2013-15-03: Hydraulic Pump, Main

Adoption of the Amendment Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES 0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. Sec. 39.13 [Amended] 0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): 2013-15-03 Eurocopter France (Eurocopter): Amendment 39-17519; Docket No. FAA-2013-0638; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-026-AD. (a) Applicability This AD applies to Eurocopter Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D and AS350D1 helicopters with a single hydraulic system and with a hydraulic pump drive installed in accordance with modification 079566 that has 165 or more hours time- in-service (TIS) since installation, certificated in any category. (b) Unsafe Condition This AD defines the unsafe condition asseizure of the hydraulic pump drive pulley bearing. This condition could result in hydraulic pump drive belt failure, loss of hydraulic servo assistance, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. (c) Comments Due Date We must receive comments on this AD by September 23, 2013. (d) Effective Date This AD becomes effective August 8, 2013. (e) Compliance You are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time. (f) Required Actions Within 10 hours TIS, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 25 hours TIS: (1) Uncouple the pulley from the hydraulic pump. (2) Using a mirror and a light, inspect the hydraulic pump drive pulley bearing (pulley bearing) for leaking grease from each lip seal of the four greasing orifices (lip seal) due to wear, a crack or tear in a lip seal, a run of rust on a lip seal, indication of overheating shown by brown coloring on the inner ring of the bearing, andfor any distortion, impact, wear, a tear, a crack, or loss of grease on each sealing flange. (3) Manually rotate the pulley bearing through several full turns and inspect for a friction point, brinelling, or a noise from the bearing. (4) If there is any leaking grease from a lip seal, a crack or tear in a lip seal, a run of rust on a lip seal, indication of overheating shown by brown coloring on the inner ring of the bearing, or distortion, impact, wear, a tear, a crack, or loss of grease on a sealing flange, or a friction point, brinelling, or noise from the bearing, before further flight, replace the hydraulic pump drive assembly. (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222- 5110; email [email protected]. (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. (h) Additional Information (1) Eurocopter AS350 Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 05.00.72, Revision 1, dated June 11, 2013, which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the subject of this AD. 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:[sol][sol]www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review a copy of the service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room663, Fort Worth Texas 76137. (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No. 2013-0044-E, dated February 27, 2013. You may view the EASA AD in the AD docket on the Internet at http:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov. (i) Subject Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2913: Hydraulic Pump, Main.