Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2012 / Proposed Rules 11787 

for the development of potential HID 

lamp energy conservation standards. At 

the public meeting, the Department will 

make a presentation, invite discussion 

on the rulemaking process as it applies 

to the covered products, and solicit 

comments, data, and information from 

participants and other interested parties. 

Participants can also attend the public 

meeting via webinar. Registration 

information, participant instructions, 

and information about the capabilities 

available to webinar participants will be 

published on the following Web site: 

https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/ 

221154352. Participants are responsible 

for ensuring their computer systems are 

compatible with the webinar software. 

The Department encourages those who 

wish to participate in the public 

meeting to obtain the framework 

document and to be prepared to discuss 

its contents. 

Public meeting participants need not 

limit their comments to the issues 

identified in the framework document. 

The Department is also interested in 

receiving views concerning other 

relevant issues that participants believe 

would affect energy conservation 

standards for this equipment or that 

DOE should address in the NOPR. 

Furthermore, the Department welcomes 

all interested parties, regardless of 

whether they participate in the public 

meeting, to submit in writing by the 

date specified in the DATES section, 

comments and information on matters 

addressed in the framework document 

and on other matters relevant to 

consideration of standards for HID 

lamps. At this time, DOE is tentatively 

considering setting standards based on 

the information included in the 

framework document. DOE will 

consider modifications to its approach 

based on the data and comments 

received in response to the framework 

document and public meeting. 

The public meeting will be conducted 

in an informal, facilitated, conference 

style. There shall be no discussion of 

proprietary information, costs or prices, 

company market shares, or other 

commercial matters regulated by U.S. 

antitrust laws. A court reporter will 

record the proceedings of the public 

meeting, after which a transcript will be 

made available on DOE’s Web site at 

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/ 

appliance_standards/commercial/ 

high_intensity_discharge_lamps.html. 

After the public meeting and the close 

of the comment period on the 

framework document, DOE will collect 

data, conduct the analyses as discussed 

in the framework document and at the 

public meeting, and review the 

comments received. 

DOE considers public participation to 

be a very important part of the process 

for setting energy conservation 

standards. DOE actively encourages the 

participation and interaction of the 

public during the comment period in 

each stage of the rulemaking process. 

Beginning with the framework 

document, and during each subsequent 

public meeting and comment period, 

interactions with and between members 

of the public provide a balanced 

discussion of the issues to assist DOE in 

the standards rulemaking process. 

Accordingly, anyone who would like to 

participate in the public meeting, 

receive meeting materials, or be added 

to the DOE mailing list to receive future 

notices and information regarding this 

rulemaking on HID lamps should 

contact Ms. Brenda Edwards at (202) 

586–2945, or via email at: 

Brenda.Edwards@ee.doe.gov. 

Issued in Washington, DC, on February 21, 

2012. 

Kathleen B. Hogan, 

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy 

Efficiency, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 

Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2012–4639 Filed 2–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0177; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–59–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 Model EC155B and 

EC155B1 helicopters with a VIP 4-seat 

bench. This proposed AD is prompted 

by the determination that the load 

strength of the seat attachment hardware 

of the seat installation does not meet 

certification specifications. The 

proposed actions are intended to 

prevent overloading of the seat structure 

at the attachment point during a hard 

landing or emergency landing, which 

could result in the VIP 4-seat bench 

detaching from the floor and subsequent 

injury to the seat occupants. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 30, 2012. 

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 a copy of 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, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone: (817) 222–5130; fax: 

(817) 222–5961, 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 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

11788 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

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 AD No. 2009–0078R1, 

dated June 30, 2009 (AD No. 2009– 

0078R1), which supersedes Emergency 

AD No. 2009–0078–E, dated April 1, 

2009 (AD No. 2009–0078–E), to correct 

an unsafe condition for the Eurocopter 

model EC155B and EC155B1, all serial 

numbers up to and including 6892, 

fitted with a VIP 4-seat bench, part 

number (P/N) 365V85–0045–01 or 

365V85–0046–01. EASA advises that 

Eurocopter identified an unsafe 

condition while performing 

customization work that involved the 

installation of the VIP 4-seat bench. 

During the installation work, Eurocopter 

determined that the load strength of the 

seat attachment hardware of the seat 

installation did not meet certification 

specifications. EASA advises that this 

condition, if not corrected, would lead 

to overloading of the seat structure at 

the attachment point during an 

emergency landing, which could result 

in the seat bench detaching from the 

floor fitting rails and potentially 

resulting in injury to the seat occupants. 

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 

their AD. We are proposing this AD 

because we evaluated all information 

provided by EASA and determined the 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other products of 

these same type designs. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Emergency 

Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

04A009, Revision 1, dated June 24, 2009 

(Emergency ASB No. 04A009R1) which 

revises Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 04A009, Revision 0, dated 

March 30, 2009 (Emergency ASB No. 

04A009R0). Emergency ASB No. 

04A009R0 specified revising the RFM to 

restrict the VIP 4-seat bench to a 

maximum of 3 occupants. It also 

specified converting the VIP 4-seat 

bench into a 3-seat bench at ‘‘the next 

flight-related inspection scheduled at 15 

hours or 7 days,’’ whichever occurred 

first. EASA classified Emergency ASB 

No. 04A009R0 as mandatory to ensure 

the continued airworthiness of these 

helicopters and issued EASA 

Emergency AD No. 2009–0078–E. 

Eurocopter has now developed 

optional terminating action. Eurocopter 

issued ASB No. 25–095, dated June 25, 

2009 (ASB No. 25–095) that specifies 

installing new shims between the 

attachment rails and the cabin floor at 

the seat position to strengthen the 

attachment security of the seat using a 

rear VIP bench seat retrofit kit, P/N 

365V08–0079–0171, or front VIP bench 

seat retrofit kit, P/N 365V08–0079–0271. 

Eurocopter also issued Emergency ASB 

No. 04A009R1, which retained the 

requirements of Emergency ASB No. 

04A009R0, and also specified that 

helicopters equipped with the bench 

modification kits in accordance with 

ASB No. 25–095 had met the 

requirements of Emergency ASB No. 

04A009R1. In response, EASA issued 

AD No. 2009–0078R1, which retained 

the requirements of Emergency AD No. 

2009–0078–E, and added the optional 

terminating action of modifying the seat 

configuration to strengthen the 

attachment security of the seat using the 

bench modification kit. EASA also 

stated that after installing the bench 

modification kit, you could remove the 

RFM limitation of 3 occupants and 

reconfigure the 3-seat bench to a 4-seat 

bench. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require the 

following actions: 

• Before further flight, revise the 

Limitations section of the RFM by 

inserting the following statement into 

the Limitations section: ‘‘The VIP 4-seat 

bench, P/N 365V85–0045–01 or 

365V85–0046–01, is limited to 3 

passengers.’’ The change to the 

Limitations section of the RFM may be 

made in pen and ink, or by inserting a 

copy of the AD into the Limitations 

section of the RFM. 

• Within the next 15 hours time-inservice (TIS), convert the VIP 4-seat 

bench into a 3-seat configuration. 

• Instead of revising the Limitations 

section of the RFM and converting the 

VIP 4-seat bench into a 3-seat 

configuration, you may modify the rear 

VIP 4-seat bench by installing the shims 

contained in kit P/N 365V08–0079–0171 

(which corresponds to modification 

365V08–0079–01), or the front VIP 4- 

seat bench by installing the shims 

contained in kit P/N 365V08–0079–0271 

(which corresponds to modification 

365V08–0079–02). This action 

constitutes terminating action for the 

requirements of this proposed AD. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

This proposed AD specifies that the 

conversion of the VIP 4-seat bench to a 

3-seat bench must occur within 15 

hours TIS, while the EASA AD specifies 

that compliance must occur within 15 

hours TIS or 7 days, whichever occurs 

first. This proposed AD uses different 

P/Ns for the bench modification kits, 

because AD No. 2009–0078R1 and ASB 

No. 25–095 use different P/Ns for the 

same part, and this proposed AD uses 

the P/N in ASB No. 25–095. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 4 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. We estimate that it would take 

a negligible amount of work hours per 

helicopter to amend the Limitation 

section of the applicable RFM. We 

estimate it would take approximately 

0.25 hour to convert the VIP 4-seat 

bench to a 3-seat bench at an average 

labor rate of $85 per work hour. 

Estimated labor costs for the conversion 

are approximately $21.25 per helicopter, 

and approximately $85 for the fleet. 

Based on these figures, we estimate the 

total cost impact of the proposed AD on 

U.S. operators to be $85, assuming that 

no helicopter has been previously 

modified with the rear VIP bench seat 

retrofit kit P/N 365V08–0079–0171 and 

the front VIP bench seat retrofit kit 

P/N 365V08–0079–0271. 

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 

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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 39 / Tuesday, February 28, 2012 / Proposed Rules 11789 

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: Docket No. FAA– 

2012–0177; Directorate Identifier 2009– 

SW–59–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model EC155B and 

EC155B1 helicopters, all serial numbers up to 

and including 6892, with a VIP 4-seat bench, 

part number (P/N) 365V85–0045–01 or 

365V85–0046–01, installed; certificated in 

any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

possible overloading of the seat structure at 

the attachment point during a hard landing 

or emergency landing. This condition could 

result in the bench seat detaching from the 

floor and subsequent injury to the seat 

occupants. 

(c) Compliance 

You are responsible for performing each 

action required by this AD within the 

specified compliance time unless 

accomplished previously. 

(d) Required Actions 

(i) Before further flight, revise the 

Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight 

Manual (RFM) by inserting the following 

statement into the Limitations section: ‘‘The 

VIP 4-seat bench, P/N 365V85–0045–01 or 

365V85–0046–01 is limited to 3 passengers.’’ 

You may make the change to the Limitations 

section of the RFM in pen and ink, or by 

inserting a copy of this AD into the 

Limitations section of the RFM. 

(ii) Within the next 15 hours time-inservice, convert the VIP 4-seat bench into the 

3-seat configuration in accordance with 

paragraphs 2.B.1 through 2.B.3 and Figure 1 

of Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 04A009, Revision 1, dated June 

24, 2009. 

(iii) Instead of complying with paragraphs 

(d)(i) and (d)(ii) of this AD, you may modify 

the rear VIP 4-seat bench by installing the 

shims contained in rear VIP bench seat 

retrofit kit, P/N 365V08–0079–0171 (which 

corresponds to modification 365V08–0079– 

01), or the front VIP 4-seat bench by 

installing the shims contained in front VIP 

bench seat retrofit kit, P/N 365V08–0079– 

0271 (which corresponds to modification 

365V08–0079–02), in accordance with the 

Operational Procedure, paragraph 2.B. of the 

Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 25– 

095, dated June 25, 2009. Modifying the VIP 

4-seat bench constitutes terminating action 

for the requirements of this AD. 

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOC) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, 

Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Regulations and 

Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222– 

5130; fax: (817) 222–5961, email 

gary.b.roach@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a Part 

119 operating certificate or under 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 

European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 

2009–0078R1, dated June 30, 2009. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2500: Cabin Equipment/Furnishings. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 

10, 2012. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–4606 Filed 2–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0186; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–268–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 737–600, 

–700, –700C, –800, –900, and –900ER 

series airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports of flight crew 

failure to activate air data probe heat. 

This proposed AD would require 

modifying the anti-icing system for the 

angle of attack sensor, the total air 

temperature, and the pitot probes. We 

are proposing this AD to prevent ice 

from forming on air data system sensors 

and consequent loss of or misleading 

airspeed indication on all airspeed 

indicating systems, which could lead to 

loss of control of the airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 13, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, 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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS