25394 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 101 / Thursday, May 28, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact M7 Aerospace Repair 

Station, 10823 NE Entrance Road, San 

Antonio, Texas 78216; telephone: (210) 824– 

9421; fax: (210) 804–7766; Internet: http:// 

www.m7aerospace.com. 

(4) You may review copies of the service 

information incorporated by reference for 

this AD at the FAA, Central Region, Office of 

the Regional Counsel, 901 Locust, Kansas 

City, Missouri 64106. For information on the 

availability of this material at the Central 

Region, call (816) 329–3768. 

(5) You may also review copies of the 

service information incorporated by reference 

for this AD 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/

code_of_federal_regulations/

ibr_locations.html. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on May 

18, 2009. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Small Airplane Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–11989 Filed 5–27–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0482; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–54–AD; Amendment 39– 

15920; AD 2009–11–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

(Eurocopter) Model EC135 helicopters. 

This AD results from a report of 

abnormal main rotor blade vibrations on 

a Eurocopter Model EC135 helicopter. 

This AD also results from mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI) issued by the European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States 

of the European Community. The MCAI 

states that an operator reported unusual 

vibrations during the start phase of the 

main rotor blade on one helicopter. The 

vibrations stopped after the application 

of torque. Subsequent maintenance 

personnel found that six of the eight 

attachment screws of the lower hubshaft bearing support were loose. This 

condition was discovered in two 

additional helicopters. Loose screws in 

the bearing support, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in abnormal 

main rotor blade vibrations and 

subsequent damage to the main 

transmission. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective on 

June 12, 2009. 

The incorporation by reference of 

certain publications is approved by the 

Director of the Federal Register as of 

June 12, 2009. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by July 27, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting your 

comments electronically. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: 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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. 

You may get the service information 

identified in this AD from American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75053–4005, 

telephone (972) 641–3460, fax (972) 

641–3527, or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.com. 

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 AD, the 

economic evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Operations 

office (telephone (800) 647–5527) is 

stated in the ADDRESSES section of this 

AD. Comments will be available in the 

AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety 

Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5116, 

fax (817) 222–5961. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We recently received a report of 

abnormal main rotor blade vibration on 

a Eurocopter Model EC135 helicopter. 

This main rotor blade vibration 

occurred after initial aircraft start, while 

operating at flat pitch, between 8.5 and 

25 percent torque and 98.6 percent NR/ 

N2 speed, and dissipated once the 

FADEC switches were advanced to 

FLIGHT. The main rotor transmission 

chip light also illuminated with 

minimal debris found on the chip 

detectors. During troubleshooting, six of 

the eight main transmission lower hubshaft bearing support bolts were found 

lying in the bottom of the main 

transmission case, atop of the lower 

transmission access panel. Only two of 

the eight bolts remained installed, loose 

in their positions, and the outer race of 

the roller bearing was rotated out of 

position (cocked). Approximately three 

weeks after that first incident, we 

received a report that loose bolts were 

discovered on two additional newer 

helicopters that had not been inspected 

at the time the loose bolts were 

discovered on the first helicopter. 

Subsequent investigations revealed that 

screws were not properly torqued and 

vibrations had caused the screws to 

back-out. Loosened screws in the 

bearing support, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in abnormal 

main rotor blade vibrations and 

subsequent damage to the main 

transmission. 

EASA has issued EASA Emergency 

AD 2008–0175–E, dated September 16, 

2008, to correct an unsafe condition for 

the Eurocopter Model EC135 

helicopters. The MCAI explains that 

‘‘The lower hub-shaft bearing consists of 

a ball bearing and a roller bearing. The 

outer race of the roller bearing is fixed 

to the housing with screws. Should all 

attachment screws become loose, the 

outer race of the roller bearing might 

separate, which would constitute an 

unsafe condition. In such case, however, 

the axial guidance of the rotor hub-shaft 

would still be ensured.’’ The MCAI 

requires inspecting the main 

transmission attachment hardware and 

installing locking washers. You may 

obtain further information by examining 

the MCAI and any related service 

information in the AD docket. 

Related Service Information 

Eurocopter has issued Alert Service 

Bulletin EC135–63A–013, Revision 2, 

dated September 12, 2008 (ASB). The 

ASB specifies checking the screws at the 

lower hub-shaft bearing for correct 

attachment and securing attachment 

hardware by means of locking washers. 

The actions described in the MCAI are 

intended to correct the same unsafe 

condition as that identified in the 

service information. 

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 101 / Thursday, May 28, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 25395 

FAA’s Evaluation and Unsafe Condition 

Determination 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of Germany, and 

is approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Germany, EASA, their 

Technical Agent, has notified us of the 

unsafe condition described in the MCAI. 

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 the same 

type design. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

MCAI AD 

This AD does not require sending the 

main transmission to the manufacturer 

and does not refer to the transmission 

part numbers. Also, this AD uses the 

term ‘‘hours time-in-service’’, the MCAI 

AD uses the term ‘‘flight cycles’’. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

about 189 helicopters of U.S. registry. 

We also estimate that it will take about 

8 work-hours to inspect and install lock 

washers, at an average labor rate of $80 

per work-hour. Required parts will cost 

about $574 per helicopter ($86 for the 

lock washers and $488 for the required 

oil). Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of this AD on U.S. operators 

will be $229,446 ($1,214 per helicopter). 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD. We find that the risk to the flying 

public justifies waiving notice and 

comment prior to adoption of this rule 

because loosened screws in the bearing 

support, if not detected and corrected 

quickly, could result in abnormal main 

rotor blade vibrations and subsequent 

damage to the main transmission. 

Therefore, we have determined that 

notice and opportunity for public 

comment before issuing this AD are 

impracticable and that good cause exists 

for making this amendment effective in 

fewer than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not precede it by notice and 

opportunity for public comment. 

However, we invite you to send us any 

written data, views, or arguments 

concerning this AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section of this AD. Include 

‘‘Docket No. FAA–2009–0482; 

Directorate Identifier 2008–SW–54–AD’’ 

at the beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

this AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend this AD because of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact we receive 

about this AD. 

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 

product(s) identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We determined that 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. 

Therefore, I certify this AD: 

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. 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 AD: 

2009–11–10 Eurocopter Deutschland 

GmbH: Amendment 39–15920. Docket 

No. FAA–2009–0482; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–54–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective on June 12, 2009. 

Other Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH (Eurocopter) Model 

EC135 helicopters with a main transmission 

with a serial number of 0001 through 1420 

and 1500 through 1749 installed, certificated 

in any category. 

Reason 

(d) The mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) states that 

an operator reported unusual vibrations 

during the start phase of the main rotor blade 

on one helicopter. The vibrations stopped 

after the application of torque. Subsequently, 

maintenance personnel found that six of the 

eight attachment screws of the lower hubshaft bearing support were loose. This 

condition was discovered in two additional 

helicopters. Loose screws in the bearing 

support, if not detected and corrected, could 

result in abnormal main rotor blade 

vibrations and subsequent damage to the 

main transmission. 

Actions and Compliance 

(e) Within 3 hours time-in-service (TIS) if 

unusual vibrations are detected during the 

start phase or the shutdown phase when the 

main rotors are not at full operation RPM, or 

within 50 hours TIS after the effective date 

of this AD, whichever occurs first, do the 

following: 

(1) Remove the lower transmission cover. 

Note 1: You may drain the oil into a clean 

container so that it can be reused. 

(2) Measure the clearance between the 

outer race and the transmission housing at 

four positions offset by 90° using a feeler 

gauge as depicted in Figure 1 of Eurocopter 

25396 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 101 / Thursday, May 28, 2009 / Rules and Regulations 

Alert Service Bulletin EC135–63A–013, 

Revision 02, dated September 12, 2008 

(ASB). If the measured maximum clearance 

is: 

(i) Less than or equal to 0.1 mm—install 

locking washers, tighten all screws, and remeasure the clearance by following 

paragraphs 3.B.(3) through 3.B.(7) of the ASB. 

(ii) More than 0.1 mm—determine the 

difference between the smallest and the 

largest clearance and: 

(A) If the difference is less than 0.4 mm— 

install locking washers, tighten all screws, 

and re-measure the clearance by following 

paragraphs 3.B.(2) through 3.B.(7) of the ASB. 

(B) If the difference is equal to or more 

than 0.4 mm—replace the transmission 

before further flight with an airworthy 

transmission that has been modified in 

accordance with paragraph 3.B. of the ASB. 

(iii) If the re-measured clearances obtained 

in accordance with paragraphs (e)(2)(i) or 

(e)(2)(ii)(A) of this AD are not less than or 

equal to 0.05 mm, replace the transmission 

with an airworthy transmission that has been 

modified in accordance with paragraph 3.B. 

of the ASB. 

(3) Reinstall the lower transmission cover 

and replenish the transmission oil. 

Note 2: If the transmission oil was drained 

into a clean container, it can be reused. Also, 

if the O-ring on the lower transmission cover 

is not damaged, it can be reused once. 

(f) After the effective date of this AD, 

install only main transmissions that have 

been modified in accordance with paragraph 

3.B.(3) of the ASB. 

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI 

AD 

(g) This AD does not require sending the 

main transmission to the manufacturer and 

does not refer to the transmission part 

numbers. Also, this AD uses the term ‘‘hours 

time-in-service’’, the MCAI AD uses the term 

‘‘flight cycles’’. 

Other Information 

(h) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, ATTN: Chinh Vuong, Aviation 

Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Safety Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5116, fax 

(817) 222–5961 has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(i) European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) MCAI Emergency AD No. 2008– 

0175–E, dated September 16, 2008, contains 

related information. 

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) 

Tracking Code 

(j) ATA Code 63: Main rotor drive. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(k) You must use the specified portions of 

Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin EC135– 

63A–013, Revision 02, dated September 12, 

2008, to do the actions required. 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

this service information under 5 U.S.C. 

552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact American Eurocopter 

Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand 

Prairie, TX 75053–4005, telephone (972) 

641–3460, fax (972) 641–3527, or at http:// 

www.eurocopter.com. 

(3) You may review copies at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas; or 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/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas on May 19, 

2009. 

Mark R. Schilling, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. E9–12319 Filed 5–27–09; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2009–0478; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NM–133–AD; Amendment 

39–15917; AD 2009–11–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; British 

Aerospace Model HS 748 Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This AD results 

from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

Resulting from the assessment of fuel tank 

wiring installations required by SFAR 88 

(Special Federal Aviation Regulation) and 

equivalent JAA/EASA (Joint Aviation 

Authorities/European Aviation Safety 

Agency) policy, BAE Systems (Operations) 

Limited has revised the HS.748 Aircraft 

Maintenance Manual (AMM), now at 

Revision 19, to introduce Chapter 05–10–00 

‘‘Critical Design Configuration Control 

Limitations (CDCCL)—Fuel System’’. The 

CDCCLs provide instructions to retain critical 

ignition source prevention features during 

configuration changes that may be caused by 

modification, repair or maintenance actions. 

The CDCCLs have been identified as 

requirements for continued airworthiness to 

address the risk of fuel vapour ignition 

sources remaining undetected. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result in a 

fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of 

the aircraft. 

* * * * * 

This AD requires actions that are 

intended to address the unsafe 

condition described in the MCAI. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 

12, 2009. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication, listed in the AD 

as of June 12, 2009. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by June 29, 2009. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: 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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–40, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC, 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; 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 regulatory 

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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue, SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057–3356; telephone 

(425) 227–2125; fax (425) 227–1149. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA 

Airworthiness Directive 2008–0125, 

dated July 2, 2008 (referred to after this 

as ‘‘the MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the specified products. 

The MCAI states: