This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

40045 

Vol. 78, No. 128 

Wednesday, July 3, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0354; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–072–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede an 

existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, D, AS355E, F, 

F1, F2, and N helicopters. The existing 

AD requires inspecting to determine 

whether a cross-member is installed at 

station X 2165 and doublers at X 2325 

and Y 269, and installing them if they 

are missing. Since we issued that AD, 

we discovered that the applicability of 

the AD should be limited to those 

helicopters with collective-to-yaw 

control coupling. We also sought to 

revise the inspection of the tail rotor 

control rigging to clarify the procedures. 

This proposed AD would retain the 

requirements in the existing AD with 

the mentioned clarifications but would 

supersede it to include only those 

helicopters with collective-to-yaw 

control coupling. The actions specified 

by this proposed AD are intended to 

prevent reduced yaw control and 

subsequent loss of helicopter control. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 3, 2013. 

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 

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 proposed 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 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, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@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 

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 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, issued EASA Emergency AD 

No.: 2007–0139–E, dated May 15, 2007 

(corrected May 23, 2007), to correct an 

unsafe condition for all Eurocopter 

Model AS350B, BA, BB, B1, B2, B3, D, 

AS355 E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters 

delivered before January 1, 2007, and 

equipped with a collective-to-yaw 

control coupling. EASA advises of a 

report of a crack discovered in the area 

of the center cross-member at station X 

2325, at the attachment point of the yaw 

channel ball-type control sheath stop, of 

a Model AS355N helicopter fitted with 

the collective-to-yaw control coupling. 

According to EASA, investigations 

revealed that the helicopter did not have 

the structural doublers, which are 

combined with the collective-to-yaw 

control coupling installation. EASA 

advises that repetitive loads on the nonmodified cross member cause it to 

crack, which can ‘‘reduce the yaw 

control travel, and thus diminish the 

pilot’s ability to control yawing of the 

helicopter.’’ 

On September 23, 2010, we issued AD 

No. 2010–21–01, Amendment 39–16461 

(75 FR 63050, October 14, 2010) for 

Eurocopter Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, 

B3, D, AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N 

helicopters. AD 2010–21–01 requires 

within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 

1 month, inspecting the helicopters to 

determine whether a cross-member is 

installed at station X 2165 and doublers 

at X 2325 and Y 269. If the crossmember and doublers are not installed, 

AD 2010–21–01 requires inspecting for 

a crack in the center cross-member, and 

replacing the center cross-member if 

there is a crack before further flight. If 

a crack does not exist, AD 2010–21–01 


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40046 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 3, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

requires inspecting the tail rotor control 

rigging before further flight. Lastly, if 

needed, AD 2010–21–01 requires 

installing a cross-member and two 

doublers within 55 hours TIS. AD 2010– 

21–01 was prompted by a report of a 

crack discovered in the area of the 

center cross-member, as advised in the 

EASA AD. These actions are intended to 

prevent a crack in the center crossmember, which can result in reduced 

yaw control and subsequent loss of 

helicopter control. 

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2010–21–01 (75 

FR 63050, October 14, 2010), we 

discovered that we included all 

helicopters in the existing AD 

applicability rather than limiting it to 

only those helicopters with collectiveto-yaw control coupling. Therefore, this 

action would retain the requirements in 

AD 2010–21–01 with some revisions for 

the inspection of the tail rotor control 

rigging to clarify those procedures. This 

proposed AD would reduce the 

applicability to only those Model AS350 

and AS355 helicopters with collectiveto-yaw control coupling installed. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopter models are 

manufactured in France and are type 

certificated for operation in the United 

States under the provisions of 14 CFR 

21.29 and the applicable bilateral 

agreement. Pursuant to the applicable 

bilateral agreement, EASA has kept the 

FAA informed of the situation described 

above. The FAA has examined EASA’s 

findings, reviewed all available 

information, and determined that AD 

action is necessary for products of these 

type designs that are certificated for 

operation in the United States. 

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 these same 

type designs. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Eurocopter Emergency 

Alert Service Bulletin (EASB), Revision 

0, dated April 11, 2007, that contains 

three different numbers (Nos. 53.00.37, 

53.00.11, and 53.00.23) for Eurocopter 

Model 350, 355, 550, and 555 

helicopters. EASB No. 53.00.37 relates 

to two Model 350 (350 BB and 350 L1) 

helicopters that are not type certificated 

in the United States. EASB No. 53.00.11 

relates to four Model 550 and six Model 

555 military helicopters that are not 

type-certificated in the United States. 

The EASB describes procedures for 

checking the conformity for the cross 

member at X 2325 under the cabin floor. 

The actions in the EASA AD are 

intended to correct the same unsafe 

condition as that identified in the 

service bulletin. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would retain the 

requirements of AD No. 2010–21–01 (75 

FR 63050, October 14, 2010) for 

inspecting applicable helicopters to 

determine if a cross-member and 

doublers are installed and if a crack 

exists in the center cross-member, 

replacing any unairworthy center crossmember with an airworthy center crossmember, inspecting the tail rotor control 

rigging, and installing a cross-member 

and two doublers if not installed. This 

proposed AD would reduce the 

applicability to only those Model AS350 

and AS355 model helicopters with 

collective-to-yaw control coupling 

installed. With a reduction in 

applicability in this proposed AD, the 

cost of compliance would differ. This 

proposed AD also clarifies the 

appropriate corrective action resulting 

from the tail rotor control rigging 

inspection. 

Differences Between the Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

This proposed AD differs from the 

EASA AD as follows: 

• We would require installation of the 

cross-member at station X 2165 and the 

two doublers at stations X 2325 and Y 

269 within 55 hours time-in-service. 

The EASA AD requires that this action 

be accomplished within 12 months. 

• We would not require repetitive 

inspections if no crack exists in the 

center cross-member, whereas the EASA 

AD does. 

• We do not include military model 

helicopters in the applicability. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 72 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs would 

average $85 a work-hour. It would take 

about one work-hour to perform the 

inspections, and if needed, to install the 

cross-member, two doublers and an 

airworthy center-cross member. 

Required parts would cost about $161 

per helicopter. Based on these figures, 

we estimate the cost of the proposed AD 

to be $246 per helicopter and $17,712 

for the fleet if all repairs are needed. 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 3, 2013 / Proposed Rules 40047 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2010–21–01 (75 FR 63050, October 14, 

2010), and adding the following new 

AD: 

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA–2013– 

0354; Directorate Identifier 2011–SW– 

072–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter France 

Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, D, AS355E, 

F, F1, F2, and N helicopters with collectiveto-yaw control coupling, part number 

350A27–2178–04, 350A27–2178–06, or 

350A27–2178–0601, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

reduced yaw control travel, which could 

result in loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Affected ADs 

This AD supersedes AD 2010–21–01, 

Amendment 39–16461 (75 FR 63050, October 

14, 2010). 

(d) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by September 

3, 2013. 

(e) 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. 

(f) Required Actions 

(1) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 

within one month, whichever occurs first, 

determine whether the cross-member 

(numbered ‘‘1’’) at station X 2165 and the two 

doublers (numbered ‘‘2’’ and ‘‘3’’) at stations 

X 2325 and Y 269 are installed as shown in 

Figure 1 of Eurocopter Emergency Alert 

Service Bulletin (EASB) No. 53.00.37, 

Revision 0, dated April 11, 2007 (EASB 

53.00.37), for Model AS350 helicopters and 

EASB No. 53.00.23, Revision 0, dated April 

11, 2007 (EASB 53.00.23), for Model AS355 

helicopters. 

(2) If the cross-member (numbered ‘‘1’’) 

and doublers (numbered ‘‘2’’ and ‘‘3’’) are not 

installed, before further flight, inspect for a 

crack in the center cross-member (numbered 

‘‘4’’) in the area around the attachment point 

of the tail rotor directional ball-type control 

as shown in Figure 1 of EASB 53.00.37 for 

Model AS350 helicopters or EASB 53.00.23 

for Model AS355 helicopters. 

(i) If a crack exists, before further flight, 

replace the unairworthy center cross-member 

(Numbered ‘‘4’’) with an airworthy center 

cross-member as described in paragraph (f)(3) 

of this AD. 

(ii) If a crack does not exist, before further 

flight, inspect the tail rotor control rigging to 

determine whether it meets conformity 

limits. 

(A) If all items of the tail rotor control 

rigging are found within conformity limits, 

install the cross-member and doublers as 

described in paragraph (f)(3) of this AD. 

(B) For any items of the tail rotor control 

rigging found outside of conformity limits, 

perform appropriate corrective action in 

accordance with FAA-accepted procedures, 

and install the cross-member and doublers as 

described in paragraph (f)(3) of this AD. 

(3) Within 55 hours TIS, if the cross 

member (Numbered ‘‘1’’) is not installed, 

install the cross-member at station X 2165 

and the 2 doublers (Numbered ‘‘2’’ and ‘‘3’’) 

at stations X 2325 and Y 269 by following the 

Appendix, the referenced figures 2 and 3 of 

EASB 53.00.37 for Model AS350 helicopters 

or EASB 53.00.23 for Model AS355 

helicopters. 

(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, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 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) 

Emergency AD No. 2007–0139–E, dated May 

15, 2007 (corrected May 23, 2007). You may 

view the EASA AD at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating it in Docket No. FAA–2013–0354. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 5320, Fuselage Miscellaneous 

Structure. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 11, 

2013. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–15961 Filed 7–2–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0555; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–047–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) 

Model EC135 and MBB–BK 117 C–2 

helicopters. This proposed AD is 

prompted by the discovery during a 

routine inspection of loose flight control 

bearings because of incorrect 

installation. This proposed AD would 

require inspecting the flight-control 

bearings repetitively, replacing any 

loose bearing with an airworthy flightcontrol bearing, and installing bushings 

and washers. The proposed actions are 

intended to prevent the affected control 

lever from shifting, contacting the 

helicopter structure, and reducing 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 3, 2013. 

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 

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 proposed 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, TX 76137. 


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