[Federal Register: May 16, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 95)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 26552-26553]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16my03-21]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 2002-SW-44-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model AS350B,
AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E,
AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model
helicopters. The existing AD requires inspecting the main rotor
swashplate bearing (bearing) for play or binding, proper assembly and
lubrication, and measuring the swashplate rotational torque. In
addition, that AD requires plugging the nonrotating swashplate vent
holes and barrel nut orifices. This amendment would eliminate most of
those AD actions because they are now incorporated into the
Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual but would
retain the requirements for the initial and repetitive inspections and
lubrication of the main rotor swashplate and clarify that repetitive
maintenance of the main rotor swashplate and bearing is required at
intervals not to exceed 100 hours time-in-service (TIS). This proposal
is prompted by the need to clarify the AD wording to avoid any
misinterpretation of the required interval for inspecting and
lubricating the main rotor swashplate and bearing. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the
bearing and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 15, 2003.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-SW-44-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically
to the Rules Docket at the following address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov.
Comments may be inspected at the Office of the Regional Counsel between
9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jim Grigg, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5490, 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 will
be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals
contained in this document 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 mailed
comments submitted in response to this proposal must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made:
``Comments to Docket No. 2002-SW-44-AD.'' The postcard will be date
stamped and returned to the commenter.
Discussion
On March 21, 1990, the FAA issued AD 89-21-01, Amendment 39-6562,
Docket No. 89-ASW-53 (55 FR 12332, April 3, 1990), to require
inspecting the bearing for play or binding, proper assembly and
lubrication, and for measuring the swashplate rotational torque. In
addition, that AD requires plugging the nonrotating swashplate vent
holes and barrel nut orifices at specified hours TIS. The requirements
of that AD are intended to prevent failure of the bearing, which could
result in loss of helicopter control.
Since issuing that AD, an FAA inspector reports that the repetitive
lubrication requirement in paragraph (c) of AD 89-21-01 requiring
lubrication ``within every 100 hours' additional time-in-service'' is
being misinterpreted by a certain operator to only require lubrication
every 199 hours rather than the intended 100-hour interval. Therefore,
the inspector recommends that AD 89-21-01 be rewritten to clearly state
that lubrication of the bearings be required at intervals not to exceed
100 hours TIS. To remove any doubt as to the intended lubrication
interval, we propose to adopt the suggested language. The additional
requirements contained in AD 89-21-01 for inspecting and servicing the
main rotor swashplate are omitted from this proposal because they are
contained currently in the mandatory Airworthiness Limitations section
of the Eurocopter Master Servicing Recommendations (maintenance manual)
for the Model AS 350, dated April 26, 2001, and for the Model AS 355,
dated May 31, 2001.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of the same type designs. Therefore, the proposed AD would
supersede AD 89-21-01 to clarify that the required inspection and
lubrication interval of the main rotor swashplate must be accomplished
within 10 hours TIS,
[[Page 26553]]
unless complied with previously, and thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 100 hours TIS.
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 587
helicopters of U.S. registry, that it would take approximately 2 work
hours 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 $422,640, assuming 6 inspections per year.
The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132.
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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-6562 (55 FR
12332, April 3, 1990) and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD)
to read as follows:
Eurocopter France: Docket No. 2002-SW-44-AD. Supersedes AD 89-21-01,
Amendment 39-6562, Docket No. 89-ASW-53.
Applicability: Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3,
AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and
AS355N helicopters, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified,
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition
addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to
address it.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
Note 2: The current Airworthiness Limitations sections of the
Eurocopter AS 350 and AS 355 maintenance manuals contain
requirements for inspecting and lubricating the main rotor
swashplate at intervals not to exceed 100 hours time-in-service
(TIS).
To prevent failure of the main rotor swashplate bearing and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the
following:
(a) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect and lubricate the
main rotor swashplate.
Note 3: Eurocopter Master Servicing Recommendations,
Airworthiness Limitations section, AS 350, dated April 26, 2001, and
AS 355, dated May 31, 2001, pertain to the subject of this AD.
(b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be
used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and
then send it to the Manager, Regulations Group.
Note 4: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Regulations Group.
(c) Special flight permits will not be issued.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 9, 2003.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 03-12209 Filed 5-15-03; 8:45 am]
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