This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

58925 

Vol. 77, No. 186 

Tuesday, September 25, 2012 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1018; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–052–AD; Amendment 

39–17204; AD 2012–19–09] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

EC 155B, EC155B1, SA–365N1, AS– 

365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters to 

require visually inspecting the tail rotor 

hub (TRH) for a crack and removing the 

TRH if a crack exists. This AD is 

prompted by reports of cracks on two 

TRHs. These actions are intended to 

prevent the tail rotor from jamming, 

which could lead to reduced or loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

October 10, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by November 26, 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 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 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 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, 

Standards Staff, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137; telephone 817–222–5328; 

email robert.grant@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 

We are adopting a new AD for 

Eurocopter EC 155B, EC155B1, SA– 

365N1, AS–365N2 and AS 365 N3 

helicopters. Eurocopter reported that a 

technician found cracks on the TRH 

during an inspection of a Model AS–365 

helicopter equipped with a 10-blade 

TRH. This AD requires repetitive visual 

inspections of the TRH for a crack. 

Eurocopter initially required a visual 

inspection of the TRH every 110 hours, 

but reduced that requirement to 55 

flight hours after cracks were found on 

a second hub. Eurocopter is 

investigating the cause of the cracks. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2011– 

0144, dated July 26, 2011, to correct this 

unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model 

EC 155B, EC155B1, SA–365N1, AS– 

365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters. 

EASA states that if a TRH crack is not 

detected and corrected, the tail rotor 

could jam, leading to a reduction or loss 

of control of the helicopter. Pending 

further investigation, the EASA AD 

requires repetitive inspections of the 

TRH every 55 flight hours. EASA 

considers the actions in its AD to be 

interim measures and expects further 

AD actions will follow. 

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 the 

EASA 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 

these same type designs. 

Related Service Information 

Following the report of cracks found 

on the TRH of a Model AS–365 

helicopter, Eurocopter issued Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC 155– 

05A021, Revision 0, dated April 11, 

2011, for Model EC 155B and EC155B1 

helicopters, and ASB No. AS365– 


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05.00.60, Revision 0, dated April 11, 

2011, for Model SA–365N1, AS–365N2 

and AS 365 N3 and some military 

helicopters. After a second report of 

TRH cracks, the ASBs were revised, 

dated July 20, 2011, to mandate and 

reduce the repetitive inspection interval 

from 110 flight hours to 55 flight hours. 

The ASBs call for visually inspecting 

the TRH for cracks and, if cracks are 

found, removing the TRH. EASA 

classified these ASBs as mandatory and 

issued AD No. 2011–0144 to ensure the 

continued airworthiness of these 

helicopters. 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires visually inspecting 

the TRH for a crack within 55 hours 

time in service (TIS) and, if a crack 

exists, removing the TRH from service. 

This inspection must be repeated at 

intervals not to exceed 55 hours TIS. 

Interim Action 

We consider this AD to be an interim 

action because Eurocopter is 

investigating the cause of TRH cracks. If 

a final action is later identified, we 

might consider additional rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

34 helicopters of U.S. Registry and that 

labor costs will average $85 a workhour. We expect that it will take 1 workhour to visually inspect the TRH for a 

crack, and that helicopters will average 

5 inspections per year. Thus, we 

estimate a total annual cost of $425 per 

helicopter, and $14,450 for the U.S. 

operator fleet. 

FAA’s Justification and Determination 

of the Effective Date 

Providing an opportunity for public 

comments prior to adopting these AD 

requirements would delay 

implementing the safety actions needed 

to correct this known unsafe condition. 

Therefore, we find that the risk to the 

flying public justifies waiving notice 

and comment prior to the adoption of 

this rule, because the required 

corrective actions must be accomplished 

within 55 hours TIS, a very short time 

period based on the average utilization 

rate of the highest usage helicopter 

model. 

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 impractical and 

contrary to the public interest 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; 

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): 

2012–19–09 Eurocopter Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–17204; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–1018; Directorate Identifier 

2011–SW–052–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter Model EC 

155B, EC155B1, SA–365N1, AS–365N2 and 

AS 365 N3 helicopters, with a tail rotor hub 

(TRH) part number 365A33351100, 

365A33351101, or 365A33351102 installed, 

certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack in the TRH that could lead to a tail 

rotor jam, and subsequent reduced or loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective October 10, 

2012. 

(d) Compliance 

You are responsible for performing each 

action required by this AD within the 

specified compliance time. 

(e) Required Actions 

(1) Within 55 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 55 

hours TIS, using a light, visually inspect the 

TRH for a crack in the entire area shown as 

Area C of the TRH (a) in Figure 1 to 

paragraph (e)(1) of this AD. The inspection 

area is on the tail gearbox (TGB) side of the 

TRH. The TGB is shown as (c) in Figures 2 

and 3 to paragraph (e)(1) of this AD. You 

must pay particular attention to the area 

around the screws, shown as (e) in Figure 3 

to paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, and the TRH 

between the lower part of the TGB and its 

fairing, shown as (d) in Figures 2 and 3 to 

paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, using details D 

and E of Figure 3 to paragraph (e)(1) of this 

AD. You must turn the tail rotor by hand to 

inspect the entire Area C. 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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(2) If there is a crack on the TRH, remove 

the TRH from service. 

(f) Special Flight Permits 

No special flight permits will be permitted. 

(g) 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, Standards Staff, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham 

Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 

817–222–5328; 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 


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certificate holding district office, before 

operating any aircraft complying with this 

AD through an AMOC. 

(h) Additional Information 

(1) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 

No. AS365–05.00.60, Revision 1, dated July 

20, 2011, and Eurocopter ASB No. EC 155– 

05A021, Revision 1, dated July 20, 2011, 

which are not incorporated by reference, 

contain additional information about the 

subject of this AD. 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 

service information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2011–0144, dated July 26, 2011. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6420, Tail Rotor Head. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 

14, 2012. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–23448 Filed 9–24–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric 

Administration 

15 CFR Part 902 

50 CFR Part 660 

[Docket No. 120614172–2395–01] 

RIN 0648–BC29 

Fisheries Off West Coast States; West 

Coast Salmon Fisheries; Announcing 

OMB Approval of Information 

Collection 

AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries 

Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and 

Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 

Commerce. 

ACTION: Final rule; effective date of OMB 

control numbers. 

SUMMARY: This rule provides notice of 

the approval by the Office of 

Management and Budget (OMB) and 

resulting effectiveness of the collectionof-information requirements published 

by NMFS on July 2, 1996. OMB 

approved the collection-of-information 

requirements in April 2001, and 

extended that approval in September 

2001, November 2004, April 2008, and 

July 2011. 

DATES: The amendments in this rule are 

effective October 25, 2012. The 

collection-of-information requirements 

in § 660.404, published on July 2, 1996 

(61 FR 34570), are effective October 25, 

2012. OMB approves the collection-ofinformation requirements in § 660.408, 

published on July 2, 1996 (61 FR 

34570), as of October 25, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: This final rule is also 

accessible on the Web site of NMFS’ 

Northwest Region (http:// 

www.nwr.noaa.gov). Written comments 

regarding the burden-hour estimates or 

other aspects of the collection-ofinformation requirements contained in 

this final rule may be submitted to 

William W. Stelle, Jr., Regional 

Administrator, Northwest Region, 

NMFS, 7600 Sand Point Way NE., 

Seattle, WA 98115–0070. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Peggy Mundy, Northwest Region 

Salmon Management Division, NMFS, 

206–526–4323. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NMFS 

published a final rule on July 2, 1996 

(61 FR 34570) that consolidated several 

parts of the Code of Federal Regulations 

(CFR) into a new CFR part 660 

containing regulations for implementing 

management measures for fisheries 

operating in the exclusive economic 

zone (EEZ) off West Coast states. This 

new part 660 included a collection of 

information associated with 

recordkeeping and reporting 

requirements regulations at § 660.404 

and § 660.408(o). This collection was 

previously associated with regulations 

at § 661.4 and § 661.20, under OMB 

control number 0648–0222. The 1996 

rule stated that OMB approval under 

control number 0648–0222 had expired 

and that NMFS was in the process of 

obtaining OMB approval for the 

collection of information under the new 

regulations. 

This final rule announces OMB 

approval and effectiveness of the 

collection of information associated 

with regulations at § 660.404 and 

§ 660.408(o). Initial approval of these 

regulations in their current location in 

the Code of Federal regulations occurred 

on April 25, 2001 under OMB control 

number 048–0433. OMB extended this 

approval on September 28, 2001, 

November 29, 2004, April 8, 2008, and 

July 8, 2011. The current approval 

expires on July 31, 2014. 

Classification 

This rule makes effective a collection 

of information requirement subject to 

the Paperwork Reduction Act. The 

collection of this information has been 

approved by the Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB) under OMB Control 

Number 0648–433. Based on the 

management regime specified each year, 

designated regulatory areas in the 

commercial ocean salmon fishery off the 

coasts of Washington, Oregon, and 

California may be managed by 

numerical quotas. To accurately assess 

catches relative to quota attainment 

during the fishing season, catch data by 

regulatory area must be collected in a 

timely manner. The requirements to 

land salmon within specific time frames 

and in specific areas may be 

implemented in the preseason 

regulations to aid in timely and accurate 

catch accounting for a regulatory area. 

State landing systems normally gather 

the data at the time of landing. If unsafe 

weather conditions or mechanical 

problems prevent compliance with 

landing requirements, fishermen need 

an alternative to allow for a safe 

response. Fishermen would be exempt 

from landing requirements if the 

appropriate notifications are made to 

provide the name of the vessel, the port 

where delivery will be made, the 

approximate amount of salmon (by 

species) on board, and the estimated 

time of arrival. These reports are 

generally made via at-sea radio, cellular 

phone transmissions, or other electronic 

communication. The annual reporting 

burden to the public is estimated at 10 

hours, based on an estimated 15 

minutes per response. 

Pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(B), there 

is good cause to waive prior notice and 

opportunity for public comment for this 

action because notice and comment 

would be unnecessary and contrary to 

the public interest. This action simply 

provides notice of OMB’s approval of 

the reporting requirements at issue, 

which has already occurred, and 

renders those requirements effective. 

Thus this action does not involve any 

further exercise of agency discretion and 

no comment received at this time would 

impact any decision by NOAA or OMB. 

In addition, the public has had the 

opportunity to comment on both the 

substance of the reporting requirements, 

at the time NOAA adopted them, and on 

NOAA’s requests for extension of 

OMB’s approval. The reporting 

requirements at issue were detailed in 

proposed rules on which NOAA 

accepted public comment. The reporting 

provisions in 50 CFR 660.404(a) were 

initially published at 49 FR 32414–01 

(August 14, 1984), with comments 

accepted until September 21, 1984, and 

published as a final rule at 49 FR 

43679–02 (October 31, 1984). The 


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