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

8205

Vol. 60, No. 29

Monday, February 13, 1995

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94–SW–19–AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter

Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB–

BK 117 Series 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 Deutschland GmbH (ECD)

Model MBB–BK 117 series helicopters.

This proposal would require initial and

repetitive inspections of the main rotor

(M/R) blade upper and lower surface for

bulging. This proposal is prompted by

two reported incidents in which a

balance weight became detached from

inside the M/R blade structure and

migrated toward the tip of the M/R

blade. The actions specified by the

proposed AD are intended to detect

movement of a balance weight to

prevent severe vibrations and a

subsequent precautionary landing.

DATES: Comments must be received by

April 14, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:

Rules Docket No. 94–SW–19–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.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas

75053–4005. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Office of the

Assistant Chief Counsel, 2601 Meacham

Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Richard Monschke, Aerospace Engineer,

Rotorcraft Standards Staff, FAA,

Rotorcraft Directorate, 2601 Meacham

Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137,

telephone (817) 222–5116, 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. 94–SW–19–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 Assistant Chief

Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket No.

94–SW–19–AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

The Luftfahrt-Bundesamt, which is

the airworthiness authority for the

Federal Republic of Germany, recently

notified the FAA that an unsafe

condition may exist on Eurocopter

Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB–

BK 117 series helicopters. The LuftfahrtBundesamt advises that the M/R blade

upper and lower surfaces in the area of

the balance weights may bulge or have

creep deformations.

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD)

has issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB–

MBB–BK 117–10–108, Revision 1, dated

October 14, 1994, which specifies initial

and repetitive inspections of the upper

and lower surfaces of the main rotor

blades for bulging in the area of the

outboard lead balance weight. The

Luftfahrt-Bundesamt classified this

service bulletin as mandatory and

issued AD 94–280 in order to assure the

continued airworthiness of these

helicopters in the Federal Republic of

Germany.

This helicopter model is

manufactured in the Federal Republic of

Germany 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 Luftfahrt-Bundesamt has kept the

FAA informed of the situation described

above. The FAA has examined the

findings of the Luftfahrt-Bundesamt,

reviewed all available information, and

determined that AD action is necessary

for products of this type design that are

certificated for operation in the United

States.

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other Eurocopter

Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB–

BK 117 series helicopters of the same

type design registered in the United

States, the proposed AD would require

initial and repetitive inspections of the

M/R blade upper and lower surface for

bulging. The actions would be required

to be accomplished in accordance with

the service bulletin described

previously.

The FAA estimates that 125

helicopters of U.S. registry would be

affected by this proposed AD, that it

would take approximately one-half

work hour per helicopter to accomplish

the proposed actions, and that the

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $3,750.

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects
8206 Federal Register / Vol. 60, No. 29 / Monday, February 13, 1995 / Proposed Rules

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. App. 1354(a), 1421

and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 106(g); and 14 CFR

11.89.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive to

read as follows:

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD):

Docket No. 94–SW–19–AD.

Applicability: Model MBB–BK 117 A–1,

A–3, A–4, B–1, B–2, and C–1 helicopters,

certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To detect movement of a balance weight,

severe vibrations, and a subsequent

precautionary landing, accomplish the

following:

(a) Within the next 5 hours time-in-service

(TIS) after the effective date of this AD, and

thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 50 hours

TIS, visually inspect the upper and lower

surface of the main rotor blades (blades) in

the area of the outboard lead balance weight

in the marked inspection area for signs of

bulging, in accordance with Paragraph 2.A. of

the Accomplishment Instructions of

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Alert

Service Bulletin ASB–MBB–BK 117–10–108,

Revision 1, dated October 14, 1994.

(b) If a marked inspection area is not

visible, mark the area in accordance with

Paragraph 2.A. of the Accomplishment

Instructions of Eurocopter Deutschland

GmbH (ECD) Alert Service Bulletin ASBMBB-BK 117–10–108, Revision 1, dated

October 14, 1994, and then inspect in

accordance with paragraph (a) of this AD.

(c) If bulging exceeds 1mm in height,

remove the blade and replace it with an

airworthy blade in accordance with the

applicable maintenance manual.

(d) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used when approved by the Manager,

Rotorcraft Standards Staff, FAA, Rotorcraft

Directorate. 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: 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.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February

6, 1995.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 95–3514 Filed 2–10–95; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93–NM–219–AD]

Airworthiness Directives; Lockheed

Model L–1011–385–1 Series Airplanes

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 all

Lockheed Model L–1011–385–1 series

airplanes. This proposal would require

implementation of a Supplemental

Inspection Document (SID) program of

structural inspections to detect fatigue

cracking, and repair, if necessary, to

ensure continued airworthiness of these

airplanes as they approach the

manufacturer’s original fatigue design

life goal. This proposal is prompted by

a structural re-evaluation by the

manufacturer that identified certain

structural details where fatigue damage

is likely to occur. The actions specified

by the proposed AD are intended to

prevent fatigue cracking that could

compromise the structural integrity of

these airplanes.

DATES: Comments must be received by

April 10, 1995.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Transport

Airplane Directorate, ANM–103,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 93–NM–

219–AD, 1601 Lind Avenue, SW.,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

Comments may be inspected at this

location between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

The service information referenced in

the proposed rule may be obtained from

Lockheed Aeronautical Systems

Support Company, Field Support

Department, Dept. 693, Zone 0755, 2251

Lake Park Drive, Smyrna, Georgia

30080. This information may be

examined at the FAA, Transport

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind

Avenue, SW., Renton, Washington; or at

the FAA, Small Airplane Directorate,

Atlanta Aircraft Certification Office,

Campus Building, 1701 Columbia

Avenue, Suite 2–160, College Park,

Georgia.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Thomas Peters, Aerospace Engineer,

Flight Test Branch, ACE–160A, FAA,

Small Airplane Directorate, Atlanta

Aircraft Certification Office, Campus

Building, 1701 Columbia Avenue, Suite

2–160, College Park, Georgia 30337–

2748; telephone (404) 305–7367; fax

(404) 305–7348.

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 shall

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