[Federal Register: March 16, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 49)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 11004-11006]
[DOCID:fr16mr09-3]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0195; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-34-AD;
Amendment 39-15837; AD 2009-06-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Model EC 155B and
EC155B1 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters.
This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information
(MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is
the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community.
The MCAI states that ``the Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by
the discovery of a short circuit evidence in hoist connector ``24
Delta'' even though the hoist was removed from the rotorcraft. The
short circuit generated sufficient heat to ignite the paint on the
cooler support cowling near the hoist cut-off connector ``24 Delta.''
This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fire in this area
which could propagate to surrounding zones.'' This AD requires actions
that are intended to address this unsafe condition.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on March 31, 2009.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications is approved
by the Director of the Federal Register as of March 31, 2009.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 15, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://
www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting your
comments electronically.
     Fax:<PHONE_NUMBER>.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this AD from
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75053-4005, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, fax<PHONE_NUMBER>, or at http://
www.eurocopter.com.
    Examining the Docket: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet
at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the economic evaluation, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for the
Docket Operations office (telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>) is stated in the
ADDRESSES section of this AD. Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group,
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, fax (817) 222-
5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Community, has issued EASA Emergency AD No. 2007-0159-E, dated
June 6, 2007, to correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter Model EC
155B and EC155B1 helicopters.
    This AD requires actions that are intended to detect a short
circuit in a hoist connector and prevent a fire in the aircraft. You
may obtain further information by examining the MCAI and any related
service information in the AD docket.

Related Service Information

    Eurocopter has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 25A085,
dated June 1, 2007. The actions described in the MCAI are intended to
correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the service
information.

FAA's Evaluation and Unsafe Condition Determination

    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 France, their Technical Agent has notified us
of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI. We are issuing this AD
because we evaluated all information provided by EASA on behalf of
France and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to
exist or develop on other helicopters of this same type design.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    We have used a compliance time of 1 month rather than 3 months
because of the serious consequences of an undetected short circuit and
potential aircraft fire.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 1 helicopter of U.S. registry.
We also estimate that it will take about 3 work-hours to comply with
the basic requirements of this AD. The average labor rate is $80 per
work-hour. Required parts will cost about $500 per helicopter. Based on
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators will
be $740.

FAA's Determination of the Effective Date

    An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD. We find that the risk to the flying public justifies waiving
notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because a wiring
short circuit near the hoist cut-off connector caused the paint on the
cooler support cowling to catch on fire. Therefore, we have determined
that notice and opportunity for public comment before issuing this AD
are impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in fewer than 30 days.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not precede it by notice and opportunity for public
comment. However, we invite you to send us any written data, views, or
arguments concerning this AD. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section of this AD. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2009-
0195; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-34-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
AD because of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://
www.regulations.gov including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this AD.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition
that is likely to exist or develop on product(s) identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    Therefore, I certify this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities

under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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 AD:

2009-06-01 Eurocopter France: Amendment 39-15837. Docket No. FAA-
2009-0195; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-34-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective on March
31, 2009.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters
with a serial number (S/N) less than 6763, and with optional
equipment OP 45C07 (OP 45C07), installed, certificated in any
category. OP 45C07 is the helicopter provision kit (electrical and
structural mount modifications) used to support installation and
operation of a hoist.
    (1) To determine if your helicopter has OP 45C07 installed,
review aircraft documentation, which should state if OP 45C07
equipment is installed, or
    (2) Perform a physical inspection for the existence of the 24
Delta hoist electrical female connector (MIL-C-5015 type connector),
which is installed, just forward of the right-hand engine cowling
and just below the right engine inlet. Figures 1 and 6 of Eurocopter
Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 25A085, dated June 1, 2007
(ASB), depict where the connector is located.

Reason

    (d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI)
states that ``the Airworthiness Directive (AD) is prompted by the
discovery of a short circuit evidence in hoist connector ``24
Delta'' even though the hoist was removed from the rotorcraft. The
short circuit generated sufficient heat to ignite the paint on the
cooler support cowling near the hoist cut-off connector ``24
Delta.'' This condition, if not corrected, could result in a fire in
this area which could propagate to surrounding zones.'' This AD
requires actions that are intended to address this unsafe condition.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Within 7 days, unless already accomplished, do the
following:
    (1) Determine the orientation of the fixed connector ``24
Delta'' and if the large contacts are not oriented ``aft,'' re-
orient the fixed connector so that they are facing ``aft'' by
following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 2.B.1. and
2.B.2.a., of the ASB.
    (2) Immediately after each hoist removal until the electrical
bonding braid for the fixed hoist connector ``24 Delta'' is
installed, disconnect the hoist power cable by following the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B.2.b., of the ASB.
    (f) Within 1 month, install an electrical bonding braid for
connector ``24 Delta'' by following the Accomplishment Instructions,
paragraph 2.B.2.c., of the ASB.
    (g) Factory-implemented modification MOD 0745C82 is acceptable
terminating action for the requirements of this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    (h) We have used a compliance time of 1 month rather than 3
months because of the serious consequences of an undetected short
circuit and potential aircraft fire.

Other Information

    (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager,
Safety Management Group, FAA, ATTN: George Schwab, Aerospace
Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, Fort
Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, fax (817) 222-
5961, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested
using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (j) Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI)
Emergency Airworthiness Directive No. 2007-0159-E, dated June 6,
2007, contains related information.

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Tracking Code

    (k) ATA Code 25: 2500-Hoist box; 1420-Hoist cut-off connector.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (l) You must use the specified portions of Eurocopter Emergency
Alert Service Bulletin No. 25A085, dated June 1, 2007, to do the
actions required.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
American Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75053-4005, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, fax<PHONE_NUMBER>, or at
http://www.eurocopter.com.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas, or at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/
federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas on February 19, 2009.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-4953 Filed 3-13-09; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910-13-P