37768 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 11, 

2012. 

Kalene C. Yanamura, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–14935 Filed 6–22–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0083; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–022–AD; Amendment 

39–17077; AD 2012–11–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Aeronautical 

Accessories, Inc., High Landing Gear 

Aft Crosstube Assembly 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI), 

High Landing Gear Aft Crosstube 

Assembly (aft crosstube) installed on 

certain Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. 

(Bell) and Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) model 

helicopters as an approved Bell part 

installed during production or based on 

a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). 

This AD requires certain recurring 

visual, dimensional, and fluorescent 

penetrant inspections of each aft 

crosstube, and replacing any cracked 

crosstube. This AD also requires 

establishing a life limit and creating a 

component history card or equivalent 

record for one of the affected partnumbered aft crosstubes. This AD was 

prompted by three reports of failed 

crosstubes because of cracks. The 

actions are intended to prevent failure 

of a crosstube, collapse of the landing 

gear, and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective July 30, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of July 30, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact 

Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., P.O. Box 

3689, Bristol, Tennessee 37625–3689, 

telephone (423) 538–5151 or 1–800– 

251–7094, fax (423) 538–8469 or at 

http://www.aero-access.com. You may 

also get service information from Bell 

Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, 

Fort Worth, TX 76101, telephone (817) 

280–3391, fax (817) 280–6466, or at 

http://www.bellcustomer.com/files. 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. 

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 AD, any 

incorporated-by-reference service 

information, the economic evaluation, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The street address for the 

Docket Operations Office (phone: 800– 

647–5527) is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations 

Office, M–30, West Building Ground 

Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Martin R. Crane, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Rotorcraft Certification Office, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137, telephone (817) 222–5170, email 

martin.r.crane@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On Feb. 3, 2012, at 77 FR 5420, the 

Federal Register published our Notice 

of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which 

proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 

include an AD that would apply to aft 

crosstube part number (P/N) 412–321– 

104 and P/N 412–321–304, installed on 

Agusta Model AB412 and AB412EP and 

Bell Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP 

helicopters. The NPRM proposed to 

require certain recurring visual, 

dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant 

inspections of each aft crosstube. If 

there is a crack, the NPRM proposed to 

require, before further flight, replacing 

any cracked aft crosstube with an 

airworthy aft crosstube. The NPRM also 

proposed to require establishing a life 

limit for one of the affected partnumbered aft crosstubes (as the later 

part-numbered aft crosstube already has 

limits established) and creating a 

component history card or equivalent 

record for aft crosstube part number 

(P/N) 412–321–304. The proposed 

requirements were intended to prevent 

failure of a crosstube, collapse of the 

landing gear, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we did not receive any comments on the 

NPRM. 

FAA’s Determination 

We have reviewed the relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other products of the 

same type design and that air safety and 

the public interest require adopting the 

AD requirements as proposed except for 

minor editorial changes. These minor 

editorial changes are consistent with the 

intent of the proposals in the NPRM and 

will not increase the economic burden 

on any operator nor increase the scope 

of the AD. 

Related Service Information 

We have reviewed AAI Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) No. AA–07109, dated 

April 3, 2008, which specifies recurring 

inspections and maintenance of each aft 

crosstube, P/N 412–321–104, installed 

as an approved part by Bell during 

production, and P/N 412–321–304, 

installed under STC SR01052AT, on 

Bell Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF and 

Agusta Model AB412 and AB412EP 

helicopters. This ASB specifies 

establishing a high aft crosstube, P/N 

412–321–304, ‘‘takeoff/landing’’ life 

limit of 20,000. Also, this ASB specifies 

that operators should follow helicopter 

towing instructions to prevent crosstube 

damage or failure as a result of ground 

handling or towing. 

We have also reviewed Bell ASB No. 

412–08–129, dated May 12, 2008, for 

Bell Model 412 and 412EP helicopters, 

serial numbers 33001 through 33213, 

36001 and subsequent, with an aft 

crosstube P/N 412–321–104 installed. 

Bell issued its ASB ‘‘to achieve 

complete distribution of AA–07109 

vendor bulletin to the current affected 

model distribution list.’’ 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

115 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

We also estimate that the required 

actions will take about: 

• 1 hour to create a component 

history card or equivalent record and 

determine and record the number of 

accumulated takeoffs and landings for 

each affected aft crosstube; 

• 3 hours to prepare the area for a 

visual inspection; 

• 1⁄2 hour to do the repetitive visual 

inspections, assuming 14 repetitive 

visual inspections per year; 

• 1 hour to do a dimensional 

inspection of the skid gear, assuming 3 

inspections per year; 

• 24 hours to prepare and fluorescent 

penetrant inspect the aft crosstube, 

assuming 2 inspections per year; and 

• 10 hours to replace an aft crosstube, 

if necessary, assuming 3 aft crosstubes 

are replaced. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 37769 

The average labor rate is $85 per work 

hour. Required parts will cost about 

$9,315 per aft crosstube. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the total cost 

impact of this AD on U.S. operators to 

be $636,545. 

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 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will 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 that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

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 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. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 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): 

2012–11–13 Aeronautical Accessories, Inc.: 

Amendment 39–17077; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0083; Directorate Identifier 

2010–SW–022–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to High Landing Gear Aft 

Crosstube Assembly (aft crosstube) part 

number (P/N) 412–321–104 and P/N 412– 

321–304, installed on Agusta S.p.A. Model 

AB412 and AB412EP and Bell Helicopter 

Textron, Inc., Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP 

helicopters, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

cracked aft crosstube. This condition could 

result in collapse of the landing gear, and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective July 30, 2012. 

(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 

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

establish a life limit of 20,000 takeoffs and 

landings for each aft crosstube P/N 412–321– 

304. For the purposes of this AD, a takeoff 

and landing is defined as the cycle from 

when the helicopter gets light on the skids 

(takeoff) unloading the aft crosstube and then 

settles on the skids again (landing) reloading 

the aft crosstubes. Either the number of 

landings or takeoffs may be counted. 

(i) Create a component history card or 

equivalent record. 

(ii) Determine and record on the history 

card or equivalent record the total number of 

takeoffs and landings for each aft crosstube. 

If the takeoff and landing information is 

unavailable, estimate the number by 

multiplying the airframe hours by 10. 

(2) Within the next 450 takeoffs and 

landings, if an aft crosstube has reached 

20,000 or more takeoffs and landings, replace 

it with an airworthy aft crosstube. 

(3) Before reaching 2,500 takeoffs and 

landings or for an aft crosstube with 2,500 or 

more takeoffs and landings, within 50 hours 

TIS or within the next 250 takeoffs and 

landings, whichever occurs first, prepare the 

aft crosstube inspection areas as depicted in 

Figure 1 of Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. 

(AAI), Alert Service Bulletin No. AA–07109, 

dated April 3, 2008 (ASB), by following the 

Accomplishment Instructions, Part B, 

paragraphs 1 through 4, of the ASB. Using a 

10X or higher magnifying glass, inspect the 

prepared areas of each aft crosstube for a 

crack. If there is a crack, before further flight, 

replace the cracked aft crosstube with an 

airworthy aft crosstube. If there are no cracks, 

after completing the aft crosstube inspection, 

prime and paint the inspection area by 

following the Accomplishment Instructions, 

Part B, paragraphs 6 and 7, of the ASB. 

(4) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 

450 takeoffs and landings, clean the 

inspection area. Using a 10X or higher 

magnifying glass, inspect the clear-coated 

area of the aft crosstube for a crack. 

(5) If there is a crack, before further flight, 

replace the cracked aft crosstube with an 

airworthy aft crosstube. 

(6) Within 30 days or before reaching 2,500 

takeoffs and landings, whichever occurs 

later, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 

2,500 takeoffs and landings or 12 months, 

whichever occurs first, determine the 

horizontal deflection of each aft crosstube 

from the centerline of the helicopter (BL 0.0) 

to the outside of the skid tubes by following 

the Accomplishment Instructions, Part D, 

paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 

measured aft crosstube horizontal deflection 

depicted in Figure 2 of the ASB is less than 

57 inches (1,448 mm) or greater than 59 

inches (1,499 mm), replace the aft crosstube 

with an airworthy aft crosstube. 

(7) Within 3 months or on or before 

reaching 7,500 takeoffs and landings, 

whichever occurs later, and thereafter at 

intervals not to exceed 5,000 takeoffs and 

landings: 

(i) Remove the aft crosstube assembly by 

removing the aft crosstube support beam 

assembly, P/N 604–030–001, and both aft 

crosstube clamp assemblies, P/N 604–027– 

002. 

(ii) Remove paint and sealant from the aft 

crosstube outboard of the upper center 

support to top of saddles, both sides, as 

depicted in Figure 3 of the ASB. 

(iii) Fluorescent penetrant inspect each aft 

crosstube outboard of the upper center 

support as depicted in Figure 3 of the ASB 

for a crack. 

(iv) If there is a crack, before further flight, 

replace the cracked aft crosstube with an 

airworthy aft crosstube. 

(8) Revise the helicopter Airworthiness 

Limitations section of the applicable 

maintenance manuals or the Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness (ICA) by 

establishing a new retirement life of 20,000 

takeoff and landings for aft crosstube P/N 

412–321–304 by making pen and ink changes 

or inserting a copy of this AD into the 

maintenance manual or the ICAs. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification 

Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Martin R. Crane, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137, telephone (817) 222–5170, email 

martin.r.crane@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 

CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 


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37770 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

14 CFR part 119, 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 FAA-accepted AAI Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness Report Number 

AA–01136, and the Bell Helicopter Textron 

Alert Service Bulletin No. 412–08–129, dated 

May 12, 2008, which are not incorporated by 

reference, contain additional information 

about inspecting the aft crosstube for a crack. 

For the AAI service information, contact 

Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., P.O. Box 

3689, Bristol, Tennessee 37625–3689, 

telephone (423) 538–5151 or 1–800–251– 

7094, fax (423) 538–8469, or at http://

www.aero-access.com. For the Bell 

Helicopter Textron service information, 

contact Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. 

Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101, telephone 

(817) 280–3391, fax (817) 280–6466, or at 

http://www.bellcustomer.com/files. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 32: Landing Gear. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the following service information 

under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use the following service 

information to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on July 10, 2012. 

(i) Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., Alert 

Service Bulletin No. AA–07109, dated April 

3, 2008. 

(4) For this service information, contact 

Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., P.O. Box 

3689, Bristol, Tennessee 37625–3689, 

telephone (423) 538–5151 or 1–800–251– 

7094, fax (423) 538–8469, or at http://www.

aero-access.com. 

(5) You may review a copy of this 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137 or at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, call (202) 741– 

6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/

federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 25, 

2012. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–15286 Filed 6–22–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0035; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–178–AD; Amendment 

39–17094; AD 2012–12–14] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 767–200 

and –300 series airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by reports of fatigue cracking 

on the lower main sill inner chord of the 

hatch opening of the overwing 

emergency exit. This AD requires 

repetitive inspections for cracking, 

corrosion damage, and any other 

irregularity of the lower main sill inner 

chord and surrounding structure, and 

repair if necessary. We are issuing this 

AD to detect and correct fatigue 

cracking on the lower main sill inner 

chord of the hatch opening of the 

overwing emergency exit, which could 

result in reduced structural integrity of 

the hatch opening of the overwing 

emergency exit and consequent rapid 

decompression of the airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective July 30, 

2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of July 30, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, Washington 98124– 

2207; telephone 206–544–5000, 

extension 1; fax 206–766–5680; email 

me.boecom@boeing.com; Internet 

https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You 

may review copies of the referenced 

service information at the FAA, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

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 AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Berhane Alazar, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, 

Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; phone: 425– 

917–6577; fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

berhane.alazar@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on January 23, 2012 (77 FR 

3187). That NPRM proposed to require 

repetitive inspections for cracking, 

corrosion damage, and any other 

irregularity of the lower main sill inner 

chord and surrounding structure, and 

repair if necessary. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (77 FR 3187, 

January 23, 2012) and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request To Clarify Terminating Action 

and Post-Repair Inspection Program 

Boeing requested that we revise the 

wording in paragraph (g) of the NPRM 

(77 FR 3187, January 23, 2012) to clarify 

that the AD terminates only the 

repetitive inspections required by the 

NPRM. Boeing also stated that the 

inspection area designated in the NPRM 

may be subject to other repetitive 

inspections following repairs done per 

another AD. 

All Nippon Airways (ANA) requested 

that we confirm that the post-repair 

inspection program is not mandatory. 

Delta Air Lines (Delta) requested that 

the NPRM (77 FR 3187, January 23, 

2012) be revised to include the use of 

the ‘‘proactive’’ doubler installations as 

a terminating action. Delta stated that 

paragraph (g) of the NPRM authorizes 

only the on-condition repair as a 

terminating action. Delta requested that 

we include a separate paragraph to 

define the terminating action 

provisions. 


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