Proposed Rule2025-08075
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
Primary source
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Published
May 9, 2025
Issuing agencies
Transportation DepartmentFederal Aviation Administration
Abstract
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of momentary direct current (DC) power interruption in flight of both essential busses. This proposed AD would require revising the existing rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 90 Issue 89 (Friday, May 9, 2025)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 89 (Friday, May 9, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19662-19664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2025-08075]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0750; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01325-R]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117
D-3 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of momentary
direct current (DC) power interruption in flight of both essential
busses. This proposed AD would require revising the existing rotorcraft
flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter, as specified in a European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for
incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 23,
2025.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>. Follow
the instructions for submitting comments.
<bullet> Fax: (202) 493-2251.
<bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
<bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0750; 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 NPRM, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
<bullet> For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3a7b7e497a5f5b495b145f4f48554a5b145f4f"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="4405003704212537256a2131362b34256a2131">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may find
the EASA material on the EASA website ad.easa.europa.eu.
<bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, 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 at
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2025-0750.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan McCully, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (303)
342-1080; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#3e49575252575f5310535d5d4b5252477e585f5f10595148"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2f58464343464e4201424c4c5a4343566f494e4e01484059">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-0750;
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01325-R'' at the beginning of your
comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include
supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the
closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
[[Page 19663]]
<a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a>, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dan
McCully, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0208, dated October 11, 2022
(EASA AD 2022-0208) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on certain serial-numbered AHD Model MBB-BK117 D-3 and
D-3m helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of momentary
DC power interruption in flight of both essential busses. The
investigation is still ongoing to identify the root cause of this
occurrence. In the interim, AHD developed emergency and malfunction
procedures to address this issue. The FAA is proposing this AD to
address DC power interruption, which could result in loss of control of
the helicopter or reduced situational awareness.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0750.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0208, which specifies procedures for
revising the RFM by incorporating an emergency and malfunction
procedure, informing all flight crews, and thereafter, operating the
helicopter accordingly. This material provides updated battery
discharging procedures, which includes a warning in case of total
electrical failure.
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.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2022-0208, described previously, as incorporated by
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this proposed AD. See ``Differences Between this AD
and the MCAI'' for a discussion of the general differences included in
this AD. The owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot
certificate may revise the existing RFM for your helicopter and must
enter compliance with the applicable paragraph of the proposed AD into
the helicopter maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)
and 91.417(a)(2)(v).
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2022-0208 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2022-0208 in its entirety through that incorporation, except
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of
this proposed AD. Material required by EASA AD 2022-0208 for compliance
will be available at <a href="http://regulations.gov">regulations.gov</a> under Docket No. FAA-2025-0750
after the FAA final rule is published.
Differences Between This NPRM and the EASA AD
EASA AD 2022-0208 applies to Model MBB-BK117 D-3m helicopters,
whereas this proposed AD would not because that model is not FAA type-
certificated.
The MCAI requires operators to ``inform all flight crew'' of the
revisions to the RFM, and thereafter to ``operate the helicopter
accordingly.'' However, this AD does not require those actions as those
actions are already required by FAA regulations. FAA regulations
require operators furnish to pilots any changes to the RFM (for
example, 14 CFR 135.21) and to ensure the pilots are familiar with the
RFM (for example, 14 CFR 91.505). As with any other flight crew
training requirement, training on the updated RFM content is tracked by
the operators and recorded in each pilot's training record, which is
available for the FAA to review. FAA regulations also require pilots to
follow the procedures in the existing RFM including all updates.
Therefore, including a requirement in this AD to inform the flight crew
and operate the helicopter according to the revised RFM would be
redundant and unnecessary.
Interim Action
The FAA considers this proposed AD would be an interim action. If
final action is later identified, the FAA might consider further
rulemaking then.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 27 helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor rates are estimated at
$85 per hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA estimates the following
costs to comply with this proposed AD.
Revising the existing RFM for your helicopter would take 1 work-
hour for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and $2,295 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
[[Page 19664]]
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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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:
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD): Docket No. FAA-2025-0750;
Project Identifier MCAI-2022-01325-R.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by June 23, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD)
Model MBB-BK 117 D-3 helicopters, certificated in any category, as
identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2022-0208,
dated October 11, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0208).
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2432, Battery/
Charger System.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of momentary direct current (DC)
power interruption in flight of both essential busses. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address DC power interruption through updated
procedures. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in
loss of control of the helicopter or reduced situational awareness.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, EASA AD 2022-0208. The owner/operator (pilot)
holding at least a private pilot certificate may revise the existing
RFM for your helicopter and must enter compliance with this
paragraph of the AD into the helicopter maintenance records in
accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must
be maintained as required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0208
(1) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-0208 specifies to inform
all flight crews and operate the helicopter accordingly, this AD
does not require those actions.
(2) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022-0208 specifies ``the RFM
emergency and malfunction procedure, is an acceptable method'' this
AD requires replacing that text with ``the RFM emergency and
malfunction procedure, as defined in this AD, is an acceptable
method.''
(3) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2022-0208.
(i) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits are prohibited.
(j) 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 (k) of
this AD and email to: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#2d6c60626e6d4b4c4c034a425b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="ca8b8785898aacababe4ada5bc">[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.
(k) Related Information
For more information about this AD, contact Dan McCully,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (303) 342-1080; email:
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#a7d0cecbcbcec6ca89cac4c4d2cbcbdee7c1c6c689c0c8d1"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="2156484d4d48404c0f4c4242544d4d58614740400f464e57">[email protected]</span></a>.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0208,
dated October 11, 2022.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#9edfdaeddefbffedffb0fbebecf1eeffb0fbeb"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="08494c7b486d697b69266d7d7a677869266d7d">[email protected]</span></a>; website: easa.europa.eu. You may
find the EASA material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit <a href="http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations">www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations</a> or email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#1f796d3176716c6f7a7c6b7670715f717e6d7e31787069"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="690f1b4700071a190c0a1d0006072907081b08470e061f">[email protected]</span></a>.
Issued on May 5, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-08075 Filed 5-8-25; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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