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 duringthe comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.
Discussion
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2015-0048, dated March 17, 2015, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. EASA advises that after installation of a new life raft on a helicopter, the travel of the life raft deployment control could not be properly adjusted, putting at risk proper life raft inflation. According to a technical analysis, the varying positions of the life raft inflation cylinder inside the bag containing the life raft, as well as the varying positions of the bag within the life raft container, may cause the life raft deployment control cable to loosen and travel insufficiently.
This condition could result in failure of the external life raft to deploy after a ditching, impeding or preventing the safe evacuation of helicopter occupants, EASA states. EASA consequently requires alteration of the life raft deployment control by installing a sheath kit, which Airbus Helicopters identifies as Modification 365A084711.00 and 365A084711.01.
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
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provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS365-25.01.45 and ASB No. EC155-25A128, both Revision 1, and both dated February 2, 2015. Theservice information reports that the position of the life raft inflation cylinder may slacken the deployment control cable for new life rafts installed on Model AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. In one instance, travel of the life raft deployment control could not be adjusted as stated in the maintenance manual. This anomaly is due to the varying positions of the inflation cylinder inside the bag that contains the life raft, and the varying positions of the bag inside the container, related to the installation and removal of optional equipment, calendar overhauls, life raft storage, shock impacts, and in-flight vibrations. Airbus Helicopters consequently developed modification 365A084711.00 and 365A084711.01, which ensure sufficient travel of the life raft deployment control cable in all positions of the inflation cylinder by installing an improved sheath kit on the left hand and right hand deployment controls.
This service information is reasonably available because theinterested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
AD Requirements
This AD requires, before the next flight over water, installing a sheath kit on the left-hand and right-hand raft deployment controls.
Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD
The EASA AD requires installing a sheath kit on the left-hand and right-hand raft deployment controls within 110 hours time-in-service or before further flight for helicopters required to have life rafts, whichever occurs later. This AD requires installing a sheath kit on the left-hand and right-hand raft deployment controls before the next flight over water.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD affects 23 helicopters of U.S. Registry and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these estimates, we expect that installing the sheath kits requires 4 work- hours and a parts cost of $50 for a total cost of $390 per helicopter and $8,970 for the U.S. fleet.
FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date
Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment prior to the adoption of this rule because many of the affected helicopters are located along major waterways, and the required corrective actions must be accomplished before the next flight over water.
Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for prior public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and contrary to the public interest and that good cause exists to make this AD effective in less than 30 days.
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 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.
For the reasons discussed, I certify that this AD:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
4. 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.