86 FR 225 pgs. 67364-67367 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
Type: PRORULEVolume: 86Number: 225Pages: 67364 - 67367
Pages: 67364, 67365, 67366, 67367Docket number: [Docket No. FAA-2021-1007; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00324-R]
FR document: [FR Doc. 2021-25206 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
Agency: Transportation Department
Sub Agency: Federal Aviation Administration
Official PDF Version: PDF Version
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-1007; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00324-R]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
AGENCY:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION:
Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY:
The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by report that a collective bellcrank-K was found incorrectly installed on a helicopter. This proposed AD would require inspecting the collective bellcrank-K to determine if it is correctly installed and has a correct position marking and, depending on the findings, applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also allow installation of an affected collective bellcrank-K, provided certain instructions are followed. 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 January 10, 2022.
ADDRESSES:
You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• 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.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For EASA material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. 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. This material is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1007.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1007; 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 EASA AD, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024; telephone (202) 267-9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
[top] The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES . Include "Docket No. FAA-2021-1007; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00324-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 https://www.regulations.gov, 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 Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024; telephone (202) 267-9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov. 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 2021-0074, dated March 15, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0074), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (formerly Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH; and Airbus Helicopters Inc., formerly American Eurocopter LLC) Model MBB-BK117 C-2 and MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters.
This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a collective bellcrank-K (affected part) was found incorrectly installed on a helicopter. Subsequent investigations revealed that the affected part was an in-service replacement, and that the position marking on that part was incorrect. The FAA is proposing this AD to address incorrect installation of a collective bellcrank-K, which could lead to unwanted collective input, resulting in reduced control of the helicopter. See EASA AD 2021-0074 for additional background information.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2021-0074 requires a one-time inspection of an affected part for correct installation by measuring the distance between the front edge of the bearing block and the front edge of the affected part, and for correct application of position markings, and, depending on the findings, accomplishment of applicable corrective actions. If an affected part is incorrectly installed, the corrective actions include inspecting for signs of chafing on the bearing block, the control lever, the forked lever, the sliding sleeve, and the bearing ring, replacing any parts that have signs of chafing, and installing a serviceable bellcrank-K with an applied position marking. If an affected part is correctly installed but the position marking is not correct, the corrective actions include re-working the affected part or replacing the affected part with a serviceable part that has an applied position marking. EASA AD 2021-0074 also allows installation of an affected part, provided certain instructions are followed.
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 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 is proposing this AD after evaluating all known relevant information and determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2021-0074, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD.
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 2021-0074 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2021-0074 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2021-0074 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to "all required actions and compliance times," compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled "Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)" in EASA AD 2021-0074. Service information required by EASA AD 2021-0074 for compliance will be available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1007 after the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 140 helicopters of U.S. Registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD.
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product | Cost on U.S. operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Inspection for correct installation and position marking | 0.50 work-hour × $85 per hour = $42.50 | $0 | $42.50 | $5,950 |
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The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary replacements or rework that would be required based on the results of the proposed inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need this replacement or rework:
| Action | Labor cost | Parts cost | Cost per product |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replace collective bellcrank-K | 8 work-hours × $85 per hour = $680 | $4,018 | $4,698 |
| Rework collective bellcrank-K | 2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 | 0 | 170 |
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.
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
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority:
49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§?39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends §?39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2021-1007; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00324-R.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by January 10, 2022.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6230, Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted a report that a collective bellcrank-K (affected part) was found incorrectly installed on a helicopter. Subsequent investigations found that the affected part was an in-service replacement, and that the position marking on that part was incorrect. The FAA is issuing this AD to incorrect installation of a collective bellcrank-K, which could lead to unwanted collective input, resulting in reduced control of the helicopter.
(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, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021-0074, dated March 15, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0074).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0074
(1) Where EASA AD 2021-0074 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2021-0074 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0074 specifies discarding a part, this AD requires removing that part from service.
(4) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0074 specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters for instructions to rework a bellcrank-K, the rework must be accomplished using a method approved by the Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Helicopters' EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the DOA-authorized signature.
(5) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0074 specifies to "forecast the compliance time of Part IV and schedule the accomplishment accordingly," for clarification, this AD requires doing the correction of the position marking of the bellcrank-K at the time specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021-0074.
(6) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0074 specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters if there is mechanical damage or corrosion on the bushings of the bellcrank assembly, this AD does not require that action.
(7) This AD does not mandate compliance with the "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2021-0074.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0074 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.
(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
[top] (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)(2) of this AD.
(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
(1) For EASA AD 2021-0074, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet www.easa.europa.eu. 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. This material may be found in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1007.
(2) For more information about this AD, contact Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 950 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024; telephone (202) 267-9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov.
Issued on November 12, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25206 Filed 11-24-21; 8:45 am]
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