51454 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

(p) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Jennifer Tsakoumakis, Aerospace 

Engineer, Airframe Branch, ANM–120L, 

FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 

Office (ACO), 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627– 

5264; fax: 562–627–5210; email: 

jennifer.tsakoumakis@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (q)(4) and (q)(5) of this AD. 

(q) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on September 29, 2015. 

(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 737– 

53A1319, Revision 2, dated April 4, 2014. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(4) For Boeing service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & 

Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 

2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766– 

5680; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(5) You may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

(6) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on August 

7, 2015. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–20372 Filed 8–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0673; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–SW–034–AD; Amendment 

39–18244; AD 2015–17–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 

Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, 

AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, 

AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, 

EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. 

This AD requires inspecting the 

swashplate assembly rotating star to 

determine whether a ferrule was 

installed. If a ferrule exists, this AD 

requires inspecting the rotating star for 

a crack and removing any cracked 

rotating star. This AD was prompted by 

a report that reconditioning the rotating 

swashplate per a certain repair 

procedure could result in the rotating 

star cracking. The actions of this AD are 

intended to detect a crack in the rotating 

star and prevent failure of the rotating 

star and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

29, 2015. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain documents listed in this AD 

as of September 29, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Airbus 

Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, 

Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone 

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

(972) 641–3775; or at http://

www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 

You may review the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, Texas 76177. 

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 AD, the European 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any 

incorporated-by-reference service 

information, the economic evaluation, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The street address for the 

Docket Operations Office (phone: 800– 

647–5527) is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations 

Office, M–30, West Building Ground 

Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Grant, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Group, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5110; email: 

robert.grant@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On March 27, 2015, at 80 FR 16325, 

the Federal Register published our 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), 

which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 

39 by adding an AD that would apply 

to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 

AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, 

AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, 

AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, 

AS355N, AS355NP, EC130B4, and 

EC130T2 helicopters with a swashplate 

assembly with rotating star, part number 

(P/N) 350A371003–04, 350A371003–05, 

350A371003–06, 350A371003–07, or 

350A371003–08. The NPRM proposed 

to require inspecting the swashplate 

assembly rotating star to determine 

whether a ferrule was installed. If a 

ferrule exists, this proposed AD would 

require inspecting the rotating star for a 

crack and removing any cracked rotating 

star. The proposed requirements were 

intended to detect a crack in the rotating 

star and prevent failure of the rotating 

star and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 

2014–0132R1, dated June 2, 2014, 

issued by EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union. EASA AD No. 2014– 

0132R1 corrects an unsafe condition for 

Airbus Helicopters (previously 

Eurocopter France) Model AS 350 B, 

BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, D, AS 355 E, F, F1, 

F2, N, NP, EC 130 B4, and T2 

helicopters if equipped with a 

swashplate assembly with a rotating 

star, P/N 350A371003–04, P/N 

350A371003–05, P/N 350A371003–06, 

P/N 350A371003–07, or P/N 

350A371003–08. EASA advises that 

during a repair of a helicopter, it was 

discovered that rotating swashplates 

reconditioned in accordance with a 

certain repair procedure could 

experience a high stress level. This 

condition, if not corrected, could affect 

the service life of the part. To address 

this unsafe condition, EASA AD No. 

2014–0132R1 requires repetitive 

inspections and replacement of the 

rotating star. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we received no comments on the NPRM 

(80 FR 16325, March 27, 2015). 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 51455 

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 

these same type designs and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires reporting 

inspection findings to Airbus 

Helicopters. This AD makes no such 

requirement. The EASA AD does not 

apply to Airbus Helicopters Model 

AS350C and AS350D1 helicopters, 

whereas this AD applies to those 

models. The EASA AD applies to Model 

AS350BB helicopters, and this AD does 

not because that model is not type 

certificated in the United States. The 

EASA AD requires replacing the rotating 

star, unless already accomplished, by 

December 31, 2014, while we require 

replacing the rotating star within 160 

hours time-in-service, unless already 

accomplished. 

This AD also prohibits installing a 

rotating star with a ferrule, and the 

EASA AD does not. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC130 

62A010 for Model EC130B4 and 

EC130T2 helicopters; ASB No. AS355 

62.00.33 for Model AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and 

AS355NP helicopters; and ASB No. 

AS350 62.00.34 for Model AS350B, 

AS350BA, AS350BB, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, and 

military version AS350L1 helicopters; 

all Revision 0 and all dated April 28, 

2014. 

The ASBs report that a certain repair 

sheet instruction, which requires 

reconditioning the rotating swashplate 

by machining and adding a steel ferrule 

to accommodate a swashplate bearing, 

potentially affects the service life limit 

specified in the airworthiness 

limitations section. The ASBs provide 

procedures for inspecting the 

swashplate assembly’s rotating star for a 

ferrule and if a ferrule exists, inspecting 

for a crack. The ASBs call for replacing 

the rotating star before further flight if 

a crack exists, and before December 31, 

2014, if a ferrule is present and there are 

no cracks. If there is no ferrule, the 

ASBs require no additional action. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section of 

this AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 1,132 

helicopters of U.S. Registry and that 

labor costs average $85 a work hour. 

Based on these estimates, we expect the 

following costs: 

• Visually inspecting the swashplate 

assembly requires 0.25 work-hour for a 

labor cost of about $21 per inspection. 

No parts are needed for a total cost of 

about $21 per inspection per helicopter, 

or about $23,772 for the U.S. fleet. 

• Dye-penetrant inspecting the 

rotating star requires 1 work-hour for a 

labor cost of about $85 per helicopter. 

No parts are needed for a total cost of 

$85 per inspection helicopter and 

$96,220 for the U.S. fleet. 

• Replacing the rotating star, ferrule, 

and associated parts requires 16 work 

hours, and parts cost $8,354, for a total 

cost of $9,714 per helicopter. 

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 

helicopters identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

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 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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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): 

2015–17–11 Airbus Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–18244; Docket No. 

FAA–2015–0673; Directorate Identifier 

2014–SW–034–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3,AS350C, AS350D, 

AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, 

AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC130B4, and 

EC130T2 helicopters with a swashplate 

assembly with rotating star, part number (P/ 

N) 350A371003–04, 350A371003–05, 

350A371003–06, 350A371003–07, or 

350A371003–08, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack in a rotating star in a main rotor blade 

(M/R) swashplate assembly. This condition 

could result in loss of the M/R pitch control 

and subsequent loss of helicopter control. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective September 29, 

2015. 

(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. 


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51456 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 164 / Tuesday, August 25, 2015 / Rules and Regulations 

(e) Required Actions 

(1) Within 165 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

visually inspect the swashplate assembly to 

determine whether a ferrule is installed on 

the rotating star. If the ferrule is not visible, 

use a magnetic retriever positioned in Area 

(X) as shown in the pictures under paragraph 

3.B.2.b., Accomplishment Instructions, of 

Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin 

(ASB) No. EC130 62A010, ASB No. AS350 

62.00.34, or ASB No. AS355 62.00.33, all 

Revision 0, and all dated April 28, 2014, 

whichever is applicable to your helicopter, to 

determine whether the ferrule is installed. 

The magnetic retriever will be magnetized if 

a ferrule is installed. 

(2) If a ferrule is not installed, no further 

action is needed. 

(3) If a ferrule is installed on the rotating 

star, before further flight, dye-penetrant 

inspect the rotating star for a crack in areas 

‘‘Z’’ depicted in Figure 1 of Airbus 

Helicopters ASB No. EC130 62A010, ASB 

No. AS350 62.00.34, or ASB No. AS355 

62.00.33, all Revision 0, and all dated April 

28, 2014, as applicable to your model 

helicopter. 

(i) If the rotating star has a crack, before 

further flight, remove from service the 

rotating star; ferrule; and the screws, washers 

and nuts used to attach the pitch change 

rods, compass, and the rotating star deflector. 

(ii) If the rotating star does not have a 

crack, within 160 hours TIS, remove from 

service the rotating star; ferrule; and the 

screws, washers and nuts used to attach the 

pitch change rods, compass, and the rotating 

star deflector. 

(4) Do not install a rotating star P/N 

350A371003–04, 350A371003–05, 

350A371003–06, 350A371003–07, or 

350A371003–08 with a ferrule. 

(f) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(g) 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, Texas 76177; telephone (817) 222– 

5110; email asw-ftw-amoc@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. 

(h) Additional Information 

The subject of this AD is addressed in the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2014–0132R1, dated June 2, 2014. You 

may view the EASA AD on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2015–0673. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6200, Main Rotor System. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) No. EC130 62A010, Revision 

0, dated April 28, 2014. 

(ii) Airbus Helicopters ASB No. AS350 

62.00.34, Revision 0, dated April 28, 2014. 

(iii) Airbus Helicopters ASB No. AS355 

62.00.33, Revision 0, dated April 28, 2014. 

(3) For Airbus Helicopters service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone 

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

641–3775; or at http://

www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, Texas 76177. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 13, 

2015. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–20587 Filed 8–24–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–2047; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–CE–013–AD; Amendment 

39–18243; AD 2015–17–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; SOCATA 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007–04– 

13 for certain SOCATA Model TBM 700 

airplaness (type certificate previously 

held by EADS SOCATA). This AD 

results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

issued by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as cracks found on the main 

landing gear cylinders. We are issuing 

this AD to require actions to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective September 

29, 2015. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of September 29, 2015. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain other publication listed in 

this AD as of March 23, 2007 (72 FR 

7576, February 16, 2007). 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

2047; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility, U.S. Department 

of Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact SOCATA, Direction des 

Services, 65921 Tarbes Cedex 9, France; 

telephone: 33 (0)5 62.41.73.00; fax: 33 

(0)5 62.41.76.54; or SOCATA North 

America, North Perry Airport, 7501 S 

Airport Rd., Pembroke Pines, Florida 

33023, telephone: (954) 893–1400; fax: 

(954) 964–4141; Internet: http://

www.socata.com. You may view this 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call (816) 329– 

4148. It is also available on the Internet 

at http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for Docket No. FAA–2015– 

2047. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Albert J. Mercado, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106; telephone: (816) 329– 

4119; fax: (816) 329–4090; email: 

albert.mercado@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a supplemental notice of 

proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) to make 

changes to an NPRM (80 FR 8821, 

February 19, 2015), which would amend 

14 CFR part 39 to add an AD that would 

apply to certain SOCATA Model TBM 

700 airplaness (type certificate 

previously held by EADS SOCATA). 

That SNPRM was published in the 

Federal Register on June 11, 2015 (80 

FR 33208), and proposed to supersede 


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