Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Proposed Rules 40947 

called Model A300–600 series airplanes): 

Incorporate ‘‘Sub-part 1–2: Life Limits,’’ and 

‘‘Sub-part 1–3: Demonstrated Fatigue Lives’’ 

of Part 1, ‘‘Safe Life Airworthiness Limitation 

Items,’’ Revision 01, dated September 5, 

2013, of the Airbus A300–600 ALS. 

(3) For Model A310 series airplanes: 

Incorporate ‘‘Sub-part 1–2: Life Limits,’’ and 

‘‘Sub-part 1–3: Demonstrated Fatigue Lives’’ 

of Part 1, ‘‘Safe Life Airworthiness Limitation 

Items,’’ dated Revision 01, September 5, 

2013, of the Airbus A310 ALS. 

(k) New Limitation: No Alternative Actions 

or Intervals 

After accomplishment of the revision 

required by paragraph (j) of this AD, no 

alternative actions (e.g., inspections) or 

intervals may be used unless the actions or 

intervals are approved as an alternative 

method of compliance (AMOC) in 

accordance with the procedures specified in 

paragraph (l) of this AD. 

(l) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, International 

Branch, ANM–116, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the International Branch, send it to ATTN: 

Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356; 

telephone 425–227–2125; fax 425–227–1149. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ANM-116- 

AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. Before using 

any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the local flight 

standards district office/certificate holding 

district office. The AMOC approval letter 

must specifically reference this AD. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: As of the 

effective date of this AD, for any requirement 

in this AD to obtain corrective actions from 

a manufacturer, the action must be 

accomplished using a method approved by 

the Manager, International Branch, ANM– 

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA); or Airbus’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2013–0248, dated 

October 14, 2013, for related information. 

This MCAI may be found in the AD docket 

on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2015–2461. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus SAS, Airworthiness 

Office—EAL, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 45 80; email 

airworthiness.A330-A340@airbus.com; 

Internet http://www.airbus.com. You may 

view this service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind 

Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 25, 

2015. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–17201 Filed 7–13–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–2714; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–SW–052–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 Model AS332C1, AS332L1, 

AS332L2, EC225LP, AS–365N2, AS 365 

N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters 

with an energy absorbing seat (seat). 

This proposed AD would require 

inspecting for the presence of labels that 

prohibit stowing anything under the 

seat. If a label is missing or not clearly 

visible to each occupant, installing a 

label would be required. This proposed 

AD is prompted by the discovery that 

required labels had not been 

systematically installed. The proposed 

actions are intended to prevent objects 

from being stowed under the seat as 

these objects could reduce the energyabsorbing function of the seat, resulting 

in injury to the seat occupants during an 

accident. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 14, 

2015. 

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, 

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: 

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. 

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 


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40948 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

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, issued EASA AD No. 2014–0204, 

dated September 11, 2014, followed by 

a correction dated September 12, 2014, 

to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus 

Helicopters Model AS332C1, AS332L1, 

AS332L2, EC225LP, AS–365N2, AS 365 

N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. 

EASA advises that during certification 

of an energy absorbing seat with a new 

part number, it was observed that the 

label that requires keeping the space 

under the seat free of any object was not 

systematically installed in a helicopter. 

EASA states that this condition, if not 

corrected, could prompt occupants to 

stow objects under an energy absorbing 

seat, which would reduce the 

effectiveness of the seat and the 

occupants’ chance of surviving an 

accident. The EASA AD consequently 

requires a one-time inspection for the 

presence of labels and, if they are 

missing or unreadable, making and 

installing labels prohibiting the placing 

of an object under an energy absorbing 

seat. 

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 Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Airbus Helicopters issued Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS332– 

01.00.85 for Model AS332C1, AS332L1, 

AS332L2 helicopters; ASB No. AS365– 

01.00.66 for Model AS–365N2 and AS 

365 N3 helicopters; ASB No. EC155– 

04A013 for EC 155B and EC155B1 

helicopters; and ASB No. EC225– 

04A012 for Model EC225LP helicopters. 

All ASBs are Revision 0 and dated 

August 26, 2014. The ASBs state that 

during certification of an energy 

absorbing seat with a new part number, 

it was observed that the label, which 

indicates that the space under the seats 

must remain free of objects, was not 

systematically installed. Objects stowed 

under these seats reduce the energy 

absorbing function and thus jeopardize 

the occupant’s survival in the event of 

a crash, the ASBs state. Pending a 

definitive solution, Airbus Helicopters 

calls for affixing a label that states that 

nothing can be stored under the seats. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in the ADDRESSES section of 

this proposed AD. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

Within 110 hours time in service this 

proposed AD would require: 

• For Model AS332C1, AS332L1, 

AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters: 

Inspecting the cabin and cockpit for 

labels, placards, or markings that 

prohibit stowing anything under the 

seats. If a label, placard, or marking is 

not located in every required location or 

is not visible and legible to every 

occupant, before further flight, installing 

a placard. 

• For Model AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, 

EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters: 

Inspecting each seat leg in the cabin and 

cockpit for labels, placards, or markings 

that prohibit stowing anything under 

the seats. If a label, placard, or marking 

does not exist on one leg of each seat or 

is not visible and legible, before further 

flight, installing a placard. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 52 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs average $85 

a work-hour. Based on these estimates, 

we expect that the inspection for the 

presence of a label would take a quarter 

work hour for a labor cost of about $21. 

The cost of parts and time for installing 

a label would be minimal, for a total 

cost of $21 per helicopter and $1,092 for 

the U.S. 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 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: Docket No. FAA– 

2015–2714; Directorate Identifier 2014– 

SW–052–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS332C1, AS332L1, AS332L2, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 134 / Tuesday, July 14, 2015 / Proposed Rules 40949 

EC225LP, AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, 

and EC155B1 helicopters with an energy 

absorbing seat (seat) listed in Figure 1 to 

paragraph (a) of this AD, certificated in any 

category. 

FIGURE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (a) 

Seat manufacturer Seat type Generic part number 

Fischer + Entwicklungen ............................................. H110 .............................................. 9606-( )-()-( ) 

H140 .............................................. 0520-( )-( )-( ) 

H160 .............................................. 0718-( )-( )-( )-( ) 

185/410 .......................................... 9507-( )-( )-( ) 

236/406 .......................................... 9608-( )-( )-( ) 

SICMA Aero Seat or Zodiac Seats France ................ Sicma 192 ...................................... 192xx-xx-xx 

Sicma 159 ...................................... 1591718-xx 

159110 

Socea Sogerma .......................................................... ST102 ............................................ 2510102-xx-xx 

ST107 ............................................ 2010107-xx-xx 

ST120 ............................................ 2520120-xx 

Note 1 to Figure 1 to paragraph (a) of this 

AD: ‘‘xx’’ can be any two alphanumeric 

characters and ‘‘( )’’ can be any number of 

alphanumeric characters. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as an 

object stowed under an energy-absorbing 

seat. This condition could reduce the 

efficiency of the energy-absorbing function of 

the seat, resulting in injury to the seat 

occupants during an accident. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by September 

14, 2015. 

(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 

Within 110 hours time in service: 

(1) For Model AS332C1, AS332L1, 

AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters: 

(i) Inspect the cabin and cockpit for labels, 

placards, or markings that prohibit stowing 

anything under the seats in the locations 

shown in the figure in the Appendix of 

Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

AS332–01.00.85 (ASB AS332–01.00.85) or 

No. EC225–04A012 (ASB EC225–04A012), 

both Revision 0 and dated August 26, 2014, 

as applicable for your model helicopter. 

(ii) If a label, placard, or marking is not 

located in every location depicted in the 

figure in the Appendix or is not visible and 

legible to every occupant, before further 

flight, install a placard in accordance with 

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.B., of ASB AS332–01.00.85 or ASB EC225– 

04A012, as applicable for your model 

helicopter. 

(2) For Model AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 

155B, and EC155B1 helicopters: 

(i) Inspect each seat leg in the cabin and 

cockpit for labels, placards, or markings that 

prohibit stowing anything under the seats. 

(ii) If a label, placard, or marking does not 

exist on one leg of each seat or is not visible 

and legible, before further flight, install a 

placard in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.B., and the Appendix of Airbus Helicopters 

Alert Service Bulletin No. AS365–01.00.66 or 

No. EC155–04A013, both Revision 0 and 

dated August 26, 2014, as applicable for your 

model helicopter. 

(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 

The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2014–0204, dated September 11, 2014, 

and corrected September 12, 2014. You may 

view the EASA AD on the Internet at 

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

FAA–2015–2714. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 1100, Placards and Markings. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 2, 

2015. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–16940 Filed 7–13–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–2775; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–CE–021–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; PILATUS 

AIRCRAFT LTD. 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 

PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Model PC– 

12, PC–12/45, and PC–12/47E 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 a 

malfunction of the universal joint. 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 August 28, 2015. 

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 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS