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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37154-37156]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14703]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0523; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-091-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, 
AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, 
AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters with sliding doors, except those with 
modification AL.4262. This proposed AD would require removing from 
service certain part-numbered nuts and washers from the lower ball-
joint bolt. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of a sliding door 
detaching from the helicopter in flight. The proposed actions are 
intended to prevent loss of the lower ball-joint nut, which could lead 
to loss of the sliding door and damage to the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 19, 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, Texas 
76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
Texas

[[Page 37155]]

76137; telephone 817-222-5110; email robert.grant@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, has issued EASA AD 
No. 2012-0205, dated October 1, 2012 (AD 2012-0205), to correct an 
unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350BB, 
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, 
AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters with a sliding door installed, except 
those with modification AL.4262. EASA advises that during a patrol 
flight with the doors open, the right-hand (RH) sliding door became 
detached and was lost in-flight. EASA states it was discovered that the 
nut of the ball-joint bolt was missing, which allowed the ball-joint 
bolt to detach from the door and the door to ``fall off'' the aircraft. 
According to EASA, a check of the left-hand (LH) sliding door revealed 
that the nut of the ball-joint bolt was not tightened, and could be 
unscrewed by hand. EASA advises that the self-locking characteristics 
of the nut were lost, possibly due to a defective assembly of the ball-
joint bolt by re-using a disposable part or improper nut tightening, 
and is assumed to be the reason for the ball-joint attachment failure 
and loss of the sliding door. This failure of the self-locking 
characteristics of the nut could lead to loss of the sliding door in-
flight, potentially resulting in damage of the surrounding helicopter 
structure and possible injury to persons on the ground. For these 
reasons, EASA issued AD 2012-0205 to require modification AL.4262, 
which specifies replacing each nut, part number (P/N) ASN52320BH060N, 
and washer, P/N 23111AG0LE, with nut, P/N 22542K060, and lock-washer, 
P/N 23351AC060LE, on the lower ball-joint bolt.

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 
its AD. 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 helicopters of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-
52.00.34 for Model AS350 B, B1, B2, B3, BA, BB, D, and L1 helicopters 
and ASB No. AS355-52.00.26 for Model AS355 E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP 
helicopters, both Revision 0 and both dated July 9, 2012. The ASBs 
describe procedures to replace the nuts and lock-washers on the LH and 
RH sliding door lower ball-joint bolts with different part numbered 
nuts and lock-washers, to ``double lock'' the lower ball-joint bolts. 
Eurocopter designates the maintenance procedure and design change in 
its ASBs as modification AL.4262.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require removing from service each nut, P/N 
ASN52320BH060N, and each washer, P/N 23111AG0LE, within 165 hours time-
in-service (TIS) and replacing them with an airworthy nut and washer.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires replacing the lower ball-joint nut and washer 
within 165 flight hours or 13 calendar months, while this proposed AD 
would require replacing the affected lower ball joint nut and washer 
within 165 hours TIS. In addition, this proposed AD would not apply to 
the Model AS350BB as that helicopter is not type-certificated in the 
U.S., but it would apply to Models AS350C and AS350D1 because those 
models have a similar lower ball joint nut and washer.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 900 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per 
hour, replacing the nuts and washers on the sliding doors would require 
about 1 work-hour, and required parts costs would be minimal, for a 
cost per helicopter of $85 and a total cost to U.S. operators of 
$76,500.

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

[[Page 37156]]

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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

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

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2013-0523; Directorate Identifier 
2012-SW-091-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS350B, 
AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, 
AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters with 
sliding doors installed, except those with modification AL.4262, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as loss of the self-locking 
feature of the sliding door lower ball-joint nut. This condition 
could result in detachment of the lower ball-joint bolt from the 
sliding door and subsequent loss of the sliding door from the 
helicopter in flight.

(c) Reserved

(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

    (1) Within 165 hours time-in-service, remove each nut, part 
number (P/N) ASN52320BH060N, and each washer, P/N 23111AG0LE, from 
the left-hand and right-hand sliding door lower ball-joint bolts and 
replace them with an airworthy nut and washer.
    (2) Do not install a nut, P/N ASN52320BH060N, or washer, P/N 
23111AG0LE, on any sliding door lower ball-joint bolt.

(f) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(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, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 
Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 817-222-5110; 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 
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. AS350-52.00.34 
for Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, BB and D and L1 helicopters and 
ASB No. AS355-52.00.26 for Model AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP 
helicopters, both Revision 0 and both dated July 9, 2012, 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 the referenced 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. 2012-0205, dated October 1, 2012.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5200: Doors.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 13, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14703 Filed 6-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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