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[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 249 (Wednesday, December 28, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 81430-81432]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-33248]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1408; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-10-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
Eurocopter Model SA330F, G, J and AS332C, L, L1, and L2 helicopters. 
This

[[Page 81431]]

proposed AD is prompted by two reports of jamming of one of the fuel 
shut-off control levers, which originated from solidified grease in the 
tangential gearbox (gearbox). Corrosion was also found in a gearbox. 
The proposed actions are intended to prevent jamming of a fuel shut-off 
control lever preventing the shut off of engine fuel and preventing the 
parallel-mounted electrical micro switches, normally activated by 
shutting off both of the fuel shut-off control levers, from switching 
off the electrical power system during an emergency shut down.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by February 27, 
2012.

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.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Examining the 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 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 
75053-4005; telephone (972) 641-3460; fax (972) 641-3527; or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
eric.haight@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 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 Emergency 
AD No. 2007-0082-E, dated March 27, 2007, to correct an unsafe 
condition for the Eurocopter Model SA330F, G, J and AS332C, C1, L, L1, 
and L2 helicopters. EASA advises that the emergency AD was issued 
following two reports of jamming of one of the fuel shut-off control 
levers discovered during maintenance. In both cases, this jamming 
originates from solidified grease in the gearboxes. They also found 
corrosion in a gearbox. Jamming of a fuel shut-off control lever 
constitutes an unsafe condition because it prevents the shut off of 
engine fuel and prevents the parallel-mounted electrical micro 
switches, normally activated by shutting off both of the fuel shut-off 
control levers, from switching off the electrical power system during 
an emergency shut down.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant 
information and determined that the unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type 
designs.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued an Alert Service Bulletin (ASB), Revision 1, 
dated March 22, 2007, with 3 different numbers (Nos. 76.00.04, 
76.00.03, and 76.03). No. 76.03 applies to the United States type-
certificated Model SA330F, G, and J and also applies to the non-type-
certificated, military Model 330 helicopters. No. 76.00.04 applies to 
the United States type certificated Model AS332C, C1, L, L1, and L2 
helicopters and also applies to the non type-certificated AS332C1 and 
military Model 332 helicopters. No. 76.00.03 applies to the non type-
certificated military Model 532 helicopters. EASA classified this 
service information as mandatory and issued Emergency AD No. 2007-0082-
E, dated March 27, 2007, to correct the same unsafe condition as 
identified in the service information.

Proposed AD Requirements

    The proposed AD would require within 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS), unless already done, cleaning, inspecting and lubricating each 
gearbox, and adjusting, as necessary, the fuel shut-off control travel 
by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2. 
(reference Figures 3 through 7), of Eurocopter ASB No. 76.03, Revision 
1, dated March 22, 2007, for the Model SA330F, G, and J, or ASB No. 
76.00.04, Revision 1, dated March 22, 2007, for the Model AS332C, L, 
L1, and L2 helicopters.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

     We use the word ``inspect'' to describe the actions 
required by a mechanic versus the word ``check.''
     We refer to the compliance time as ``hours TIS'' rather 
than ``flying hours.''
     We use a different compliance time for inspecting and 
lubricating the gearboxes.
     We are not including the military model helicopters or the 
Model AS332C1 in the applicability because they are not type 
certificated in the U.S.
     We are not requiring measuring the operating loads of the 
fuel shut-off controls per paragraph 1.1 of the MCAI AD (paragraph 
2.B.1 of the ASB).

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 29 helicopters 
of U.S. registry. We also estimate that operators may incur the 
following costs to comply with this AD: $7,395 for the fleet assuming 3 
work-hours to lubricate each gearbox at an average labor rate of $85 
per work-hour.

[[Page 81432]]

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.
    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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2011-1408; Directorate Identifier 
2008-SW-10-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model SA330F, G, J and AS332C, L, L1, and L2 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as jamming of one of the 
fuel shut-off control levers due to solidified grease in a 
tangential gearbox (gearbox). This condition could prevent the shut 
off of engine fuel and prevent the parallel-mounted electrical micro 
switches, normally activated by shutting off both of the fuel shut-
off control levers, from switching off the electrical power system 
during an emergency shut down.

(c) 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.

(d) Actions

    Within 50 hours time-in-service, clean, inspect, and lubricate 
each gearbox and adjust, as necessary, the fuel shut-off control 
travel by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 
2.B.2. (reference Figures 3 through 7), of Eurocopter Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) No. 76.03, Revision 1, dated March 22, 2007, for the 
Model SA330F, G, and J, or ASB No. 76.00.04, Revision 1, dated March 
22, 2007, for the Model AS332C, L, L1, and L2 helicopters.

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal 
to: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy 
Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email eric.haight@faa.gov.
    (2) For operations conducted under a Part 119 operating 
certificate or under 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.

(f) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD No. 2007-0082-E, dated March 27, 2007.

(g) Subject

    Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 7600, Engine 
Control.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 16, 2011.
Jorge Castillo,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-33248 Filed 12-27-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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