AD 2011-25-01

Effective January 17, 2012.

The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of January 17, 2012.

You may get the service information identified in this AD from Apical Industries, Inc., 2608 Temple Heights Drive, Oceanside, California 92056-3512, telephone (760) 724-5300, fax (760) 758-9612, http://www.apicalindustries.com/.

Examining the Docket: You may examine the docket that contains this AD, any comments, and other information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or at the Docket Operations office, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC.

Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-5337, fax (562) 627-5210.

A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD for helicopters modified in accordance with certain supplemental type certificates with certain emergency float kits, was published in the Federal Register on December 7, 2010 (75 FR 75934). That action proposed to require, for certain model helicopters modified per Supplemental Type Certificate Number SR01535LA, SR01779LA, SR01813LA, SR01855LA, or SR00856LA, adding an external placard near the external T-Handles to provide instructions for the operation of the liferaft external inflation handle. That action also proposed to require replacing earlier installed liferaft operation placards with more recent placards.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the public.

We estimate that this AD will affect 324 helicopters of U.S. registry, and it will take about 1/2 work hour per helicopter to install 4 or 6 placards at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Required parts will cost about $70 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators is $36,450 for the entire fleet.

We have 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 above, I certify that the regulation:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the 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. See the AD docket to examine the economic evaluation.

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 AD.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD: