Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 41 / Monday, March 3, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 11701 

AgustaWestland S.p.A) 

(AgustaWestland): Amendment 39– 

17773; Docket No. FAA–2013–0643; 

Directorate Identifier 2012–SW–096–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to AgustaWestland Model 

A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII 

helicopters with a main rotor lag damper 

assembly (lag damper), part number (P/N) 

109–0112–39–103, 109–0112–39–105, 109– 

0112–05–105, or 109–0112–05–107, installed 

with a rod end assembly, P/N M004– 

01H007–041 or M004–01H007–045, with a 

serial number (S/N) 84 through 132, or 4964 

through 5011, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack in a rod end assembly, which could 

result in fracture of the rod end assembly, 

damage to the main rotor, and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective April 7, 2014. 

(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 25 hours time-in-service, 

remove the rod end assembly from service. 

(2) Do not install a rod end assembly, P/ 

N M004–01H007–041 or M004–01H007–045, 

with a S/N 84 through 132 or 4964 through 

5011, on any helicopter. 

(f) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(g) 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 

(1) AgustaWestland Bollettino Tecnico No. 

109S–49, No. 109SP–052, and No. 119–50, all 

dated October 3, 2012, which are not 

incorporated by reference, contain additional 

information about the subject of this AD. For 

service information identified in this AD, 

contact AgustaWestland, Product Support 

Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015 

Lonate Pozzolo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Maurizio 

D’Angelo; telephone 39–0331–664757; fax 

39–0331–664680; or at http://

www.agustawestland.com/technicalbulletins. 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. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2012–0208, dated October 5, 2012. You 

may view the EASA AD on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2013–0643. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6200, Main Rotor System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 

20, 2014. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–04310 Filed 2–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0770; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–057–AD; Amendment 

39–17771; AD 2014–04–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Eurocopter France) 

(Airbus Helicopters) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP 

helicopters. This AD adds a new 

operating limitation that requires 

increasing the minimum density 

altitude flight limitation for helicopters 

without certain Eurocopter 

modifications installed. This AD is 

prompted by a report that flights below 

a certain density altitude create 

oscillations in the main rotor which can 

transfer dynamic loads to the structure, 

the main gearbox (MGB), and the main 

servo-control inputs, which could result 

in subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 7, 

2014. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Airbus 

Helicopters, Inc., 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, 

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, the European 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, 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: 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. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On September 6, 2013, at 78 FR 

54792, the Federal Register published 

our notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 

CFR part 39 by adding an AD that 

would apply to Eurocopter France (now 

Airbus Helicopters) Model EC225LP 

helicopters, except those with certain 

modifications (MODs) installed. The 

NPRM proposed to require, within 50 

hours time-in-service (TIS), amending 

the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to 

limit minimum flight altitude to ¥2,000 

feet density altitude. The proposed 

requirements were intended to prevent 

oscillations in the main rotor that can 

transfer dynamic loads to the structure, 

the MGB, and the main servo-control 

inputs, which could result in 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 

2008–0007R3, dated May 12, 2010, 

issued by EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union. EASA issued AD No. 

2008–0007R3 to correct an unsafe 

condition for Model EC 225 LP 

helicopters that are ‘‘not equipped of all 

three modifications MOD 0726582, 

MOD 0726477, and MOD 0726583, or, if 

not equipped of MOD 0726592, or, if 

equipped with all three modifications 

MOD 0726606, MOD 0726610, MOD 

0726611 and missing accomplishment 

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11702 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 41 / Monday, March 3, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

of MOD 0726632.’’ EASA advises that 

the main rotor control linkage has a 

coupling between the MGB motion and 

the main servo-control inputs. 

According to EASA, in certain flight 

conditions with increased air density, 

this design generates ‘‘spurious’’ 14 

Hertz control inputs in the main rotor, 

which, in return, transfer dynamic loads 

to the structure. These return dynamic 

loads give feedback to the MGB motion, 

inducing a continuous vibration 

phenomenon. EASA states that flight 

tests have demonstrated that below 

certain density altitudes, the occurrence 

of the vibration phenomenon is 

significantly increased or even diverges, 

which could lead to the loss of control 

of the helicopter. EASA advises that 

Eurocopter has continued to develop 

MODs for correcting the vibrations 

below certain density altitudes, and 

therefore, helicopters with certain 

MODs installed are exempt from the 

applicability of EASA AD No. 2008– 

0007R3. 

To correct this unsafe condition, 

EASA issued AD No. 2008–0007R3, 

which requires revising the RFM to 

prohibit operation below ¥2,000 feet 

density altitude for helicopters without 

certain modifications installed. 

Since we issued the NPRM, 

Eurocopter France has changed its name 

to Airbus Helicopters. This AD reflects 

that change and updates the contact 

information to obtain service 

information. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we did not receive any comments on the 

NPRM (78 FR 54792, September 6, 

2013). 

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, except for the name change 

from Eurocopter France to Airbus 

Helicopters. This change is consistent 

with the intent of the proposals in the 

NPRM (78 FR 54792, September 6, 

2013) and will not increase the 

economic burden on any operator nor 

increase the scope of the AD. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

The EASA AD specifies a compliance 

time of 30 days, while this AD requires 

compliance within 50 hours TIS. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Emergency 

Alert Service Bulletin No. 04A001, 

Revision 3, dated May 6, 2010, which 

specifies inserting RFM revision 

‘‘Normal Revision RN11 (10–04) or later, 

associated with conditional revision 

RCe (10–04) or later’’ into the RFM for 

helicopters equipped with screen air 

intakes and inserting ‘‘Normal Revision 

RN21 (10–05) or later, associated with 

conditional revision RCe (10–04) or 

later’’ into the RFM for helicopters 

equipped with multi-purpose air 

intakes. Both RFM revisions limit the 

minimum altitude for flight to ¥2,000 

feet density altitude. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

three helicopters of U.S. Registry and 

that the costs to comply with this AD by 

revising the RFM are negligible. 

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): 

2014–04–12 Airbus Helicopters (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by 

Eurocopter France): Amendment 39– 

17771; Docket No. FAA–2013–0770; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–SW–057–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model EC225LP 

helicopters, certificated in any category, 

except helicopters with the following 

modifications (MOD) installed: 

(1) MOD 0726582, MOD 0726477, and 

MOD 0726583; 

(2) MOD 0726592; or 

(3) MOD 0726632. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

oscillations in the main rotor which can 

transfer dynamic loads to the structure, the 

main gearbox (MGB), and the main servocontrol inputs, which could result in 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective April 7, 2014. 

(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. 

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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 41 / Monday, March 3, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 11703 

(e) Required Action 

Within 50 hours time-in-service, revise the 

Operating Limitations section of the 

Eurocopter EC225LP Rotorcraft Flight 

Manual (RFM) by inserting a copy of this AD 

into Section 2.3 of the RFM, or by making 

pen and ink changes as follows. Under 

paragraph 1, Altitude Limits, add the phrase: 

The minimum altitude is limited to 

¥2,000 feet density altitude. 

(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 No. 04A001, Revision 3, dated May 

4, 2010, which is not incorporated by 

reference, contains additional information 

about the subject of this AD. For service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 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, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2008–0007R3, dated May 12, 2010. You 

may view the EASA AD in the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:/www.regulations.gov. 

(h) Subject. 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2200: Auto Flight System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 

19, 2014. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–04314 Filed 2–28–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 97 

[Docket No. 30941; Amdt. No. 3575] 

Standard Instrument Approach 

Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums 

and Obstacle Departure Procedures; 

Miscellaneous Amendments 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This rule establishes, amends, 

suspends, or revokes Standard 

Instrument Approach Procedures 

(SIAPs) and associated Takeoff 

Minimums and Obstacle Departure 

Procedures for operations at certain 

airports. These regulatory actions are 

needed because of the adoption of new 

or revised criteria, or because of changes 

occurring in the National Airspace 

System, such as the commissioning of 

new navigational facilities, adding new 

obstacles, or changing air traffic 

requirements. These changes are 

designed to provide safe and efficient 

use of the navigable airspace and to 

promote safe flight operations under 

instrument flight rules at the affected 

airports. 

DATES: This rule is effective March 3, 

2014. The compliance date for each 

SIAP, associated Takeoff Minimums, 

and ODP is specified in the amendatory 

provisions. 

The incorporation by reference of 

certain publications listed in the 

regulations is approved by the Director 

of the Federal Register as of March 3, 

2014. 

ADDRESSES: Availability of matters 

incorporated by reference in the 

amendment is as follows: 

For Examination— 

1. FAA Rules Docket, FAA 

Headquarters Building, 800 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20591; 

2. The FAA Regional Office of the 

region in which the affected airport is 

located; 

3. The National Flight Procedures 

Office, 6500 South MacArthur Blvd., 

Oklahoma City, OK 73169 or, 

4. 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. 

Availability—All SIAPs and Takeoff 

Minimums and ODPs are available 

online free of charge. Visit http://

www.nfdc.faa.gov to register. 

Additionally, individual SIAP and 

Takeoff Minimums and ODP copies may 

be obtained from: 

1. FAA Public Inquiry Center (APA– 

200), FAA Headquarters Building, 800 

Independence Avenue SW., 

Washington, DC 20591; or 

2. The FAA Regional Office of the 

region in which the affected airport is 

located. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Richard A. Dunham III, Flight Procedure 

Standards Branch (AFS–420), Flight 

Technologies and Programs Divisions, 

Flight Standards Service, Federal 

Aviation Administration, Mike 

Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 

South MacArthur Blvd., Oklahoma City, 

OK 73169 (Mail Address: P.O. Box 

25082, Oklahoma City, OK 73125) 

Telephone: (405) 954–4164. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule 

amends Title 14 of the Code of Federal 

Regulations, Part 97 (14 CFR part 97), by 

establishing, amending, suspending, or 

revoking SIAPs, Takeoff Minimums 

and/or ODPs. The complete regulators 

description of each SIAP and its 

associated Takeoff Minimums or ODP 

for an identified airport is listed on FAA 

form documents which are incorporated 

by reference in this amendment under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a), 1 CFR part 51, and 14 

CFR part 97.20. The applicable FAA 

Forms are FAA Forms 8260–3, 8260–4, 

8260–5, 8260–15A, and 8260–15B when 

required by an entry on 8260–15A. 

The large number of SIAPs, Takeoff 

Minimums and ODPs, in addition to 

their complex nature and the need for 

a special format make publication in the 

Federal Register expensive and 

impractical. Furthermore, airmen do not 

use the regulatory text of the SIAPs, 

Takeoff Minimums or ODPs, but instead 

refer to their depiction on charts printed 

by publishers of aeronautical materials. 

The advantages of incorporation by 

reference are realized and publication of 

the complete description of each SIAP, 

Takeoff Minimums and ODP listed on 

FAA forms is unnecessary. This 

amendment provides the affected CFR 

sections and specifies the types of SIAPs 

and the effective dates of the associated 

Takeoff Minimums and ODPs. This 

amendment also identifies the airport 

and its location, the procedure, and the 

amendment number. 

The Rule 

This amendment to 14 CFR part 97 is 

effective upon publication of each 

separate SIAP, Takeoff Minimums and 

ODP as contained in the transmittal. 

Some SIAP and Takeoff Minimums and 

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