[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 78 (Friday, April 22, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 23656-23658]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09237]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5306; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-010-AD]
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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[[Page 23657]]

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model 
MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting 
each terminal lug and replacing any lug that has discoloration, 
corrosion, incorrect crimping, or incorrect installation. This proposed 
AD is prompted by the discovery that terminal lugs with incorrect 
crimping may have been installed on these helicopters. The proposed 
actions are intended to detect incorrectly installed or crimped 
terminal lugs and prevent contact resistance and reduced gastightness 
between the wire and terminal lug, subsequent loss of electrical power, 
and an electrical fire.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 21, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
5306; or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 
AD, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for the Docket Operations Office 
(telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
    For service information identified in this proposed rule, contact 
Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 
telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at 
http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. You may review the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 
76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to 
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might 
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed 
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
    We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as 
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we 
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for 
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has 
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. 
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued AD No. 2015-0044, dated March 13, 2015, to 
correct an unsafe condition for certain serial-numbered Airbus 
Helicopters Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. EASA advises that terminal 
lugs with incorrect crimping may have been installed on some 
helicopters in production, and that an incorrect crimping die or crimp 
tool setting may have been used to terminate the lugs. According to 
EASA, incorrect crimping may adversely affect contact resistance and 
gastightness of the contact between the wire and the terminal lug. EASA 
further advises that this condition, if not detected and corrected, 
could lead to the loss of electrical power during flight. Because of 
this, the EASA AD requires a one-time visual inspection of the terminal 
lugs and replacement of affected lugs if incorrect crimping is found.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
its AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known 
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117 
C-2-24A-013, Revision 1, dated November 25, 2014 (ASB). The ASB 
specifies a visual inspection of the terminal lugs in the distribution 
and diode boxes for correct crimping, damage, discoloration, corrosion, 
and correct installation. If any deviation is detected, the terminal 
lug must be replaced. The ASB also specifies reporting certain 
information to Airbus Helicopters.
    This service information 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.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 100 hours time-in-service or 
12 months, whichever occurs first, inspecting each terminal lug for 
discoloration and corrosion, and for correct crimping and correct 
installation. If a terminal lug is not correctly crimped or installed 
or if it has any discoloration or corrosion, this proposed AD would 
require replacing it before further flight.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 183 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. 
We estimate about 9 work-hours to inspect the terminal lugs for a cost 
of $765 per helicopter and $139,995 for the U.S. operator fleet. The 
cost to replace a lug is minimal.

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

[[Page 23658]]

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 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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, I certify this proposed 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 (AD):

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2016-5306; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-010-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with a serial number as listed in the 
Planning Information, paragraph 1.A.1, of Airbus Helicopters Alert 
Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-24A-013, Revision 1, dated 
November 25, 2014 (ASB).

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a terminal lug with 
incorrect crimping. This condition could result in contact 
resistance and reduced gastightness between the wire and terminal 
lug and a subsequent loss of electrical power, which could cause an 
electrical fire.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by June 21, 2016.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 100 hours time-in-service or 12 months, whichever occurs 
first:
    (1) Using a mirror, inspect each terminal lug for discoloration 
and corrosion, and for correct crimping and correct installation in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Table 1, and the 
examples in Figure 1 through Figure 5 of the ASB.
    (2) If a terminal lug is not correctly crimped or installed or 
if it has any discoloration or corrosion, replace it before further 
flight.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(g) Additional Information

    (1) You may review the referenced service information at the 
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2015-0044, dated March 13, 2015. You may 
view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in 
the AD Docket.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 24 Electrical 
Power.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 13, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09237 Filed 4-21-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P