This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

191 

Vol. 81, No. 2 

Tuesday, January 5, 2016 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3883; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–SW–029–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and 

EC225LP helicopters. This proposed AD 

would require installing a cut-out for 

the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) 

rail support junction profiles and 

inspecting splices, frame 5295, and 

related equipment for a crack. This 

proposed AD is prompted by reports of 

cracks on frame 5295 and on splices 

installed to prevent those cracks. The 

proposed actions are intended to detect 

a crack in frame 5295, which could lead 

to loss of the helicopter frame’s 

structural integrity and consequently, 

loss of helicopter control. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 7, 2016. 

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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3883 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 

European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) 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 rule, 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, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, Texas 76177. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Gary 

Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Regulations and Policy Group, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

gary.b.roach@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 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, issued AD No. 2014–0098–E, 

dated April 25, 2014, to correct an 

unsafe condition for AS332L2 and 

EC225LP helicopters. EASA AD No. 

2014–0098–E applies to helicopters 

with a frame 5295 that have been 

reinforced by installing aluminium 

splices on the RH and LH fuselage 

external skins. EASA advises of a report 

of a crack detected on the reinforced 

frame during a scheduled inspection of 

a helicopter. According to EASA, the 

crack initiated on a splice in an area 

hidden by the overlapping junction 

profile of the cabin sliding door rail 

support, and then spread to the frame. 

EASA states that a crack in frame 

5295, if not detected and corrected, 

could lead to loss of structural integrity 

of the helicopter frame and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter. To 

address this condition, EASA issued AD 

No. 2014–0098–E to require repetitive 

inspections of the splices for a crack, as 

well as cutting out the rail support 

junction profiles to provide a 

convenient access to identify cracks in 

a splice. 

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 products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC225– 

05A038 for Model EC225LP helicopters 

and ASB No. AS332–05.00.97 for Model 


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192 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2016 / Proposed Rules 

AS332L2 helicopters. The ASBs, both 

Revision 0 and both dated April 15, 

2014, report cracks were found in the 

splice and frame 5295 on a Model 

AS332L2 helicopter during a major 

inspection. The splice had been added 

in compliance with Modification 

0726517. Had an optional rail support 

cut-out been accomplished on the 

aircraft to allow for a visual check of the 

splice for frame 5295, it would have 

revealed the crack in the splice, 

prompting its repair and consequently 

limiting the damage to frame 5295. As 

a result, the ASBs call for the rail 

support cut-out on the RH and LH side 

of the frame as well as periodic visual 

inspections of frame 5295 and related 

equipment. This service information is 

reasonably available because the 

interested parties have access to it 

through their normal course of business 

or by the means identified in the 

ADDRESSES section. 

Other Related Service Information 

We reviewed Airbus Service Bulletin 

(SB) No. 53–003, Revision No. 4, for 

Model EC225LP helicopters and SB No. 

53.01.52, Revision 5, for Model 

AS332L2 helicopters, both dated July 

23, 2010. The SBs specify procedures to 

reinforce frame 5295 by installing a new 

titanium plate underneath the fitting 

and a new widened aluminum splice 

below the upper corner of the door. We 

also reviewed Airbus Helicopters 

Service Bulletin No. 05–019, Revision 4, 

dated September 22, 2014, for Model 

EC225LP helicopters, which proposes 

that you cut out the junction profiles to 

perform periodic visual inspections. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require the 

following before a splice reaches 1,700 

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

hours TIS, or before the helicopter 

reaches 11,950 hours TIS, whichever 

occurs later: 

• Installing the rail support cut-out 

and identifying the right-hand and lefthand junction profile. 

• Inspecting each splice for a crack, 

and repairing or replacing the splice if 

there is a crack. 

This proposed AD would then 

require, at intervals not to exceed 110 

hours TIS, inspecting each splice for a 

crack, and repairing or replacing the 

splice if there is a crack. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires contacting 

Airbus Helicopters if there is a crack in 

the affected parts. This proposed AD 

would make no such requirement. 

The EASA AD sets various timelines 

for the repair or replacement of affected 

parts if a crack exists. This proposed AD 

would require the repair or replacement 

of affected parts before further flight if 

a crack exists. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 4 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs average $85 

a work-hour. Based on these estimates, 

we expect the following costs: 

Installing the cut-outs on frame 5295 

would require 40 work hours for a labor 

cost of $3,400. Parts would cost $5,000 

for total cost per helicopter of $8,400 

and $33,600 for the U.S. fleet. 

Inspecting helicopter frame 5295 

would require 2 work-hours for a labor 

cost of $170 per helicopter. No parts 

would be needed for a total U.S. fleet 

cost of $680 per inspection cycle. 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3883; Directorate Identifier 2014–SW– 

029–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model AS332L2 and 

Model EC225LP helicopters with an 

extended aluminum splice installed on frame 

5295, certificated in any category. 

Note 1 to paragraph (a) of this AD: 

Helicopters with modification (MOD) 

0726517 have an extended aluminum splice 

installed. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack on helicopter frame 5295. This 

condition could result in structural failure of 

the frame and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by March 7, 

2016. 

(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) Before a splice reaches 1,700 hours 

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

before the helicopter reaches 11,950 hours 

TIS, whichever occurs later, do the following: 

(i) Install the rail support cut-out and 

identify the right-hand and left-hand junction 


asabaliauskas on DSK5VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 2 / Tuesday, January 5, 2016 / Proposed Rules 193 

profile in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.B.2, of Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

EC225–05A038, Revision 0, dated April 15, 

2014 (ASB EC225–05A038), or ASB No. 

AS332–05.00.97, Revision 0, dated April 15, 

2014 (ASB AS332–05.00.97), whichever is 

applicable to your helicopter. 

(ii) Inspect each splice for a crack in the 

area depicted as Area Y in Figure 3 of ASB 

EC225–05A038 or ASB AS332–05.00.97, 

whichever is applicable to your helicopter. If 

a crack exists, repair or replace the splice 

before further flight. 

(2) Thereafter at intervals not to exceed 110 

hours TIS, inspect each splice for a crack in 

the area depicted as Area Y in Figure 3 of 

ASB EC225–05A038 or ASB AS332–05.00.97. 

If a crack exists, repair or replace the splice 

before further flight. 

(f) Credit for Actions Previously Completed 

Installing rail support cut-outs in 

accordance with MOD 0728090 or Airbus 

Helicopters Service Bulletin No. 05–019, 

Revision 4, dated September 22, 2014, before 

the effective date of this AD is considered 

acceptable for compliance with the 

corresponding actions specified in paragraph 

(e)(1)(i) of this AD. 

(g) 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, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@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. 

(h) Additional Information 

(1) Airbus Helicopters Service Bulletin 

(SB) No. 05–019, Revision 4, dated 

September 22, 2014, and SB No. 53–003 and 

SB No. 53.01.52, both Revision 4 and both 

dated July 12, 2010, which are not 

incorporated by reference, contain 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, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, 

TX 76177. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD No. 2014–0098–E, dated April 25, 2014. 

You may view the EASA AD on the Internet 

at http://www.regulations.gov in the AD 

Docket. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 5310, Fuselage Main, Structure. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 

22, 2015. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–33014 Filed 1–4–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Office of the Secretary 

14 CFR Part 382 

[Docket No. DOT–OST–2015–0246] 

RIN 2105–AE12 

Nondiscrimination on the Basis of 

Disability in Air Travel; Consideration 

of Negotiated Rulemaking Process 

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, 

Department of Transportation. 

ACTION: Notice of intent; extension of 

comment period. 

SUMMARY: This document extends the 

comment period for the notice of intent 

that was published in the Federal 

Register on Monday, December 7, 2015. 

The notice announced that the 

Department of Transportation 

(‘‘Department’’ or ‘‘DOT’’) is exploring 

the feasibility of conducting a 

negotiated rulemaking (reg neg) 

concerning accommodations for air 

travelers with disabilities addressing 

inflight entertainment, supplemental 

medical oxygen, service animals, 

accessible lavatories on single-aisle 

aircraft, seating accommodations, and 

carrier reporting of disability service 

requests. 

DATES: The deadline for submitting 

comments on the notice of intent 

published on December 7, 2015, (80 FR 

75953), is extended from January 6, 

2016 to January 21, 2016. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments 

identified by docket number DOT–OST– 

2015–0246 using any one of the 

following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility 

(M–30), U.S. Department of 

Transportation, West Building Ground 

Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Ave. SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kathleen Blank Riether, Senior 

Attorney, Office of Aviation 

Enforcement and Proceedings, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, by email 

at kathleen.blankriether@dot.gov or by 

telephone at 202–366–9342. To obtain a 

copy of this notice in an accessible 

format, you may also contact Kathleen 

Blank Riether. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

On December 7, 2015, the Department 

announced its intention to explore the 

feasibility of conducting a reg neg to: 

• Ensure that the same in-flight 

entertainment (IFE) available to all 

passengers is accessible to passengers 

with disabilities; 

• Provide individuals dependent on 

in-flight medical oxygen greater access 

to air travel consistent with Federal 

safety and security requirements; 

• Determine the appropriate 

definition of a service animal; 

• Establish safeguards to reduce the 

likelihood that passengers wishing to 

travel with their pets will be able to 

falsely claim that their pets are service 

animals; 

• Address the feasibility of accessible 

lavatories on new single aisle aircraft; 

• Address whether premium 

economy is a different class of service 

from standard economy as airlines are 

required to provide seating 

accommodations to passengers with 

disabilities within the same class of 

service; and 

• Require airlines to report annually 

to the Department the number of 

requests for disability assistance they 

receive and the time period within 

which wheelchair assistance is provided 

to passengers with disabilities. 

The Department requested that all 

comments be submitted no later than 

January 6, 2016. 

On December 21, 2015, the 

Department received a letter from 11 

disability advocacy organizations 

representing diverse interests expressing 

their concern that the designated 

comment period does not allow enough 

time for stakeholders to fully consider 

the impact of engaging in a negotiated 

rulemaking on these issues of critical 

concern to people with disabilities. The 

disability advocacy organizations noted 

that as a result of the holidays, the 30- 

day comment period is effectively 

reduced by nearly two weeks. They 

noted that the notice and comment 

process would be more effective if all 

stakeholders had sufficient time to 

consider and comment on the efficacy of 

conducting a negotiated rulemaking on 

each of the proposed issues. 

We agree that an extension of the 

comment period is appropriate given 

the effective shortening of the comment 

period by observance of the holidays. 

We believe that a 15-day extension to 


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