
[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 183 (Tuesday, September 22, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 57121]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-24098]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 21


Notice of Intent To Designate as Abandoned Normal Category Type 
Certificate: Silvercraft S.co.p.a., Type Certificate No. H2EU

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of intent to designate Silvercraft S.p.A. type 
certificate issued in the normal category as abandoned; request for 
comments.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the FAA's intent to designate 
Silvercraft S.co.p.a. (Silvercraft) Type Certificate (TC) H2EU, issued 
in the normal category, as abandoned. The FAA has been unable to locate 
Silvercraft, the TC holder, concerning the continued airworthiness of 
the aircraft certificated under its TC. The Federal Aviation 
Regulations (regulations) require that TC holders report certain 
failures, malfunctions, and defects to the FAA. The regulations also 
require, upon request, that TC holders submit design changes to the FAA 
that are necessary to correct any unsafe condition in their products. 
The FAA is responsible for surveillance of Silvercraft's ability to 
perform continued operational safety management and oversight of the 
helicopter on its TC. This action is intended to ensure that 
Silvercraft Model SH-4 helicopters are under a TC that has active 
continued operational safety management and oversight by a TC holder 
that can be subject to periodic safety audits by the FAA.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: Comments on this notice must be submitted to the Federal 
Aviation Administration, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, ASW-110, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 76177; 
fax: (817) 222-5961.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tyrone D. Millard, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 76177; telephone: (817) 222-5439; 
email: tyrone.d.millard@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested parties are invited to provide comments, written data, 
views, or arguments relating to this notice. Comments should be 
submitted to the address specified above. All comments received on or 
before the closing date will be considered. All comments received will 
be available in the docket for examination by interested persons. 
Comments may be inspected at the office of the FAA, Rotorcraft 
Standards Staff, Rotorcraft Directorate, 5th Floor, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy, Fort Worth, Texas, between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.

Discussion

    This notice is intended to inform the public that the FAA intends 
to designate Silvercraft Type Certificate H2EU, issued in the normal 
category, as abandoned and that no additional original airworthiness 
certificates will be issued against Type Certificate H2EU.
    On September 8, 1968, Registro Aeronautico Italiano (now Ente 
Nazionale per l'Aviazione Civile) issued Silvercraft an Italian TC. On 
September 11, 1968, the FAA issued TC H2EU for Model SH-4 helicopters 
to Silvercraft S.co.p.a., Via Carlo Alberto n. 42, 14049 Nissa 
Monfferrato (At), Italy. On May 2, 2011, the European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union, revoked Silvercraft's TC SO/A-145. The reason for 
the revocation is Silvercraft's failure to apply for a design 
organization approval or an alternative, which is required as an EASA 
TC holder. Additionally, Silvercraft has failed to respond to all 
communications from EASA.
    As a result of the information provided by EASA, the FAA sent a 
registered letter to Silvercraft dated February 27, 2015, informing the 
company that we intend to classify TC H2EU as abandoned unless, within 
60 days of receipt of the letter, we receive a written statement from 
them stating they are the holder of TC H2EU. The FAA has also attempted 
to make contact with Silvercraft by other means including telephone 
communication and internet searches but without success. A review of 
the FAA National Aircraft Registration Database confirms that there are 
no U.S.- registered SH-4 helicopters.
    The basis for issuance of a TC not only includes the applicant's 
submittal of various reports and data, but also the submittal of 
information about periodic inspections and maintenance to assure the 
continued operational safety of the helicopter. Among other regulatory 
requirements, 14 CFR 21.3 requires TC holders to report certain 
failures, malfunctions, and defects to the FAA; and 14 CFR 21.99 
requires that TC holders submit design changes that are necessary to 
correct any unsafe condition in its products. Silvercraft is obligated 
to meet these requirements for all aircraft under its TC.
    The FAA is responsible for surveillance of a TC holder's ability to 
perform continued operational safety management and oversight of each 
helicopter on its TC. The FAA continues to monitor the safety 
performance of a helicopter type design after the aircraft is approved 
and placed into service. This is accomplished through post-
certification review of TC holder data, review of service difficulty 
reports, communication with aircraft owners and operators, and other 
information provided by a TC holder. Periodic safety audits cannot be 
accomplished if the TC holder cannot be located. To date, the FAA has 
been unsuccessful in all attempts to locate Silvercraft.
    Hence, the FAA proposes to flag TC H2EU and consider it abandoned. 
This notice informs the public that the FAA intends to designate TC 
H2EU as abandoned and no additional original airworthiness certificates 
will be issued against that TC. This action is not intended as a 
surrender, suspension, revocation, or termination of the TC as those 
terms are used in 14 CFR part 21. However, this action is intended to 
ensure that each Silvercraft Model SH-4 helicopter is under a TC that 
has active continued operational safety management and oversight by a 
TC holder that can be subject to periodic safety audits by the FAA.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas on September 10, 2015.
James A. Grigg,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-24098 Filed 9-21-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


