Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2012 / Proposed Rules 44511 

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 (Eurocopter): Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0795; Directorate Identifier 

2008–SW–53–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter Model 

AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters with a main 

rotor head (MRH), part number (P/N) 

332A31–0001–05 or P/N 332A31–0001–06, 

with a serial number (S/N) M172, M216, 

M261, M308, M547, M561, M677, M811, 

M859, M935, M936, M938, or M942 

installed; having less than 275 hours time-inservice (TIS) since the last overhaul of the 

MRH; certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

deterioration of the MRH swash-plate upper 

bearing (bearing), which could result in 

overloading the scissor links which drive the 

main rotor system, failure of the scissors 

links, 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 

Within 5 hours TIS: 

(1) Inspect the MRH bearing for a nonsmooth point (friction point) by rotating the 

MRH swash-plate and: 

(i) If there is a friction point in the bearing, 

before further flight, replace the MRH with 

an airworthy MRH. 

(ii) If there is not a friction point in the 

bearing, lubricate the MRH swash-plate and 

rotate it until grease is expelled; inspect the 

expelled grease for metal particles. 

(A) If there is a metal particle in the grease, 

before further flight, replace the MRH with 

an airworthy MRH. 

(B) If there is not a metal particle in the 

grease, measure the force required to rotate 

the MRH swash-plate using a spring scale 

attached to the pitch change rod attachment 

yokes. 

(1) If the force to rotate the MRH swashplate is equal to or greater than 5.5 kg, before 

further flight, replace the MRH with an 

airworthy MRH. 

(2) If the force to rotate the MRH swashplate is less than 5.5 kg, inspect the MRH 

swash-plate assembly for vertical play in the 

bearing. If there is vertical play in the 

bearing, before further flight, replace the 

MRH with an airworthy MRH. 

(2) Before installing an MRH, P/N 332A31– 

0001–05 or P/N 332A31–001–06, with S/N 

M172, M216, M261, M308, M547, M561, 

M677, M811, M859, M935, M936, M938, or 

M942 on any helicopter, inspect the MRH in 

accordance with paragraph (d)(1) 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, 

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 

(1) Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin, No. 62.00.73, Revision 0, dated 

September 8, 2008, which is not incorporated 

by reference, contains additional information 

about the subject of this AD. For this service 

information, contact American Eurocopter 

Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand 

Prairie, Texas 75053–4005; telephone (800) 

232–0323; or at http://www.eurocopter.com. 

You may review this 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 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(France) Emergency AD No. 2008–0172–E, 

dated September 9, 2008. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6400,Tail Rotor System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 20, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–18454 Filed 7–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0798; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–CE–023–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Alpha 

Aviation Concept Limited Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Alpha 

Aviation Concept Limited Model R2160 

Airplanes. This proposed AD results 

from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as possible installation of 

non-conforming air filter elements that 

are not fitted with metallic mesh and 

could internally collapse resulting in 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
44512 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

disruption of the powerplant operation. 

We are issuing this proposed AD to 

require actions to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 13, 

2012. 

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. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Alpha 

Aviation, 59 Hautapu Road, RD 1, 

Cambridge 3493, New Zealand; 

telephone: +64 7 827 0528; fax: +64 7 

929 2878; Internet: 

www.alphaaviation.co.nz. You may 

review copies of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Small Airplane 

Directorate, 901 Locust, Kansas City, 

Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (816) 329–4148. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 

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

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket 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: Karl 

Schletzbaum, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Small Airplane Directorate, 901 Locust, 

Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 64106; 

telephone: (816) 329–4146; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: 

karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0798; Directorate Identifier 

2012–CE–023–AD’’ at the beginning of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of this proposed AD. We will 

consider all comments received by the 

closing date and may amend this 

proposed AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

regulations.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), 

which is the aviation authority for New 

Zealand, has issued DCA/R2000/41, 

dated June 8, 2012 (referred to after this 

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

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: 

This emergency AD with the effective date 

11 June 2012 is prompted by a report from 

EASA of finding a non conforming air filter 

fitted to an overseas aircraft during 

maintenance. Investigation revealed that air 

filters with P/N 57.34.00.010 supplied by 

CEAPR between June 2009 and April 2012 

may not have the metallic mesh inside the 

filter. This AD mandates an inspection of air 

filters with P/N 57.34.00.010 to determine if 

a metallic mesh is fitted. 

Relevant Service Information 

Alpha Aviation has issued Service 

Bulletin AA–SB–71–006, dated May 

2012. The actions described in this 

service information are intended to 

correct the unsafe condition identified 

in the MCAI. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of the Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to our 

bilateral agreement with this State of 

Design Authority, they have notified us 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information 

referenced above. We are proposing this 

AD because we evaluated all 

information and determined the unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

will affect 10 products of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it would take 

about .5 work-hour per product to 

comply with the basic requirements of 

this proposed AD. The average labor 

rate is $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. 

operators to be $425, or 42.50 per 

product. 

In addition, we estimate that any 

necessary follow-on actions would take 

about .5 work-hour and require parts 

costing $100 for a cost of $142.50 per 

product. We have no way of 

determining the number of products 

that may need these actions. 

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 above, 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, 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. 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 146 / Monday, July 30, 2012 / Proposed Rules 44513 

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 AD: 

Alpha Aviation Concept Limited: Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0798; Directorate Identifier 

2012–CE–023–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by September 

13, 2012. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Alpha Aviation 

Concept Limited Model R2160 airplanes, all 

serial numbers, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 71, Power Plant. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

possible installation of non-conforming air 

filter elements that are not fitted with 

metallic mesh and could internally collapse 

resulting in disruption of the powerplant 

operation. We are issuing this proposed AD 

to inspect the air filter element and replace 

if applicable. 

(f) Actions and Compliance 

Unless already done, do the following 

actions following Alpha Aviation Service 

Bulletin AA–SB–71–006, dated May 2012: 

(1) Within the next 30 days time-in-service 

(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, 

inspect the air filter part number (P/N) 

57.34.00.010 to determine if it has been fitted 

with a perforated metal liner. 

(2) If, after the inspection required in 

paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, the air filter part 

number (P/N) 57.34.00.010 is found to 

include the perforated metal liner, no further 

action is required. 

(3) If, after the inspection required in 

paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, the air filter is 

found to not contain the perforated metal 

liner, before further flight, replace the air 

filter with a new air filter P/N 57.34.00.010 

that does contain the perforated metal liner. 

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

not install any air filter P/N 57.34.00.010 that 

does not have the perforated metal liner 

depicted in Alpha Aviation Service Bulletin 

AA–SB–71–006, dated May 2012. 

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Standards Office, 

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: Karl Schletzbaum, Aerospace 

Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 

901 Locust, Room 301, Kansas City, Missouri 

64106; telephone: (816) 329–4146; fax: (816) 

329–4090; email: karl.schletzbaum@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC on any 

airplane to which the AMOC applies, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector (PI) in 

the FAA Flight Standards District Office 

(FSDO), or lacking a PI, your local FSDO. 

(2) Airworthy Product: For any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer or other source, use these 

actions if they are FAA-approved. Corrective 

actions are considered FAA-approved if they 

are approved by the State of Design Authority 

(or their delegated agent). 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, a federal 

agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a 

person is not required to respond to, nor 

shall a person be subject to a penalty for 

failure to comply with a collection of 

information subject to the requirements of 

the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 

collection of information displays a current 

valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public reporting for 

this collection of information is estimated to 

be approximately 5 minutes per response, 

including the time for reviewing instructions, 

completing and reviewing the collection of 

information. All responses to this collection 

of information are mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden and 

suggestions for reducing the burden should 

be directed to the FAA at: 800 Independence 

Ave. SW., Washington, DC 20591, Attn: 

Information Collection Clearance Officer, 

AES–200. 

(h) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI DCA/R2000/41 issued by 

the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which is 

the aviation authority for New Zealand, dated 

June 8, 2012; and Alpha Aviation Service 

Bulletin AA–SB–71–006, dated May 2012, for 

related information. For service information 

related to this AD, contact Alpha Aviation, 

59 Hautapu Road, RD 1, Cambridge 3493, 

New Zealand; telephone: +64 7 827 0528; fax: 

+64 7 929 2878; Internet: 

www.alphaaviation.co.nz. You may review 

copies of the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 901 

Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on July 24, 

2012. 

James Jackson, 

Acting Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–18461 Filed 7–27–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0794; Directorate 

Identifier 2006–SW–04–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters. 

This proposed AD would require 

revising the Limitations section of the 

Rotorcraft flight Manual (RFM) to 

reduce the starter generator operating 

current to 180 amperes (amps) and 

installing a placard in the instrument 

panel indicating the revised limitation. 

This proposed AD is prompted by the 

determination that the manufacturerinstalled Aircraft Parts Corporation 

(APC) starter generator has exceeded the 

shaft horse power extractions allowed 

for Turbomeca engines. The proposed 

actions are intended to prevent the 

engine surge margin being reduced, 

which can result in engine failure. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 28, 

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. 

• 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 


srobinson on DSK4SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS