Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 178 / Monday, September 15, 2014 / Proposed Rules 54925 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 22, 

2014. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–21919 Filed 9–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0646; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–SW–053–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters, Inc. (Previously 

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 Airbus 

Helicopters, Inc. (previously Eurocopter 

France) Model AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, and AS355F2 helicopters 

with a Fueltron flowmeter installed. 

This proposed AD would require 

removing each flowmeter, replacing the 

fuel system hoses, and disabling the 

electrical connections for the flowmeter 

installation. This proposed AD is 

prompted by a report of particle 

contamination creating an obstruction 

in a flowmeter which resulted in an 

uncontrolled flame-out of the engine. 

The proposed actions are intended to 

prevent obstruction of the fuel supply to 

the flowmeter, which could result in 

engine flame-out and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 14, 

2014. 

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 

European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) 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 Airbus 

Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, 

Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone 

(972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323; fax 

(972) 641–3775; or at http://

www.airbushelicopters.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: 

James Blyn, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

james.blyn@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 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2013– 

0205, dated September 9, 2013, to 

correct an unsafe condition for 

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters, 

Inc.) Model AS355 E, AS355 F, AS355 

F1, and AS355 F2 helicopters with 

modification 350A070791 (installation 

of the Fueltron flowmeter), except 

helicopters with modification 

355A085801 (removal of the Fueltron 

flowmeter). EASA advises that, after 

landing, an AS355 helicopter 

experienced an uncontrolled flame-out 

of the No. 1 engine. Following an 

analysis, EASA states that particle 

contamination in the fuel had 

obstructed the Fueltron flowmeter 

because the cross-section areas of the 

passages in the flowmeter are smaller 

than the mesh in the upstream fuel 

pump strainer, allowing particles to 

pass through the strainer and into the 

flowmeter. EASA further states that the 

flowmeter installation is identical on 

both engines, and that this condition 

could lead to flame-out of both engines 

in flight, possibly resulting in reduced 

control of the helicopter. EASA AD No. 

2013–0205 requires removing the 

flowmeter from each engine, modifying 

the fuel line system with a new fuel line 

part number (P/N) 704A34–416–029 for 

the left-hand (LH) engine and P/N 

704A34–416–030 for the right-hand 

(RH) engine, removing the flowmeter 

indicator, and disabling the flowmeter 

electrical connections. 

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. AS355–28.00.20, 

Revision 0, dated June 6, 2013, for 

Model AS355 E, AS355 F, AS355 F1, 

and AS355 F2 helicopters, which 

describes procedures for removing and 

disabling the Fueltron flowmeter 

installation. The ASB corresponds to 

Eurocopter modification 355A085801. 


rmajette on DSK2TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
54926 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 178 / Monday, September 15, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 750 hours time-in-service, 

removing the flowmeter from each 

engine, replacing the fuel line with 

P/N 704A34–416–029 for the LH engine 

and P/N 704A34–416–030 for the RH 

engine, removing the flowmeter 

indicator, and disabling the flowmeter 

electrical connections by complying 

with certain procedures in ASB No. 

AS355–28.00.20. 

Interim Action 

We consider this proposed AD to be 

an interim action. The design approval 

holder is currently developing a 

modification that will address the 

unsafe condition identified in this AD. 

Once this modification is developed, 

approved, and available, we might 

consider additional rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 47 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. We estimate that operators 

would incur the following costs in order 

to comply with this AD. At an average 

labor rate of $85 per work-hour, 

removing the flowmeter installation 

would require about 4 work-hours, and 

required parts would cost $1,600, for a 

cost per helicopter of $1,940 and a total 

cost of $91,180 for the fleet. 

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): 

Airbus Helicopters, Inc. (Previously 

Eurocopter France) Helicopters: Docket 

No. FAA–2014–0646; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–SW–053–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters, Inc. 

Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, and 

AS355F2 helicopters, certificated in any 

category, with a Fueltron flowmeter part 

number (P/N) 704A37–670–001 installed. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

obstruction of the fuel supply to the 

flowmeter, which could result in engine 

shutdown and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

14, 2014. 

(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 750 hours time-in-service: 

(i) Remove each flowmeter. 

(ii) Remove each left-hand hose, P/N 

704A34.4160.31, and install hose, P/N 

704A34–416–029, as depicted in Figures 1 

and 2 of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin 

No. AS355–28.00.20, Revision 0, dated June 

6, 2013 (ASB AS355–28.00.20). 

(iii) Remove each right-hand hose, P/N 

704A34.4160.32, and install hose, P/N 

704A34–416–030, as depicted in Figures 1 

and 2 of ASB AS355–28.00.20. 

(iv) Remove each flowmeter indicator and 

disable the flowmeter wiring as described in 

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.B.2.b., of ASB AS355–28.00.20. 

(2) After the effective date of this AD, do 

not install a flowmeter, P/N 704A37–670– 

001, on any helicopter. 

(f) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Regulations and Policy 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: James Blyn, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

james.blyn@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 

The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

2013–0205, dated September 9, 2013. You 

may view the EASA AD on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2014–0646. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 7333: Fuel Flow Sensor. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 

2, 2014. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–21921 Filed 9–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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