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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 108 (Wednesday, June 5, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33766-33768]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-13300]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0480; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-090-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, 
EC155B1, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters with 
certain EADS Sogerma pilot and co-pilot seats installed. This proposed 
AD would require inspecting the rear beam of each seat to determine if 
all of the weld beads are present and replacing the seat if any weld 
bead is missing. This proposed AD is prompted by a maintenance 
inspection that discovered a missing weld bead on the rear beam of a 
pilot seat. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of the 
pilot and co-pilot seats and subsequent injury to the pilot or co-
pilot.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 5, 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 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: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5110; email robert.grant@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

[[Page 33767]]

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 Union, has issued EASA AD 
No. 2012-0206, dated October 2, 2012 (AD 2012-0206), to correct an 
unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 
365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, 
and EC225LP helicopters with certain EADS Sogerma pilot seats, part 
number (P/N) 2510106-03-00 or P/N 2510106-06-00. EASA advises that 
during a maintenance inspection, a weld bead was found missing on the 
rear beam of an EADS Sogerma pilot seat. According to EASA, this non-
conformity impairs the seat anti-crash function and may be present on a 
limited number of seats installed on Eurocopter helicopters. EASA 
states that this condition, if not corrected, could lead to pilot 
injury following a hard landing following an emergency.
    To address this unsafe condition, EASA issued AD No. 2012-0084, 
dated May 16, 2012 (AD 2012-0084), to require inspecting the flight 
crew seats, replacing any improperly welded seat, and marking all 
correctly welded seats. After issuing AD 2012-0084, a missing weld bead 
was discovered on another part of the seat rear beam that was not 
required to be inspected. As a result, EASA issued AD 2012-0206, which 
superseded AD 2012-0084, to revise the inspection procedure and add new 
areas of the rear beam of the seat to be inspected.

FAA's Determination

    These 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, 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 is likely 
to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS365-
25.01.18 for Model SA-365N, SA-365 N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 
helicopters; ASB No. EC155-25A114 for Model EC155 B and EC155B1 
helicopters; ASB No. AS332-25.02.49 for model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, 
and AS332L2 helicopters; and ASB No. EC225-25A110 for Model EC225LP 
helicopters; all Revision 1, dated August 9, 2012. The ASBs incorporate 
the procedures in EADS Sogerma Inspection Service Bulletin No. 2510106-
25-888, Revision 1, dated July 16, 2012, for inspecting the rear beam 
of the pilot and co-pilot seats to verify all of the weld beads are 
present. The complete EADS Sogerma bulletin is contained in the 
Appendix of the ASBs. EASA classified these ASBs as mandatory and 
issued AD 2012-0206 to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
helicopters.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS), inspecting the rear beam of each pilot and co-pilot seat to 
determine if any weld beads are missing. If any weld beads are missing, 
before further flight, this proposed AD would require removing the seat 
from the helicopter and replacing it with an airworthy seat.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD allows compliance within 3 months or 50 flight hours, 
whichever occurs earlier; the proposed AD requires compliance within 50 
hours TIS. The EASA AD applies to Model AS332C1 helicopters. This 
proposed AD does not because this model is not FAA type-certificated.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 65 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
inspecting the seats would require about .2 work-hour, for a cost per 
helicopter of $17 and a total cost to U.S. operators of $1,105. 
Replacing a seat with a missing weld bead would require about 1 work-
hour, and required parts would cost about $30,251, for a cost per 
helicopter of $30,336.
    According to Eurocopter's service information some of the costs of 
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the 
cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty 
coverage by Eurocopter. Accordingly, we have included all costs in our 
cost estimate.

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.

[[Page 33768]]

    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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new 
airworthiness directive (AD):

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter): Docket No. FAA-2013-0480; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-090-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Eurocopter Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, 
AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and 
EC225LP helicopters with an EADS Sogerma pilot or co-pilot seat, 
part number (P/N) 2510106-03-00 or P/N 2510106-06-00, with a serial 
number 720 through 1451, installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a missing weld on a seat 
rear beam, which could result in failure of the seat and injury to 
the pilot during a hard landing.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 5, 2013.

(d) 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.

(e) Required Actions

    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service, using a mirror, inspect the 
rear beam of each seat for weld beads in the areas depicted in the 
Appendix, Figure 1, of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
AS365-25.01.18 for model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 
helicopters; ASB No. EC155-25A114 for model EC155 B and EC155B1 
helicopters; ASB No. AS332-25.02.49 for model AS332C, AS332L, 
AS332L1, and AS332 L2 helicopters; and ASB No. EC225-25A110 for 
model EC225LP helicopters. All ASBs are Revision 1 and dated August 
9, 2012.
    (2) If any weld bead is missing from the rear beam, before 
further flight, remove the seat and replace it with an airworthy 
seat.
    (3) Do not install a seat listed in paragraph (a) of this AD on 
any helicopter unless it has been inspected as required by this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5110; email 
robert.grant@faa.gov.
    (2) For operations conducted under a 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.

(g) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency AD No. 2012-0206, dated October 2, 2012.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2510: Flight 
Compartment Equipment.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 28, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-13300 Filed 6-4-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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