AD 2014-12-12

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B and EC130B4 helicopters. This AD requires replacing parts of the sliding door star support attachment assembly, depending on the outcome of required inspections. This AD is prompted by a report that passengers in a helicopter were forced to exit through the pilot door after landing because they could not open the sliding door from the inside. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of the sliding door star support attachment, which could inhibit operation of a sliding door from inside, delaying the evacuation of passengers during an emergency.

Final rule.

Adoption of the Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): \n\n2014-12-12 Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France): Amendment 39-17873; Docket No. FAA-2013-1090; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-017-AD. \n\n(a) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to following helicopters, certificated in any category, except those helicopters with modification 07 3796 or 07 2921 installed: \n\t(1) Model EC120B helicopters, serial numbers up to and including 1367, with a sliding door, Part Number (P/N) C526A2370101, installed; and \n\t(2) Model EC130B4 helicopters with a sliding door, P/N C526S1101051, installed. \n\n(b) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD defines the unsafe condition as a failure of the sliding door star axle support. This condition could prevent operation of a sliding door from inside, which could delay evacuation of passengers during an emergency. \n\n(c) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD becomes effective August 4, 2014. \n\n(d) Compliance \n\n\n\tYou are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished prior to that time. \n\n(e) Required Actions \n\n\n\tWithin 165 hours time-in-service: \n\t(1) Visually inspect each upper and lower locking pin control rod end fitting (control end fitting) for a bend, twist, or breakage. If a control end fitting is bent, twisted, or broken, before further flight, replace the control end fitting with an airworthy control end fitting. \n\t(2) Clean and dye penetrant inspect the star support pin for a crack in the areas identified as Zone X and Zone Y in Figure 3 of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. EC120-52A014, Revision 1, dated January 25, 2013 (ASB No. EC120-52A014) or Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. EC130-52A009, Revision 1, dated January 25, 2013 (ASB No. EC130-52A009), as applicable to your model helicopter. If there is a crack in the star support pin, before further flight, replace the star support pin with an airworthy star support pin. \n\t(3) Reinforce the sliding door star support stringer by installing three carbon fabric plies by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2.d. of ASB No. EC120-52A014 or ASB No. EC130-52A009, as applicable to your model helicopter, except this AD does not require you to comply with paragraph 3.C. \n\n(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Gary Roach, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222- 5110; email gary.b.roach@faa.gov. \n\t(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office or certificate holding district office, before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC. \n\n(g) Additional Information \n\n\n\tThe subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2013-0093, dated April 15, 2013, and corrected on April 17, 2013. You may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2013-1090. \n\n(h) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5220, Emergency Exits. \n\n((Page 36640)) \n\n(i) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this paragraphunder 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. \n\t(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. \n\t(i) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. EC120-52A014, Revision 1, dated January 25, 2013. \n\t(ii) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin No. EC130-52A009, Revision 1, dated January 25, 2013. \n\t(3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, Texas 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. \n\t(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. \n\t(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Discussion \n\n\n\tOn January 2, 2014, at 79 FR 74, 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 (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B and EC130B4 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require, within 165 hours time-in-service, visually inspecting the upper and lower locking pin control rod end fittings, and replacing the control end fitting before further flight if it is bent, twisted, or broken. The NPRM also proposed to require cleaning and dye penetrant inspecting the star support pin for a crack, and replacing the star support pin before further flight if there is a crack. Lastly, the NPRM proposed to require reinforcing the sliding door star support stringer by installing three carbon fabric plies. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of the operation of a sliding door from inside, which could delay evacuation of passengers during an emergency. \n\tThe NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2013-0093, dated April 15, 2013, and corrected on April 17, 2013, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Model EC120B and EC130B4 helicopters after a case was reported where passengers could not open a helicopter's sliding door after landing. EASA advises that an investigation revealed a failure of the sliding door star axle support. \n\tSince we issued the NPRM, Eurocopter France changed its name to Airbus Helicopters. This AD reflects that change and updates the contact information to obtain service documentation. \n\nComments \n\n\n\tWe gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (79 FR 74, January 2, 2014). \n\nFAA's Determination \n\n\n\tThese helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of France and are approved for operation in the UnitedStates. 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 the name change previously described and a minor editorial change in referencing the service information in paragraph (e)(2) of this AD to meet current publishing requirements. These changes are consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM (79 FR 74, January 2, 2014) and will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD. \n\nRelated Service Information \n\n\n\tEurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC120-52A014 for Model EC120B helicopters and ASB No. EC130-52A009 for Model EC130B4 helicopters, both Revision 1, and both dated January 25, 2013. The ASBs state that the star support pin ruptured on the \n\n((Page 36639)) \n\nkinematics of the sliding door locking system, and the rupture prevents sliding doors from operating. The ASBs specify visual and dye penetrant inspections of sections of the sliding door attachment assembly and reinforcement of the sliding door star support. \n\nCosts of Compliance \n\n\n\tWe estimate that this AD will affect 284 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD with an average labor cost of $85 per work-hour: \n\tVisually inspecting the upper and lower locking pin control rod end fittings requires 1 work-hour and a minimal amount for consumable materials for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter, or $24,140 for the U.S. fleet. \n\tReplacing the upper and lower locking pin control rod end fittings with airworthy fittings requires 5 work-hours for alabor cost of $425. Parts will cost about $242 for an estimated total cost of $667 per helicopter. \n\tDye penetrant inspecting the star support pin for a crack requires 2 work-hours and no parts for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter. \n\tReplacing the star support pin requires 5 work-hours. Parts will cost about $200 for an estimated total cost of $625 per helicopter. \n\tInstalling three carbon fabric plies to reinforce the sliding door star support requires 5 work-hours. Parts will cost $200 for an estimated total cost of $625 per helicopter. \n\nAuthority for This Rulemaking \n\n\n\tTitle 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. \n\tWe 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 helicopters identified in this rulemaking action. \n\nRegulatory Findings \n\n\n\tThis 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. \n\tFor the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD: \n\t(1) Is not a ''significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; \n\t(2) Is not a ''significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); \n\t(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and \n\t(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. \n\tWe prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket. \n\nList of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 \n\n\n\tAir transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.