28458 Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 97 / Monday, May 21, 2007 / Proposed Rules 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 7, 

2007. 

David A. Downey, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–9708 Filed 5–18–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–28228; Directorate 

Identifier 2006–SW–08–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Model EC130 B4 Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This amendment proposes 

adopting a new airworthiness directive 

(AD) for Eurocopter France (ECF) Model 

EC130 B4 helicopters. This proposal 

would require, within 100 hours timein-service (TIS), modifying and testing 

the wiring of the battery overheat 

sensing circuit. This proposal is 

prompted by a malfunction in the 

battery overheat sensing circuit found 

during a scheduled inspection. The 

actions specified by this proposed AD 

are intended to correct the connection of 

the thermal switch to the cockpit 

indicator light, to notify the flight crew 

of an overheated battery, and to prevent 

a thermal runaway of the battery, an inflight fire, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before July 20, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD: 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically; 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically; 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590; 

• Fax: 202–493–2251; or 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

You may get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD from 

American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 

75053–4005, telephone (972) 641–3460, 

fax (972) 641–3527. 

You may examine the comments to 

this proposed AD in the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary 

Middleton, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations 

and Policy Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5197, 

fax (817) 222–5961. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any written 

data, views, or arguments regarding this 

proposed AD. Send your comments to 

the address listed under the caption 

ADDRESSES. Include the docket number 

‘‘FAA–2007–28228, Directorate 

Identifier 2006–SW–08–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and may amend the proposed AD in 

light of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed 

rulemaking. Using the search function 

of our docket Web site, you can find and 

read the comments to any of our 

dockets, including the name of the 

individual who sent or signed the 

comment. You may review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78), or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the docket that 

contains the proposed AD, any 

comments, and other information in 

person at the Docket Management 

System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The 

Docket Office (telephone 1–800–647–

5227) is located at the plaza level of the 

Department of Transportation Nassif 

Building in Room PL–401 at 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after the DMS receives 

them. 

Discussion 

The Direction Generale De L’Aviation 

Civile (DGAC), the airworthiness 

authority for France, notified the FAA 

that an unsafe condition may exist on 

ECF Model EC130 B4 helicopters. The 

DGAC advises that a malfunction of the 

battery overheat sensing function, due 

to incorrect wiring of the battery 

overheat sensing circuit, was found 

during a scheduled maintenance. The 

DGAC also advises that failure of the 

battery overheat sensing function to 

operate could give rise to a fire in the 

event of thermal runaway of the battery. 

ECF has issued Alert Telex No. 

24A001, dated December 20, 2005 (AT). 

The AT specifies modifying and testing 

the battery overheat sensing circuit 

(MOD 073572) for batteries located in 

the right-hand side baggage 

compartment (not modified per OP–

3685 or 073739) and for batteries in the 

tailboom (modified per OP–3685 or 

073739). The DGAC classified this AT 

as mandatory and issued AD No. F–

2006–010, dated January 4, 2006, to 

ensure the continued airworthiness of 

these helicopters in France. 

This helicopter model is 

manufactured in France and is 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, the DGAC has kept 

us informed of the situation described 

above. We have examined the findings 

of the DGAC, reviewed all available 

information, and determined that AD 

action is necessary for products of this 

type design that are certificated for 

operation in the United States. 

This previously described unsafe 

condition is likely to exist or develop on 

other helicopters of the same type 

design registered in the United States. 

Therefore, the proposed AD would 

require, within 100 hours TIS, 

modifying and testing the wiring of the 

battery overheat sensing circuit. The 

actions of this AD would be required to 

be accomplished by following the 

specified portions of the alert telex 

described previously. 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 68 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. Modifying and testing the 

overheat sensing circuit wiring would 

take about 1 work hour per helicopter at 

an average labor rate of $80 per work 

hour. Based on these figures, we 

estimate the total cost impact of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators to be 

$5440. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 


cprice-sewell on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 97 / Monday, May 21, 2007 / Proposed Rules 28459 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. Additionally, 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 above, I 

certify that the 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); and 

3. 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 a draft economic 

evaluation of the estimated costs to 

comply with this proposed AD. See the 

DMS to examine the draft economic 

evaluation. 

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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, pursuant to the 

authority delegated to me by the 

Administrator, the Federal Aviation 

Administration proposes to amend 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 

adding a new airworthiness directive to 

read as follows: 

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA–2007–

28228; Directorate Identifier 2006–SW–

08–AD. 

Applicability: Model EC130 B4 helicopters 

not modified per MOD 073572, with the 

battery in either the right-hand baggage 

compartment or the tailboom, certificated in 

any category. 

Compliance: Required within 110 hours 

time-in-service, unless accomplished 

previously. 

To correct the connection of the thermal 

switch to the cockpit indicator light, to notify 

the flight crew of an overheated battery, and 

to prevent a thermal runaway of the battery, 

an in-flight fire, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter, do the following: 

(a) Modify the wiring of the battery 

overheat sensing circuit and test the battery 

overheat sensing indicator light by following 

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

2.B.1. or 2.B.2., depending on the location of 

the battery, of Eurocopter Alert Telex No. 

24A001, dated December 20, 2005. 

(b) Modifying and testing the battery 

overheat sensing circuit by following 

paragraph (a) of this AD is terminating action 

for the requirements of this AD. 

(c) To request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 

39.19. Contact the Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, FAA, ATTN: Gary Middleton, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Fort Worth, Texas 76193–0111, 

telephone (817) 222–5197, fax (817) 222–

5961, for information about previously 

approved alternative methods of compliance. 

Note: The subject of this AD is addressed 

in Direction Generale De L’Aviation Civile 

(France) AD No. F–2006–010, dated January 

4, 2006. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 

2007. 

Scott A. Horn, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E7–9695 Filed 5–18–07; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2007–27230; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–NE–04–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney (PW) PW4164, PW4168, and 

PW4168A Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

PW PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A 

turbofan engines with certain low 

pressure turbine (LPT) stage 4 disks, 

part number (P/N) 51N404, installed. 

This proposed AD would require 

removing certain LPT stage 4 disks, 

listed by serial number at the next 

piece-part exposure or within 7,500 

cycles-since-new (CSN), whichever 

occurs first. This proposed AD results 

from a report of improperly 

manufactured LPT stage 4 disks. We are 

proposing this AD to prevent an 

uncontained engine failure due to lowcycle fatigue (LCF), which could result 

in damage to the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive any comments 

on this proposed AD by July 20, 2007. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to comment on this proposed 

AD. 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

0001. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

You may examine the comments on 

this proposed AD in the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: V. 

Rose Len, Aerospace Engineer, Engine 

Certification Office, FAA, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 

telephone (781) 238–7772; fax (781) 

238–7199. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send us any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments 

regarding this proposal. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–

2007–27230; Directorate Identifier 

2007–NE–04–AD’’ in the subject line of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 


cprice-sewell on PROD1PC71 with PROPOSALS