This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

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new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

4683 

Vol. 73, No. 18 

Monday, January 28, 2008 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–0043; Directorate 

Identifier 2007–SW–31–AD; Amendment 39– 

15340; AD 2008–02–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Model AS 355 F2 and AS 355 

N Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France Model AS 355 F2 

and AS 355 N helicopters. This AD 

results from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority to 

identify and correct an unsafe condition 

on an aviation product. The European 

Aviation Safety Agency, the Technical 

Agent for France, with which we have 

a bilateral agreement, states in the 

MCAI: 

This emergency Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) is issued following a report of yaw 

control restricted travel in operation 

following the replacement of the load 

compensator. If not corrected, this condition 

could lead to the loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

This AD requires actions that are 

intended to address this unsafe 

condition. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

February 12, 2008. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 67.00.29, Revision 1, dated 

April 27, 2007, as of February 12, 2008. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by March 28, 2008. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, 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 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed 

Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 

Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5355, 

fax (817) 222–5961. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Streamlined Issuance of AD 

The FAA is implementing a new 

process for streamlining the issuance of 

ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined 

process will allow us to adopt MCAI 

safety requirements in a more efficient 

manner and will reduce safety risks to 

the public. This process continues to 

follow all FAA AD issuance processes to 

meet legal, economic, Administrative 

Procedure Act, and Federal Register 

requirements. We also continue to meet 

our technical decision-making 

responsibilities to identify and correct 

unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated 

products. 

This AD references the MCAI and 

related service information that we 

considered in forming the engineering 

basis to correct the unsafe condition. 

The AD contains text copied from the 

MCAI and for this reason might not 

follow our plain language principles. 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2007–0131–E, 

dated May 11, 2007 (referred to after 

this as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for these French-certificated 

helicopters. The MCAI states: 

This emergency Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) is issued following a report of yaw 

control restricted travel in operation 

following the replacement of the load 

compensator. If not corrected, this condition 

could lead to the loss of control of the 

helicopter. Investigation revealed that the 

load compensator lever was incorrectly 

referenced in the Illustrated Parts Catalog 

(IPC). Levers on helicopters Post-MOD 

072065 (replacement of the load compensator 

hydraulic actuator) should be Part Number 

(P/N) 355A27–0082–00 and levers on 

helicopters Pre-MOD 072065 should be P/N 

355A27–0072–00. This AD mandates 

inspection to identify the load compensator 

lever and the hydraulic actuator assembly 

installed on helicopters, to verify their 

compatibility and replacement of improper 

P/Ns when an incompatibility is found. 

The installation of an incompatible load 

compensator lever in a Pre-Mod 072065 

helicopter may cause control travel 

restrictions while the installation of an 

incompatible load compensator lever in 

a Post-Mod 072065 helicopter may 

cause increased control loads in the yaw 

control pedals. You may obtain further 

information by examining the MCAI and 

service information in the AD docket. 

Relevant Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Emergency 

Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

67.00.29, Revision 1, dated April 27, 

2007. The actions described in the 

MCAI are intended to correct the same 

unsafe condition as that identified in 

the service information. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of France, and is 

approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with this State of Design 

Authority, we have been notified of the 

unsafe condition described in the MCAI 


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4684 Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 18 / Monday, January 28, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 

and service information. We are issuing 

this AD because we evaluated all 

pertinent information and determined 

the unsafe condition exists and is likely 

to exist or develop on other products of 

the same type design. 

Differences Between the AD and the 

MCAI or Service Information 

We have reviewed the MCAI and 

related service information and, in 

general, agree with their substance. 

However, the requirements of this AD 

must be accomplished within 10 hours 

TIS after the effective date of this AD. 

The MCAI requires accomplishment 

before next flight. Additionally, this AD 

requires that components with bore 

diameters outside the tolerances 

specified in the ASB be replaced with 

airworthy components with bore 

diameters within the specified 

tolerances instead of contacting the 

manufacturer for a ‘‘suitable repair 

solution.’’

These differences are highlighted in 

the ‘‘Differences Between the FAA AD 

and the MCAI’’ section in the AD. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD. The FAA has found that the risk to 

the flying public justifies waiving notice 

and comment prior to adoption of this 

rule because installation of an 

incompatible load compensator lever 

may result in restricted yaw control 

travel or increased control loads in the 

yaw control pedals and the 

incompatibility must be corrected 

within 10 hours TIS. Therefore, we 

determined that notice and opportunity 

for public comment before issuing this 

AD are impracticable and that good 

cause exists for making this amendment 

effective in fewer than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not precede it by notice and 

opportunity for public comment. We 

invite you to send any written relevant 

data, views, or arguments about this AD. 

Send your comments to an address 

listed under the ADDRESSES section. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2008–0043; 

Directorate Identifier 2007–SW–31–AD’’

at the beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

about 36 products of U.S. registry. We 

also estimate that it will take about .25 

work-hour to inspect the helicopter and 

10 work-hours to replace a load 

compensator lever, if needed. The 

average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. 

Required parts will cost about $1,161 for 

a load compensator lever, P/N 355A27–

0072–00, or $862 for a load compensator 

lever, P/N 355A27–0082–00. Based on 

these figures, we estimate the cost of 

this AD on U.S. operators to be $720 to 

inspect, or $20 per product, assuming 

no load compensation levers are 

replaced. 

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 AD will not 

have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. This AD will 

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 this AD: 

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 an economic evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this 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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

■ Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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 AD: 

2008–02–10 Eurocopter France: 

Amendment 39–15340. Docket No. 

FAA–2008–0043; Directorate Identifier 

2007–SW–31–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective February 12, 2008. 

Other Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Eurocopter Model 

AS 355 F2 and AS 355 N helicopters, all 

serial numbers, certificated in any category. 

Reason 

(d) The mandatory continued 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states: 

This emergency Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) is issued following a report of yaw 

control restricted travel in operation 

following the replacement of the load 

compensator. If not corrected, this condition 

could lead to the loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

Investigation revealed that the load 

compensator lever was incorrectly referenced 

in the Illustrated Parts Catalog (IPC). Levers 

on helicopters Post-MOD 072065 

(replacement of the load compensator 

hydraulic actuator) should be Part Number 

(P/N) 355A27–0082–00 and levers on 

helicopters Pre-MOD 072065 should be P/N 

355A27–0072–00. This AD mandates 

inspection to identify the load compensator 

lever and the hydraulic actuator assembly 

installed on helicopters, to verify their 

compatibility and replacement of improper 

P/Ns when an incompatibility is found. 

Actions and Compliance 

(e) Unless already done, do the following: 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 18 / Monday, January 28, 2008 / Rules and Regulations 4685 

(1) Within the next 10 hours time-inservice (TIS), determine the part number 

(P/N) and the compatibility of the load 

compensator lever (compensator level) and 

the hydraulic actuator assembly (hydraulic 

actuator) in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 

2.B.1. through 2.B.2.c. of Eurocopter AS 355 

Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 

67.00.29, Revision 1, April 27, 2007 (ASB). 

Note: Instead of inspecting the rotorcraft, a 

review of the helicopter maintenance records 

along with any other applicable data 

(rotorcraft logbook, components list, etc.) is 

acceptable if each P/N can be positively 

determined from that review. 

(2) For helicopters, Pre-Mod 072065, with 

an incompatible hydraulic actuator, P/N 

355A75–1370–01 or P/N 355A75–1370–03, 

and compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0082–

00: 

(i) If the helicopter has NOT been operated 

with compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0082–

00, installed, replace the compensator lever 

before further flight with an airworthy 

compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0072–00. 

(ii) If the helicopter has been operated with 

compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0082–00, 

installed, within the next 10 hours time-inservice (TIS): 

(A) Remove the load compensator 

assembly and the compensator lever, 

measure the diameters of the bores, inspect 

the swivel bearings, replace the specified 

hydraulic actuator components and the 

incompatible compensator lever and install 

the load compensator assembly in 

accordance with the applicable steps in the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

2.B.3.b. of the ASB. 

(B) If the diameter of a bore is greater than 

the tolerances specified in the applicable 

steps in the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 2.B.3.b., of the ASB, replace each 

part that contains an out-of-tolerance bore 

diameter with an airworthy part that contains 

a bore diameter that is within the specified 

tolerances. 

(3) For helicopters, Post-MOD 072065, with 

an incompatible hydraulic actuator, P/N 

355A75–1370–02 or P/N 355A75–1370–04, 

and compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0072–

00: 

(i) If the helicopter has NOT been operated 

with compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0072–

00, installed, replace the compensator lever 

before further flight with an airworthy 

compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0082–00. 

(ii) If the helicopter has been operated with 

compensator lever, P/N 355A27–0072–00, 

installed, within the next 10 hours TIS, 

replace the compensator lever with an 

airworthy compensator lever, P/N 355A27–

0082–00, and inspect the bolts in accordance 

with the applicable steps in the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

2.B.3.b.of the ASB. 

(f) No person shall install a: 

(1) Load compensator lever, P/N 355A27–

0082–00, on any Model AS 355 N or AS 355 

F2 helicopter Pre-MOD 072065, with 

hydraulic actuator assembly, P/N 355A75–

1370–01 or P/N 355A75–1370–03; or a 

(2) Load compensator lever, P/N 355A27–

0072–00, on any Model AS 355 N or AS 355 

F2 helicopter Post-MOD 072065, with 

hydraulic actuator assembly, P/N 355A75–

1370–02 or P/N 355A75–1370–04. 

Differences Between the FAA AD and the 

MCAI 

(g) The requirements of this AD must be 

accomplished within 10 hours TIS after the 

effective date of this AD. The MCAI requires 

accomplishment before next flight. 

Additionally, this AD requires that 

components with bore diameters outside the 

tolerances specified in the ASB be replaced 

with airworthy components with bore 

diameters within the specified tolerances 

instead of contacting the manufacturer for a 

‘‘suitable repair solution.’’

Subject 

(h) Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 6730, Rotorcraft Servo System. 

Other Information 

(i) The following provisions also apply to 

this AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send 

information to ATTN: Ed Cuevas, Aviation 

Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Safety Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5355, fax 

(817) 222–5961. 

(2) Airworthy Product: Use only FAAapproved corrective actions. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent) if the State of 

Design has an appropriate bilateral agreement 

with the United States. You are required to 

assure the product is airworthy before it is 

returned to service. 

(3) Reporting Requirements: For any 

reporting requirement in this AD, under the 

provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, 

the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) 

has approved the information collection 

requirements and has assigned OMB Control 

Number 2120–0056. 

Related Information 

(j) MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) Emergency Airworthiness Directive 

No. 2007–0131–E, dated May 11, 2007, 

contains related information. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(k) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin 

No. 67.00.29, Revision 1, dated April 27, 

2007, under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 

51. 

(l) For the Eurocopter service information 

identified in this AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, 

Grand Prairie, Texas 75053–4005, telephone 

(972) 641–3460, fax (972) 641–3527. 

(m) You may review copies of Eurocopter 

Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 

67.00.29, Revision 1, dated April 27, 2007, at 

the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas or at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, call 

(202) 741–6030, or go to: http:// 

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 

28, 2007. 

Mark R. Schilling, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E8–1019 Filed 1–25–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 95 

[Docket No. 30590; Amdt. No. 472] 

IFR Altitudes; Miscellaneous 

Amendments 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts 

miscellaneous amendments to the 

required IFR (instrument flight rules) 

altitudes and changeover points for 

certain Federal airways, jet routes, or 

direct routes for which a minimum or 

maximum en route authorized IFR 

altitude is prescribed. This regulatory 

action is needed because of changes 

occurring in the National Airspace 

System. These changes are designed to 

provide for the safe and efficient use of 

the navigable airspace under instrument 

conditions in the affected areas. 

DATES: Effective Date: 0901 UTC, 

February 14, 2008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Donald P. Pate, Flight Procedure 

Standards Branch (AMCAFS–420), 

Flight Technologies and Programs 

Division, Flight Standards Service, 

Federal Aviation Administration, Mike 

Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 

South MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, 

OK 73169 (Mail Address: P.O. Box 

25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125) 

telephone: (405) 954–4164. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

amendment to part 95 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 95) 

amends, suspends, or revokes IFR 

altitudes governing the operation of all 

aircraft in flight over a specified route 

or any portion of that route, as well as 

the changeover points (COPs) for 

Federal airways, jet routes, or direct 

routes as prescribed in part 95. 

The Rule 

The specified IFR altitudes, when 

used in conjunction with the prescribed 

changeover points for those routes, 


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