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

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new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

15277 

Vol. 78, No. 47 

Monday, March 11, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1015; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–SW–069–AD; Amendment 

39–17363; AD 2013–04–06] 

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 the 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 

helicopters. This AD requires modifying 

the main landing gear control panel 

(control panel) 33G, connector 100G, 

and wiring. It also requires tests to 

ensure that these modifications function 

correctly. This AD was prompted by 

reports of electro-valve power supply 

disruptions while a helicopter is on the 

ground, causing the landing gear to 

retract and the helicopter nose to drop. 

This results in damage to the forward 

section of the helicopter’s bottom 

structure. The actions of this AD are 

intended to prevent an uncommanded 

landing gear retraction that would cause 

the helicopter nose to drop and hit the 

ground while the rotor blades are 

spinning. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 15, 

2013. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of April 15, 2013. 

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 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: 

George Schwab, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Safety Management Group, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 

76137; telephone: (817) 222–5114; fax: 

(817) 222–5961; email: 

george.schwab@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On September 25, 2012, at 77 FR 

58973, 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 

AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 

helicopters not modified per 

modification (MOD) 0723817, MOD 

0725670, MOD 332P083218 or MOD 

332A088381, with a control panel 33G, 

part number 332A67–1623–00, –06, 

–0610, or –0651. That NPRM proposed 

to require modifying the control panel 

33G, connector 100G, and wiring. It also 

proposed to require tests to ensure that 

these modifications function correctly. 

The proposed requirements were 

intended to prevent an uncommanded 

landing gear retraction that would cause 

the helicopter nose to drop and hit the 

ground while the rotor blades are 

spinning. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2006– 

0152, dated May 30, 2006, to correct an 

unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model 

AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and 

AS332L1 helicopters. EASA advises of 

electro-valve power supply disruptions, 

which caused the landing gear to retract 

and the helicopter to drop, resulting in 

damage to the forward section of the 

helicopter’s bottom structure. AD 2006– 

0152 requires compliance with 

Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 

No. 32.00.18, Revision 1, dated March 

27, 2006, or later revisions and 

supersedes Direction Generale de 

L’Aviation Civile France AD No. F– 

2005–100, dated June 22, 2005. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we received no comments on the NPRM 

(77 FR 58973, September 25, 2012). 

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 and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

This AD differs from the EASA AD as 

follows: 

• This AD requires compliance 

within 90 days, while the EASA AD 

requires compliance within 3 months. 

The EASA AD also addresses spare 

parts, and this AD does not address 

spare parts. 

• The EASA AD requires a repeat of 

the tests for helicopters that have been 

modified in compliance with AD F– 

2005–100, and this AD does not. 

• The EASA AD also applies to the 

Model AS332C1 helicopter, and this AD 

does not because this model does not 

have an FAA-issued type certificate. 

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15278 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 47 / Monday, March 11, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Eurocopter ASB No. 

32.00.18, Revision 2, dated July 12, 

2010, for Model AS332C, AS332C1, 

AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters and 

military Model AS332B, AS332B1, 

AS332M, AS332M1, AS332F1 

helicopters with the specified control 

panel 33G. That ASB states that 

electrical interferences on the solenoid 

valve power supply line have caused 

untimely retraction of the main landing 

gear, causing helicopters to sink, 

resulting in damage to the front section 

of the helicopter’s bottom structure. The 

ASB describes procedures for modifying 

the main landing gear control tab on the 

control panel 33G, replacing the fixed 

connector on the control panel 33G, 

replacing the removable connector on 

the corresponding wiring, and testing 

the affected systems to ensure that these 

modifications function correctly. The 

ASB states that these actions are 

intended to prevent untimely power 

supply to the solenoid valve when the 

main landing gear control tab is on 

‘‘extended’’ and to avoid main landing 

gear retraction. EASA AD 2006–0152 

classified portions of the ASB as 

mandatory. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects three 

helicopters of U.S. registry. We estimate 

the following costs to comply with this 

AD: 

We estimate that modification of the 

control panel, connector, and wiring 

takes one work hour to complete at $85 

per hour, and that parts cost $293. 

Performing function tests takes about 

4.5 hours to complete, for a total labor 

cost of $383. Thus, we estimate a total 

cost per helicopter of $761, and a total 

cost of $2,283 for the fleet. 

We do not control warranty coverage. 

Accordingly, we have included all costs 

in our cost estimate. 

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): 

2013–04–06 Eurocopter France 

(Eurocopter): Amendment 39–17363; 

Docket No. FAA–2012–1015; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–SW–069–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter Model 

AS332C, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters 

not modified per modification (MOD) 

0723817, MOD 0725670, MOD 332P083218 

or MOD 332A088381, with a main landing 

gear control panel (control panel) 33G, part 

number (P/N) 332A67–1623–00, –06, –0610, 

or –0651; certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as an 

uncommanded landing gear retraction, which 

could cause the helicopter nose to drop and 

hit the ground while the rotor blades are 

spinning. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective April 15, 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 

Within 90 days, modify the control panel 

33G and connector 100G, route the 

1GA5103E wiring, and perform the tests in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Paragraphs 2.B 2.a. through 

2.B.3.d., and as depicted in figures 1 and 2, 

of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No 

32.00.18, Revision 2, dated July 12, 2010. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas, 76137; 

telephone: (817) 222–5114; fax: (817) 222– 

5961; email: george.schwab@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 AD No. 

2006–0152, dated May 30, 2006. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 3230, landing gear retract/extend 

system. 

(i) 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) Eurocopter France Alert Service Bulletin 

No. 32.00.18, Revision 2, dated July 12, 2010. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(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. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 47 / Monday, March 11, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 15279 

(4) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

(5) 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 Fort Worth, Texas, on February 

8, 2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–04224 Filed 3–8–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1106; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–084–AD; Amendment 

39–17341; AD 2013–03–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Model A330–200 Freighter, 

–200, and –300 series airplanes; and 

Model A340–200, –300, –500, and –600 

series airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by a report that erroneous height 

indication by one radio altimeter with 

engaged flare and retard mode, in case 

of go-around, might lead to a temporary 

loss of airplane longitudinal control. 

This AD requires revising the airplane 

flight manual. We are issuing this AD to 

ensure that the flightcrew applies the 

appropriate operational procedures in 

the event of an erroneous indication of 

the radio altimeter, which could result 

in temporary loss of airplane 

longitudinal control. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 

15, 2013. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of April 15, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at the 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 

Docket Operations, M–30, West 

Building Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–1138; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on October 25, 2012 (77 FR 

65146). That NPRM proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) 

states: 

Airbus performed tests to investigate the 

consequences of one radio altimeter 

providing an erroneous indication. 

These tests concluded that with engaged 

flare and retard mode, in case of go-around, 

the situation may lead to a temporary loss of 

aeroplane longitudinal control. 

To address this condition, Airbus issued a 

new Airplane Flight Manual (AFM) 

operational procedure. 

For the reasons described above, this 

[European Aviation Safety Agency] AD 

requires amendment of the applicable AFM 

to ensure that the flight crew applies the 

appropriate operational procedures. 

You may obtain further information 

by examining the MCAI in the AD 

docket. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. We 

considered the comment received. Air 

Line Pilots Association, International, 

supported the NPRM (77 FR 65146, 

October 25, 2012). 

Explanation of Changes Made to This 

AD 

We have revised paragraph (g) and 

Note 1 to paragraph (g) of this AD to 

remove reference to inserting a copy of 

this AD into the AFM as a method of 

complying with the requirements of 

paragraph (g) of this AD. Inserting a 

copy of this AD into the AFM does not 

address the unsafe condition identified 

in this AD. This language was 

erroneously included in the NPRM (77 

FR 65146, October 25, 2012), and has, 

therefore, been removed from this AD. 

Conclusion 

We reviewed the available data, 

including the comment received, and 

determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting the AD 

with the changes described previously— 

and minor editorial changes. We have 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 

65146, October 25, 2012) for correcting 

the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM (77 FR 65146, 

October 25, 2012). 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

64 products of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it will take about 1 workhour per product to comply with the 

basic requirements of this AD. The 

average labor rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

cost of this AD to the U.S. operators to 

be $5,440, or $85 per product. 

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 above, I 

certify that this AD: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

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