AD 2013-10-51

AD Final Rules - 2013-10-51.pdf
Copy URL
Document Versions
 Feedback
DetailsAttachments/Public Comments
AD Number:
2013-10-51
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2013-0522
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters
Subject:
Rotorcraft Servo System
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2013)
Citation Publish Date:
07/16/2013
Effective Date:
07/31/2013
Make:
Airbus Helicopters
Model:
AS355E | AS355F | AS355F1 | AS355F2 | AS355N | AS355NP | AS350B | AS350B1 ...Show more
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
AIR-700: Compliance & Airworthiness Division
Office of Primary Responsibility:
AIR-730: International Validation Branch
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
Automatic Zoom
Actual Size
Page Fit
Page Width
⁨50⁩%
⁨75⁩%
⁨100⁩%
⁨125⁩%
⁨150⁩%
⁨200⁩%
⁨300⁩%
⁨400⁩%
125%
of ⁨8⁩
1


[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 136 (Tuesday, July 16, 2013)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 42406-42409]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2013-16682]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2013-0522; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-018-AD; Amendment 39-17487;


AD 2013-10-51]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters


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


ACTION:
 
Final rule; request for comments.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France Model


AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E,


AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. This AD requires, before further


flight, determining whether a single hydraulic main or tail rotor servo-control is installed on your


helicopter. If a certain servo-control is installed, before the further flight, this AD requires replacing


that servo-control. This AD was prompted by the discovery of excessive axial play detected on


bearings installed on certain single hydraulic main and tail rotor servo-controls (servo-control). The


excessive play could cause the distributor slide valve to jam in its sleeve. This condition could result


in jamming the hydraulic flight controls, necessitating that the pilot cut off hydraulic power. This


action would increase the pilot's workload, resulting in possible loss of helicopter control.


DATES:
 
This AD becomes effective to all persons July 31, 2013, except those persons to whom it


was made immediately effective by Emergency AD No. 2013-10-51, issued on May 9, 2013, which


contains the requirements of this AD.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain


documents listed in this AD as of July 31, 2013.


We must receive comments on this AD by September 16, 2013.


ADDRESSES:
 
You may send comments by any of the following methods:


•
 
Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online


instructions for sending your comments electronically.


•
 
Fax: 202-493-2251.
2


•
 
Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,


West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,


DC 20590-0001.


•
 
Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ''Mail'' address 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 AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 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 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 http://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.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Michael Hemann, Transportaton Safety Analyst,


Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas


76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email michael.hemann@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Comments Invited


This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety, and we did not provide


you with notice and an opportunity to provide your comments prior to it becoming effective.


However, we invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or


views. We also invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism


impacts that resulted from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion


of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure


the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written


comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should submit them only one time.


We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as a report summarizing each


substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the comment


period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based


on those comments.


Discussion


On May 9, 2013, we issued Emergency AD 2013-10-51 (Emergency AD), which requires,


before further flight, determining whether a certain servo-control is installed on your helicopter. If a


certain servo-control is installed, before the further flight, the Emergency AD requires replacing that


servo-control with an airworthy servo-control. The Emergency AD was prompted by AD No. 2013-


0095-E, dated April 16, 2013, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States


of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for the helicopters listed in the first paragraph


of this section. EASA advises that for helicopters with single hydraulic main and tail servo-controls,


this condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a friction point in the flight controls and