33766 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 108 / Wednesday, June 5, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by August 5, 

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 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 15 hours 

TIS: 

(1) For all helicopters, inspect the IGB 

fairing and both attachment supports for a 

crack. If there is a crack, replace the cracked 

part with an airworthy part. 

(2) For helicopters with an IGB fairing, part 

number (P/N) 332A24–0303–0501 or P/N 

332A24–0303–0601, installed, inspect the 

IGB fairing gutter (gutter) for a crack. If there 

is a crack, replace the gutter with an 

airworthy gutter, and inspect the IGB fairing 

for separation, or interference between the 

gutter and the tail rotor (T/R) inclined drive 

shaft, hydraulic pipes, or flight controls. 

(i) If there is interference between the 

gutter and the T/R inclined drive shaft tube, 

replace the T/R inclined drive shaft tube and 

the IGB fairing/gutter assembly with an 

airworthy T/R inclined drive shaft tube and 

IGB fairing/gutter assembly. 

(ii) If there is interference between the 

gutter and the hydraulic pipes, replace the 

IGB fairing/gutter assembly with an 

airworthy IGB fairing/gutter assembly. 

Inspect the hydraulic pipes for a dent, score, 

distortion, or chafing. If there is a dent, score, 

distortion, or chafing, replace the affected 

hydraulic pipe with an airworthy hydraulic 

pipe. 

(iii) If there is interference between the 

gutter and the flight controls, replace the IGB 

fairing/gutter assembly with an airworthy 

IGB fairing/gutter assembly. Inspect the 

cables on the left hand side of the pylon, the 

quadrant on which the cables are coiled, the 

flight control lever, the rod, and the T/R 

servo-control operating mechanism for 

friction, chafing, broken strands, buckling, 

distortion, or scoring. If there is any friction, 

chafing, broken strands, buckling, distortion, 

or scoring, replace the affected flight control 

component with an airworthy flight control 

component. 

(iv) If there is any separation of the gutter, 

replace the IBG fairing/gutter assembly with 

an airworthy fairing/gutter assembly. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@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 Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin (EASB) No. 53.01.47 for Model AS 

332 helicopters, EASB No. 53.00.48 for 

Model AS532 helicopters, and EASB No. 

53A001 for Model EC225 and EC725 

helicopters, all revision 4, dated September 

27, 2011, 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 N. 

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323; 

fax (972) 641–3775; or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may 

review a copy of the 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 Emergency 

AD No. 2011–0189–E, dated September 29, 

2011. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 5350: Aerodynamic Fairings. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 28, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–13297 Filed 6–4–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0480; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–090–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

France (Eurocopter) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter Model SA–365N, SA– 

365N1, AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 

155B, EC155B1, AS332C, AS332L, 

AS332L1, AS332L2, and EC225LP 

helicopters with certain EADS Sogerma 

pilot and co-pilot seats installed. This 

proposed AD would require inspecting 

the rear beam of each seat to determine 

if all of the weld beads are present and 

replacing the seat if any weld bead is 

missing. This proposed AD is prompted 

by a maintenance inspection that 

discovered a missing weld bead on the 

rear beam of a pilot seat. The proposed 

actions are intended to prevent failure 

of the pilot and co-pilot seats and 

subsequent injury to the pilot or copilot. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by August 5, 2013. 

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 

economic evaluation, any comments 

received, 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 American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232– 

0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.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 


TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 108 / Wednesday, June 5, 2013 / Proposed Rules 33767 

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 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2012– 

0206, dated October 2, 2012 (AD 2012– 

0206), to correct an unsafe condition for 

Eurocopter Model SA–365N, SA– 

365N1, AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 

155B, EC155B1, AS332C, AS332C1, 

AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and 

EC225LP helicopters with certain EADS 

Sogerma pilot seats, part number (P/N) 

2510106–03–00 or P/N 2510106–06–00. 

EASA advises that during a 

maintenance inspection, a weld bead 

was found missing on the rear beam of 

an EADS Sogerma pilot seat. According 

to EASA, this non-conformity impairs 

the seat anti-crash function and may be 

present on a limited number of seats 

installed on Eurocopter helicopters. 

EASA states that this condition, if not 

corrected, could lead to pilot injury 

following a hard landing following an 

emergency. 

To address this unsafe condition, 

EASA issued AD No. 2012–0084, dated 

May 16, 2012 (AD 2012–0084), to 

require inspecting the flight crew seats, 

replacing any improperly welded seat, 

and marking all correctly welded seats. 

After issuing AD 2012–0084, a missing 

weld bead was discovered on another 

part of the seat rear beam that was not 

required to be inspected. As a result, 

EASA issued AD 2012–0206, which 

superseded AD 2012–0084, to revise the 

inspection procedure and add new areas 

of the rear beam of the seat to be 

inspected. 

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 helicopters of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) No. AS365–25.01.18 for 

Model SA–365N, SA–365 N1, AS– 

365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters; ASB 

No. EC155–25A114 for Model EC155 B 

and EC155B1 helicopters; ASB No. 

AS332–25.02.49 for model AS332C, 

AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 

helicopters; and ASB No. EC225– 

25A110 for Model EC225LP helicopters; 

all Revision 1, dated August 9, 2012. 

The ASBs incorporate the procedures in 

EADS Sogerma Inspection Service 

Bulletin No. 2510106–25–888, Revision 

1, dated July 16, 2012, for inspecting the 

rear beam of the pilot and co-pilot seats 

to verify all of the weld beads are 

present. The complete EADS Sogerma 

bulletin is contained in the Appendix of 

the ASBs. EASA classified these ASBs 

as mandatory and issued AD 2012–0206 

to ensure the continued airworthiness of 

these helicopters. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

inspecting the rear beam of each pilot 

and co-pilot seat to determine if any 

weld beads are missing. If any weld 

beads are missing, before further flight, 

this proposed AD would require 

removing the seat from the helicopter 

and replacing it with an airworthy seat. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD allows compliance 

within 3 months or 50 flight hours, 

whichever occurs earlier; the proposed 

AD requires compliance within 50 

hours TIS. The EASA AD applies to 

Model AS332C1 helicopters. This 

proposed AD does not because this 

model is not FAA type-certificated. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 65 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. 

We estimate that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. At an average labor rate 

of $85 per hour, inspecting the seats 

would require about .2 work-hour, for a 

cost per helicopter of $17 and a total 

cost to U.S. operators of $1,105. 

Replacing a seat with a missing weld 

bead would require about 1 work-hour, 

and required parts would cost about 

$30,251, for a cost per helicopter of 

$30,336. 

According to Eurocopter’s service 

information some of the costs of this 

proposed AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected individuals. We do 

not control warranty coverage by 

Eurocopter. Accordingly, we have 

included all costs in our cost estimate. 

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. 


TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
33768 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 108 / Wednesday, June 5, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

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): 

Eurocopter France (Eurocopter): Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0480; Directorate Identifier 

2012–SW–090–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter Model SA– 

365N, SA–365N1, AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 

155B, EC155B1, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, 

AS332L2, and EC225LP helicopters with an 

EADS Sogerma pilot or co-pilot seat, part 

number (P/N) 2510106–03–00 or P/N 

2510106–06–00, with a serial number 720 

through 1451, installed, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

missing weld on a seat rear beam, which 

could result in failure of the seat and injury 

to the pilot during a hard landing. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by August 5, 

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 

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service, using 

a mirror, inspect the rear beam of each seat 

for weld beads in the areas depicted in the 

Appendix, Figure 1, of Eurocopter Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS365–25.01.18 

for model SA–365N, SA–365N1, AS–365N2, 

and AS 365 N3 helicopters; ASB No. EC155– 

25A114 for model EC155 B and EC155B1 

helicopters; ASB No. AS332–25.02.49 for 

model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and 

AS332 L2 helicopters; and ASB No. EC225– 

25A110 for model EC225LP helicopters. All 

ASBs are Revision 1 and dated August 9, 

2012. 

(2) If any weld bead is missing from the 

rear beam, before further flight, remove the 

seat and replace it with an airworthy seat. 

(3) Do not install a seat listed in paragraph 

(a) of this AD on any helicopter unless it has 

been inspected as required by this AD. 

(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 AD No. 

2012–0206, dated October 2, 2012. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2510: Flight Compartment Equipment. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 28, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–13300 Filed 6–4–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0478; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–092–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta 

S.p.A. (Type Certificate Currently Held 

by AgustaWestland S.p.A.) Helicopters 

(Agusta) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Agusta Model A109C, A109E, A109S, 

A109K2, and AW109SP helicopters. 

This proposed AD would require 

inspecting the lock wires securing the 

tail rotor (T/R) duplex bearing locking 

nut (locking nut) to determine whether 

any lock wires are missing or damaged. 

This proposed AD is prompted by 

reports of loosening T/R locking nuts, 

which if not corrected, could result in 

failure of the T/R and subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by August 5, 2013. 

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 

economic evaluation, any comments 

received, 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 Agusta 

Westland, Customer Support & Services, 

Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019 Somma 

Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Giovanni 

Cecchelli; telephone 39–0331–711133; 

fax 39 0331 711180; or at http://

www.agustawestland.com/technicalbullettins. 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 


TKELLEY on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS