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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 163 (Tuesday, August 23, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52593-52596]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-21472]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-0596; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-37-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Canada Ltd. Model BO 105 LS 
A-3 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness 
directive (AD) for Eurocopter Canada

[[Page 52594]]

Ltd. Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters. That AD currently requires 
establishing a life limit for certain tension-torsion (TT) straps. This 
action would require reducing the ``number of flights'' life limit and 
providing a time-in-service (TIS) life limit for those TT straps. This 
proposal is prompted by a recalculation by the manufacturer and 
subsequent changes to the service information related to the retirement 
time of the TT strap initially adopted as a result of an accident in 
which a main rotor blade (blade) separated from a Eurocopter 
Deutschland GMBH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 117 helicopter due to fatigue 
failure of a TT strap. The same part-numbered TT strap is used on Model 
BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent fatigue failure of a TT strap, loss of a blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 24, 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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5122, 
fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the ``Docket No. FAA-2011-
0596; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-37-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 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 
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the 
search function of the 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 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 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

    On September 5, 2000, we issued superseding AD 2000-18-13, 
Amendment 39-11899 (65 FR 55452, September 14, 2000), to establish a 
life limit for TT strap, part number (P/N) 2604067 (Bendix) or P/N 
J17322-1 (Lord), of 120 months or 40,000 flights, whichever occurs 
first. That action was prompted by an accident in July 1999 in which a 
blade separated from a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 
117 helicopter due to fatigue failure of a TT strap. The same part-
numbered TT strap is also used on the Eurocopter Canada Ltd. Model BO 
105 LS A-3 helicopters. The requirements of that AD are intended to 
prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.
    Since issuing that AD, the manufacturer has recalculated the 
retirement time, provided a time-in-service (TIS) limit, and issued 
revised service information related to the life limit of the TT strap.
    Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has 
issued Canadian AD No. CF-2008-17R1, dated May 26, 2008, to correct an 
unsafe condition for the Eurocopter Canada Ltd. (formerly MBB Canada 
Ltd.) Model BO 105-LS-A3 helicopters. Transport Canada advises that 
``the tension-torsion strap (TTS) failure on a MBB BK 117 helicopter in 
July 1999, initiated a TTS service life recalculation. This 
recalculation changed the retirement time in Chapter 4 of Maintenance 
Manual. As a result of this change, the TTS in service are to be 
replaced or inspected as a precautionary measure, pending already 
accumulated service hours and the calendar time since their last 
installation.''
    Since the issuance of the Transport Canada AD, the type certificate 
for this helicopter model has been transferred to the Federal Republic 
of Germany. The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Federal Republic of Germany, has adopted 
Transport Canada AD No. CF-2008-17R1, dated May 26, 2008, and requires 
compliance with that AD.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter Canada Limited issued Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB-BO 
105 LS-10-10, Revision 1, dated January 8, 2008 (ASB). The ASB 
describes procedures for determining the total accumulated installation 
time and factoring the number of flights on each TT strap. The ASB also 
describes and contains a graph for determining the revised life limit, 
and provides various compliance intervals, inspection provisions, and 
replacement criteria for the TT strap. The previously described ASB 
specifies procedures for determining the total accumulated installation 
time and number of flights on TT strap, P/N 2604067 (Bendix) or P/N 
J17322-1 (Lord). The ASB also describes establishing a revised life 
limit for the TT strap of 120 months, 25,000 flights, or 3,800 hours, 
whichever occurs first. Transport Canada classified this alert service 
bulletin as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2008-17R1, dated May 26, 
2008, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters. EASA, 
the Technical Agent for the current type certificate holder, the 
Federal Republic of Germany, has adopted and requires compliance with 
Transport Canada AD No. CF-2008-17R1, dated May 26, 2008.

FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination

    This helicopter has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
Federal Republic of Germany and is approved for operation in the United 
States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with

[[Page 52595]]

the Federal Republic of Germany, EASA, their technical representative, 
has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the Transport 
Canada AD, which has been adopted by EASA. We are proposing this AD 
because we evaluated all information provided by EASA and Transport 
Canada and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to 
exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type design. This 
proposed AD would require establishing a revised life limit for TT 
strap, P/N 2604067 (Bendix) or P/N J17322-1 (Lord), of 120 months, 
25,000 flights, or 3,800 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs 
first.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Transport Canada AD

    Our AD differs from the Transport Canada AD as follows:
     The Transport Canada AD uses the terms ``air time hours'' 
and ``flight hours'' to describe compliance times, and this proposed AD 
uses the term ``hours time-in-service''.
     The Transport Canada AD requires inspections for tension-
torsion straps that have an accumulated installation time of 10 or more 
years, and our AD does not require these inspections.
     The Transport Canada AD requires verifying and 
establishing a new service life for the tension-torsion straps within 
the next 25 hours TIS, and this AD requires this to be done before 
further flight.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 13 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and the proposed actions would take about 15 work hours 
per helicopter to accomplish at an average labor rate of $85 per work 
hour. Required parts would cost about $13,867 per helicopter. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the proposed AD on 
U.S. operators to be $196,846 to replace all the affected TT straps in 
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);
    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. See the AD docket to examine the 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, 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-11899 (65 FR 
55452; September 14, 2000), and adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

EUROCOPTER CANADA LTD.: Docket No. FAA-2011-0596; Directorate 
Identifier 2008-SW-37-AD. Supersedes AD 2000-18-13; Amendment 39-
11899; Docket No. 99-SW-68-AD.

    Applicability: Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters, with tension-
torsion (TT) strap, part number (P/N) 2604067 (Bendix) or J17322-1 
(Lord), installed, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent fatigue failure of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor 
blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Before further flight:
    (1) Create a component log card or equivalent record for each TT 
strap.
    (2) Review the history of each helicopter and TT strap. 
Determine the age since initial installation on any helicopter (age) 
and the number of flights on each affected TT strap. Enter the age, 
hours time-in-service (TIS), and the number of flights for each TT 
strap on the component log card or equivalent record. When the 
number of flights is unknown, multiply the number of hours TIS by 5 
to determine the number of flights. If a TT strap has been 
previously used at any time on Model BO-105LS A-3 `SUPER LIFTER'', 
BO-105 CB-5, BO-105 CBS-5, BO-105 DBS-5, or any MBB-BK 117 series 
helicopter, multiply the total number of flights accumulated on 
those other models by a factor of 1.6 and then add that result to 
the number of flights accumulated on the helicopters affected by 
this AD.
    (3) Remove any TT strap from service if the total hours TIS or 
number of flights and age cannot be determined.
    (b) Remove any TT strap, P/N 2604067 (Bendix) or P/N J17322-1 
(Lord), that has been in service for 120 months since initial 
installation on any helicopter, or has accumulated 25,000 flights (a 
flight is a takeoff and a landing), or has been in service for 3,800 
hours TIS.
    (c) This AD revises the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 
maintenance manual by establishing a revised life limit for the TT 
strap, P/N 2604067 (Bendix) or P/N J17322-1 (Lord), of 120 months, 
25,000 flights, or 3,800 hours TIS, whichever occurs first.

    Note 1:  Eurocopter Canada Limited Alert Service Bulletin No. 
ASB-BO 105 LS-10-10, Revision 1, dated January 8, 2008, which is not 
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the 
subject of this AD.

    (d) 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, Safety Management Group, FAA, ATTN: Sharon 
Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 
76137, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 222-5961, for information 
about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (e) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 6200: 
Main Rotor System.

    Note 2:  The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
(Canada) AD No. CF-2008-17R1, dated May 26, 2008. The European 
Aviation Safety Agency, which is the Technical Agent for the current 
type certificate holder, the Federal Republic of

[[Page 52596]]

Germany, has adopted and requires compliance with the Transport 
Canada AD.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 3, 2011.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-21472 Filed 8-22-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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