Rule2022-11957
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
June 3, 2022
Effective
July 8, 2022
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the identification of certain parts needing maintenance actions, including life limits and maintenance tasks. This AD requires incorporating into maintenance records requirements (airworthiness limitations), as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 87 Issue 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 107 (Friday, June 3, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33632-33634]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2022-11957]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2022-0297; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01099-R;
Amendment 39-22058; AD 2022-11-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3,
AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the
identification of certain parts needing maintenance actions, including
life limits and maintenance tasks. This AD requires incorporating into
maintenance records requirements (airworthiness limitations), as
specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which
is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective July 8, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 8,
2022.
ADDRESSES: For EASA material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this
final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne,
Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a8e9ecdbe8cdc9dbc986cddddac7d8c986cddd"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2b6a6f586b4e4a584a054e5e59445b4a054e5e">[email protected]</span></a>; internet
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website
at <a href="https://ad.easa.europa.eu">https://ad.easa.europa.eu</a>. You may view this material at the FAA,
Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy.,
Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability
of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available
in the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0297.
[[Page 33633]]
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0297; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, the
EASA AD, any comments received, and other information. The address for
Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer,
COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance &
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone (516) 228-7330; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#47262923352226692d2e2a2229223d0721262669202831"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="15747b716770743b7f7c78707b706f557374743b727a63">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0194R1, dated October 8, 2021
(EASA AD 2021-0194R1), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus
Helicopters, formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, and Aerospatiale,
Model AS 350 B, AS 350 BA, AS 350 BB, AS 350 B1, AS 350 B2, AS 350 B3,
AS 350 D, EC 130 B4, and EC 130 T2 helicopters. Model AS 350 BB
helicopters are not certificated by the FAA and are not included on the
U.S. type certificate data sheet; this AD therefore does not include
those helicopters in the applicability.
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Helicopters
Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and
EC130T2 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
March 28, 2022 (87 FR 17206). The NPRM was prompted by the
identification of certain parts needing maintenance actions, including
life limits and maintenance tasks. The NPRM proposed to require
incorporating into maintenance records requirements (airworthiness
limitations), as specified in EASA AD 2021-0194R1.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the failure of certain parts,
which could result in the loss of control of the helicopter. See EASA
AD 2021-0194R1 for additional background information.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive
Comments
The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.
Conclusion
These helicopters have been approved by EASA and are approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral
agreement with the European Union, EASA has notified the FAA about the
unsafe condition described in its AD. The FAA reviewed the relevant
data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these helicopters. Except for minor editorial changes,
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2021-0194R1 requires certain actions and associated
thresholds and intervals, including life limits and maintenance tasks.
This material is reasonably available because the interested
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.
ADs Mandating Airworthiness Limitations
The FAA has previously mandated airworthiness limitations by
mandating each airworthiness limitation task (e.g., inspections and
replacements (life limits)) as an AD requirement or issuing ADs that
require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the
existing maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness
to incorporate new or revised inspections and life limits. This AD,
however, requires operators to incorporate into maintenance records
required by 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2) or 135.439(a)(2), as applicable for
your helicopter, the requirements (airworthiness limitations) specified
in a civil aviation authority AD. The FAA does not intend this as a
substantive change. For these ADs, the ALS requirements for operators
are the same but are complied with differently. Requiring the
incorporation of the new ALS requirements into the maintenance records,
rather than requiring individual ALS tasks (e.g., repetitive
inspections and replacements), requires operators to record AD
compliance once after updating the maintenance records, rather than
after every time the ALS task is completed.
In addition, paragraph (h) of this AD allows operators to
incorporate later approved revisions of the ALS document as specified
in the Ref. Publications section of EASA AD 2021-0194R1 without the
need for an alternative method of compliance (AMOC).
Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD
Paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021-0194R1 requires compliance with
actions and associated thresholds and intervals, including life limits
and maintenance tasks, from September 3, 2021, the effective date of
EASA AD 2021-0194, dated August 20, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0194). Paragraph
(3) of EASA AD 2021-0194R1 requires incorporating the actions and
associated thresholds and intervals, including life limits and
maintenance tasks, into the approved maintenance program within 12
months after the effective date of EASA AD 2021-0194. This AD requires
incorporating into maintenance records requirements (airworthiness
limitations) within 30 days after the effective date of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 1,191 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this AD. Incorporating requirements (airworthiness limitations) into
maintenance records requires about 2 work-hours for a cost of $170 per
helicopter and a cost of $202,470 for the U.S. fleet.
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.
The FAA is 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.
[[Page 33634]]
Regulatory Findings
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 this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.
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:
2022-11-08 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-22058; Docket No. FAA-
2022-0297; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-01099-R.
(a) Effective Date
This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective July 8, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
This AD affects AD 2011-22-05 R1, Amendment 39-17765 (79 FR
14169, March 13, 2014) (AD 2011-22-05 R1); and AD 2016-25-20,
Amendment 39-18746 (81 FR 94954, December 27, 2016) (AD 2016-25-20).
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA,
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters,
certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Codes: 2400, Electrical
Power System; 2800, Aircraft Fuel System; 2900, Hydraulic Power
System; 5200, Doors; 5300, Fuselage Structure; 6200, Main Rotor
System; 6300, Main Rotor Drive System; 6400, Tail Rotor System;
6500, Tail Rotor Drive System; and 6700, Rotorcraft Flight Control.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the identification of certain parts
needing maintenance actions, including life limits and maintenance
tasks. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the failure of certain
parts, which could result in the loss of control of the helicopter.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD, incorporate
into maintenance records required by 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2) or
135.439(a)(2), as applicable for your rotorcraft, the requirements
(airworthiness limitations) specified in paragraph (1) of European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0194R1, dated October 8,
2021 (EASA AD 2021-0194R1).
(h) Provisions for Alternative Requirements (Airworthiness Limitations)
After the action required by paragraph (g) of this AD has been
done, no alternative requirements (airworthiness limitations) are
allowed unless they are approved as specified in the provisions of
the ``Ref. Publications'' section of EASA AD 2021-0194R1.
(i) Terminating Action for ADs 2011-22-05 R1 and 2016-25-20
(1) Accomplishing the actions required by this AD terminates all
requirements of AD 2011-22-05 R1 for Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1,
AS350B2, AS350B3, and AS350D helicopters only.
(2) Accomplishing the actions required by this AD terminates all
requirements of AD 2016-25-20 for Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1,
AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters only.
(j) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and
21.199, are prohibited.
(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19,
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of
this AD. Information may be emailed to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#241d0965727709656d76091317140965696b67644245450a434b52"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="754c5834232658343c27584246455834383a36351314145b121a03">[email protected]</span></a>.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(l) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Andrea Jimenez,
Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational
Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600
Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-
7330; email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#54353a302631357a3e3d39313a312e143235357a333b22"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="76171812041317581c1f1b1318130c3610171758111900">[email protected]</span></a>.
(m) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0194R1,
dated October 8, 2021.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA AD 2021-0194R1, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer
3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#6322271023060210024d0616110c13024d0616"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="0b4a4f784b6e6a786a256e7e79647b6a256e7e">[email protected]</span></a>; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find the
EASA material on the EASA website at <a href="https://ad.easa.europa.eu">https://ad.easa.europa.eu</a>.
(4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room
6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. This material may be
found in the AD docket at <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> by searching
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0297.
(5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#f69084d89f9885869395829f9998b698978497d8919980"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="3157431f585f4241545245585e5f715f5043501f565e47">[email protected]</span></a>, or go to: <a href="https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html">https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html</a>.
Issued on May 17, 2022.
Gaetano A. Sciortino,
Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-11957 Filed 6-2-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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