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[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 21, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 79988-79990]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-31963]

[[Page 79988]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1228; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-12-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B, B1, B2, 
B3, BA, and EC130 B4 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
specified Eurocopter France (ECF) helicopters. This proposed AD results 
from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued 
by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community. The superseding 
MCAI AD states that several engine flameouts have involved failure of 
the 41-tooth pinion in the engine accessory gearbox. Each affected 
helicopter had a starter-generator manufactured by one company. 
Investigation revealed the torque damping system of the starter-
generator was inoperative due to incorrect adjustment and caused 
bending stresses on the 41-tooth pinion. Failure of the pinion causes 
the engine fuel pump to stop operating and results in an engine 
flameout. The EASA AD requires a new adjustment procedure to optimize 
the performance of the specified starter-generator damping assembly. 
These proposed AD actions are intended to prevent failure of a pinion 
and a fuel pump, engine flameout, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by January 20, 
2011.

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.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 
TX 75053-4005, telephone (972) 641-3460, fax (972) 641-3527, or at 
http://www.eurocopter.com.
    Examining the 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 
stated in the ADDRESSES section of this proposal. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Ed Cuevas, 
ASW-112, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 
Management Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd. Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone 
(817) 222-5355, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written data, views, or arguments about 
this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address listed in the 
ADDRESSES section of this proposal. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-1228; 
Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-12-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 based on those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.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 EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Community, has issued EASA AD No. 2009-0027, dated February 
18, 2009, which supersedes and cancels EASA AD No. 2009-0004, dated 
January 12, 2009, to correct an unsafe condition for the specified ECF 
model helicopters.
    Pending additional investigations, EASA AD No. 2009-0004, dated 
January 12, 2009, required an inspection of the alignment and torque of 
the Aircraft Parts Corporation (APC) (currently UNISON) starter-
generator damping assembly and, in case of discrepancies, conducting 
corrective actions. The MCAI AD states that failure of the 41-tooth 
pinion in the engine accessory gearbox resulted in engine flameouts. 
Each affected helicopter was equipped with starter-generators 
manufactured by APC. The additional investigations revealed the torque 
damping system of the starter-generator was inoperative due to 
incorrect adjustment. EASA AD No. 2009-0004 required a check of the 
tightness of the starter-generator damping system and angle 
measurements.
    After further investigation, EASA issued AD 2009-0027, dated 
February 18, 2009, to require disassembling the damping system, 
replacing the cup springs and self-locking nut, and reassembling by 
following a new procedure, which has proven to be more reliable and 
optimizes the performance of the APC starter-generator damping 
assembly. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of a 
pinion and a fuel pump, engine flameout, and subsequent loss of control 
of the helicopter.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI AD and any 
related service information in the AD docket.

Related Service Information

    ECF has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 80.00.07, Revision 
1, dated February 6, 2009, for the Model AS350 B, BA, BB, B1, B2, and 
B3 helicopters (ASB 80.00.07); and ASB No. 80A003, Revision 1, dated 
February 6, 2009, for the Model EC130 B4 helicopter (80A003). The Model 
AS350 BB helicopter is not type certificated in the United States. ECF 
has received reports of ARRIEL engine flameouts due to failure of the 
41-tooth pinion in the engine accessory gearbox. The failure of this 
pinion causes the fuel pump to stop and results in engine flameout. The 
affected helicopters had an APC starter-generator installed. 
Investigation revealed the torque damping system of the starter-
generator to be inoperative due to incorrect adjustment. These ASBs 
specify disassembly of the damping system, replacing the

[[Page 79989]]

Belleville springs (cup springs) and the self-locking nut, and aligning 
the shaft damping system of the APC starter-generator. The actions 
described in the MCAI AD are intended to correct the unsafe condition 
identified in the service information.

FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination

    These products 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, their Technical Agent, has 
notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 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. This proposed AD 
would require, within 110 hours time-in-service or 3 months, whichever 
occurs first:
     Modifying and marking the APC starter generator; and
     Before installing an APC starter-generator with a part 
number (P/N) of 150SG122Q or 200SGL130Q, complying with the 
requirements of this proposed AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI AD

    The MCAI AD refers to flight hours instead of hours time-in-
service.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 847 
helicopters. We also estimate that it would take about 3 work-hours per 
helicopter to modify the starter-generator. The average labor rate is 
$85 per work-hour. ECF states in its ASBs that one nut (P/N 150SG1071, 
$36.12) and two springs (P/N 150SG1093, $29.14 each) are required for 
the P/N 150SG122Q starter-generator and one nut (P/N 150SG1071, $36.12) 
and two springs (P/N 200SGL1093, $33.64 each) are required for the P/N 
200SGL130Q starter-generator. Based on these figures, we estimate the 
cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $299,749 ($215,985 
for labor and $83,764 for parts), assuming that both starter-generators 
are evenly distributed in the fleet and that the entire fleet is 
modified.

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 product(s) 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.
    Therefore, I certify this proposed AD:
    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); and
    3. 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2010-1228; Directorate Identifier 
2009-SW-12-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive your comments by January 20, 2011.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, and EC130 
B4 helicopters with ARRIEL engines with Aircraft Parts Corporation 
(APC) starter-generators, part number (P/N) 150SG122Q or P/N 
200SGL130Q without ``004'' marked on the identification plate, 
installed, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD 
states that several engine flameouts involved failure of the 41-
tooth pinion in the engine accessory gearbox that caused the engine 
fuel pump to fail. Each affected helicopter had an APC Company 
(currently UNISON) starter-generator installed. Investigation 
revealed the torque damping system of the starter-generator was 
inoperative. The EASA AD requires a new adjustment procedure to 
optimize the performance of the specified starter-generator damping 
assembly. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of a 
pinion and a fuel pump, engine flameout, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Within 110 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 3 months, 
whichever occurs first, unless already accomplished, do the 
following:
    (1) Replace the cup springs and fan nut, functionally test the 
damping system, and after this modification, mark ``004'' on the 
identification plate of the APC starter generator, as depicted in 
Figures 1 and 2, and by following the Accomplishment Instructions, 
paragraph 2.B.2., of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
80.00.07, Revision 1, dated February 6, 2009, for the Model AS350 B, 
BA, B1, B2, and B3 helicopters; or ASB No. 80A003, Revision 1, dated 
February 6, 2009, for the Model EC130 B4 helicopter.
    (2) Before installing an APC starter-generator with P/N 
150SG122Q or P/N 200SGL130Q, comply with the requirements of this 
AD.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI AD

    (f) The MCAI AD refers to flight hours instead of hours time-in-
service.

Other Information

    (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Safety Management Group, ATTN: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Ed Cuevas, 
ASW-112, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 
Management Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd. Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 
telephone (817) 222-5355, fax (817) 222-5961, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.
    (h) EASA AD No. 2009-0027, dated February 18, 2009, which 
supersedes and

[[Page 79990]]

cancels EASA AD No. 2009-0004, dated January 12, 2009, contains 
related information.

Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code

    (i) The JASC Code is 2435: Starter-Generator.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 6, 2010.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-31963 Filed 12-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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