40988 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 128 / Monday, July 3, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Airbus service bulletin number Revision level Service bulletin date

A330–32A3088 ............................................................ 02 ................................................................................ June 10, 1999.

A340–32A4124 ............................................................ 01 ................................................................................ November 20, 1998.

A330–32–3091 ............................................................. 01 ................................................................................ December 2, 1998.

A330–32–3092 ............................................................. 02 ................................................................................ June 10, 1999.

A340–32–4128 ............................................................. 01 ................................................................................ December 2, 1998.

A340–32–4131 ............................................................. 01 ................................................................................ June 10, 1999.

A330–32–3089 ............................................................. Original ........................................................................ November 2, 1998.

A340–32–4126 ............................................................. Original ........................................................................ November 2, 1998.

A330–31–3033 ............................................................. Original ........................................................................ September 13, 1999.

A340–31–4047 ............................................................. Original ........................................................................ September 13, 1999.

Flight Operations TELEX 999.0099/98 ........................ Revision 5 ................................................................... May 21, 1999.

This incorporation by reference was

approved by the Director of the Federal

Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a)

and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained

from Airbus Industrie, 1 Rond Point Maurice

Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France.

Copies may be inspected at the FAA,

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at the

Office of the Federal Register, 800 North

Capitol Street, NW., suite 700, Washington,

DC.

Note 10: The subject of this AD is

addressed in French airworthiness directives

1998–475–103(B)R1; 1998–473–083(B)R1;

and 1999–160–096(B); all dated April 21,

1999.

(n) This amendment becomes effective on

August 7, 2000.

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 22,

2000.

Donald L. Riggin,

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–16357 Filed 6–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–SW–18–AD; Amendment

39–11805; AD 2000–13–06]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky

Model S–61 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes

an existing airworthiness directive (AD)

for Sikorsky Model S–61 helicopters.

That AD requires inspecting certain

pylon upper and lower hinge web

fittings (web fittings) for corrosion or a

crack and either repairing certain web

fittings or replacing any unairworthy

web fittings with airworthy web fittings.

That AD also requires creating a log card

or equivalent record and implementing

a recurring inspection of the web

fittings. This amendment retains the

requirements of that AD but corrects an

error in paragraph (a)(3) by removing

the words ‘‘and 3.E.’’ This amendment

is prompted by an operator notifying the

FAA of that error which requires an

unnecessary major inspection within 25

hours time-in-service (TIS). The actions

specified in this AD are intended to

remove an undue burden on the public

by superseding the AD and removing

the requirement for the major inspection

within 25 hours TIS.

DATES: Effective July 18, 2000.

The incorporation by reference of

certain publications listed in the

regulations was approved previously by

the Director of the Federal Register as of

March 30, 2000 (65 FR 13877, March 15,

2000).

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

September 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Office of the

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–SW–

18–AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room

663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may

also send comments electronically to

the Rules Docket at the following

address: 9–asw–adcomments@faa.gov.

The service information referenced in

this AD may be obtained from Sikorsky

Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager,

Commercial Tech Support, 6900 Main

Street, P. O. Box 9729, Stratford,

Connecticut 06497–9129, phone (203)

386–7860, fax (203) 386–4703. This

information may be examined at the

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham

Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas

76137; or at the Office of the Federal

Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW.,

suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Brian K. Murphy, Aviation Safety

Engineer, ANE–150, 12 New England

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803,

telephone (781) 238–7739, fax (781)

238–7199.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March

6, 2000, the FAA issued AD 2000–05–

16, Amendment 39–11626 (65 FR

13877, March 15, 2000). That AD for

Sikorsky Model S–61 helicopters with

pylon, part number (P/N) S6120–76265–

001 or S6120–76266–507, installed,

requires inspecting and repairing or, if

necessary, replacing certain web fittings

and the fitting faying surfaces. The AD

also requires making an entry on the log

card or equivalent record. That action

was prompted by the discovery of

extensive cracking in the area of the web

fitting. That condition, if not corrected,

could result in structural failure of

certain web fittings due to stress

corrosion, subsequent structural failure

of the tailboom and loss of control of the

helicopter.

Since the issuance of that AD, an

operator notified the FAA of an error.

That error is the reference in paragraph

(a)(3) of the AD to paragraph 3.E. of the

Accomplishment Instructions of

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Alert

Service Bulletin No. 61B20–33, dated

September 3, 1999 (ASB). Requiring

paragraph 3.E. of the ASB in paragraph

(a)(3) of the AD would inadvertently

require conducting a major inspection

within 25 hours TIS, which is not

intended. The Inspection Plan in Chart

A of the ASB refers to paragraph 3.E.,

which specifies a major recurring

inspection at 9000 flight hours or 4

years, whichever is less. That inspection

is appropriately covered under

paragraph (a)(6) of the AD, which

requires entering on the log card or

equivalent record the recurring

inspection intervals in accordance with

Chart A of the ASB.

Since requiring the major inspection

within 25 hours TIS is not required to

correct the unsafe condition, this AD

supersedes AD 2000–05–16. This AD

would correct the requirement that

inadvertently requires conducting the

major inspection in 25 hours TIS by

removing the words ‘‘and 3.E.’’ from

paragraph (a)(3) of the AD. The short

Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 128 / Monday, July 3, 2000 / Rules and Regulations 40989

compliance time involved is required

because the superseded AD is

ambiguous and the previously described

major inspection requiring unscheduled

disassembly of the helicopter is

impractical and unnecessary to

maintain safety, and creates an undue

burden on the public. Therefore,

correcting paragraph (a)(3) by removing

the words ‘‘and 3.E.’’ is required and

this AD must be issued immediately.

Since a situation exists that requires

the immediate adoption of this

regulation, it is found that notice and

opportunity for prior public comment

hereon are impracticable, and that good

cause exists for making this amendment

effective in less than 30 days.

The FAA estimates that 125

helicopters will be affected by this AD,

that it will take approximately 115 work

hours to accomplish the inspection and

replacement of parts, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Required parts will cost approximately

$75,000 per helicopter. Based on these

figures, the total cost impact of the AD

on U.S. operators is estimated to be

$10,237,500 if the parts have to be

replaced on the entire fleet.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of

a final rule that involves requirements

affecting flight safety and, thus, was not

preceded by notice and an opportunity

for public comment, comments are

invited on this rule. Interested persons

are invited to comment on this rule by

submitting such written data, views, or

arguments as they may desire.

Communications should identify the

Rules Docket number and be submitted

in triplicate to the address specified

under the caption ADDRESSES. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments will be

considered, and this rule may be

amended in light of the comments

received. Factual information that

supports the commenter’s ideas and

suggestions is extremely helpful in

evaluating the effectiveness of the AD

action and determining whether

additional rulemaking action would be

needed.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the rule that might suggest a need to

modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report that

summarizes each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this AD

will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their mailed

comments submitted in response to this

rule must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the

following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Docket No. 2000–SW–

18–AD.’’ The postcard will be date

stamped and returned to the

commenter.

The regulations adopted herein will

not have substantial direct effects 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. Therefore, it is

determined that this final rule does not

have federalism implications under

Executive Order 13132.

The FAA has determined that this

regulation is an emergency regulation

that must be issued immediately to

correct an unsafe condition in aircraft,

and that it is not a ‘‘significant

regulatory action’’ under Executive

Order 12866. It has been determined

further that this action involves an

emergency regulation under DOT

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44

FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is

determined that this emergency

regulation otherwise would be

significant under DOT Regulatory

Policies and Procedures, a final

regulatory evaluation will be prepared

and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy

of it, if filed, may be obtained from the

Rules Docket at the location provided

under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Incorporation by reference,

Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration amends part 39 of the

Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by

removing Amendment 39–11626 (65 FR

13877, March 15, 2000) and by adding

a new airworthiness directive (AD),

Amendment 39–11805, to read as

follows:

2000–13–06 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation:

Amendment 39–11805. Docket No.

2000–SW–18–AD. Supersedes AD 2000–

05–16, Amendment 39–11626, Docket

No. 99–SW–61–AD.

Applicability: Model S–61 helicopters with

pylon, part number (P/N) S6120–76265–001

or S6120–76266–507, installed, certificated

in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For helicopters that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance

of the requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent structural failure due to a crack

or corrosion of pylon upper and lower hinge

web fittings (web fittings), P/N S6120–

76261–012, –013 (upper) or S6120–76262–

012, –013 (lower), and subsequent loss of

control of the helicopter, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS),

(1) Determine the alloy-temper of the web

fittings in accordance with Sikorsky Aircraft

Corporation Alert Service Bulletin No.

61B20–33, dated September 3, 1999 (ASB),

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.A.

(2) Prepare the web fittings for inspection

in accordance with the ASB Accomplishment

Instructions, paragraph 3.B.

(3) Inspect the web fitting in accordance

with the ASB Inspection Plan, Chart A, and

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs

3.C. and 3.D. Nicks, scratches, corrosion

pitting or prior rework beyond the limits

specified in paragraph 3.C.(5) require

approval by the FAA.

(4) Repair or replace web fittings, as

necessary, in accordance with the ASB

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph

3.C.(3) through (6). Nicks, scratches,

corrosion pitting, or prior rework beyond the

limits specified in paragraph 3.C.(5) require

approval by the FAA.

(5) If replacing an unairworthy web fitting

with an airworthy web fitting, replace it in

accordance with the ASB Accomplishment

Instructions, paragraph 3.F., prior to further

flight.

(6) Create a log card for the pylon, if none

exists. Make an entry on the log card or

equivalent record implementing recurring

inspection intervals in accordance with Chart

A of the ASB.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Boston

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA. Operators

shall submit their requests through an FAA

Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may

concur or comment and then send it to the

Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office.

40990 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 128 / Monday, July 3, 2000 / Rules and Regulations

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Boston Aircraft

Certification Office.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

(d) The inspection, repair, and replacement

shall be done in accordance with the

Inspection Plan, Chart A, and the

Accomplishment Instructions of Sikorsky

Aircraft Corporation Alert Service Bulletin

No. 61B20–33, dated September 3, 1999. This

incorporation by reference of that document

was approved previously by the Director of

the Federal Register in accordance with 5

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 as of March

30, 2000 (65 FR 13877, March 15, 2000).

Copies may be obtained from Sikorsky

Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager,

Commercial Tech Support, 6900 Main Street,

P. O. Box 9729, Stratford, Connecticut

06497–9129, phone (203) 386–7860, fax (203)

386–4703. Copies may be inspected at the

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or at the Office

of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol

Street, NW., suite 700, Washington, DC.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on

July 18, 2000.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 19,

2000.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–16356 Filed 6–30–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 00–ACE–12]

Amendment to Class E Airspace;

Oelwein, IA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Direct final rule; request for

comments.

SUMMARY: This action amends the Class

E airspace area at Oelwein Municipal

Airport, Oelwein, IA. The FAA has

developed an Area Navigation (RNAV)

Runway (RWY) 13 Standard Instrument

Approach Procedure (SIAP) to serve

Oelwein Municipal Airport, Oelwein,

IA. Additional controlled airspace

extending upward from 700 feet Above

Ground Level (AGL) is needed to

accommodate this SIAP and for

Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations

at this airport. The enlarged area will

contain the RNAV RWY 13 SIAP in

controlled airspace.

In addition a minor revision to the

Airport Reference Point (ARP) is

included in this document.

The intended effect of this rule is to

provide controlled Class E airspace for

aircraft executing RNAV RWY 13 SIAP,

revise the ARP and to segregate aircraft

using instrument approach procedures

in instrument conditions from aircraft

operating in visual conditions.

DATES: This direct final rule is effective

on 0901 UTC, November 30, 2000.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules

Docket must be received on or before

August 28, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Send comments regarding

the rule in triplicate to: Manager,

Airspace Branch, Air Traffic Division,

ACE–520, DOT Regional Headquarters

Building, Federal Aviation

Administration, Docket Number 00–

ACE–12, 901 Locust, Kansas City, MO

64106.

The official docket may be examined

in the Office of the Regional Counsel for

the Central Region at the same address

between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays. An informal docket may also

be examined during normal business

hours in the Air Traffic Division at the

same address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Kathy Randolph, Air Traffic Division,

Airspace Branch, ACE–520C, DOT

Regional Headquarters Building, Federal

Aviation Administration, 901 Locust,

Kansas City, MO 64106; telephone:

(816) 329–2525.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA

has developed RNAV RWY 13 SIAP to

serve the Oelwein Municipal Airport,

Oelwein, IA. The amendment to Class E

airspace at Oelwein, IA will provide

additional controlled airspace at and

above 700 feet AGL in order to contain

the SIAP within controlled airspace,

and thereby facilitate separation of

aircraft operating under Instrument

Flight Rules (IFR). The amendment at

Oelwein Municipal Airport, IA, will

provide additional controlled airspace

for aircraft operating under IFR and

revise the ARP. The area will be

depicted on appropriate aeronautical

charts. Class E airspace areas extending

upward from 700 feet or more above the

surface of the earth are published in

paragraph 6005 of FAA Order 7400.9G,

dated September 10, 1999, and effective

September 16, 1999, which is

incorporated by reference in 14 CFR

71.1. The Class E airspace designation

listed in this document will be

published subsequently in the Order.

The Direct Final Rule Procedure

The FAA anticipates that this

regulation will not result in adverse or

negative comment and, therefore, is

issuing it as a direct final rule. Previous

actions of this nature have not been

controversial and have not resulted in

adverse comments or objections. The

amendment will enhance safety for all

flight operations by designating an area

where VFR pilots may anticipate the

presence of IFR aircraft at lower

altitudes, especially during inclement

weather conditions. A greater degree of

safety is achieved by depicting the area

on aeronautical charts. Unless a written

adverse or negative comment, or a

written notice of intent to submit an

adverse or negative comment is received

within the comment period, the

regulation will become effective on the

date specified above. After the close of

the comment period, the FAA will

publish a document in the Federal

Register indicating that no adverse or

negative comments were received and

confirming the date on which the final

rule will become effective. If the FAA

does receive, within the comment

period, an adverse or negative comment,

or written notice of intent to submit

such a comment, a document

withdrawing the direct final rule will be

published in the Federal Register, and

a notice of proposed rulemaking may be

published with a new comment period.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of

a final rule and was not preceded by a

notice of proposed rulemaking,

comments are invited on this rule.

Interested persons are invited to

comment on this rule by submitting

such written data, views, or arguments

as they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified under the caption

ADDRESSES. All communications

received on or before the closing date

for comments will be considered, and

this rule may be amended or withdrawn

in light of the comments received.

Factual information that supports the

commenter’s ideas and suggestions is

extremely helpful in evaluating the

effectiveness of this action and

determining whether additional

rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy-related

aspects of the rule that might suggest a

need to modify the rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by