Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Helicopters, 48599-48601 [2013-19158]
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48599
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
Vol. 78, No. 154
Friday, August 9, 2013
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER
contains regulatory documents having general
applicability and legal effect, most of which
are keyed to and codified in the Code of
Federal Regulations, which is published under
50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by
the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of
new books are listed in the first FEDERAL
REGISTER issue of each week.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2011–1285; Directorate
Identifier 2010–SW–073–AD; Amendment
39–17544; AD 2013–16–06]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter
Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
We are adopting a new
airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
(Eurocopter) Model BO–105A, BO–
105C, BO–105LS A–1, BO–105LS A–3,
and BO–105S helicopters. This AD
requires inspecting for debonding of the
erosion protective shell (abrasion strip)
on the leading edge of each main rotor
blade. This AD was prompted by the
discovery of abrasion strip debonding
during an inspection on one Model BO–
105 helicopter and also by an incident
on a second Model BO–105 helicopter
that lost its abrasion strip in-flight. The
actions of this AD are intended to detect
debonding of the main rotor blade
abrasion strip, which could lead to an
unbalanced main rotor, high vibrations,
damage to the tail boom or tail rotor,
and loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective September
13, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information
identified in this AD, contact American
Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum
Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052;
telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–
0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at https://
www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may
review the referenced service
information at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
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SUMMARY:
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2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort
Worth, Texas 76137.
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 AD, the foreign
authority AD, any incorporated-byreference service information, the
economic evaluation, any comments
received, and other information. The
street address for the Docket Operations
Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations Office, M–30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt
Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer,
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone
(817) 222–5110; email
matthew.fuller@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On December 6, 2011, at 76 FR 76068,
the Federal Register published our
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM),
which proposed to amend 14 CFR part
39 to include an AD that would apply
to Eurocopter Model BO–105A, BO–
105C, BO–105LS A–1, BO–105LS A–3,
and BO–105S helicopters. The NPRM
proposed to require, within 50 hours
time-in-service (TIS), inspecting for
debonding of the abrasion strip along
the leading edge of certain partnumbered main rotor blades with a
main rotor blade abrasion strip that was
replaced between September 2006 and
March 2010. If there is debonding in any
area of the abrasion strip, the NPRM
proposed to require, before further
flight, replacing the main rotor blade.
On December 19, 2012, at 77 FR
75073, the Federal Register published
our supplemental NPRM (SNPRM),
which proposed to revise some of the
actions of the NPRM. The SNPRM
proposed clarifying that the inspection
method would be a tap inspection and
proposed clarifying the replacement
date range of the applicable abrasion
strips to be inclusive of September 1,
2006 through March 31, 2010.
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Sfmt 4700
The NPRM and SNPRM were
prompted by Emergency AD No. 2010–
0216–E, dated October 21, 2010 (and
corrected October 29, 2010), issued by
the European Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European
Union. EASA advises that during an
inspection on a BO105 helicopter,
debonding was found on the erosion
protective shell of a main rotor blade,
and investigation showed the debonding
was caused by incorrect installation of
the erosion protective shell. In addition,
EASA states that an incident occurred
where a second BO105 helicopter lost
its erosion protective shell during hover
flight. EASA advises that this condition,
if not corrected, could result in loss of
the main rotor blade erosion protective
shell during flight, leading to an
unbalanced main rotor and high
vibrations, which could damage the tail
boom or tail rotor or result in loss of tail
rotor control and loss of control of the
helicopter.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to
participate in developing this AD, but
we did not receive any comments on the
NPRM (76 FR 76068, December 6, 2011)
or the SNPRM (77 FR 75073, December
19, 2012).
FAA’s Determination
These helicopters have been approved
by the aviation authority of Germany
and are approved for operation in the
United States. Pursuant to our bilateral
agreement with Germany, EASA, its
technical representative, has notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the
EASA AD. 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
these same type designs and that air
safety and the public interest require
adopting the AD requirements as
proposed.
Differences Between This AD and the
EASA AD
The differences between this AD and
the EASA AD are:
• The EASA AD allows compliance
within ‘‘10 flight hours, or 4 flight
cycles, or 4 weeks, whichever occurs
first,’’ and this AD requires compliance
within 50 hours TIS.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
• The EASA AD allows you to replace
the main rotor blade erosion protective
shell if debonding is detected, and this
AD requires you to replace the main
rotor blade with an airworthy main rotor
blade if debonding is detected.
• The EASA AD is applicable to the
Model BO105 D helicopter; however,
this AD does not include this model
because it does not have a type
certificate in the U.S.
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Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Emergency
Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. ASB
BO105–10–124, dated July 14, 2010, for
the Model BO105 helicopter, with a
main rotor blade, part number (P/N)
105–15103, 105–15141, 105–
15141V001, 105–15143, 105–15150,
105–15150V001, 105–15152, 105–
81013, 105–87214, 1120–15101, or
1120–15103, where the main rotor blade
erosion protective shell was replaced
between September 2006 and March
2010. Eurocopter also issued Emergency
ASB No. ASB–BO105LS–10–12, dated
July 14, 2010, for the Model BO105LS
A–3 helicopter, with a main rotor blade,
P/N 105–15141, where the main rotor
blade erosion protective shell was
replaced between September 2006 and
March 2010. Both Emergency ASBs
exclude helicopters from this inspection
if each main rotor blade was inspected
at the last 600 flight hour inspection and
no debonding was detected during the
inspection. Both Emergency ASBs
specified a one-time inspection of the
main rotor blades within the next 50
flight hours to determine if debonding
of the main rotor blade erosion
protective shell has occurred.
Eurocopter subsequently issued
Emergency ASB No. ASB BO105–10–
124, Revision 1, dated October 18, 2010,
and Emergency ASB No. ASB–
BO105LS–10–12, Revision 1, dated
October 20, 2010. These service
bulletins specify the same inspection
requirements as the original service
bulletins, but revise the inspection
compliance time from 50 flight hours to
10 flight hours. EASA classified these
service bulletins as mandatory and
issued EASA Emergency AD No. 2010–
0216–E, dated October 21, 2010
(corrected October 29, 2010), to ensure
the continued airworthiness of these
helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect
97 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We
estimate that operators may incur the
following costs in order to comply with
this AD. It will take about 1.0 work-hour
per helicopter to perform the inspection
at an average labor rate of $85 per work-
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14:49 Aug 08, 2013
Jkt 229001
hour. Based on these figures, we
estimate the cost of the inspection on
U.S. operators will be $8,245 or $85 per
helicopter. If there is debonding, we
estimate that it will take about 2 workhours to replace a main rotor blade and
required parts will cost $114,182, for a
total cost of $114,352 per blade. We
have no way of determining how many
operators will incur replacement costs.
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
helicopters identified in this rulemaking
action.
Regulatory Findings
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.
For the reasons discussed above, I
certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory
action’’ under Executive Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under
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 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.
PO 00000
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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 airworthiness
directive (AD):
■
2013–16–06 Eurocopter Deutschland
GmbH: Amendment 39–17544; Docket
No. FAA–2011–1285; Directorate
Identifier 2010–SW–073–AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model BO–105A, BO–
105C, BO–105LS A–1, BO–105LS A–3, and
BO–105S helicopters, with a main rotor
blade, part number 105–15103, 105–15141,
105–15141V001, 105–15143, 105–15150,
105–15150V001, 105–15152, 105–81013,
105–87214, 1120–15101, or 1120–15103;
where the main rotor blade erosion protective
shell (abrasion strip) was replaced between
September 1, 2006 and March 31, 2010,
inclusive; certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as
debonding of a main rotor blade erosion
protective shell (abrasion strip). This
condition could result in loss of the abrasion
strip and an unbalanced main rotor, high
vibration, damage to the tail boom or tail
rotor, and loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective September 13,
2013.
(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) Within 50 hours time-in-service,
inspect the main rotor blade for debonding of
the erosion protective shell by tap testing the
abrasion strip of the leading edge of each
main rotor blade.
(2) If the abrasion strip is debonding in any
area, before further flight, replace the main
rotor blade.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management
Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this
AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller,
Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety
Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate,
FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222–5110;
email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.
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Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Rules and Regulations
(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.
(g) Additional Information
(1) Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service
Bulletin No. ASB BO105–10–124, Revision 1,
dated October 18, 2010, and No. ASB–
BO105LS–10–12, Revision 1, dated October
20, 2010, which are not incorporated by
reference, contain additional information
about the subject of this AD. For service
information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N.
Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052;
telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323;
fax (972) 641–3775; or at https://
www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may
review a copy of the service information at
the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,
Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
Emergency AD No. 2010–0216–E, dated
October 21, 2010 (corrected October 29,
2010). You may view the EASA AD on the
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov in
Docket No. FAA–2011–1285.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC)
Code: 6210, Main Rotor Blades.
OEE’s receipt of the initial VSD
notification. This rule also authorizes
the use of delivery services other than
registered or certified mail for providing
notice of the issuance of a charging
letter instituting an administrative
enforcement proceeding under the EAR.
It also removes the phrase ‘‘if delivery
is refused’’ from a provision related to
determining the date that notice of a
charging letter’s issuance is served
based on an attempted delivery to the
respondent’s last known address. The
Bureau of Industry and Security is
making these changes to be better able
to resolve administrative enforcement
proceedings in a timely manner and
provide more efficient notice of
administrative charging letters.
DATES: This rule is effective September
9, 2013.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Special Agent Richard Jereski,
Investigations Division, Office of Export
Enforcement, Bureau of Industry and
Security, US Department of Commerce,
Room H4514, 14th Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue NW., Washington,
DC 20230. Tel: (202) 482–5036.
Facsimile: (202) 482–5889.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
Time Limit for Completion of Voluntary
Self-Disclosures and Revised Notice of
the Institution of Administrative
Enforcement Proceedings
The Bureau of Industry and Security
(BIS), Office of Export Enforcement
(OEE), investigates possible violations of
the Export Administration Regulations
(EAR) and orders, licenses, and
authorizations issued thereunder. These
investigations may result in allegations
of violations that may be settled,
adjudicated in an administrative
enforcement proceeding, or referred to
the Department of Justice for possible
criminal prosecution. On November 7,
2012, BIS published a proposed rule (77
FR 66777) that set forth three changes to
the EAR, which are being implemented
with some revisions here. One change
addresses voluntary self-disclosures in
connection with OEE’s conduct of
investigations. The other two changes
address service of notice in
administrative enforcement
proceedings. This rule also makes nonsubstantive changes to the layout of the
regulations to improve readability.
AGENCY:
Bureau of Industry and
Security, Commerce.
ACTION: Final rule.
Deadline for Completing the Narrative
Account Portion of a Voluntary SelfDisclosure
This rule requires that the
final, comprehensive narrative account
required in voluntary self-disclosures
(VSDs) of violations of the Export
Administration Regulations (EAR) be
received by the Office of Export
Enforcement (OEE) within 180 days of
Section 764.5 of the EAR provides a
procedure whereby parties that believe
they may have committed a violation of
the EAR can voluntarily disclose the
facts of potential violations to OEE.
Such disclosures that meet the
requirements of § 764.5 typically are
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 31,
2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013–19158 Filed 8–8–13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
15 CFR Parts 764 and 766
[Docket No. 120207107–3621–02]
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RIN 0694–AF59
SUMMARY:
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48601
afforded ‘‘great weight’’ by BIS relative
to other mitigating factors in
determining what administrative
sanctions, if any, to seek. Section 764.5
of the EAR requires an initial
notification, which is to include a
description of the general nature and
extent of the suspected violations and is
to be made as soon as possible after the
violations are discovered, and is
followed by a thorough review and the
completion and submission of a
narrative account of the suspected
violations, including providing all
relevant documentation. If the person
making the initial notification
subsequently completes and submits the
narrative account, the disclosure is
deemed to have been submitted to OEE
on the date of the initial notification.
The date of the initial notification may
be significant because information
provided to OEE may be considered a
voluntary disclosure only if the
information ‘‘is received by OEE for
review prior to the time that OEE or
another United States Government
agency has learned of the same or
substantially similar information from
another source and has commenced an
investigation or inquiry in connection
with that information.’’ (15 CFR
764.5(b)(3)). This rule adds a
requirement that the completed
narrative account be received by BIS
within 180 days of BIS’s receipt of the
initial notification for initial
notifications received on or after the
effective date of this rule.
The Director of OEE may extend this
180-day time deadline at his or her
discretion if US Government interests
would be served by an extension or
upon a showing by the party making the
disclosure that more time is reasonably
necessary to complete the narrative
account. In response to public
comments discussed below, this final
rule includes some greater detail about
what a request to extend the 180-day
deadline should contain. Such requests
should show specifically that the person
making the request: (1) Began its review
promptly after discovery of the
violations; (2) has been conducting its
review and preparation of the narrative
account as expeditiously as can be
expected, consistent with the need for
completeness and accuracy; (3)
reasonably needs the requested
extension despite having acted
consistently with (1) and (2); and (4) has
considered whether interim compliance
or other corrective measures may be
needed and has undertaken such
measures as appropriate to prevent
recurring or additional violations. Such
requests also should set out a proposed
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 154 (Friday, August 9, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 48599-48601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-19158]
========================================================================
Rules and Regulations
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains regulatory documents
having general applicability and legal effect, most of which are keyed
to and codified in the Code of Federal Regulations, which is published
under 50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.
The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by the Superintendent of Documents.
Prices of new books are listed in the first FEDERAL REGISTER issue of each
week.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 154 / Friday, August 9, 2013 / Rules
and Regulations
[[Page 48599]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-1285; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-073-AD;
Amendment 39-17544; AD 2013-16-06]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (Eurocopter) Model BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-
105LS A-1, BO-105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters. This AD requires
inspecting for debonding of the erosion protective shell (abrasion
strip) on the leading edge of each main rotor blade. This AD was
prompted by the discovery of abrasion strip debonding during an
inspection on one Model BO-105 helicopter and also by an incident on a
second Model BO-105 helicopter that lost its abrasion strip in-flight.
The actions of this AD are intended to detect debonding of the main
rotor blade abrasion strip, which could lead to an unbalanced main
rotor, high vibrations, damage to the tail boom or tail rotor, and loss
of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective September 13, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775;
or at https://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review the referenced
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
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 AD, the foreign authority AD, any
incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department
of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
matthew.fuller@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On December 6, 2011, at 76 FR 76068, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Eurocopter Model BO-
105A, BO-105C, BO-105LS A-1, BO-105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters. The
NPRM proposed to require, within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS),
inspecting for debonding of the abrasion strip along the leading edge
of certain part-numbered main rotor blades with a main rotor blade
abrasion strip that was replaced between September 2006 and March 2010.
If there is debonding in any area of the abrasion strip, the NPRM
proposed to require, before further flight, replacing the main rotor
blade.
On December 19, 2012, at 77 FR 75073, the Federal Register
published our supplemental NPRM (SNPRM), which proposed to revise some
of the actions of the NPRM. The SNPRM proposed clarifying that the
inspection method would be a tap inspection and proposed clarifying the
replacement date range of the applicable abrasion strips to be
inclusive of September 1, 2006 through March 31, 2010.
The NPRM and SNPRM were prompted by Emergency AD No. 2010-0216-E,
dated October 21, 2010 (and corrected October 29, 2010), issued by the
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union. EASA advises that during
an inspection on a BO105 helicopter, debonding was found on the erosion
protective shell of a main rotor blade, and investigation showed the
debonding was caused by incorrect installation of the erosion
protective shell. In addition, EASA states that an incident occurred
where a second BO105 helicopter lost its erosion protective shell
during hover flight. EASA advises that this condition, if not
corrected, could result in loss of the main rotor blade erosion
protective shell during flight, leading to an unbalanced main rotor and
high vibrations, which could damage the tail boom or tail rotor or
result in loss of tail rotor control and loss of control of the
helicopter.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (76 FR 76068,
December 6, 2011) or the SNPRM (77 FR 75073, December 19, 2012).
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the EASA AD. 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 these same
type designs and that air safety and the public interest require
adopting the AD requirements as proposed.
Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD
The differences between this AD and the EASA AD are:
The EASA AD allows compliance within ``10 flight hours, or
4 flight cycles, or 4 weeks, whichever occurs first,'' and this AD
requires compliance within 50 hours TIS.
[[Page 48600]]
The EASA AD allows you to replace the main rotor blade
erosion protective shell if debonding is detected, and this AD requires
you to replace the main rotor blade with an airworthy main rotor blade
if debonding is detected.
The EASA AD is applicable to the Model BO105 D helicopter;
however, this AD does not include this model because it does not have a
type certificate in the U.S.
Related Service Information
Eurocopter has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No.
ASB BO105-10-124, dated July 14, 2010, for the Model BO105 helicopter,
with a main rotor blade, part number (P/N) 105-15103, 105-15141, 105-
15141V001, 105-15143, 105-15150, 105-15150V001, 105-15152, 105-81013,
105-87214, 1120-15101, or 1120-15103, where the main rotor blade
erosion protective shell was replaced between September 2006 and March
2010. Eurocopter also issued Emergency ASB No. ASB-BO105LS-10-12, dated
July 14, 2010, for the Model BO105LS A-3 helicopter, with a main rotor
blade, P/N 105-15141, where the main rotor blade erosion protective
shell was replaced between September 2006 and March 2010. Both
Emergency ASBs exclude helicopters from this inspection if each main
rotor blade was inspected at the last 600 flight hour inspection and no
debonding was detected during the inspection. Both Emergency ASBs
specified a one-time inspection of the main rotor blades within the
next 50 flight hours to determine if debonding of the main rotor blade
erosion protective shell has occurred.
Eurocopter subsequently issued Emergency ASB No. ASB BO105-10-124,
Revision 1, dated October 18, 2010, and Emergency ASB No. ASB-BO105LS-
10-12, Revision 1, dated October 20, 2010. These service bulletins
specify the same inspection requirements as the original service
bulletins, but revise the inspection compliance time from 50 flight
hours to 10 flight hours. EASA classified these service bulletins as
mandatory and issued EASA Emergency AD No. 2010-0216-E, dated October
21, 2010 (corrected October 29, 2010), to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 97 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in
order to comply with this AD. It will take about 1.0 work-hour per
helicopter to perform the inspection at an average labor rate of $85
per work-hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the
inspection on U.S. operators will be $8,245 or $85 per helicopter. If
there is debonding, we estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours to
replace a main rotor blade and required parts will cost $114,182, for a
total cost of $114,352 per blade. We have no way of determining how
many operators will incur replacement costs.
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 helicopters identified in this
rulemaking action.
Regulatory Findings
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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2013-16-06 Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39-17544; Docket
No. FAA-2011-1285; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-073-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105LS A-1, BO-
105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters, with a main rotor blade, part
number 105-15103, 105-15141, 105-15141V001, 105-15143, 105-15150,
105-15150V001, 105-15152, 105-81013, 105-87214, 1120-15101, or 1120-
15103; where the main rotor blade erosion protective shell (abrasion
strip) was replaced between September 1, 2006 and March 31, 2010,
inclusive; certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as debonding of a main
rotor blade erosion protective shell (abrasion strip). This
condition could result in loss of the abrasion strip and an
unbalanced main rotor, high vibration, damage to the tail boom or
tail rotor, and loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective September 13, 2013.
(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) Within 50 hours time-in-service, inspect the main rotor
blade for debonding of the erosion protective shell by tap testing
the abrasion strip of the leading edge of each main rotor blade.
(2) If the abrasion strip is debonding in any area, before
further flight, replace the main rotor blade.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation
Safety Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate,
FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817)
222-5110; email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.
[[Page 48601]]
(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.
(g) Additional Information
(1) Eurocopter Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB BO105-
10-124, Revision 1, dated October 18, 2010, and No. ASB-BO105LS-10-
12, Revision 1, dated October 20, 2010, which are not incorporated
by reference, contain additional information about the subject of
this AD. For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie,
TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-
3775; or at https://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review a copy
of the service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No. 2010-0216-E, dated October 21,
2010 (corrected October 29, 2010). You may view the EASA AD on the
Internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2011-1285.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6210, Main Rotor
Blades.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 31, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-19158 Filed 8-8-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P