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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66613-66615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27680]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1074; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-028-AD; 
Amendment 39-16834; AD 2011-21-11]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 
EC225LP Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
the Eurocopter Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires inspecting 
the side mount of the pilot and copilot seats to determine if any floor 
attachment screw, nut, or washer is missing. If a screw, nut, or washer 
is missing, this AD also requires installing airworthy parts. This AD 
is prompted by a report that some of the floor attachment screws and 
nuts under the pilot and co-pilot seats were missing. Further 
investigation has shown that some of the cup washers that need to be 
used in installing countersunk head screws that attach the pilot and 
co-pilot seat frame to the floor were missing. A missing floor 
attachment screw, washer, or nut, if not detected, could reduce the 
strength of the seat attachment. The actions specified in this AD are 
intended to detect a missing floor attachment screw, washer, or nut and 
help prevent detachment of the seat from the floor during an emergency 
landing.

DATES: Effective November 14, 2011.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of November 14, 2011.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before December 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this 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 AD from American 
Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75053-4005, 
telephone (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3710, or at http://www.eurocopter.com.
    Examining te Docket: You may examine the docket that contains the 
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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5130, fax 
(817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
No. 2010-

[[Page 66614]]

0030, dated February 26, 2010, to correct an unsafe condition for the 
Eurocopter Model EC225LP helicopters. EASA reports that on several 
newly-produced helicopters, some screws and nuts that attach the frames 
of the pilot's and co-pilot's seats to the floor were missing. Further 
investigation has shown that some of the cup washers that need to be 
used in installing the countersunk head screws, which attach the 
pilot's and co-pilot's seat frames to the floor, were missing. EASA 
states that this condition, if not corrected, reduces the seat 
attachments strength, and it could result in no longer retaining the 
seats in place in the event of an emergency or hard landing.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    We refer to flight hours as hours time-in-service.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 53A020, Revision 
0, dated February 17, 2010 (ASB), which specifies checking for the 
presence of screws and nuts on each side of the pilot's and co-pilot's 
seat mount. If one screw or one nut is missing, the ASB specifies 
removing the affected seat, checking for cup washers, and performing 
the specified corrective action to return the seat to conformity.

FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination

    This helicopter has been approved by the aviation authority of 
France and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with France, EASA, their technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
the EASA 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 helicopters of this same 
type designs.
    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 helicopters are 
placed on the U.S. Registry in the future.

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.

Requirements of This AD

    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design that may become registered in the 
United States. Therefore, this AD is being issued to require, within 85 
hours time-in-service (TIS), unless accomplished previously, inspecting 
for the presence of 4 screws and 4 nuts on each side of the copilot's 
seat mount and 1 screw and 1 nut on each side of the pilot's seat 
mount. If any screw, nut, or cup washer is missing, this AD requires 
removing the seat and mount and, before further flight, counter sinking 
the hole and installing airworthy parts and replacing the mount and 
seat. The actions must be done by following specified portions of the 
ASB described previously.

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. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2011-1074; Directorate 
Identifier 2010 SW 028 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 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. 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 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).

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that notice and prior public comment are 
unnecessary in promulgating this regulation; therefore, it can be 
issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft since 
none of these model helicopters are registered in the United States. We 
have also determined that this regulation is not a ``significant 
regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined 
further that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT 
Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If 
it is determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be 
significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final 
regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the AD docket.

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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

    2011-21-11 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-16834; Docket No. 
FAA-2011-1074; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-028-AD.

[[Page 66615]]

    Applicability: Model EC225LP helicopters, with an airworthiness 
certificate issued before December 15, 2009, with FISHER H140 pilot 
and co-pilot seats, part number (P/N) 052010032000D61091, Eurocopter 
P/N 704A41120116, or with Eurocopter co-pilot seat, P/N 332V08-0180-
00, installed, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To detect a missing floor attachment screw, nut, or washer to 
help prevent detachment of the seat from the floor during an 
emergency landing, do the following:
    (a) Within 85 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect for the 
presence of 4 screws and 4 nuts on each side of the copilot's seat 
mount and 1 screw and 1 nut on each side of the pilot's seat mount 
by reference to Figures 1 through 4 of Eurocopter Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 53A020, Revision 0, dated February 17, 2010 (ASB).
    (b) If any screw, nut, or cup washer is missing, remove the seat 
and mount and before further flight, countersink the hole and 
install airworthy parts and replace the mount and seat by following 
the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.b.2.b., of the ASB.
    (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, Safety Management Group, FAA, Attn: Gary Roach, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and 
Guidance Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 
telephone (817) 222-5130, fax (817) 222-5961, for information about 
previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (d) The Joint Aircraft System/Component Code is 2500: Cabin 
Equipment/Furnishings.
    (e) The inspection and repair of the pilot and co-pilot seats 
shall be done by following the specified portions of Eurocopter 
Alert Service Bulletin No. 53A020, Revision 0, dated February 17, 
2010. The Director of the Federal Register approved this 
incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 
CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from American Eurocopter 
Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75053-4005, 
telephone (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3710, or at http://www.eurocopter.com. Copies may be inspected 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on November 14, 2011.

    Note:  The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency AD No. 2010-0030, dated February 26, 2010.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 29, 2011.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27680 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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