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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 134 (Tuesday, July 14, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 40947-40949]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-16940]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-2714; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-052-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1, AS332L1, AS332L2, EC225LP, AS-365N2, 
AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters with an energy absorbing 
seat (seat). This proposed AD would require inspecting for the presence 
of labels that prohibit stowing anything under the seat. If a label is 
missing or not clearly visible to each occupant, installing a label 
would be required. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery that 
required labels had not been systematically installed. The proposed 
actions are intended to prevent objects from being stowed under the 
seat as these objects could reduce the energy-absorbing function of the 
seat, resulting in injury to the seat occupants during an accident.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 14, 
2015.

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 European 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, the economic evaluation, 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 
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, 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 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

[[Page 40948]]

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

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, issued EASA AD No. 2014-0204, dated September 11, 2014, 
followed by a correction dated September 12, 2014, to correct an unsafe 
condition for Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1, AS332L1, AS332L2, 
EC225LP, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. EASA 
advises that during certification of an energy absorbing seat with a 
new part number, it was observed that the label that requires keeping 
the space under the seat free of any object was not systematically 
installed in a helicopter. EASA states that this condition, if not 
corrected, could prompt occupants to stow objects under an energy 
absorbing seat, which would reduce the effectiveness of the seat and 
the occupants' chance of surviving an accident. The EASA AD 
consequently requires a one-time inspection for the presence of labels 
and, if they are missing or unreadable, making and installing labels 
prohibiting the placing of an object under an energy absorbing seat.

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 products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus Helicopters issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS332-
01.00.85 for Model AS332C1, AS332L1, AS332L2 helicopters; ASB No. 
AS365-01.00.66 for Model AS-365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters; ASB No. 
EC155-04A013 for EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters; and ASB No. EC225-
04A012 for Model EC225LP helicopters. All ASBs are Revision 0 and dated 
August 26, 2014. The ASBs state that during certification of an energy 
absorbing seat with a new part number, it was observed that the label, 
which indicates that the space under the seats must remain free of 
objects, was not systematically installed. Objects stowed under these 
seats reduce the energy absorbing function and thus jeopardize the 
occupant's survival in the event of a crash, the ASBs state. Pending a 
definitive solution, Airbus Helicopters calls for affixing a label that 
states that nothing can be stored under the seats.
    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 
proposed AD.

Proposed AD Requirements

    Within 110 hours time in service this proposed AD would require:
     For Model AS332C1, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP 
helicopters: Inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or 
markings that prohibit stowing anything under the seats. If a label, 
placard, or marking is not located in every required location or is not 
visible and legible to every occupant, before further flight, 
installing a placard.
     For Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 
helicopters: Inspecting each seat leg in the cabin and cockpit for 
labels, placards, or markings that prohibit stowing anything under the 
seats. If a label, placard, or marking does not exist on one leg of 
each seat or is not visible and legible, before further flight, 
installing a placard.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 52 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs average $85 a work-hour. Based on 
these estimates, we expect that the inspection for the presence of a 
label would take a quarter work hour for a labor cost of about $21. The 
cost of parts and time for installing a label would be minimal, for a 
total cost of $21 per helicopter and $1,092 for the 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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive

(AD): Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2015-2714; Directorate 
Identifier 2014-SW-052-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1, AS332L1, 
AS332L2,

[[Page 40949]]

EC225LP, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters with 
an energy absorbing seat (seat) listed in Figure 1 to paragraph (a) 
of this AD, certificated in any category.

                        Figure 1 to Paragraph (a)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                         Generic part
        Seat manufacturer              Seat type            number
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fischer + Entwicklungen.........  H110..............  9606-( )-( )-( )
                                  H140..............  0520-( )-( )-( )
                                  H160..............  0718-( )-( )-( )-(
                                                       )
                                  185/410...........  9507-( )-( )-( )
                                  236/406...........  9608-( )-( )-( )
SICMA Aero Seat or Zodiac Seats   Sicma 192.........  192xx-xx-xx
 France.
                                  Sicma 159.........  1591718-xx
                                                      159110
Socea Sogerma...................  ST102.............  2510102-xx-xx
                                  ST107.............  2010107-xx-xx
                                  ST120.............  2520120-xx
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Note 1 to Figure 1 to paragraph (a) of this AD:  ``xx'' can be 
any two alphanumeric characters and ``( )'' can be any number of 
alphanumeric characters.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an object stowed under 
an energy-absorbing seat. This condition could reduce the efficiency 
of the energy-absorbing function of the seat, resulting in injury to 
the seat occupants during an accident.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 14, 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.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 110 hours time in service:
    (1) For Model AS332C1, AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP 
helicopters:
    (i) Inspect the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or 
markings that prohibit stowing anything under the seats in the 
locations shown in the figure in the Appendix of Airbus Helicopters 
Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-01.00.85 (ASB AS332-01.00.85) or 
No. EC225-04A012 (ASB EC225-04A012), both Revision 0 and dated 
August 26, 2014, as applicable for your model helicopter.
    (ii) If a label, placard, or marking is not located in every 
location depicted in the figure in the Appendix or is not visible 
and legible to every occupant, before further flight, install a 
placard in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 3.B., of ASB AS332-01.00.85 or ASB EC225-04A012, as 
applicable for your model helicopter.
    (2) For Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 
helicopters:
    (i) Inspect each seat leg in the cabin and cockpit for labels, 
placards, or markings that prohibit stowing anything under the 
seats.
    (ii) If a label, placard, or marking does not exist on one leg 
of each seat or is not visible and legible, before further flight, 
install a placard in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.B., and the Appendix of Airbus Helicopters 
Alert Service Bulletin No. AS365-01.00.66 or No. EC155-04A013, both 
Revision 0 and dated August 26, 2014, as applicable for your model 
helicopter.

(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 (EASA) AD No. 2014-0204, dated September 11, 2014, and 
corrected September 12, 2014. You may view the EASA AD on the 
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2015-2714.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 1100, Placards and 
Markings.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 2, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-16940 Filed 7-13-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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