57996 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

§ 39.13 [Corrected] 

■ On page 12990, in the second column, 

in paragraph (g), in the last line, ‘‘EASA 

(or its delegated’’ should read ‘‘EASA 

(or its delegated agent).’’ 

[FR Doc. C1–2012–4498 Filed 9–18–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 1505–01–D 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–1408; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–10–AD; Amendment 39– 

17184; AD 2012–18–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, 

AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 

helicopters to require cleaning, 

inspecting, and lubricating each 

tangential gearbox (gearbox) and 

adjusting, as necessary, the fuel shut-off 

control lever. This AD was prompted by 

the jamming of one of two fuel shut-off 

control levers because of solidified 

grease in the gearbox. A companion 

gearbox had extensive corrosion. In case 

of an emergency, pilots may need to use 

the control levers to shut off fuel going 

into the engine and to shut off the 

helicopter’s electrical power system. 

The jamming of the levers prevents the 

shut off of the engine fuel and prevents 

the parallel-mounted micro switches 

from switching off the electrical power 

system. These actions are intended to 

prevent the jamming of the control 

levers, which could prevent shut-off of 

the engine fuel and electrical power 

system during an emergency shutdown. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 24, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

certain documents as of October 24, 

2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this 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 a copy of 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: Eric 

Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

eric.haight@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On December 28, 2011, at 76 FR 

81430, 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 Eurocopter Model 

SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, 

AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 

helicopters. That NPRM proposed to 

require within 50 hours time-in-service 

(TIS) cleaning, inspecting and 

lubricating each gearbox, and adjusting, 

as necessary, the fuel shut-off control 

travel. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Emergency AD 

No. 2007–0082–E, dated March 27, 

2007, to correct an unsafe condition for 

the Eurocopter Model SA330F, SA330G, 

SA330J, AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, 

AS332L1, and AS332L2 helicopters. 

EASA advises that the emergency AD 

was issued following two reports of 

jamming of one of the fuel shut-off 

control levers discovered during 

maintenance. In both cases, this 

jamming originates from solidified 

grease in the gearboxes. EASA also 

found corrosion in a gearbox. Jamming 

of a fuel shut-off control lever 

constitutes an unsafe condition because 

it prevents the shut off of engine fuel 

and prevents the parallel-mounted 

electrical micro switches, normally 

activated by shutting off both of the fuel 

shut-off control levers, from switching 

off the electrical power system during 

an emergency shut down. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we did not receive any comments on the 

NPRM. 

FAA’s Determination 

We have reviewed the relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed except we are replacing the 

word ‘‘travel’’ in the required actions 

paragraph with the more accurate word 

‘‘lever,’’ and other minor editorial 

changes. These changes are consistent 

with the intent of the proposals in the 

NPRM and will not increase the 

economic burden on any operator nor 

increase the scope of the AD. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

• We use the word ‘‘inspect’’ to 

describe the actions required by a 

mechanic rather than the word ‘‘check.’’ 

• We refer to the compliance time as 

‘‘hours TIS’’ rather than ‘‘flying hours.’’ 

• We use a different compliance time 

for inspecting and lubricating the 

gearboxes. 

• We are not including the military 

model helicopters or Model AS332C1 in 

the applicability because they are not 

type certificated in the United States. 

• We are not requiring measuring the 

operating loads of the fuel shut-off 

controls per paragraph 1.1 of the EASA 

AD (paragraph 2.B.1 of the Eurocopter 

Alert Service Bulletin). 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued an Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB), Revision 1, 

dated March 22, 2007, with three 

numbers (Nos. 76.00.04, 76.00.03, and 

76.03). ASB No. 76.03 applies to the 

U.S. type-certificated Model SA330F, 

SA330G, and SA330J and also applies to 

the non-type-certificated military Model 

330 helicopters. ASB No. 76.00.04 

applies the U.S. type-certificated Model 

AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and 

AS332L2 helicopters and also applies to 

the non-type-certificated AS332C1 and 

military Model 332 helicopters. ASB 

No. 76.00.03 applies to the non-typecertificated military Model 532 

helicopters. EASA classified this service 

information as mandatory and issued 

Emergency AD No. 2007–0082–E, dated 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 182 / Wednesday, September 19, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 57997 

March 27, 2007, to correct the same 

unsafe condition as identified in the 

service information. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

will affect 29 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. We also estimate that the cost 

to comply with this AD is $255 per 

helicopter, $7,395 for the fleet, 

assuming three work-hours at $85 per 

hour to lubricate each gearbox. 

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): 

2012–18–08 EUROCOPTER FRANCE: 

Amendment 39–17184; Docket No. 

FAA–2011–1408; Directorate Identifier 

2008–SW–10–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model SA330F, 

SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, 

AS332L1, and AS332L2 helicopters, 

certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

jamming of one of the fuel shut-off control 

levers because of solidified grease in a 

tangential gearbox (gearbox), which could 

prevent a pilot from the shutting off the 

engine fuel and prevent the parallel-mounted 

electrical micro switches from switching off 

the electrical power system during an 

emergency shutdown. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective October 24, 

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 Actions 

Within 50 hours time-in-service, clean, 

inspect, and lubricate each gearbox and 

adjust, as necessary, the fuel shut-off control 

lever by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Paragraph 2.B.2 (reference 

Figures 3 through 7), of Eurocopter Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 76.03, Revision 1, 

dated March 22, 2007, for the Model SA330F, 

SA330G, and SA330J helicopters, or ASB No. 

76.00.04, Revision 1, dated March 22, 2007, 

for the Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, 

and AS332L2 helicopters. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Eric Haight, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

eric.haight@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 the 

European Aviation Safety Agency Emergency 

AD No. 2007–0082–E, dated March 27, 2007. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 7600, Engine Controls. 

(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 service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Eurocopter ASB No. 76.00.04, Revision 

1, dated March 22, 2007. 

(ii) Eurocopter ASB No. 76.03, Revision 1, 

dated March 22, 2007. 

Note 1 to paragraph (i)(2): Eurocopter 

Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 76.00.04, 

Revision 1, dated March 22, 2007, and 

Eurocopter ASB No. 76.03, Revision 1, dated 

March 22, 2007, are co-published as one 

document along with Eurocopter ASB No. 

76.00.03, Revision 1, dated March 22, 2007, 

which is not incorporated by reference in this 

AD. 

(3) For Eurocopter service information 

identified in this 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. 

(4) You may review a copy of the 

referenced 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 the 

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/ 

code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 30, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–22031 Filed 9–18–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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