Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Proposed Rules 18965 

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. 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2011–14–05, Amendment 39–16740 (76 

FR 41662, July 15, 2011), and adding the 

following new AD: 

MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI): Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0342; Directorate Identifier 

2011–SW–028–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to MDHI Model MD900 

helicopters with main rotor lower hub 

assembly (lower hub) part number 

900R2101008–107, with serial numbers 

beginning with 5009, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD is prompted by the determination 

that a certain manufacturer had incorrectly 

inserted flanged bushings into the lower hub 

bore. This condition could result in failure of 

the lower hub and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

(c) Other Affected ADs. 

This AD supersedes AD 2011–14–05, 

Amendment 39–16740 (76 FR 41662, July 15, 

2011). 

(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 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

or during the next annual inspection, 

whichever occurs first, unless done within 

the last 200 hours TIS, and thereafter at 

intervals not to exceed 300 hours TIS or 

during the next annual inspection, whichever 

occurs first: 

(i) Visually inspect the sides and bottom of 

the area between the arms for the centering 

bearing and the areas adjacent to the 

bushings of the lower hub assembly for a 

crack. If there is a crack, before further flight, 

replace the lower hub with an airworthy 

lower hub. 

(ii) If the lower hub is not replaced as a 

result of the visual inspection required by 

paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this AD, eddy current 

inspect the lower hub for a crack by 

following the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraphs 2.A(2) through 2.A.(10)., of MD 

Helicopters Inc. Service Bulletin SB900–117, 

dated January 14, 2011 (SB). If there is a 

crack, before further flight, replace the lower 

hub with an airworthy hub. 

(2) The eddy current inspection required 

by paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this AD must be 

done by a Level II technician with ASNT– 

TC–1A, CEN EN 4179, MIL–STD–410, 

NAS410, or equivalent certification in eddy 

current inspections. The technician must 

have done an eddy current inspection in the 

last 12 months. 

(3) Within 3 years, replace the lower hub 

with an airworthy lower hub not included in 

the Applicability section of this AD. This 

replacement is terminating action for the 

requirements of this AD. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft 

Certification Office (LAACO), FAA, may 

approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your 

proposal to: Eric Schrieber, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 

Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5348; email 

eric.schrieber@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a Part 

119 operating certificate or under 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 

For service information identified in this 

AD, contact MD Helicopters Inc., Attn: 

Customer Support Division, 4555 E. 

McDowell Rd. Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 

85215–9734, telephone 1–800–388–3378, fax 

480–346–6813, or at http:// 

www.mdhelicopters.com. You may review 

copies of this information at the FAA, Office 

of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6220, Main Rotor Head. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 21, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7535 Filed 3–28–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0338; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–51–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France Model SA341G 

helicopters. This proposed AD is 

prompted by an analysis and tests 

performed by the manufacturer that 

indicate that the life limit of the rotating 

star should be 12,000 hours time-inservice (TIS). The proposed actions are 

intended to prevent failure of the 

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18966 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

rotating star and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by May 29, 2012. 

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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary 

Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@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 

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 Direction Generale de l’Aviation 

Civile (DGAC), which is the aviation 

authority for France, has issued French 

AD No. F–2004–070, dated May 26, 

2004, to correct an unsafe condition for 

Eurocopter France Model SA 341/342 

helicopters. The DGAC advises that they 

issued the AD to require a new service 

life limit of 12,000 flight hours for the 

rotating star, part number (P/N) 

341A31.4116.21, installed on Model 

SA341G helicopters. 

FAA’s Determination 

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 products of the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

establishing a retirement life of 12,000 

hours TIS for the rotating star, P/N 

341A31.4116.21. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 21 helicopters of U.S. 

registry and the proposed actions would 

take approximately 6 work hours per 

helicopter to accomplish at an average 

labor rate of $85 per work hour. 

Required parts would cost 

approximately $6,000. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the total cost 

impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $6,510 to replace the 

rotating star on each helicopter, or 

$136,710 for the entire U.S. fleet. 

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. 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new Airworthiness 

Directive (AD): 

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA–2012– 

0338; Directorate Identifier 2009–SW– 

51–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model SA341G 

helicopters, with rotating star, part number 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 61 / Thursday, March 29, 2012 / Proposed Rules 18967 

(P/N) 341A31.4116.21 installed, certificated 

in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

reduced service life of the rotating star. This 

condition could result in failure of the 

rotating star and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

(c) Compliance 

You are responsible for performing each 

action required by this AD within the 

specified compliance time unless 

accomplished previously. 

(d) Required Actions 

(1) Before further flight, remove any 

rotating star, part number 341A31.4116.21, 

with 12,000 or more hours time-in-service 

(TIS), and replace it with an airworthy 

rotating star with less than 12,000 hours TIS. 

(2) This AD revises the Airworthiness 

Limitations section of the Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness by reducing the 

service life of the main rotor rotating star 

from unlimited hours TIS to 12,000 hours 

TIS. 

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOC) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a Part 

119 operating certificate or under 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. 

(f) Additional Information 

The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Direction Generale de l’Aviation Civile 

(France) AD No. F–2004–070, dated May 26, 

2004. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6220: Main Rotor Head. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 20, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–7538 Filed 3–28–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0339; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–051–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

SA.315B Alouette III, SE.3160 Alouette 

III, SA.316B Alouette III, SA.316C 

Alouette III, SA.319B Alouette III, SA 

3180–Alouette Astazou, SA 318B– 

Alouette Astazou, and SA 318C– 

Alouette Astazou helicopters. This 

proposed AD was prompted by incorrect 

positioning of the roller drive pocket 

recesses on the tail rotor drive shaft freewheel cage, which caused a pilot to 

experience a heavy jerk in the yaw 

control during in-flight autorotation 

training. This condition, if not 

corrected, could lead to a temporary loss 

of tail rotor drive and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by May 29, 2012. 

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 copies of 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: Rao 

Edupuganti, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and 

Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone 

(817) 222–5110, email 

rao.edupuganti@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 

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 AD No. 2011–0143, 

dated July 26, 2011 (AD 2011–0143), to 

correct an unsafe condition for the 

Eurocopter model SA.315B Alouette III, 

SE.3160 Alouette III, SA.316B Alouette 

III, SA.316C Alouette III, SA.319B 

Alouette III, SA 3180-Alouette Astazou, 

SA 318B-Alouette Astazou, and SA 318 

C-Alouette Astazou helicopters. EASA 

advises that during in-flight autorotation 

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