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.

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REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

4267 

Vol. 79, No. 17 

Monday, January 27, 2014 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0634; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–023–AD; Amendment 

39–17725; AD 2014–01–02] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

(Eurocopter) Model EC135P2+ and 

EC135T2+ helicopters. This AD requires 

inspecting the mechanical air 

conditioning system compressor bearing 

block upper bearing (upper bearing) for 

corrosion, leaking grease, condensation, 

or water. This AD was prompted by 

metallic debris from an upper bearing 

found in the air inlet areas of both 

engines in a Model EC135P2+ 

helicopter. The actions of this AD are 

intended to prevent metallic debris from 

damaging the engine, causing loss of 

engine power, and subsequent loss of 

helicopter control. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 3, 

2014. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of March 3, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: 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 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 foreign 

authority’s AD, any incorporated-byreference 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: Matt 

Wilbanks, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

matt.wilbanks@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion 

On July 23, 2013, at 78 FR 44050, 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 Model EC135P2+ and 

EC135T2+ helicopters, serial numbers 

870, 872, 873, 879, 883, 884, 888, 893, 

900, 905, 911, 914, 916, 917, 923, and 

926, with an upper bearing, part number 

(P/N) L210M1872105, installed. 

The NPRM proposed to require 

inspecting the upper bearing for 

corrosion, leaking grease, condensation, 

or water. The proposed requirements 

were intended to prevent metallic debris 

from damaging the engine, causing loss 

of engine power, and subsequent loss of 

helicopter control. 

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 

2011–0111R1, dated September 22, 

2011, issued by the European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States 

of the European Union. EASA AD No. 

2011–0111R1 revises EASA AD No. 

2011–0111, dated June 10, 2011, to 

correct an unsafe condition for certain 

Model EC135P2+ and EC135T2+ 

helicopters. EASA advises that metallic 

debris was found within the air inlet 

area of both engines during a pre-flight 

check of an EC135 P2+ helicopter. A 

subsequent investigation showed that 

the debris came from the bearing cage of 

a ball bearing in the air conditioning 

compressor bearing block, and that it 

damaged the compressor stage of one of 

the engines to such an extent that the 

engine had to be overhauled, according 

to EASA. 

EASA notes that as this mechanical 

air conditioning system was introduced 

recently on the production line, only a 

limited number of helicopters are 

affected. But if not detected and 

corrected, this unsafe condition ‘‘could 

lead to further cases of bearing case 

failure, possibly resulting in loss of 

engine power and reduced control of the 

helicopter,’’ EASA reports. EASA AD 

No. 2011–0111R1 requires repetitive 

inspections of the affected ball bearing 

for indications that the upper bearing is 

failing and, depending on the findings, 

deactivating the air conditioning 

system. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we received no comments on the NPRM 

(78 FR 44050, July 23, 2013). 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Germany 

and are approved for operation in the 

United States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Germany, 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. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter issued Emergency Alert 

Service Bulletin (EASB) EC135–21A– 

013, Revision 0, dated June 6, 2011, to 

provide instructions for inspections 

after debris from the bearing cage of a 

ball bearing was found in the air inlet 

area of both engines of an EC135P2+ 

helicopter. Eurocopter followed the 

EASB with Service Bulletin EC135–21– 


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4268 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 17 / Monday, January 27, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 

015, Revision 0, dated July 12, 2011, to 

introduce the replacement of the 

affected compressor bearing block with 

a ‘‘new, improved’’ compressor bearing 

block. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 1 

helicopter of U.S. Registry and that 

labor costs average $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these estimates, we expect the 

following costs: 

• Inspecting the upper bearing for 

corrosion, leaking grease, condensation 

or water requires 4 work-hours for a 

labor cost of $340. No parts are needed. 

• Deactivating the air conditioning 

system requires 6 work-hours for a labor 

cost of $510. No parts are needed. 

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): 

2014–01–02 Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

Helicopters: Amendment 39–17725; 

Docket No. FAA–2013–0634; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–023–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Eurocopter Deutschland 

GmbH (Eurocopter) Model EC135P2+ and 

EC135T2+ helicopters, serial numbers 870, 

872, 873, 879, 883, 884, 888, 893, 900, 905, 

911, 914, 916, 917, 923, and 926, with a 

mechanical air conditioning system 

compressor bearing block upper bearing 

(upper bearing) part number L210M1872105 

installed, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

metallic debris in the engine inlet areas. 

This condition could result in failure of an 

engine, loss of engine power, and subsequent 

loss of helicopter control. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective March 3, 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. 

Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS): 

(1) Visually inspect the upper bearing for 

corrosion, leaking grease, condensation, or 

water. 

(2) If there is condensation but no 

corrosion, leaking grease, or water, repeat 

this inspection at intervals not to exceed 25 

hours TIS. 

(3) If there is no corrosion, leaking grease, 

condensation, or water, repeat this inspection 

at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS. 

(4) If there is corrosion, leaking grease, or 

water, deactivate the air conditioning system 

in accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Section 3.B.3, Paragraphs (a) 

through (ai) of Eurocopter Emergency Alert 

Service Bulletin No. EC135–21A–013, 

Revision 0, dated June 6, 2011. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Wilbanks, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and 

Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

matt.wilbanks@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 Service Bulletin EC135–21– 

015, Revision 0, dated July 12, 2011, which 

is not incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the subject of 

this AD. You may review a copy of this 

service information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

(817) 222–5110. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2011–0111R1, dated September 22, 2011. 

You may view a copy of the EASA AD in the 

AD Docket on the Internet at 

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

FAA–2013–0634. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2100, air conditioning system. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin No. EC135–21A–013, Revision 0, 

dated June 6, 2011. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For Eurocopter 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. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 17 / Monday, January 27, 2014 / Rules and Regulations 4269 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at 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/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 2, 

2014. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–00837 Filed 1–24–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0095; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–NM–197–AD; Amendment 

39–17699; AD 2013–25–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding 

Airworthiness Directives (ADs) AD 

2000–17–05 and AD 2001–04–09 for all 

the Boeing Company Model 767 

airplanes. AD 2000–17–05 required a 

functional check of the shear rivets in 

all six elevator power control actuator 

(PCA) bellcrank assemblies to determine 

the condition of the shear rivets; and 

replacement or rework of the bellcrank 

assemblies, if necessary. AD 2001–04– 

09 required repetitive testing of the 

elevator control system to determine if 

an elevator PCA is rigged incorrectly 

due to yielded or failed shear rivets in 

a bellcrank assembly for the elevator 

PCA, and follow-on actions if necessary. 

Since we issued ADs 2000–17–05 and 

2001–04–09, a terminating modification 

has been designed. This new AD 

requires an inspection to determine the 

part numbers and condition of the 

bellcrank assemblies; modification or 

replacement of the PCA bellcrank 

assembly, if necessary; and a repetitive 

functional test and mis-rig check, and 

corrective actions if necessary. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent continued 

operation with yielded or failed shear 

rivets in the elevator PCA bellcrank 

assemblies, and to prevent certain 

failures or jams in the elevator system 

from causing a hardover of the elevator 

surface, resulting in a significant pitch 

upset and possible loss of control of the 

airplane. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 3, 

2014. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of March 3, 2014. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain other publications listed in 

this AD as of November 28, 2007 (72 FR 

67236, November 28, 2007). 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain other publications listed in 

this AD as of March 20, 2001 (66 FR 

13227, March 5, 2001). 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain other publication listed in 

this AD as of September 11, 2000 (65 FR 

51754, August 25, 2000). 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data 

& Services Management, P.O. Box 3707, 

MC 2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; 

telephone 206–544–5000, extension 1; 

fax 206–766–5680; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. You may view 

this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov; or in person at the 

Docket Management Facility between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD 

docket contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Docket Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marie Hogestad, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM– 

130S, FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification 

Office, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917–6418; 

fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

marie.hogestad@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to supersede AD 2000–17–05, 

Amendment 39–11879 (65 FR 51754, 

August 25, 2000); and AD 2001–04–09, 

Amendment 39–12128 (66 FR 13227, 

March 5, 2001). ADs 2000–17–05 and 

2001–04–09 applied to the specified 

products. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on February 26, 2013 

(78 FR 12991). The NPRM proposed to 

continue to require a functional check of 

the shear rivets in all six PCA bellcrank 

assemblies to determine the condition of 

the shear rivets; and replacement or 

rework of the bellcrank assemblies, if 

necessary. The NPRM also proposed to 

continue to require repetitive testing of 

the elevator control system to determine 

if an elevator PCA is rigged incorrectly 

due to failed shear rivets in a bellcrank 

assembly of the elevator PCA, and 

follow-on actions if necessary. The 

NPRM also proposed to require an 

inspection to determine the part 

numbers and condition of the bellcrank 

assemblies; modification or replacement 

of the PCA bellcrank assembly, if 

necessary; and a repetitive functional 

test and mis-rig check, and corrective 

actions if necessary. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the proposal (78 FR 12991, 

February 26, 2013) and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Request To Withdraw the NPRM (78 FR 

12991, February 26, 2013) 

United Airlines (UAL) requested that 

we withdraw the NPRM (78 FR 12991, 

February 26, 2013). UAL stated that 

there may be no benefit to superseding 

AD 2001–04–09, Amendment 39–12128 

(66 FR 13227, March 5, 2001), because 

current actions provide an equivalent 

level of safety. UAL stated that, as an 

alternative method of compliance 

(AMOC) to AD 2001–04–09, it is 

presently accomplishing the actions 

described in the following service 

bulletins. UAL stated that it is 

effectively complying with the NPRM, 

and indicated other airlines may be as 

well. 

• Boeing Service Bulletin 767–27– 

0186, dated June 25, 2007. 

• Boeing Service Bulletin 767–27– 

0187, dated June 25, 2007. 

• Boeing Service Bulletin 767–27– 

0200, dated June 25, 2007. 

• Boeing Service Bulletin 767–27– 

0201, dated June 27, 2007. 

• Boeing Service Bulletin 767–27– 

0202, Revision 1, dated February 21, 

2008. 


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