30662 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 1998 / Proposed Rules

(a) Within the next 10 hours time in service

(TIS) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed

100 hours TIS, remove the pitch change link

assembly, part number (P/N) 109–0110–71.

(b) Measure the radial play at both the

upper and lower spherical bearings. If the

radial play of a bearing exceeds 0.2

millimeters, or .008 inches, replace the

affected bearing with an airworthy bearing

prior to further flight.

Note 2: Agusta Bollettino Technico

Telegrafico No. 109–9, dated March 23, 1995,

pertains to the subject of this AD.

(c) Reinstall the pitch change link

assembly.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, FAA,

Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards

Staff. Operators shall submit their requests

through an FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may concur or comment and

then send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft

Standards Staff.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Rotorcraft Standards Staff.

(e) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Registro Aeronautico Italiano (Italy) AD’s

95–082 and 95–083, both dated March 28,

1995.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 28,

1998.

Henry A. Armstrong,

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–14912 Filed 6–4–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–SW–64–AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter

France Model AS–365N, N1, and N2

Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

Eurocopter France Model AS–365N, N1,

and N2 helicopters, with certain main

rotor head frequency adapters

(frequency adapters) installed. This

proposal would require inspecting the

frequency adapter to determine if a

certain frequency adapter is installed,

and if so, removing and replacing the

frequency adapter with an airworthy

frequency adapter before further flight.

This proposal is prompted by a report

of disbonding of the metal center

section of a frequency adapter from the

elastomer on a main rotor head, caused

by a lack of adherence during the

production process. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent increased vibrations

caused by disbonding of the center

section of a frequency adapter from the

elastomer and subsequent reduced

controllability of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 6, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Office of the

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–SW–64–

AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,

Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Mike Mathias, Aerospace Engineer,

Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Rotorcraft

Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,

Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone

(817) 222–5123, fax (817) 222–5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified above. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice may

be changed in light of the comments

received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available, both before

and after the closing date for comments,

in the Rules Docket for examination by

interested persons. A report

summarizing each FAA-public contact

concerned with the substance of this

proposal will be filed in the Rules

Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 97–SW–64–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Southwest Region, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97–SW–64–AD, 2601

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,

Texas 76137.

Discussion

The Direction General De L’Aviation

Civile (DGAC), which is the

airworthiness authority for France,

recently notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on Eurocopter

France Model AS–365N, N1, and N2

helicopters that have been fitted with a

frequency adapter, part number (P/N)

704A33–640–031 (E1T2624–01A), or

delivered in pairs under the P/N

365A31–1858–01, manufactured before

April 1, 1991, with a serial number (S/

N) equal to or less than 8188; or P/N

704A33–640–046 (E1T3023–01), or

delivered in pairs under the P/N

365A31–1858–02, manufactured before

April 1, 1991, with a S/N equal to or

less than 3122. The DGAC advises that

disbonding between the center metal

section and the elastomer of the

frequency adapter may occur.

Eurocopter France has issued

Eurocopter France AS–365 Service

Bulletin, No. 01.00.44, dated May 9,

1996, which specifies a visual

inspection of the frequency adapter face

to determine its P/N, S/N, and date of

manufacture and to remove and replace

certain frequency adapters with an

unaffected frequency adapter. The

DGAC classified this service bulletin as

mandatory and issued AD 96–117–

040(B), dated June 19, 1996, in order to

assure the continued airworthiness of

these helicopters in France.

This helicopter model is

manufactured in France and is type

certificated for operation in the United

States under the provisions of section

21.29 of the Federal Aviation

Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and the

applicable bilateral airworthiness

agreement. Pursuant to this bilateral

airworthiness agreement, the DGAC has

kept the FAA informed of the situation

described above. The FAA has

examined the findings of the DGAC,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are
Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 108 / Friday, June 5, 1998 / Proposed Rules 30663

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other Eurocopter France

Model AS–365N, N1, and N2

helicopters of the same type design

registered in the United States, the

proposed AD would require removing

any frequency adapter affected by this

AD and replacing it with an airworthy

frequency adapter.

The FAA estimates that 91 helicopters

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 6 work hours per

helicopter to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would cost approximately $5,200 per

helicopter. Based on these figures, the

total cost impact of the proposed AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

$505,960.

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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. Therefore,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the

authority delegated to me by the

Administrator, the Federal Aviation

Administration proposes to amend part

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations

(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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive to

read as follows:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. 97–SW–64–

AD.

Applicability: Model AS–365N, N1, and N2

helicopters, certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

helicopters that have been modified, altered,

or repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must use the authority

provided in paragraph (c) to request approval

from the FAA. This approval may address

either no action, if the current configuration

eliminates the unsafe condition, or different

actions necessary to address the unsafe

condition described in this AD. Such a

request should include an assessment of the

effect of the changed configuration on the

unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no

case does the presence of any modification,

alteration, or repair remove any helicopter

from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required within the next 100

hours time-in-service or 6 calendar months,

whichever occurs first, unless accomplished

previously.

To prevent vibrations caused by

disbonding of the center section of a

frequency adapter from the elastomer on the

main rotor head and subsequent reduced

controllability of the helicopter, accomplish

the following:

(a) Determine the part number, serial

number, and date of manufacture of the main

rotor head frequency adapter (frequency

adapter).

(b) If frequency adapter part number (P/N)

704A33–640–031 (E1T2624–01A), or

delivered in pairs under the P/N 365A31–

1858–01, manufactured before April 1, 1991,

with a serial number (S/N) equal to or less

than 8188; or P/N 704A33–640–046

(E1T3023–01), or delivered in pairs under the

P/N 365A31–1858–02, manufactured before

April 1, 1991, with a S/N equal to or less

than 3122, is installed, remove the frequency

adapter and replace it with an airworthy

frequency adapter.

Note 2: Eurocopter France AS–365 Service

Bulletin No. 01.00.44, dated May 9, 1996,

pertains to the subject of this AD.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, FAA,

Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards

Staff. Operators shall submit their requests

through an FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may concur or comment and

then send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft

Standards Staff.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Rotorcraft Standards Staff.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

Note 4: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Direction General De L’Aviation Civile

(France) AD 96–117–040(B), dated June 19,

1996.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 29,

1998.

Henry A. Armstrong,

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft

Certification Office.

[FR Doc. 98–14928 Filed 6–4–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98–AGL–38]

Proposed Modification of Class E

Airspace; Superior, WI

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

SUMMARY: This notice proposes to

modify Class E Superior, WI. A Global

Positioning System (GPS) Standard

Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP)

to Runway (Rwy) 03 has been developed

for Richard I. Bong Airport. Controlled

airspace extending upward from 700 to

1200 feet above ground level (AGL) is

needed to contain aircraft executing the

approach. This action would increase

the radius of the existing controlled

airspace for Richard I. Bong Airport.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before July 27, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the

proposal in triplicate to: Federal

Aviation Administration, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, AGL–7, Rules

Docket No. 98–AGL–38, 2300 East

Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois

60018.

The official docket may be examined

in the Office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel, Federal Aviation

Administration, 2300 East Devon

Avenue, Des Plaines, Illinois. An

informal docket may also be examined

during normal business hours at the Air

Traffic Division, Airspace Branch,

Federal Aviation Administration, 2300