DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0430; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-42-AD] RIN 2120
-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Eurocopter France Model AS332 C, L, L1, and L2
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model 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 two cases of LH
hydraulic power system loss on two AS332 helicopters. In both cases, the
pilot received the "low level" hydraulic failure alarm. The investigations
conducted on the two helicopters revealed a hydraulic fluid leak from the
hydraulic pump casing.
In both cases, incorrect position of the liner of the compensating piston
had caused the seals to deteriorate. This incorrect positioning of the
liner is due to non-compliant application of the repair process by a
repair station.
Deterioration of hydraulic pumps causes:
--The loss of the RH and LH hydraulic power systems in the event of a
substantial hydraulic fluid leak from both hydraulic pumps during a
given flight.
--The loss of the hydraulic system concerned, in the event of a substant-
ial hydraulic fluid leak from only one pump.
The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address this
unsafe condition.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 22, 2008.
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 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
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 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: Uday Garadi, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort Worth,
Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5123, 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
decisionmaking 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-2008-0430; Directorate
Identifier 2007-SW-42-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 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 proposed AD.
DISCUSSION
The Direction Generale de L'Aviation Civile (DGAC), the aviation authority
for France, has issued French Airworthiness Directive No. F-2007-010,
dated September 12, 2007 (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 two cases of LH
hydraulic power system loss on two AS332 helicopters. In both cases, the
pilot received the "low level" hydraulic failure alarm. The investigations
conducted on the two helicopters revealed a hydraulic fluid leak from the
hydraulic pump casing.
In both cases, incorrect position of the liner of the compensating piston
had caused the seals to deteriorate. This incorrect positioning of the
liner is due to non-compliant application of the repair process by a
repair station.
Deterioration of hydraulic pumps causes:
--The loss of the RH and LH hydraulic power systems in the event of a
substantial hydraulic fluid leak from both hydraulic pumps during a
given flight.
--The loss of the hydraulic system concerned, in the event of a
substantial hydraulic fluid leak from only one pump.
You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI and service
information in the AD docket.
RELEVANT SERVICE INFORMATION
Eurocopter France has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 01.00.73, dated
August 23, 2007 (ASB). The actions described in the MCAI are intended to
correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the ASB.
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 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
We have reviewed the MCAI and related service information and, in general,
agree with their substance. However, we have made the following changes:
We do not require the operator to return the hydraulic pump to the
manufacturer nor any action on non-installed hydraulic pumps.
We changed "flying hours" to "hours time-in-service."
In making these changes, we do not intend to differ substantively from the
information provided in the MCAI. These differences are highlighted in the
"Differences Between the FAA and the MCAI" section in the proposed AD.
COSTS OF COMPLIANCE
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 4 helicopters of U.S.
registry. We also estimate that it would take 2.5 work-hours to inspect
and replace one hydraulic pump. The average labor rate is $80 per work
-hour. Each pump would cost about $26,000 and require two hydraulic pumps
per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of the
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $209,600 to replace all the hydraulic
pumps on 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 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: