37154 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 119 / Thursday, June 20, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: 

Docket No. FAA–2013–0525; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–063–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model 206L, L–1, L–3, 

and L–4 helicopters with a main rotor (M/R) 

blade, part number (P/N) 206–015–001–115, 

–117, –119, or –121, with a serial number (S/ 

N) listed in Table 1 or 2 of Bell Helicopter 

Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L–09–163, 

dated November 13, 2009 (ASB), certificated 

in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

the manufacture of a M/R blade with an 

oversized spar spacer. This condition could 

result in failure of a M/R blade and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) 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. 

(d) Actions Required 

Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS): 

(1) For each M/R blade with a S/N listed 

in Table 1 of the ASB, measure the M/R blade 

spar spacer by following the 

Accomplishment Instructions, Part II A), 

paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 

spar spacer measures more than 1.018 inches 

(25.86 millimeters), reidentify the blade by 

following Part II A, paragraph 5.a. and Table 

3, of the ASB. 

(2) For each M/R blade with a S/N listed 

in Table 2 of the ASB, measure the M/R blade 

spar spacer by following the 

Accomplishment Instructions, Part II B, 

paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 

spar spacer measures more than 1.018 inches 

(25.86 millimeters), reidentify the blade by 

following Part II B, paragraph 5 and Table 4, 

of the ASB. 

(3) For each reidentified blade, reduce the 

life limit from 3,600 hours TIS to 2,300 hours 

TIS, and make an entry on the component 

history card or equivalent record. 

(4) Before further flight, remove any blade 

that exceeds the new retirement life of 2,300 

hours TIS. 

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Sharon Miles, 

Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137, telephone (817) 222–5110, email 

sharon.y.miles@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. 

(f) Additional Information 

The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada Civil Aviation AD CF– 

2011–41, dated November 10, 2011. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6210 Main Rotor Blades. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 13, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–14704 Filed 6–19–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

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). 

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 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 119 / Thursday, June 20, 2013 / Proposed Rules 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 lockwashers, 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 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

37156 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 119 / Thursday, June 20, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 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 balljoint 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 righthand 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 balljoint 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 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0524; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–084–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 adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, 

and EC225LP helicopters. This 

proposed AD would require visually 

inspecting each jettisonable emergency 

exit window panel (window) for sealant, 

and removing any sealant that exists in 

the window’s extruded sections. This 

proposed AD is prompted by jettison 

tests during routine maintenance 

inspections that showed the windows 

failed to jettison. The proposed actions 

are intended to prevent failure of the 

windows to jettison, so helicopter 

occupants can exit the aircraft during an 

emergency. 

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 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS