Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 95 / Thursday, May 16, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 28725 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(i) Related Information 

Refer to Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) 

AD British AD 005–09–97, dated October 3, 

1997, for related information. 

(j) 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 June 20, 2013. 

(i) Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Technical 

Instruction T.I. No. 109/T51, Issue 3, dated 

August 21, 2000. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(4) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on December 14, 1998 (63 

FR 58624, November 2, 1998). 

(i) Slingsby Aviation Ltd. Technical 

Instruction T.I. No. 109/T51, Issue No. 2, 

dated October 7, 1997. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(5) For Slingsby Sailplanes Ltd. service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Slingsby Advanced Composites Ltd., Ings 

Lane, Kirkbymoorside, North Yorkshire, 

England YO62 6EZ; telephone: +44(0)1751 

432474; Internet: none. 

(6) You may view this 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. 

(7) 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 Kansas City, Missouri, on April 

30, 2013. 

Earl Lawrence, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–10794 Filed 5–15–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0221; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–082–AD; Amendment 

39–17454; AD 2013–10–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Spectrolab 

Nightsun XP Searchlight 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for a 

certain Spectrolab Nightsun XP 

Searchlight Assembly (searchlight) 

installed on, but not limited to Agusta 

S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and 

Model AW139 helicopters, Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model 

S–92A helicopters, and Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH (Eurocopter) Model 

EC135 and Model MBB–BK 117 C–2 

helicopters. This AD requires, before 

further flight, inserting information into 

the Normal Procedures section of the 

Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM), a daily 

check of the searchlight, and at a 

specified time interval or if certain 

conditions are found, modifying any 

affected searchlight gimbal assembly. 

This AD was prompted by a report of a 

searchlight vibrating and an 

investigation that revealed that the 

gimbal azimuth top nut was loose. A 

loose nut, if not detected and corrected, 

could result in a gap between the rubber 

edging of the top shroud and the gimbal 

frame, leading to degradation of 

pointing accuracy and stability 

performance of the searchlight and 

excessive vibration. If the nut were to 

entirely disengage, the searchlight could 

disconnect partially or totally from the 

helicopter, resulting in damage to the 

helicopter and injury to persons on the 

ground. The actions of this AD are 

intended to ensure that the searchlight 

remains firmly attached to the 

helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective June 20, 

2013. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain documents listed in this AD 

as of June 20, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact 

Spectrolab, Inc. ATTN: Saul Vargas, 

12500 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 

91342, telephone (818) 365–4611, fax 

(818) 361–5102, or on the internet at 

http://www.spectrolab.com. 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, 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: Matt 

Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 

(817) 222–5110; email 

matthew.fuller@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On March 8, 2012, at 77 FR 13993, the 

Federal Register published our notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which 

proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 

include an AD that would apply to 

certain Spectrolab Nightsun XP 

Searchlights. The NPRM proposed to 

require before further flight, inserting 

information into the Normal Procedures 

section of the RFM, a daily check of the 

searchlight, and at a specified time 

interval or if certain conditions are 

found, modifying any affected 

searchlight gimbal assembly. An owner/ 

operator (pilot) holding at least a private 

pilot certificate may perform the visual 

check and must show compliance by 

updating the helicopter maintenance 

records in accordance with 14 CFR 

43.9(a)(1)–(4) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). This 

visual check is authorized because it 

requires no special tools and can be 

performed equally well by a pilot or 

mechanic; this authorization is an 

exception to our standard maintenance 

regulations. The proposed requirements 

were intended to ensure the searchlight 

remains firmly attached to the 

helicopter after a report that the 

searchlight was vibrating. 

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– 


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28726 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 95 / Thursday, May 16, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

0237R2, dated December 14, 2010, to 

correct an unsafe condition for the 

Spectrolab Nightsun XP Searchlights 

installed on the following model 

helicopters: Agusta AB139 and AW139, 

Sikorsky S–92A, and Eurocopter MBB– 

BK 117 C2 and EC 135 series. EASA 

advises of a reported incident where 

vibration was associated with the 

Spectrolab Nightsun XP Searchlight, 

and states that an investigation revealed 

the Gimbal Azimuth Top Hex Nut was 

loose. EASA advises that this condition, 

if not detected and corrected, could lead 

to a gap between the rubber edging of 

the top shroud and the Gimbal frame, 

resulting in excessive vibration and 

degradation of pointing accuracy and 

stability performance. If the nut were to 

entirely disengage, the Searchlight/ 

Gimbal could disconnect from the 

helicopter and remain attached solely 

by the internal cable harness or separate 

totally, resulting in damage to the 

helicopter or injury to persons on the 

ground. 

Comments 

After our NPRM (77 FR 13993, March 

8, 2012) was published, we received 

comments from one commenter. 

Request 

One commenter requested that the 

NPRM (77 FR 13993, March 8, 2012) 

refer to the most recent amendment to 

Spectrolab’s Nightsun XP Safety and 

Service Bulletin No. SL 0810–01, 

Amendment No. 3, dated September 27, 

2010 (Spectrolab service bulletin). We 

disagree that this change is necessary, 

because that amendment does not affect 

the proposed AD’s requirements. 

The commenter also stated that the 

NPRM (77 FR 13993, March 8, 2012) 

refers to EASA AD No. 2010–0183, 

which had been superseded, and 

requested that our AD instead refer to 

the EASA AD revision, EASA AD No. 

2010–0237R2, dated December 14, 2010. 

We agree. Our NPRM referred to EASA 

AD No. 2010–0237R2 in our Discussion 

and Additional Information sections. 

Finally, the commenter requested that 

the NPRM (77 FR 13993, March 8, 2012) 

include a statement that, for Agusta 

aircraft, compliance with the Agusta 

Westland Bollettino Tecnico 139–231 

would be terminating action for this AD. 

We disagree. The Agusta service 

bulletin recommends contacting or 

sending parts to Spectrolab to meet 

requirements. Our AD refers to a 

Spectrolab document to meet the 

requirements for terminating action. 

Adding compliance with the Agusta 

service bulletin as terminating action 

would be repetitive. 

FAA’s Determination 

We have reviewed the relevant 

information, considered the comments 

received, and determined that an unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products 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 differences between this AD and 

the EASA AD are: 

We require modifying and reidentifying the searchlight within 100 

hours TIS, while the EASA AD imposes 

a calendar date for compliance. 

The EASA AD requires contacting the 

design (change) approval holder if 

discrepancies are found during the 

inspection of the searchlight 

installation, and we do not require this 

action. 

Related Service Information 

Spectrolab has issued Nightsun XP 

Searchlight Safety and Service Bulletin 

No. SL 0810–01, Amendment No. 2, 

dated September 24, 2010 (SB), which 

describes a design change that 

incorporates two positive locking 

mechanisms: A torque value and safety 

wire applied to the nut. These locking 

mechanisms prevent the gimbal azimuth 

top nut from loosening and allowing the 

center shaft to rotate out. Spectrolab has 

also issued Nightsun XP Searchlight 

System Kit and Procedure to Incorporate 

EASA AD 2010–0183 Conformance, 

034374 Revision NC, approved 

September 28, 2010 (Kit and Procedure). 

Once modified in accordance with the 

Kit and Procedure, the Nightsun XP 

gimbals are re-identified with a new 

nameplate and overlay from a P/N 

033295–1 to 033295–3, or P/N 033295– 

2 to 033295–4. 

EASA classified this modification as 

mandatory and issued EASA AD No. 

2010–0237R2, dated December 14, 2010, 

to ensure the continued airworthiness of 

helicopters with the affected system 

installed. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 6 

helicopters of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it will take minimal time 

to insert the service bulletin into the 

RFM, and about 3 work hours per 

helicopter to modify the searchlight. At 

an average labor rate of $85 per work 

hour, this amounts to $255 per 

helicopter. Required parts will cost 

about $1,000 per helicopter. Based on 

these figures, we estimate the cost of 

this AD on U.S. operators to be $1,255 

per helicopter, or $7,530 for the 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 

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: 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 95 / Thursday, May 16, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 28727 

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): 

2013–10–01 Spectrolab Nightsun XP 

Searchlight: Amendment 39–17454; 

Docket No. FAA–2012–0221; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–082–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Spectrolab Nightsun XP 

Searchlight Assembly Systems with gimbal 

assembly part number (P/N) 033295–1 or 

033295–2, installed on, but not limited to, 

Agusta S.p.A. Model AB139 and Model 

AW139 helicopters, Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation Model S–92A helicopters, and 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 

and Model MBB–BK 117 C–2 helicopters, 

certificated in any category. The searchlight 

assembly system P/Ns and revision level 

using one of the two affected gimbal 

assembly P/Ns are listed in Table 1 to 

Paragraph (a) of this AD. 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (A)—AFFECTED SYSTEMS AND P/N 

System P/N Nomenclature Affected 

revisions 

033338 ...................................... Nightsun XP Searchlight System .................................................................................................. A through D. 

033338–3 .................................. Nightsun XP Searchlight System .................................................................................................. A through D. 

033338–4 .................................. Nightsun XP Searchlight System .................................................................................................. A through D. 

033704 ...................................... IFCO Nightsun XP Searchlight System ......................................................................................... A through C. 

033704–1 .................................. IFCO Nightsun XP Searchlight System ......................................................................................... A through C. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

the Searchlight/Gimbal disconnecting from 

the helicopter and remaining attached solely 

by the internal cable harness, or separating 

totally. This condition could result in 

damage to the helicopter and injury to 

persons on the ground. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective June 20, 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) Before further flight, insert a copy of 

Nightsun XP Searchlight Safety and Service 

Bulletin No. SL 0810–01, Amendment No. 2, 

dated September 24, 2010, into the Normal 

Procedures section of the Rotorcraft Flight 

Manual. 

(2) Before the first flight of each day, 

visually check the searchlight installation for 

a gap between the top shroud rubber edging, 

P/N 033381, and the side covers, P/N 033286, 

with slight pressure applied to either side of 

the searchlight. The edging must remain in 

physical contact with the side covers when 

slight pressure is applied to the searchlight. 

(3) The actions required by paragraph (e)(2) 

of this AD may be performed by the owner/ 

operator (pilot) holding at least a Private Pilot 

Certificate, and must be entered into the 

helicopter maintenance records in 

accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1)–(4) and 

91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be 

maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 

121.380, or 135.439. 

(4) If the edging does not remain in 

physical contact with the side cover when 

slight pressure is applied to the searchlight 

in accordance with the requirements of 

paragraph (e)(2) of this AD, before further 

flight, with an affected Spectrolab Nightsun 

XP Searchlight assembly system installed, 

modify and re-identify the gimbal assembly 

in accordance with paragraph (e)(5) of this 

AD. 

(5) Within 100 hours time-in-service, 

modify and re-identify the gimbal assembly 

in accordance with Nightsun XP Searchlight 

System Kit and Procedure to Incorporate 

EASA AD 2010–0183 Conformance, 034374 

Revision NC, approved September 28, 2010, 

steps 1 through 13. 

(6) Accomplishing paragraph (e)(5) of this 

AD is terminating action for the requirements 

of 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: Matt Fuller, 

Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety 

Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; 

email matthew.fuller@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 (EASA) AD 

No. 2010–0237R2, dated December 14, 2010. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 3340, Exterior lighting. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the following service information under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use this information as 

applicable to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Nightsun XP Searchlight Safety and 

Service Bulletin No. SL 0810–01, 

Amendment No. 2, dated September 24, 

2010. 

(ii) Nightsun XP Searchlight System Kit 

and Procedure to Incorporate EASA AD 

2010–0183 Conformance, 034374 Revision 

NC, dated September 28, 2010. The date of 

this document is identified only in the 

Change Record on page 2 of this service 

information. 

(3) For Spectrolab Nightsun XP Searchlight 

service information identified in this AD, 

contact Spectrolab, Inc. ATTN: Saul Vargas, 

12500 Gladstone Ave., Sylmar, CA 91342, 

telephone (818) 365–4611, fax (818) 361– 

5102, or on the internet at http:// 

www.spectrolab.com. 

(4) You may review a copy of the service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. 

(5) You may also review a copy of 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/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 26, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–11383 Filed 5–15–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0695; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–031–AD; Amendment 

39–17448; AD 2013–09–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta 

S.p.A. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 


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