Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4 Helicopters, 59229-59231 [E7-20684]
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 202 / Friday, October 19, 2007 / Proposed Rules
2006), and by adding a new
airworthiness directive (AD), to read as
follows:
MD Helicopter, Inc.: Docket No. FAA–2007–
29342, Directorate Identifier 2007–SW–
08–AD. Supersedes AD 2006–08–12,
Amendment 39–14569, Docket No.
FAA–2006–24518, Directorate Identifier
2006–SW–10–AD.
Applicability: Model 600N helicopters,
serial numbers with a prefix ‘‘RN’’ and 003
through 058, that have not been modified in
the fuselage aft section to strengthen the
tailboom attachments and longerons per MD
Helicopters (MDHI) Technical Bulletin (TB)
TB600N–007, dated January 12, 2004;
TB600N–007R1, dated April 13, 2006, or
TB600N–007R2, dated October 5, 2006,
certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required within the next 24
months, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent failure of the tailboom
attachment fittings, separation of the
tailboom from the helicopter, and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter, do the
following:
(a) Modify the fuselage aft section to
strengthen the tailboom attach fittings and
upper longerons by following paragraph 2,
Accomplishment Instructions, of MDHI
TB600N–007R2, dated October 5, 2006,
except you are not required to contact the
manufacturer. This modification to the
fuselage aft section is terminating action for
the requirements of this AD.
(b) To request a different method of
compliance or a different compliance time
for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR
39.19. Contact the Manager, Los Angeles
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: Jon
Mowery, Aviation Safety Engineer, Airframe
Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood,
California 90712, telephone (562) 627–5322,
fax (562) 627–5210, for information about
previously approved alternative methods of
compliance.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 10,
2007.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7–20680 Filed 10–18–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2007–0056; Directorate
Identifier 2007–SW–06–AD]
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RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter
France Model EC130 B4 Helicopters
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
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15:27 Oct 18, 2007
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter France Model EC130B4
helicopters. This proposed 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 aviation authority of
France, with which we have a bilateral
agreement, states in the MCAI:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is
issued following the discovery of several
cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
attachment of the tail rotor drive center
section shaft.
In one case, this loosening of rivets was
associated with a crack in the tube which
started from a loosened-rivet hole.
These occurrences can lead to failure of the
tail rotor drive center section shaft.
The proposed AD would require
actions that are intended to address the
unsafe condition caused by cracks and
loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
attachment of the tail rotor and the
unsafe condition caused by the out-ofperpendicularity of the No. 1 bearing.
DATES: We must receive comments on
this proposed AD by November 19,
2007.
You may send comments by
any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to
https://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
W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m.
and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
ADDRESSES:
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the Internet at https://
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 proposed 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed
Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA,
PO 00000
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59229
Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety
Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas
76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5355,
fax (817) 222–5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Streamlined Issuance of AD
The FAA is implementing a new
process for streamlining the issuance of
ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined
process will allow us to adopt MCAI
safety requirements in a more efficient
manner and will reduce safety risks to
the public. This process continues to
follow all FAA AD issuance processes to
meet legal, economic, Administrative
Procedure Act, and Federal Register
requirements. We also continue to meet
our technical decision-making
responsibilities to identify and correct
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated
products.
This proposed AD references the
MCAI and related service information
that we considered in forming the
engineering basis to correct the unsafe
condition. The proposed AD contains
text copied from the MCAI and for this
reason might not follow our plain
language principles.
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written
relevant data, views, or arguments about
this proposed AD. Send your comments
to an address listed under the
ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No.
FAA–2007–0056; Directorate Identifier
2007–SW–06–AD’’ at the beginning of
your comments. We specifically invite
comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy
aspects of this proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this
proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we
receive, without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any
personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact we receive
about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European
Community, has issued an MCAI in the
form of EASA Airworthiness Directive
No. F–2005–190, dated November 23,
2005 (referred to after this as ‘‘the
MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition
for this French-certificated product. The
MCAI states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is
issued following the discovery of several
cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
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59230
Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 202 / Friday, October 19, 2007 / Proposed Rules
attachment of the tail rotor drive center
section shaft.
In one case, this loosening of rivets was
associated with a crack in the tube which
started from a loosened-rivet hole.
These occurrences can lead to failure of the
tail rotor drive center section shaft.
You may obtain further information by
examining the MCAI and service
information in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Alert Service
Bulletin No. 65A002, dated November
16, 2005. The actions described in the
MCAI are intended to correct the same
unsafe condition as that identified in
the service information.
FAA’s Determination and Proposed
Requirements
This product has been approved by
the aviation authority of France, and is
approved for operation in the United
States. Pursuant to our bilateral
agreement with this State of Design
Authority, we have been notified of the
unsafe condition described in the MCAI
and the service information. We are
proposing this AD because we evaluated
all pertinent information and
determined an unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design.
Differences Between This AD and the
MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and
related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But
we might have found it necessary to use
different words from those in the MCAI
to ensure the AD is clear for U.S.
operators and is enforceable. In making
these changes, we do not intend to differ
substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related
service information.
We might also have proposed
different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA
policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in the ‘‘FAA Differences’’
section in the proposed AD.
rmajette on PROD1PC64 with PROPOSALS
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD
would affect 68 helicopters of U.S.
registry and that it would take about 1
work-hour per helicopter to determine if
there are any cracks or loosened rivets
in the tube-to-flange attachment of the
tail rotor drive center section shaft and
to determine if the No. 1 bearing is outof-perpendicularity. Also, we estimate
that it would take about 4 work-hours
per helicopter to remove and replace
any nonconforming parts. The average
labor rate is $80 per work-hour.
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15:27 Oct 18, 2007
Jkt 214001
Required parts would cost about
$15,007 per helicopter if replacing a tail
rotor drive center section shaft is
necessary. Based on these figures, we
estimate the cost to inspect the fleet of
helicopters to be $5,440. Assuming 3
helicopters are found to have
nonconforming parts, we estimate the
costs to replace these parts to be
$45,981, resulting in the total cost of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be
$51,421.
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 above, 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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the
AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation
safety, Safety.
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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 AD:
Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA–2007–
0056; Directorate Identifier 2007–SW–
06–AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by
November 19, 2007.
Other Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model EC130 B4
helicopters, with a tail rotor drive center
section shaft, part number (P/N)
350A340202; and bearing, P/N 593404,
certificated in any category.
Reason
(d) The mandatory continuing
airworthiness information (MCAI) states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is
issued following the discovery of several
cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
attachment of the tail rotor drive center
section shaft.
In one case, this loosening of rivets was
associated with a crack in the tube which
started from a loosened-rivet hole.
These occurrences can lead to failure of the
tail rotor drive center section shaft.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or
3 months, whichever occurs first, unless
already done, do the following actions.
(1) Inspect for cracks or loosened rivets in
the tube-to-flange attachment of the tail rotor
drive center section shaft and inspect the
perpendicularity of bearing No. 1 in
compliance with the Accomplishment
Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2., of Eurocopter
Alert Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated
November 16, 2005 (ASB).
(2) If a crack or loosened rivet is found,
replace the tail rotor drive center section
shaft before further flight.
(3) If the out-of perpendicularity of the
bearing is more than 0.1 mm, apply the
corrective procedure described in the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph
2.B.2., of the ASB.
Differences Between the FAA AD and the
MCAI
(f) None.
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Federal Register / Vol. 72, No. 202 / Friday, October 19, 2007 / Proposed Rules
Subject
(g) Air Transport Association of America
(ATA) Code 65, Tail rotor drive—tail rotor
drive shaft.
Other Information
(h) The following provisions also apply to
this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs): The Manager, Safety Management
Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if
requested using the procedures found in 14
CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Ed
Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort
Worth, Texas 76193–0111, telephone (817)
222–5355, fax (817) 222–5961.
(2) Airworthy Product: Use only FAAapproved corrective actions. Corrective
actions are considered FAA-approved if they
are approved by the State of Design Authority
(or their delegated agent) if the State of
Design has an appropriate bilateral agreement
with the United States. You are required to
assure the product is airworthy before it is
returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any
reporting requirement in this AD, under the
provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act,
the Office of Management and Budget (OMB)
has approved the information collection
requirements and has assigned OMB Control
Number 2120–0056.
Related Information
(i) MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) Airworthiness Directive No. F–2005–
190, Revision A, dated November 23, 2005,
and Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No.
65A002, dated November 16, 2005, contain
related information.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 11,
2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7–20684 Filed 10–18–07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
15 CFR Parts 740, 742, 744, 748, 754,
764 and 772
[Docket No. 0612242559–7061–01]
RIN 0694–AD94
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Mandatory Electronic Filing of Export
and Reexport License Applications,
Classification Requests, Encryption
Review Requests, and License
Exception AGR Notifications
Bureau of Industry and
Security, Commerce.
ACTION: Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This proposed rule would
require that export and reexport license
applications, classification requests,
VerDate Aug<31>2005
15:27 Oct 18, 2007
Jkt 214001
encryption review requests, License
Exception AGR notifications and related
documents be submitted to the Bureau
of Industry and Security (BIS) via its
Simplified Network Application Process
(SNAP–R) system. This requirement
would not apply to applications for
Special Comprehensive Licenses or in
certain situations in which BIS would
authorize paper submissions.
DATES: Comments must be received by
December 18, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Comments on this proposed
rule may be submitted via https://
www.regulations.gov. Scroll down to the
heading ‘‘Search Documents.’’ At Step
1, select ‘‘Documents Accepting
Comments’’ then, at Optional Step 2,
select from the pull down menu
‘‘Bureau of Industry and Security’’ and
click on the ‘‘Submit’’ button. On the
resulting screen, select docket number
BIS–2007–0002. Click on the yellow
comment icon. You may either type
your comments directly on the on-line
comment form or ‘‘attach’’ a file
containing your comments.
Regulations.gov accepts most popular
document file formats. Comments may
also be e-mailed to BIS at
publiccomments@bis.doc.gov (please
refer to regulatory identification number
(RIN) 0694–AD94 in the subject line) or
submitted on paper to Regulatory Policy
Division, Office of Exporter Services,
Bureau of Industry and Security, Room
H2705, U.S. Department of Commerce,
14th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue,
NW., Washington, DC 20230. Please
refer to RIN 0694–AD94 in all paper
comments.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
William Arvin e-mail
warvin@bis.doc.gov or tel. 202 482 2440.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
BIS administers a system of export
and reexport controls in accordance
with the Export Administration
Regulations (EAR). In doing so, BIS
requires that parties wishing to engage
in certain transactions apply for
licenses, submit encryption review
requests, or submit certain notifications
to BIS. BIS also reviews, upon request,
specifications of various items and
determines their proper classification
under the EAR. Currently members of
the public submit these applications,
requests and notifications to BIS in one
of three ways: via SNAP–R, via BIS’s
Electronic License Application
Information Network (ELAIN), or via the
paper BIS Multipurpose Application
Form BIS 748–P and its two appendices,
the BIS 748–P A (item appendix) and
the BIS 748–P B (end user appendix). In
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59231
many instances, BIS needs additional
documents to act on the submission. For
documents that relate to paper
submissions, the documents can be
mailed or delivered to BIS with the BIS
748–P form. For submissions made
electronically via ELAIN, the documents
must be sent to BIS separately and
matched up with the application when
they arrive.
In 2006, BIS made a number of
improvements its then existing
Simplified Network Application
Processing system (SNAP), and
designated this improved version as
‘‘SNAP–R’’. The improvements include
the ability to include documents related
to a submission in the form of PDF
(portable document format) files as
‘‘attachments’’ to the submission. Other
improvements include a feature that
allows BIS personnel to request
additional information from the
submitting party and for the party to
submit that information in a manner
that ties the chain of communication to
the submission.
BIS believes that use of SNAP–R will
reduce processing times and simplify
compliance with and administration of
export controls. SNAP–R provides not
only improved efficiency in submission
and processing, but improved end-user
security through rights management and
an updated application and security
infrastructure.
Therefore, BIS proposes to require
that all export and reexport license
applications (other than Special
Comprehensive License applications),
classification requests, encryption
review requests, License Exception AGR
notifications, and ‘‘attached’’ related
documents be submitted to BIS via its
Simplified Network Application Process
(SNAP–R) system unless BIS authorizes
paper submissions. This proposed rule
would also set the criteria by which BIS
would authorize paper submissions and
would terminate use of ELAIN. This
proposed rule would make no changes
to the procedures by which the public
requests advisory opinions because such
requests are not processed via either the
paper form 748–P or either of BIS’s
existing electronic systems.
Changes Proposed To Be Made by This
Rule
The changes that this proposed rule
would make center on part 748 of the
EAR, which sets forth the principal
procedures governing the submission of
the applications, review requests and
notifications that would be affected by
this proposed rule. The changes would
appear in § 748.1—‘‘General
provisions,’’ § 748.3—‘‘Classification
requests, advisory opinions, and
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]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 202 (Friday, October 19, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 59229-59231]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-20684]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-0056; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-06-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC130 B4
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter France Model EC130B4 helicopters. This proposed 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 aviation authority of
France, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states in the MCAI:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the
discovery of several cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft.
In one case, this loosening of rivets was associated with a
crack in the tube which started from a loosened-rivet hole.
These occurrences can lead to failure of the tail rotor drive
center section shaft.
The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address
the unsafe condition caused by cracks and loosened rivets in the tube-
to-flange attachment of the tail rotor and the unsafe condition caused
by the out-of-perpendicularity of the No. 1 bearing.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 19,
2007.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://
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 W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 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 https://
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 proposed 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ed Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Safety Management Group, Fort Worth, Texas
76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5355, fax (817) 222-5961.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Streamlined Issuance of AD
The FAA is implementing a new process for streamlining the issuance
of ADs related to MCAI. This streamlined process will allow us to adopt
MCAI safety requirements in a more efficient manner and will reduce
safety risks to the public. This process continues to follow all FAA AD
issuance processes to meet legal, economic, Administrative Procedure
Act, and Federal Register requirements. We also continue to meet our
technical decision-making responsibilities to identify and correct
unsafe conditions on U.S.-certificated products.
This proposed AD references the MCAI and related service
information that we considered in forming the engineering basis to
correct the unsafe condition. The proposed AD contains text copied from
the MCAI and for this reason might not follow our plain language
principles.
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0056;
Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-06-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD based on those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://
www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued an
MCAI in the form of EASA Airworthiness Directive No. F-2005-190, dated
November 23, 2005 (referred to after this as ``the MCAI''), to correct
an unsafe condition for this French-certificated product. The MCAI
states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the
discovery of several cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
[[Page 59230]]
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft.
In one case, this loosening of rivets was associated with a
crack in the tube which started from a loosened-rivet hole.
These occurrences can lead to failure of the tail rotor drive
center section shaft.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI and service
information in the AD docket.
Relevant Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated
November 16, 2005. The actions described in the MCAI are intended to
correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the service
information.
FAA's Determination and Proposed Requirements
This product has been approved by the aviation authority of France,
and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our
bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, we have been
notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and the service
information. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all
pertinent information and determined an unsafe condition exists and is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in
general, agree with their substance. But we might have found it
necessary to use different words from those in the MCAI to ensure the
AD is clear for U.S. operators and is enforceable. In making these
changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the information
provided in the MCAI and related service information.
We might also have proposed different actions in this AD from those
in the MCAI in order to follow FAA policies. Any such differences are
highlighted in the ``FAA Differences'' section in the proposed AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 68 helicopters of
U.S. registry and that it would take about 1 work-hour per helicopter
to determine if there are any cracks or loosened rivets in the tube-to-
flange attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft and to
determine if the No. 1 bearing is out-of-perpendicularity. Also, we
estimate that it would take about 4 work-hours per helicopter to remove
and replace any nonconforming parts. The average labor rate is $80 per
work-hour. Required parts would cost about $15,007 per helicopter if
replacing a tail rotor drive center section shaft is necessary. Based
on these figures, we estimate the cost to inspect the fleet of
helicopters to be $5,440. Assuming 3 helicopters are found to have
nonconforming parts, we estimate the costs to replace these parts to be
$45,981, resulting in the total cost of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators to be $51,421.
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 above, 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); 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new AD:
Eurocopter France: Docket No. FAA-2007-0056; Directorate Identifier
2007-SW-06-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) We must receive comments by November 19, 2007.
Other Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Model EC130 B4 helicopters, with a tail
rotor drive center section shaft, part number (P/N) 350A340202; and
bearing, P/N 593404, certificated in any category.
Reason
(d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states:
This Airworthiness Directive (AD) is issued following the
discovery of several cases of loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft.
In one case, this loosening of rivets was associated with a
crack in the tube which started from a loosened-rivet hole.
These occurrences can lead to failure of the tail rotor drive
center section shaft.
Actions and Compliance
(e) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 3 months, whichever
occurs first, unless already done, do the following actions.
(1) Inspect for cracks or loosened rivets in the tube-to-flange
attachment of the tail rotor drive center section shaft and inspect
the perpendicularity of bearing No. 1 in compliance with the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2., of Eurocopter Alert
Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated November 16, 2005 (ASB).
(2) If a crack or loosened rivet is found, replace the tail
rotor drive center section shaft before further flight.
(3) If the out-of perpendicularity of the bearing is more than
0.1 mm, apply the corrective procedure described in the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2., of the ASB.
Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI
(f) None.
[[Page 59231]]
Subject
(g) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 65, Tail
rotor drive--tail rotor drive shaft.
Other Information
(h) The following provisions also apply to this AD:
(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Ed
Cuevas, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111,
telephone (817) 222-5355, fax (817) 222-5961.
(2) Airworthy Product: Use only FAA-approved corrective actions.
Corrective actions are considered FAA-approved if they are approved
by the State of Design Authority (or their delegated agent) if the
State of Design has an appropriate bilateral agreement with the
United States. You are required to assure the product is airworthy
before it is returned to service.
(3) Reporting Requirements: For any reporting requirement in
this AD, under the provisions of the Paperwork Reduction Act, the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has approved the information
collection requirements and has assigned OMB Control Number 2120-
0056.
Related Information
(i) MCAI European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Airworthiness
Directive No. F-2005-190, Revision A, dated November 23, 2005, and
Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 65A002, dated November 16,
2005, contain related information.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 11, 2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-20684 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
