Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2013 / Proposed Rules 44043 

Registry and that labor costs average $85 

a work-hour. Based on these estimates, 

we expect the following costs: 

• Replacing a rod end assembly 

would require 1.5 work-hours for a labor 

cost of $128. Parts would cost $3,918 for 

a total cost of $4,046 per helicopter, 

$368,186 for the U.S. fleet. 

According to the manufacturer’s 

service information, costs of this 

proposed AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected individuals. We do 

not control warranty coverage by 

manufacturers. Accordingly, we have 

included all costs in our cost estimate. 

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 proposed 

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 

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): 

Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters (Type Certificate 

Currently Held By Agustawestland 

S.p.A) (AgustaWestland): Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0643; Directorate Identifier 

2012–SW–096–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to AgustaWestland Model 

A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII 

helicopters with a main rotor lag damper 

assembly (lag damper), part number (P/N) 

109–0112–39–103, 109–0112–39–105, 109– 

0112–05–105, or 109–0112–05–107, installed 

with a rod end assembly, P/N M004– 

01H007–041 or M004–01H007–045, with a 

serial number (S/N) 84 through 132, or 4964 

through 5011, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack in a rod end assembly, which could 

result in fracture of the rod end assembly, 

damage to the main rotor, 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) Required Actions 

(1) Within 25 hours time-in-service, 

remove the rod end assembly from service. 

(2) Do not install a rod end assembly, P/ 

N M004–01H007–041 or M004–01H007–045, 

with a S/N 84 through 132 or 4964 through 

5011, on any helicopter. 

(e) Special flight permit 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(f) 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. 

(g) Additional Information 

(1) AgustaWestland S.p.A. Helicopters 

Bollettino Tecnico No. 109S–49, No. 109SP– 

052, and No. 119–50, all dated October 3, 

2012, which are not incorporated by 

reference, contain additional information 

about the subject of this AD. For service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

AgustaWestland, Customer Support & 

Services, Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019 

Somma Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: 

Giovanni Cecchelli; telephone 39- 0331– 

711133; fax 39 0331 711180; or at http:// 

www.agustawestland.com/technicalbullettins. 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 AD No. 

2012–0208, dated October 5, 2012. You may 

view the EASA AD at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating it in Docket No. FAA–2013–0643. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6200, Main Rotor System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 17, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–17617 Filed 7–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0635; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–081–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 

EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD 


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44044 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

would require inspecting the 

swashplates for corrosion or a crack, 

and making the appropriate repairs or 

replacement of parts. This proposed AD 

is prompted by the discovery of 

corrosion on the swashplates when the 

main rotor hub (MRH) assemblies were 

reconditioned. The proposed actions are 

intended to detect corrosion or a crack 

in the swashplates, which could lead to 

failure of the swashplate and 

subsequent loss of helicopter control. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 23, 

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 

foreign authority’s 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: Gary 

Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Regulations and Policy Group, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@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– 

0131, dated July 31, 2012, to correct an 

unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model 

EC225LP helicopters. EASA advises that 

corrosion has been reported on the 

rotating and stationary swashplates of 

the MRH assembly of several 

helicopters. This condition may cause 

cracks on the swashplates, which may 

cause failure of MRH parts and loss of 

control of the helicopter. The EASA AD 

requires repetitive inspections of the 

affected swashplates after two years and 

replacing the MRH assembly if a crack 

is found. 

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 products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Eurocopter Alert Service 

Bulletin No. EC225–05A030, Revision 0, 

dated July 12, 2012 (ASB). The ASB 

states that while reconditioning the 

main rotor mast (MRM) assemblies, 

Eurocopter found corrosion on the 

rotating and stationary swashplates 

under the retaining flanges of the 

swashplate sub-assembly bearing. Over 

time, this corrosion could initiate a 

crack. The ASB specifies inspecting the 

MRM assembly for corrosion or a crack 

and replacing the MRM assembly if a 

crack or corrosion is found. The FAA 

and EASA use the term MRH assembly, 

while Eurocopter uses MRM assembly 

to describe the same section of the 

helicopter. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require: 

Within 110 hours time-in-service 

(TIS) or before the MRH assembly 

accumulates 1,320 hours TIS, whichever 

occurs later, and thereafter at intervals 

not to exceed 1,320 hours TIS, visually 

inspecting the rotating and stationary 

swashplates for corrosion or a crack. 

If a crack exists in the rotating or 

stationary swashplates, replacing the 

MRH assembly with an airworthy MRH. 

If corrosion exists without any visual 

indication of cracking, doing the 

following: Before further flight, 

installing a placard stating ‘‘NO FLIGHT 

IN OAT BELOW ¥30°C’’ in the full 

view of the pilots and inserting the same 

statement in the Limitations Section, 

Section 2.3 Flight Envelope, Item 2 

Temperature Limits, of the helicopter’s 

Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). 

Within 150 hours TIS or 6 months 

after the inspection when the corrosion 

was first detected, whichever occurs 

first, replacing the MRH assembly with 

an airworthy assembly, removing any 

placard that states ‘‘NO FLIGHT IN OAT 

BELOW ¥30°C’’ from the helicopter, 

and removing any related limitation 

from the RFM. 

Replacing an MRH assembly would 

not constitute terminating action for the 

repetitive inspections. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect three helicopters of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs would 

average $85 per work-hour. Based on 

these estimates, we expect the following 

costs: 

• Inspecting the rotating and 

stationary swashplates for corrosion or a 

crack would require 8 work-hours for a 

cost of $680 per helicopter and $2,040 

for the U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle. 

Making and installing the placard 


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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 141 / Tuesday, July 23, 2013 / Proposed Rules 44045 

would require 0.5 work-hour, for a cost 

of $43 per helicopter. The labor cost of 

installing paper in the flight manual 

would be negligible for a helicopter. 

• Replacing the MRH assembly would 

require 24 work-hours and parts would 

cost $5,000, for a total cost of $7,040 per 

helicopter. 

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 

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 HELICOPTERS 

(Eurocopter): Docket No. FAA–2013– 

0635; Directorate Identifier 2012–SW– 

081–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter Model 

EC225LP helicopters with a main rotor hub 

(MRH) assembly with a rotating swashplate, 

part number (P/N) 332A31–3074–00 or 

332A31–3076–00, and stationary swashplate, 

P/N 332A31–3079–00 or 332A31–3079–01, 

installed, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

corrosion or a crack in the stationary or 

rotating swashplate of the MRH assembly, 

which could lead to failure of the swashplate 

and subsequent loss of helicopter control. 

(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) Required Actions 

(1) Within 110 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

or before the MRH assembly accumulates 

1,320 hours TIS, whichever occurs later, and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,320 

hours TIS, visually inspect the rotating and 

stationary swashplates for corrosion or a 

crack by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2 and Figures 1 

through 3, of Eurocopter Alert Service 

Bulletin No. EC225–05A030, Revision 0, 

dated July 12, 2012 (ASB). 

(2) If a crack exists in the rotating or 

stationary swashplates, replace the MRH 

assembly with an airworthy MRH. 

(3) If corrosion exists without any visual 

indication of cracking, do the following: 

(i) Before further flight, install a placard 

stating ‘‘NO FLIGHT IN OAT BELOW ¥30 

°C’’ in the full view of the pilots and add the 

statement ‘‘NO FLIGHT IN OAT BELOW 

¥30 °C’’ to the Operating Limitations Section 

of the helicopter’s Rotorcraft Flight Manual 

(RFM) by making pen and ink changes or by 

inserting a copy of this AD in Section 2.3 

Flight Envelope, Item 2 Temperature Limits. 

(ii) Within 150 hours TIS or 6 months after 

the inspection when the corrosion was first 

detected, whichever occurs first, replace the 

MRH assembly with an airworthy assembly. 

Remove any placard that states ‘‘NO FLIGHT 

IN OAT BELOW ¥30 °C’’ from the helicopter 

and remove any related limitation from the 

RFM. 

(4) Replacement of an MRH assembly does 

not constitute terminating action for the 

repetitive inspections required by paragraph 

(d)(1) of this AD. 

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@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 the 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2012–0131, dated July 31, 2012. You may 

view a copy of the EASA AD in the AD 

Docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6230, Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 11, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–17628 Filed 7–22–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0636; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–065–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Sikorsky Model S–70, S–70A, and S– 

70C helicopters. This proposed AD 

would establish a new life limit based 


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