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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12836-12838]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05369]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-6033; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-019-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3 helicopters. This proposed AD would 
require inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or 
markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin doors, 
removing any labels, placards, or markings that are in an incorrect 
location, and installing placards where they are missing. This proposed 
AD is prompted by the determination that placards had not been 
installed according to specifications on newly manufactured 
helicopters. The proposed actions are intended to provide exit 
procedures during an emergency.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 10, 2016.

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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
6033; 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

[[Page 12837]]

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 rule, contact 
Airbus Helicopters, 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 
76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
david.hatfield@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. 2015-0068-E, dated April 29, 
2015, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 
365 N3 helicopters without external life rafts installed, except those 
helicopters modified in accordance with Airbus Helicopters modification 
(MOD) 0711B68, and Model AS 365 N3 helicopters with external life rafts 
installed, except those helicopters modified in accordance Airbus 
Helicopters MOD 0711B67 and MOD 0711B68. EASA advises that, during 
helicopter delivery after manufacturing, Airbus Helicopters identified 
that placards providing jettison procedure instructions for the cabin 
doors were not systematically installed or not installed in a proper 
location. This condition, if not corrected, could prevent the timely 
evacuation of the helicopter during an emergency. The EASA AD 
consequently requires determining whether any placards are missing or 
incorrectly located, installing any missing placards, and replacing any 
incorrectly located placards.

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

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS365-
11.00.02, Revision 2, dated April 23, 2015 (ASB). The service 
information describes procedures for replacing and installing cabin 
internal evacuation markings. The ASB reports that deviations in the 
locations of the cabin internal evacuation markings and missing 
markings were noted during the delivery of new helicopters. The ASB 
provides instructions about the locations of, characteristics of, and 
information contained in the markings.
    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.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS), inspecting the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, or 
markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin doors 
in certain locations. If a label, placard, or marking is not located as 
required or is not visible and legible to every occupant, this proposed 
AD would require installing a placard in the required locations before 
further flight.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 14 days after the effective 
date of the EASA AD. This AD requires compliance within 50 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 15 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs would average $85 a work-hour. Based 
on these estimates, we expect that inspecting the helicopter to 
determine the proper location and presence of cabin door jettison 
procedure placards and replacing and installing them would require 4 
work hours and a parts cost of $70. We estimate a total cost of $410 
per helicopter, and $6,150 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);

[[Page 12838]]

    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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2015-6033; Directorate Identifier 
2015-SW-019-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as missing or incorrectly 
located information for exiting a helicopter. This condition could 
result in failure to jettison cabin doors during an emergency, 
resulting in death or injury of helicopter occupants.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 10, 2016.

(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 50 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Inspect the cabin and cockpit for labels, placards, and 
markings that provide jettison procedure instructions for cabin 
doors.
    (2) For the left and right side, remove any existing label, 
placard, and marking and install placards in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2 and Figures 1 through 
6, of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS365-11.00.02, 
Revision 2, dated April 23, 2015.

(f) Credit for Previously Completed Actions

    Actions accomplished before the effective date of this AD in 
accordance with Airbus Helicopters Modification (MOD) 0711B68 for 
helicopters without external life rafts or MOD 0711B68 and MOD 
0711B67 for helicopters with external life rafts are considered 
acceptable for compliance with this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@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 the European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2015-0068-E, dated April 29, 2015. You 
may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2015-6033.

 (i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 1100, Placards and 
Markings.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 29, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05369 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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