This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

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new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

7641 

Vol. 78, No. 23 

Monday, February 4, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0794; Directorate 

Identifier 2006–SW–04–AD; Amendment 39– 

17319; AD 2013–01–05] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model 

AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters. 

This AD requires 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 

AD was prompted by the determination 

that the manufacturer-installed Aircraft 

Parts Corporation (APC) starter 

generator has exceeded the shaft horse 

power extractions allowed for 

Turbomeca engines. The actions of this 

AD are intended to prevent the engine 

surge margin being reduced, which can 

result in engine failure. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 11, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75053–4005, 

telephone (800) 232–0323, fax (972) 

641–3710, or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.com. 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. 

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: 

Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 

Management Group, 2601 Meacham 

Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 

telephone (817) 222–5110, fax (817) 

222–5961, email chinh.vuong,@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On July 30, 2012, at 77 FR 44513, 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 

Model AS350B3 and EC130B4 

helicopters with an APC 200-amp starter 

generator, part number 200SGL130Q, 

installed. That NPRM proposed to 

require, within the next 100 hours timein-service (TIS), revising the Limitations 

section of the RFM to reduce the starter 

generator rating to 180 amps and 

installing a placard on the instrument 

panel below the vehicle engine 

multifunction display indicating the 

starter generator reduced limitation: 

‘‘MAXIMUM CONTINUOUS 

GENERATOR LOAD 180A.’’ The 

proposed requirements were intended to 

prevent the engine surge margin being 

reduced, which can result in engine 

failure. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2006– 

0337, dated November 7, 2006, to 

correct an unsafe condition for the 

Eurocopter Model AS350B3 and 

EC130B4 helicopters. EASA advises that 

the power drawn by an APC 200 amp 

starter generator from the engine is 

above the consumption capacity for the 

specified Eurocopter model helicopters. 

Excessive power consumption of the 

starter generator reduces the engine 

surge margin, which can result in 

engine failure. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we did not receive any comments on the 

NPRM (77 FR 44513, July 30, 2012). 

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 the 

EASA AD. We are issuing 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 helicopters of 

these same type designs and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

We require that this AD be 

accomplished within 100 hours TIS, 

rather than 110 flight hours or 12 

months as stated in the EASA AD. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Alert Service 

Bulletins (ASBs) No. 01.00.57 for the 

Model AS350B3 helicopters and No. 

04A002 for the Model EC130B4 

helicopters. Both ASBs are Revision 1 

and both are dated September 14, 2006. 

The ASBs specify defining the 

limitation for the APC 200-amp starter 

generator. EASA classified these ASBs 

as mandatory and issued AD No. 2006– 

0337, dated November 7, 2006, to 

ensure the continued airworthiness of 

these helicopters. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

363 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

We estimate that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. It will cost $21.25, 

assuming it takes 15 minutes to revise 

the RFM and install a placard on the 

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7642 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 23 / Monday, February 4, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

instrument panel of each helicopter at 

an average labor rate of $85 per work 

hour, or $7,714 for the 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 

helicopters 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): 

2013–01–05 Eurocopter France: 

Amendment 39–17319; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0794; Directorate Identifier 

2006–SW–04–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model AS350B3 and 

EC130B4 helicopters with an Aircraft Parts 

Corporation 200-ampere (amp) starter 

generator, part number 200SGL130Q, 

installed, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

excessive power consumption of the starter 

generator, which reduces the engine surge 

margin. This condition could result in engine 

failure and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective March 11, 2013. 

(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 the next 100 hours time-in-service: 

(1) Revise Paragraph 2, Limitations, of the 

Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement 29 to 

reduce the maximum current of the starter 

generator to 180 amps Max. continuous. 

(2) Install a placard, 125 millimeters long 

by 10 millimeters wide, on the instrument 

panel below the vehicle engine multifunction 

display indicating the starter generator 

reduced limitation: ‘‘MAXIMUM 

CONTINUOUS GENERATOR LOAD = 

180A.’’ 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOC) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, may 

approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your 

proposal to: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 

Management Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 

222–5110, fax (817) 222–5961, email 

chinh.vuong@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 

(1) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletins No. 

01.00.57 and No. 04A002, both Revision 1, 

and both dated September 14, 2006, which 

are not incorporated by reference, contain 

additional information about the subject of 

this AD. For service information identified in 

this AD, contact American Eurocopter 

Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand 

Prairie, TX 75053–4005, telephone (800) 

232–0323, fax (972) 641–3710, or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.com. You may review copies 

of the referenced 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 

European Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 

2006–0337, dated November 7, 2006. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: Starter-Generator 2435. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 9, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–02236 Filed 2–1–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0731; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–CE–020–AD; Amendment 

39–17334; AD 2013–02–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Piper 

Aircraft, Inc. 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Piper Aircraft, Inc. (type certificate 

previously held by The New Piper 

Aircraft Inc.) PA–28, PA–32, PA–34, 

and PA–44 airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by reports of control cable 

assembly failures that may lead to 

failure of the horizontal stabilator 

control system and could result in loss 

of pitch control. This AD requires 

inspections of the stabilator control 

system and replacement of parts as 

necessary. We are issuing this AD to 

correct the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 11, 

2013. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in the AD 

as of March 11, 2013. 

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