bearing block for damage (a 

crack, deformation, mechanical damage, or 

corrosion). If damage exceeds allowable 

limits, replace the bearing block with an 

airworthy bearing block. If damage is within 

allowable limits, repair the bearing block. 

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOC) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Jim Grigg, ASW– 

112, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 

telephone (817) 222–5126, fax (817) 222– 

5961, email Jim.Grigg@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under 14 CFR 

part 119 operating certificate or under 14 

CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 

notify your principal inspector, or lacking a 

principal inspector, the manager of the local 

flight standards district office or certificate 

holding district office before operating any 

aircraft complying with this AD through an 

AMOC. 

(f) Additional Information 

(1) For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone 

(972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323; fax (972) 

641–3775; or at http://www.eurocopter.com/ 

techpub. You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

EASA AD No. 2010–0045, 2nd Correction, 

dated March 30, 2010. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) 

6710: Bellcrank Bearings and Bearing Block. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 9, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–02245 Filed 1–31–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

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