Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 21 / Friday, January 31, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 5257 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0478; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–092–AD; Amendment 

39–17736; AD 2014–02–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta 

S.p.A. (Type Certificate Currently Held 

by AgustaWestland S.p.A.) (Agusta) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Agusta Model A109C, A109E, A109S, 

A109K2, and AW109SP helicopters. 

This AD requires inspecting the lock 

wires securing the tail rotor (T/R) 

duplex bearing locking nut (locking nut) 

to determine whether any lock wires are 

missing or damaged. This AD was 

prompted by reports of loosening T/R 

locking nuts. The actions of this AD are 

intended to prevent failure of the T/R 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 7, 

2014. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Agusta 

Westland, Customer Support & Services, 

Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019 Somma 

Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Giovanni 

Cecchelli; telephone 39–0331–711133; 

fax 39–0331–711180; or at http://

www.agustawestland.com/technicalbullettins. 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. 

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, 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, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone 817–222–5110; email 

robert.grant@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On June 5, 2013, at 78 FR 33768, the 

Federal Register published our notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which 

proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 

add an AD that would apply to Agusta 

Model A109C, A109S, and A109K2 

helicopters, all serial numbers; Model 

A109E helicopters, serial number (S/N) 

11002 through 11807 except S/N 11796; 

and Model AW109SP helicopters, S/N 

22202 through 22278, except S/N 22239, 

22264, 22266, 22272, 22273, 22275, and 

22277. The NPRM proposed to require 

repetitively inspecting the lock wires 

that secure the T/R locking nut to the 

housing to determine whether both 

wires are present and not damaged. If 

only one wire is installed and it is not 

damaged, the NPRM proposed installing 

a second lock wire. If one or both lock 

wires are installed and either one or 

both are damaged, the NPRM proposed 

removing and reassembling the housing 

and slider group of the T/R rotating 

controls. The NPRM further proposed 

removing and reassembling the housing 

and slider group of the T/R rotating 

controls within 100 hours time-inservice (TIS) if not accomplished as a 

result of the inspections. Removing and 

reassembling the housing and slider 

group of the T/R rotating controls, either 

within 100 hours TIS or because a lock 

wire is damaged, was proposed as 

terminating action for the repetitive 

inspections. The proposed requirements 

were intended to prevent failure of the 

T/R and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 

2012–0195–E, dated September 24, 

2012, and corrected September 25, 2012 

(AD 2012–0195–E), issued by EASA, 

which is the Technical Agent for the 

Member States of the European Union. 

EASA issued AD 2012–0195–E to 

correct an unsafe condition for certain 

Agusta Model A109E, A109LUH, 

A109S, AW109SP, A109C, and A109K2 

helicopters. EASA advised that they 

received reports of the T/R locking nut, 

part number (P/N) 109–0130–97, 

loosening on A109 helicopters. 

According to EASA, an investigation 

revealed that, in every occurrence, one 

or both of the lock wires securing the 

locking nut were either damaged or 

absent from the T/R, which could lead 

to failure of the T/R function and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. AD 2012–0195–E requires 

repetitively inspecting the lock wires 

which secure the T/R locking nut for 

missing and damaged lock wires, and 

removing and reassembling the housing 

and slider group of the T/R rotating 

controls, which is terminating action for 

the repetitive inspections. 

Comments 

After our NPRM (78 FR 33768, June 

5, 2013) was published, we received 

comments from one commenter. 

Request 

One commenter requested we include 

a statement that previous compliance 

with the applicable Agusta Bollettino 

Tecnico (BT) fulfills the requirements of 

the AD. We disagree that such a 

statement is necessary. Paragraph (d) of 

the AD states you are responsible for 

performing each AD action unless it has 

already been accomplished. This would 

include previous compliance with the 

portions of the service information that 

are consistent with the requirements of 

the AD. 

The commenter also requested that 

we include a statement that the removal, 

disassembly, reassembly, and 

reinstallation of the T/R housing and 

slider group is to be accomplished in 

accordance with the pertinent part of 

the Agusta BT, as this would clarify the 

scope and detail of work required. We 

disagree. First, such a statement is not 

necessary, as the Agusta BT does not 

provide a greater level of scope and 

detail of work required. The BT only 

states that removal, disassembly, 

reassembly, and reinstallation is to be 

accomplished in accordance with the 

appropriate maintenance manual. 

Second, such a statement would not be 

appropriate because the Agusta BT is 

only one method of compliance for this 

AD. An operator may comply using 

other methods as long as all work is 

done in a manner acceptable to the 

FAA. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Italy and are 

approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Italy, EASA, its 

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, reviewed the 

relevant information, considered the 

comments received, and determined the 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs and that air 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES
5258 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 21 / Friday, January 31, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed, except we are including an 

additional reference for the actions 

constituting terminating action for the 

AD. This change will neither increase 

the economic burden on any operator 

nor increase the scope of the AD. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires reassembling 

the housing and slider group within 100 

flight hours or 7 months, while this AD 

requires this action within 100 hours 

TIS. 

Related Service Information 

Agusta has published BT No. 109–134 

for Model A109C helicopters, BT No. 

109EP–121 for Model A109E 

helicopters, BT No. 109S–48 for Model 

A109S helicopters, BT No. 109K–54 for 

Model A109K2 helicopters, and BT No. 

109SP–051 for Model AW109SP 

helicopters. All of the BTs are dated 

September 21, 2012. The BTs specify 

procedures for inspecting the lock wires 

of the T/R locking nut and for removing 

and reassembling the housing and slider 

group of the T/R rotating controls. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 146 

helicopters of U.S. Registry. We estimate 

that operators may incur the following 

costs in order to comply with this AD. 

Based on an average labor rate of $85 

per hour, inspecting the lock wire will 

require about 0.25 work-hour, for a cost 

per helicopter of $22 and a total cost to 

U.S. operators of $3,212 per inspection 

cycle. If necessary, installing a lock wire 

will require about 0.25 work-hour and 

the required parts cost are negligible, for 

a cost per helicopter of $22 and a total 

cost to U.S. operators of $3,212. 

Removing and reassembling the housing 

and slider group of the T/R rotating 

controls will require about 8 workhours, for a cost per helicopter of $680 

and a total cost to U.S. operators of 

$99,280. 

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): 

2014–02–08 Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters 

(Type Certificate currently held by 

AgustaWestland S.p.A.) (Agusta): 

Amendment 39–17736; Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0478; Directorate Identifier 

2012–SW–092–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Agusta Model A109C, 

A109S, and A109K2 helicopters, all serial 

numbers; Model A109E helicopters, serial 

number (S/N) 11002 through 11807 except 

S/N 11796; and Model AW109SP helicopters, 

S/N 22202 through 22278, except S/N 22239, 

22264, 22266, 22272, 22273, 22275, and 

22277, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

missing or broken lock wire securing the tail 

rotor (T/R) duplex bearing locking nut 

(locking nut). This condition could result in 

loosening of the locking nut, failure of the 

T/R, and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective March 7, 2014. 

(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 5 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

inspect each lock wire securing the T/R 

locking nut to the housing. 

(i) If only one lock wire is installed and it 

is not damaged, before further flight, install 

a second lock wire. 

(ii) If one or both lock wires are installed, 

and either one or both are damaged, before 

further flight, remove and reassemble the 

housing and slider group of the T/R rotating 

controls. 

(2) Within 25 hours TIS from the 

inspection required by paragraph (e)(1) of 

this AD, and thereafter at intervals not 

exceeding 25 hours TIS, inspect the lock 

wires which secure the T/R locking nut to the 

housing. If either lock wire is missing or 

damaged, before further flight, remove and 

reassemble the housing and slider group of 

the T/R rotating controls. 

(3) Within 100 hours TIS, remove and 

reassemble the housing and slider group of 

the T/R rotating controls. 

(4) Removing and reassembling the 

housing and slider group of the T/R rotating 

controls as required by paragraph (e)(1)(ii), 

(e)(2), or (e)(3) is terminating action for this 

AD. 

(f) Special Flight Permit 

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, 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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 21 / Friday, January 31, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 5259 

operating any aircraft complying with this 

AD through an AMOC. 

(h) Additional Information 

(1) Agusta Bollettino Tecnico (BT) No. 

109–134 for Model A109C helicopters, BT 

No. 109EP–121 for Model A109E helicopters, 

BT No. 109S–48 for Model A109S 

helicopters, BT No. 109K–54 for Model 

A109K2 helicopters, and BT No. 109SP–051 

for Model AW109SP helicopters, all dated 

September 21, 2012, which are not 

incorporated by reference, contain additional 

information about the subject of this AD. For 

service information identified in this AD, 

contact Agusta Westland, Customer Support 

& Services, Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019 

Somma Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: 

Giovanni Cecchelli; telephone 39–0331– 

711133; fax 39 0331 711180; or at http://

www.agustawestland.com/technicalbullettins. 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. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2012–0195–E, dated September 24, 2012, 

and corrected September 25, 2012. You may 

view the EASA AD on the internet in the 

Docket No. FAA–2013–0478 at http://

www.regulations.gov. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6400: Tail Rotor System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 16, 

2014. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–01953 Filed 1–30–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Coast Guard 

33 CFR Part 117 

[Docket No. USCG–2013–1081] 

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; 

Inner Harbor Navigation Canal, New 

Orleans, LA 

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice of deviation from 

drawbridge regulation. 

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a 

temporary deviation from the operating 

schedule that governs the L & N 

Railroad/Almonaster Road drawbridge 

across the Inner Harbor Navigation 

Canal, mile 2.9 at New Orleans, Orleans 

Parish, Louisiana. The deviation is 

necessary in order to conduct repair and 

replacement of electrical system 

components of the bridge. These repairs 

are essential for the continued safe 

operation of the bridge. This deviation 

allows the bridge to remain temporarily 

closed to navigation for three 

consecutive days with four scheduled 

openings to facilitate the movement of 

vessel traffic. 

DATES: This deviation is effective from 

7 a.m. on Monday, February 10, 2014 

through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, 

February 12, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: The docket for this 

deviation, [USCG–2013–1081] is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov. 

Type the docket number in the 

‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click ‘‘SEARCH.’’ 

Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 

associated with this deviation. You may 

also visit the Docket Management 

Facility in Room W12–140 on the 

ground floor of the Department of 

Transportation West Building, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If 

you have questions on this temporary 

deviation, call or email David Frank, 

Bridge Administration Branch, Coast 

Guard; telephone 504–671–2128, email 

David.M.Frank@uscg.mil. If you have 

questions on viewing the docket, call 

Cheryl F. Collins, Program Manager, 

Docket Operations, telephone 202–366– 

9826. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coastal 

Bridge Company, on behalf of the Board 

of Commissioners of the Port of New 

Orleans, requested a temporary 

deviation from the operating schedule 

on the L & N Railroad/Almonaster Road 

drawbridge across the Inner Harbor 

Navigation Canal, mile 2.9 at New 

Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana. 

The bridge has a vertical clearance of 

one foot above high water in the closedto-navigation position and unlimited 

clearance in the open-to-navigation 

position. Navigation on the waterway 

consists of tugs with tows, small ships, 

fishing vessels, sailing vessels, and 

other recreational craft. Presently, in 

accordance with 33 CFR 117.5, the draw 

shall open on signal for the passage of 

vessels. 

This temporary deviation allows the 

bascule bridge to remain closed to 

navigation from 7 a.m. on Monday, 

February 10, 2014 through 11:59 p.m. 

on Wednesday, February 12, 2014, 

except that the bridge will open to pass 

all waiting vessels at 6:45 a.m., 12 noon, 

4 p.m. and 12 midnight daily during the 

closure period. During this time, repairs 

will be performed to the electrical 

systems of the bridge. 

During the closure period, the bridge 

will not be able to open for the passage 

of vessels except during the scheduled 

periods of operation. Alternate routes 

are available via the Chef Menteur Pass 

and the Rigolets. 

In accordance with 33 CFR 117.35, 

the draw bridge must return to its 

regular operating schedule immediately 

at the end of the effective period of this 

temporary deviation. 

This deviation from the operating 

regulations is authorized under 33 CFR 

117.35. 

Dated: January 13, 2014. 

David M. Frank, 

Bridge Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2014–01940 Filed 1–30–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 9110–04–P 

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND 

SECURITY 

Coast Guard 

33 CFR Part 117 

[Docket No. USCG–2013–1080] 

Drawbridge Operation Regulation; 

Dulac Bayou, Terrebonne Parish, LA 

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS. 

ACTION: Notice of deviation from 

drawbridge regulation. 

SUMMARY: The Coast Guard has issued a 

temporary deviation from the operating 

schedule that governs the SR 57 

drawbridge across the Dulac Bayou, 

mile 0.6, at Dulac, Terrebonne Parish, 

Louisiana. The deviation is necessary in 

order to conduct repair and replacement 

of parts associated with the wedge-drive 

system hydraulic unit. These repairs are 

essential for the continued safe 

operation of the bridge. This deviation 

allows the bridge to remain temporarily 

closed to navigation for 20 consecutive 

days with three openings per day during 

daylight to facilitate the movement of 

vessel traffic. 

DATES: This deviation is effective from 

6 a.m. on Monday, March 10, 2014 

through 5 p.m. on Saturday, March 29, 

2014. 

ADDRESSES: The docket for this 

deviation, [USCG–2013–1080] is 

available at http://www.regulations.gov. 

Type the docket number in the 

‘‘SEARCH’’ box and click ‘‘SEARCH.’’ 

Click on Open Docket Folder on the line 

associated with this deviation. You may 

also visit the Docket Management 

Facility in Room W12–140 on the 

ground floor of the Department of 

Transportation West Building, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 


emcdonald on DSK67QTVN1PROD with RULES