AD 2013-12-04

AD Final Rules - 2013-12-04.pdf
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AD Number:
2013-12-04
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2012-1214
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters
Subject:
Fuel storage
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2013)
Citation Publish Date:
06/28/2013
Effective Date:
08/02/2013
Make:
Airbus Helicopters
Model:
AS-365N2 | AS-365N3 | EC 155B | EC155B1 | SA-365N | SA-365N1 | SA-366G1
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 125 (Friday, June 28, 2013)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 38821-38823]


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


[FR Doc No: 2013-14826]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2012-1214; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-071-AD; Amendment 39-17482;


AD 2013-12-04]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter France Helicopters


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


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


155B, EC155B1, SA-366G1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and AS 365 N3 helicopters, which


requires modifying the fuel tank draining system. This AD is prompted by a closed fuel tank drain


that, in the event of a fuel leak, could result in fuel accumulating in an area containing electrical


equipment. The actions are intended to prevent accumulation of fuel in an area with electrical


equipment or another ignition source, which may lead to a fire.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective August 2, 2013.


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


documents listed in this AD as of August 2, 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 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.


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, 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
2


Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue


SE., Washington, DC 20590.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety


Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137;


telephone (817) 222-5110; email chinh.vuong@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


On November 26, 2012, at 77 FR 70382, 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 France Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-366G1, SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, and


AS 365 N3 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require modifying the fuel tank draining system. The


proposed requirements were intended to prevent accumulation of fuel in an area with electrical


equipment or other ignition source, which may lead to a fire.


The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member


States of the European Union, issued EASA AD No. 2011-0190, dated September 30, 2011 (AD No.


2011-0190), to correct an unsafe condition for the Eurocopter France EC 155, SA 366, SA 365, and


AS 365 model helicopters, except those with certain modifications. EASA reports that the fuel tank


drains were closed with plugs during production to maintain buoyancy during emergency landings in


water. EASA states that this closing of the fuel tank drains with plugs ''disregards compliance with an


airworthiness certification requirement'' and, in the event of a fuel leak in flight, creates ''the risk of


fuel accumulation and/or migration'' to an adjacent area that may contain electrical equipment


''susceptible of constituting a source of ignition.'' EASA states that this condition, if not corrected,


could result in ignition of fuel vapors, ''resulting in a fire and consequent damage to the helicopter, or


injury to its occupants.'' As a result, EASA required modification of the fuel tank compartments'


draining system.


Comments


After our NPRM (77 FR 70382, November 26, 2012) was published, we received comments


from one commenter.


Request


The commenter called this ''a health and safety issue'' and stated that the repairs should be done


immediately, as the costs of the repair are relatively minor.


We partially agree. We are not requiring that the repairs be accomplished immediately. We


evaluated the safety data and determined that allowing helicopter owners and operators time to plan


and obtain parts to make the repairs would not adversely affect safety.


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, EASA, its technical


representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in its AD. We are issuing this AD


because we evaluated all information provided by EASA, reviewed the relevant information,


considered the comments received, 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.