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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 137 (Tuesday, July 17, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 41897-41899]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-16939]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0703; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-019-AD; 
Amendment 39-17112; AD 2012-13-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; PZL Swidnik S.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the PZL 
Swidnik S.A. (PZL) Model PZL W-3A helicopter with a certain generator 
air outlet collector (collector) installed. This AD requires modifying 
the generator air outlet collector attachments (collector attachments). 
This AD is prompted by an incident where cyclic control stick movement 
was restricted due to rotation of a loose collector, resulting in 
locking of the longitudinal control system hydraulic actuator fork end. 
These actions are intended to prevent rotation of the collector, which 
could lead to restricted cyclic control stick movement, and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 1, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of August 1, 2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 17, 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

[[Page 41898]]

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 AD, 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 AD, contact 
Transportation Equipment Factory PZL-[Sacute]widnik S.A., A1. 
Lotnik[oacute]w Polskich 1, 21-045 [Sacute]widnik, Poland; telephone 
(+48 81) 468 09 01, 751 20 71; fax (+48 81) 468 09 19, 751 21 73; or at 
www.pzl.swidnik.pl. 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: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email 
gary.b.roach@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, 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 resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, 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 them 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 rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 
No. 2010-0017, dated January 29, 2010, to correct an unsafe condition 
for the PZL Model PZL W-3A helicopter with a generator air outlet 
collector, part number (P/N) GT40PCz8B, installed. EASA advises there 
was a report of an in-flight incident where cyclic control stick 
movement was restricted. Post-flight investigation revealed that this 
incident was caused by the rotation of a loose collector, resulting in 
the locking of the longitudinal control system hydraulic actuator fork 
end. This condition, if not detected, could lead to restricted cyclic 
control stick movement, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Poland and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with Poland, EASA, their technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
their 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 this same type 
design.
    There are no helicopters of this type currently registered in the 
United States. However, this rule is necessary to ensure that the 
described unsafe condition is addressed if any of these helicopters are 
placed on the U.S. Registry in the future.

Related Service Information

    PZL has issued Service Bulletin No. BS-37-09-230, dated October 13, 
2009 (SB), which specifies modifying the collector attachments to 
prevent collector rotation. The SB specifies installing a cable and 
reinforcing the welded clamping rings' connections with additional 
rivets. EASA classified this SB as mandatory and issued AD No. 2010-
0017 to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires modifying the collector attachments with a 
protective cable and additional riveting as described in Section II of 
the manufacturer's service bulletin.

Differences between this AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within one month after the 
effective date of their AD, while this AD requires compliance within 
100 hours time-in-service.

Costs of Compliance

    There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no 
helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary because there are 
none of these products on the U.S. Registry and that good cause exists 
for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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 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, I certify that this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;

[[Page 41899]]

    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.

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

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):

2012-13-10 PZL Swidnik S.A.: Amendment 39-17112; Docket No. FAA-
2012-0703; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-019-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to PZL Swidnik S.A. (PZL) Model PZL W-3A 
helicopters with a generator air outlet collector, part number (P/N) 
GT40PCz8B; certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as rotation of the 
generator air outlet collector, which could lead to restricted 
cyclic control stick movement and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 1, 2012.

(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 Action

    Within 100 hours time-in-service, modify the generator air 
outlet collector attachments in accordance with Section II and 
Sketches 1 and 2 of PZL-Swidnik Service Bulletin No. BS-37-09-230, 
dated October 13, 2009.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits will not be issued.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-
5110, email gary.b.roach@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 European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD 2010-0017, dated January 29, 2010.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2420: AC 
Generation System.

(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.
    (i) Transportation Equipment Factory PZL-[Sacute]widnik Service 
Bulletin No. BS-37-09-230, dated October 13, 2009, to do the actions 
required by this AD.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For PZL service information identified in this AD, contact 
Transportation Equipment Factory PZL-[Sacute]widnik S.A., A1. 
Lotnik[oacute]w Polskich 1, 21-045 [Sacute]widnik, Poland; telephone 
(+48 81) 468 09 01, 751 20 71; fax (+48 81) 468 09 19, 751 21 73; or 
at www.pzl.swidnik.pl.
    (4) You may view this 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 view this service information 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 2, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-16939 Filed 7-16-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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