AD 2014-03-02

AD Final Rules - 2014-03-02.pdf
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AD Number:
2014-03-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2013-0737
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter France)
Subject:
Rotor Flight Control--Rotorcraft Servo System
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 79, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2014)
Citation Publish Date:
02/19/2014
Effective Date:
03/26/2014
Make:
Airbus Helicopters
Model:
AS332C | AS332L | AS332L1 | AS332L2 | SA330J
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Superseded AD: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Superseded By: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 79, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2014)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 9395-9397]


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


[FR Doc No: 2014-02972]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2013-0737; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-111-AD; Amendment 39-17739;


AD 2014-03-02]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter


France)


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model


AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and SA330J helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the


crimping of the ball joint of the upper- and lower- end-fittings of the main servo-control and,


depending on findings, replacing the main servo-control or repairing the ball joint. This AD was


prompted by incidents of missing crimping on the ball joints of servo-control end-fittings. The


actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of a main servo-control upper end fitting, and


subsequent failure of the flight controls and loss of control of the helicopter.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective March 26, 2014.


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


documents listed in this AD as of March 26, 2014.


ADDRESSES:
 
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 http://www.airbushelicopters.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, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any


incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and
2


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:
 
Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety Engineer,


Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,


Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email matt.wilbanks@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


On August 20, 2013, at 78 FR 51115, the Federal Register published our notice of proposed


rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to


certain Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, and SA330J


helicopters. The NPRM proposed visually inspecting the applicable ball joint of the upper and lower


end-fittings of the main servo control for crimping. If the ball joint of the upper end-fitting was not


crimped and the slipping of the ball joint was one millimeter (mm) or greater, the NPRM proposed


replacing the servo-control. If the ball joint of the upper end-fitting was not crimped and the slipping


of the ball joint was less than one mm, the NPRM proposed replacing the servo-control or crimping


the ball joint. If the ball joint of the lower end-fitting was not crimped, the NPRM proposed crimping


the ball joint. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of a main servo-control


upper end fitting, and subsequent failure of the flight controls and loss of control of the helicopter.


The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2012-0248, dated November 20, 2012, issued by EASA,


which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe


condition for Eurocopter Model AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, AS 332 L1, AS 332 L2, and SA


330 J helicopters with certain part-numbered main servo-controls installed. EASA advises that


several occurrences were reported to Eurocopter of missing crimping on ball joints of servo-control


end-fittings. EASA states that while slipping of the ball joint of the lower end-fitting does not affect


its service life, slipping of the ball joint of the upper end-fitting can lead to a significant reduction of


the service life of this end-fitting. As a result, the EASA AD requires inspecting each ball joint for


crimping and, depending on the findings, replacing the main servo-control.


Comments


We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we did not receive


any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 51115, August 20, 2013).


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 the EASA AD. We are issuing this


AD because we evaluated all information provided by EASA 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 a minor


editorial change. The type certificate holder's name for the affected models in this AD changed from


Eurocopter France to Airbus Helicopters on January 10, 2014. This editorial change is consistent with


the intent of the proposals in the NPRM (78 FR 51115, August 20, 2013) and will not increase the


economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of this AD.