Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France), 81742-81744 [2015-32258]
Download as PDF
81742
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
ACO, to make those findings. To be
approved, the repair method, modification
deviation, or alteration deviation must meet
the certification basis of the airplane, and the
approval must specifically refer to this AD.
(4) For service information that contains
steps that are labeled as Required for
Compliance (RC), the provisions of
paragraphs (k)(4)(i) and (k)(4)(ii) apply.
(i) The steps labeled as RC, including
substeps under an RC step and any figures
identified in an RC step, must be done to
comply with the AD. An AMOC is required
for any deviations to RC steps, including
substeps and identified figures.
(ii) Steps not labeled as RC may be
deviated from using accepted methods in
accordance with the operator’s maintenance
or inspection program without obtaining
approval of an AMOC, provided the RC steps,
including substeps and identified figures, can
still be done as specified, and the airplane
can be put back in an airworthy condition.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
(l) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD,
contact Wayne Lockett, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Branch, ANM–120S, FAA, Seattle
Aircraft Certification Office (ACO), 1601 Lind
Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356;
phone: 425–917–6447; fax: 425–917–6590;
email: wayne.lockett@faa.gov.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65,
Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone 206–
544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766–5680;
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com. You
may view this referenced service information
at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221.
(m) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference
(IBR) of the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51.
(2) You must use this service information
as applicable to do the actions required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Boeing Alert Service Bulletin 767–
53A0261, dated August 12, 2014.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Boeing Commercial
Airplanes, Attention: Data & Services
Management, P.O. Box 3707, MC 2H–65,
Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone 206–
544–5000, extension 1; fax 206–766–5680;
Internet https://www.myboeingfleet.com.
(4) You may view this service information
at FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601
Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221.
(5) You may view this service information
that is incorporated by reference 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: https://
www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:05 Dec 30, 2015
Jkt 238001
Issued in Renton, Washington, on
December 9, 2015.
Michael Kaszycki,
Acting Manager, Transport Airplane
Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–32596 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2015–1480; Directorate
Identifier 2014–SW–071–AD; Amendment
39–18352; AD 2015–26–04]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus
Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter
France)
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
AGENCY:
We are superseding
airworthiness directive (AD) 2002–13–
11 for Eurocopter France (now Airbus
Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters.
AD 2002–13–11 required installing front
and side covers on the cabin floor to
protect the yaw control at both the pilot
and co-pilot stations. Since we issued
AD 2002–13–11, we have determined
that the required actions should apply
only to the cabin’s right-hand pilot
station. This AD retains the
requirements of AD 2002–13–11 but for
only the pilot station. These actions are
intended to prevent an object from
sliding between the canopy and the
cabin floor, loss of yaw control, and
subsequent loss of helicopter control.
DATES: This AD is effective February 4,
2016.
The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference
of a certain publication listed in this AD
as of February 4, 2016.
ADDRESSES: For service information
identified in this final rule, contact
Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum
Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052;
telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–
0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at https://
www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub.
You may review the referenced service
information at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321,
Fort Worth, TX 76177.
SUMMARY:
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on
the Internet at https://
www.regulations.gov by searching for
PO 00000
Frm 00006
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
and locating Docket No. FAA–2015–
1480 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 Direction Generale
de l’Aviation Civile (DGAC) 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:
Robert Grant, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft
Directorate, FAA, 10101 Hillwood
Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone
(817) 222–5110; email robert.grant@
faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2002–13–11,
Amendment 39–12799 (67 FR 45295,
July 9, 2002) and add a new AD. AD
2002–13–11 applied to Airbus Model
EC120B helicopters, serial numbers
1001 through 1278, and required
installing front and side covers to
protect the yaw control at the pilot and
co-pilot flight control stations. AD
2002–13–11 was prompted by AD No.
2001–386–007(A), dated September 5,
2001, issued by the DGAC, the
airworthiness authority for France, to
correct an unsafe condition for the
Model EC120B helicopter. The DGAC
advises of a yaw-control jamming
caused by an object that slid between
the canopy and the cabin floor.
After we issued AD 2002–13–11 (67
FR 45295, July 9, 2002), we determined
that the front and side protections are
required only at the pilot station. The
NPRM published in the Federal
Register on May 14, 2015 (80 FR 27605),
and proposed to supersede AD 2002–
13–11 to require installing the front and
side covers only at the pilot station. It
also reflected that Eurocopter France
had changed its name to Airbus
Helicopters.
Since we issued the NPRM, we
discovered it contains a typographical
error in the date of the service
information. Also, the FAA Southwest
Regional Office has relocated and a
group email address has been
established for requesting an FAA
Alternate Method of Compliance for a
helicopter of foreign design. We have
E:\FR\FM\31DER1.SGM
31DER1
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
corrected the error in the service
information date and revised the contact
information throughout this Final Rule.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to
participate in developing this AD, but
we received no comments on the NPRM
(80 FR 27605, May 14, 2015).
FAA’s Determination
These helicopters have been approved
by the aviation authority of France and
are approved for operation in the United
States. Pursuant to our bilateral
agreement with France, the DGAC, its
technical representative, has notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the
DGAC AD. We are issuing this AD
because we evaluated all information
provided by the DGAC 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, except for the minor editorial
changes described previously. These
changes are consistent with the intent of
the proposals in the NPRM (80 FR
27605, May 14, 2015) and will not
increase the economic burden on any
operator nor increase the scope of this
AD.
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
We reviewed Eurocopter Alert Service
Bulletin No. 67A005, Revision 0, dated
August 1, 2001 (ASB), which specifies
installing a front and side protection on
the cabin floor to protect the yaw
control. The DGAC classified this ASB
as mandatory and issued AD No. 2001–
386–007(A), dated September 5, 2001,
and AD 2001–386–007(A)R1, dated
February 6, 2002, to ensure the
continued airworthiness of these
helicopters in France.
This service information is reasonably
available because the interested parties
have access to it through their normal
course of business or by the means
identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 37
helicopters of U.S. Registry and that
labor costs average $85 a work-hour.
Required parts cost about $584 and it
takes about 2 work-hours to accomplish
the required actions. Based on these
figures, we estimate that the total cost of
this AD is $754 per helicopter and
$27,898 for the U.S. fleet.
Authority for This Rulemaking
Title 49 of the United States Code
specifies the FAA’s authority to issue
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:05 Dec 30, 2015
Jkt 238001
81743
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.
§ 39.13
Regulatory Findings
(c) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2002–13–11,
Amendment 39–12799 (67 FR 45295, July 9,
2002).
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
1. The authority citation for part 39
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
PO 00000
Frm 00007
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by
removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2002–13–11, Amendment 39 12799 (67
FR 45295, July 9, 2002), and adding the
following new AD:
■
2015–26–04 Airbus Helicopters (Previously
Eurocopter France): Amendment 39–
18352; Docket No. FAA–2015–1480;
Directorate Identifier 2014–SW–071–AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model EC120B
helicopters, serial numbers 1001 through
1278, inclusive, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an
object sliding between the canopy and the
cabin floor. This condition could result in
loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.
(d) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective February 4,
2016.
(e) 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.
(f) Required Actions
Within 90 days, install front and side
covers (protections) to protect the yaw
control in accordance with the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph
2.B., of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No.
67A005, Revision 0, dated August 1, 2001,
except the correct reference to the Aircraft
Maintenance Manual in subparagraph 2.B.2
of the ASB is 20–10–00, 3–8.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management
Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this
AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management
Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177;
telephone (817) 222–5110; email 9-ASWFTW-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(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.
(h) Additional Information
The subject of this AD is addressed in the
Direction General De L’Aviation Civile
(DGAC) AD No. 67A005, Revision 1, dated
February 6, 2002. You may view the DGAC
AD on the Internet at https://
E:\FR\FM\31DER1.SGM
31DER1
81744
Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 251 / Thursday, December 31, 2015 / Rules and Regulations
www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA–
2015–1480.
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
(i) Subject
Bureau of Industry and Security
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC)
Code: 2500, Cabin Equipment/Furnishings.
15 CFR Part 774
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
The Commerce Control List
(1) The Director of the Federal Register
approved the incorporation by reference of
the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR
part 51.
(2) You must use this service information
as applicable to do the actions required by
this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No.
67A005, Revision 0, dated August 1, 2001.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, Inc.,
2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800)
232–0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at https://
www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub.
(4) You may view this service information
at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy,
Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110.
(5) You may view this service information
that is incorporated by reference 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: https://
www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html.
CFR Correction
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December
15, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015–32258 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
Bureau of Industry and Security
15 CFR Part 744
Control Policy: End-User and End-Use
Base
tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with RULES
CFR Correction
[FR Doc. 2015–33049 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
16:05 Dec 30, 2015
[FR Doc. 2015–33047 Filed 12–30–15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 1505–01–D
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission
I. Background
18 CFR Part 342
[Docket No. RM15–20–000]
Five-Year Review of the Oil Pipeline
Index
Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, DOE.
ACTION: Order establishing index level.
AGENCY:
The Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (Commission)
issues this Final Order concluding its
five-year review of the index level used
to determine annual changes to oil
pipeline rate ceilings. The Commission
establishes an index level of Producer
Price Index for Finished Goods plus
1.23 percent (PPI–FG+1.23) for the fiveyear period commencing July 1, 2016.
DATES: December 31, 2015.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Andrew Knudsen (Legal Information),
Office of the General Counsel, 888
First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, (202) 502–6527
Monil Patel (Technical Information),
Office of Energy Market Regulation,
888 First Street NE., Washington, DC
20426, (202) 502–8296
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY:
Order Establishing Index Level
In Title 15 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Parts 300 to 799, revised as
of January 1, 2015, on page 414, in
supplement no. 4 to part 744, remove
the entry for ‘‘Sergey Grinenko’’ from
‘‘GREECE’’ and add it in alphabetical
order under ‘‘GERMANY’’.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
In Title 15 of the Code of Federal
Regulations, Parts 300 to 799, revised as
of January 1, 2015, on page 999, in
Supplement 1 to Part 774, in Category
9, Export Control Classification Number
(ECCN) 9E003, in the Items section,
remove the second introductory text of
paragraph f.1.
Jkt 238001
(Issued December 17, 2015)
1. On June 30, 2015, the Commission
issued a Notice of Inquiry initiating its
five-year review to establish the oil
pipeline index level for the July 1, 2016
to June 30, 2021 time period.1 The June
1 Five-Year Review of the Oil Pipeline Index, 80
FR 39010 (July 8, 2015), FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶
PO 00000
Frm 00008
Fmt 4700
Sfmt 4700
2015 NOI requested comment regarding
(a) a proposed index level between
Producer Price Index for Finished
Goods (PPI–FG)+2.0 percent and PPI–
FG+2.4 percent 2 and (b) any alternative
methodologies for calculating that index
level.
2. For the reasons discussed below,
the Commission adopts an index level
of the PPI–FG+1.23 percent. The
departure from the June 2015 NOI
results from (a) the use of FERC Form
No. 6 page 700 (page 700) data that
directly measures changing pipeline
costs as opposed to the estimates
previously used to calculate the index
level 3 and (b) updated Form No. 6
filings and other corrections to the data
set. The Commission’s indexing
calculations and other data analysis are
contained in Attachment A to this order.
As discussed below, the Commission
rejects other changes to the index
calculation proposed by commenters.
A. Establishment of the Indexing
Methodology
3. The Energy Policy Act of 1992
(EPAct 1992) required the Commission
to establish a ‘‘simplified and generally
applicable’’ ratemaking methodology 4
that also was consistent with the just
and reasonable standard of review of the
Interstate Commerce Act (ICA).5 To
implement EPAct 1992’s mandate, the
Commission issued Order No. 561 6
establishing an indexing methodology
that allows oil pipelines to change their
rates subject to certain ceiling levels as
opposed to making cost-of-service
filings.7
35,053 (cross-referenced at 151 FERC ¶ 61,278 at P
1 (June 2015 NOI)).
2 The June 2015 NOI included a range as opposed
to a specific index level because some pipelines had
yet to report FERC Form No. 6 (Form No. 6) data
for 2014.
3 The index range presented in the June 2015 NOI
was calculated based on estimates derived from
FERC Form No. 6 accounting data on pages 110–
111, 114, and page 600.
4 Public Law 102–486, 106 Stat. 3010, 1801(a)
(Oct. 24, 1992). EPAct 1992’s mandate to establish
a simplified and generally applicable method of
regulating oil transportation rates specifically
excluded the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System (TAPS),
or any pipeline delivering oil, directly or indirectly,
into it. Id. 1804(2)(B).
5 49 U.S.C. app. 1 (1988).
6 See Revisions to Oil Pipeline Regulations
Pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 1992, Order
No. 561, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶ 30,985 (1993), order
on reh’g, Order No. 561–A, FERC Stats. & Regs. ¶
31,000 (1994), aff’d, Assoc. of Oil Pipelines v. FERC,
83 F.3d 1424 (D.C. Cir. 1996).
7 Pursuant to the Commission’s indexing
methodology, oil pipelines change their rate ceiling
levels effective every July 1 by ‘‘multiplying the
previous index year’s ceiling level by the most
recent index published by the Commission.’’ 18
CFR 342.3(d)(1) (2015). Oil pipeline rates may be
adjusted to the ceiling levels pursuant to the
E:\FR\FM\31DER1.SGM
31DER1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 81742-81744]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-32258]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-1480; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-071-AD;
Amendment 39-18352; AD 2015-26-04]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously
Eurocopter France)
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2002-13-11 for
Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters. AD
2002-13-11 required installing front and side covers on the cabin floor
to protect the yaw control at both the pilot and co-pilot stations.
Since we issued AD 2002-13-11, we have determined that the required
actions should apply only to the cabin's right-hand pilot station. This
AD retains the requirements of AD 2002-13-11 but for only the pilot
station. These actions are intended to prevent an object from sliding
between the canopy and the cabin floor, loss of yaw control, and
subsequent loss of helicopter control.
DATES: This AD is effective February 4, 2016.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 4,
2016.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie,
TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-
3775; or at https://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. You may review
the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort
Worth, TX 76177.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
1480 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 Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC)
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: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
robert.grant@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2002-13-11, Amendment 39-12799 (67 FR 45295, July
9, 2002) and add a new AD. AD 2002-13-11 applied to Airbus Model EC120B
helicopters, serial numbers 1001 through 1278, and required installing
front and side covers to protect the yaw control at the pilot and co-
pilot flight control stations. AD 2002-13-11 was prompted by AD No.
2001-386-007(A), dated September 5, 2001, issued by the DGAC, the
airworthiness authority for France, to correct an unsafe condition for
the Model EC120B helicopter. The DGAC advises of a yaw-control jamming
caused by an object that slid between the canopy and the cabin floor.
After we issued AD 2002-13-11 (67 FR 45295, July 9, 2002), we
determined that the front and side protections are required only at the
pilot station. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 14,
2015 (80 FR 27605), and proposed to supersede AD 2002-13-11 to require
installing the front and side covers only at the pilot station. It also
reflected that Eurocopter France had changed its name to Airbus
Helicopters.
Since we issued the NPRM, we discovered it contains a typographical
error in the date of the service information. Also, the FAA Southwest
Regional Office has relocated and a group email address has been
established for requesting an FAA Alternate Method of Compliance for a
helicopter of foreign design. We have
[[Page 81743]]
corrected the error in the service information date and revised the
contact information throughout this Final Rule.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 27605, May 14,
2015).
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with France, the DGAC, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the DGAC AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by the DGAC 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, except for the minor
editorial changes described previously. These changes are consistent
with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM (80 FR 27605, May 14,
2015) and will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor
increase the scope of this AD.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005, Revision
0, dated August 1, 2001 (ASB), which specifies installing a front and
side protection on the cabin floor to protect the yaw control. The DGAC
classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD No. 2001-386-007(A),
dated September 5, 2001, and AD 2001-386-007(A)R1, dated February 6,
2002, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in
France.
This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 37 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 a work-hour. Required parts cost about
$584 and it takes about 2 work-hours to accomplish the required
actions. Based on these figures, we estimate that the total cost of
this AD is $754 per helicopter and $27,898 for the U.S. fleet.
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 removing airworthiness directive (AD)
2002-13-11, Amendment 39 12799 (67 FR 45295, July 9, 2002), and adding
the following new AD:
2015-26-04 Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France):
Amendment 39-18352; Docket No. FAA-2015-1480; Directorate Identifier
2014-SW-071-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model EC120B helicopters, serial numbers 1001
through 1278, inclusive, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an object sliding
between the canopy and the cabin floor. This condition could result
in loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
(c) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2002-13-11, Amendment 39-12799 (67 FR
45295, July 9, 2002).
(d) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective February 4, 2016.
(e) 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.
(f) Required Actions
Within 90 days, install front and side covers (protections) to
protect the yaw control in accordance with the Accomplishment
Instructions, paragraph 2.B., of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin
No. 67A005, Revision 0, dated August 1, 2001, except the correct
reference to the Aircraft Maintenance Manual in subparagraph 2.B.2
of the ASB is 20-10-00, 3-8.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.
(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.
(h) Additional Information
The subject of this AD is addressed in the Direction General De
L'Aviation Civile (DGAC) AD No. 67A005, Revision 1, dated February
6, 2002. You may view the DGAC AD on the Internet at https://
[[Page 81744]]
www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2015-1480.
(i) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2500, Cabin
Equipment/Furnishings.
(j) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 67A005, Revision 0,
dated August 1, 2001.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-
3775; or at https://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference 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: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 15, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-32258 Filed 12-30-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P