[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 40 (Thursday, March 2, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12293-12295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-03963]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0155; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-051-AD; 
Amendment 39-18813; AD 2017-05-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 
(Airbus Helicopters) (Previously Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 
Helicopters Model BO-105C, BO-105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters. This 
AD requires inspecting each main rotor blade (MRB) for debonding, and 
is prompted by a report of incorrect bonding of the shell to the MRB. 
These actions are intended to detect and prevent an unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective March 17, 2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by May 1, 2017.

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-2017-
0155; 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 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 final 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: Matt Fuller, Senior 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

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, 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 resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, explain the reason for any

[[Page 12294]]

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 them 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 
rulemaking during the comment period. We will consider all the comments 
we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based on those 
comments.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued Emergency AD No. 2016-0118-E, dated June 17, 
2016, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model BO105 
C, BO105 D, BO105 LS A-3, and BO105 S helicopters, all variants except 
CB-5, D, DS, DBS-5, and CBS-5. According to EASA, during an inspection 
on a Model BO105 S helicopter, debonding was found on the erosion 
protective shell (shell) of an MRB, caused by incorrect preparation of 
the shell prior to the bonding process. EASA further states that this 
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in loss of the 
shell in-flight, which could strike the tailboom or the tail rotor, 
causing an imbalance in the main rotor and high vibrations. EASA also 
advises that these high vibrations could damage the helicopter, 
resulting in loss of tail rotor control and subsequent loss of control 
of the helicopter.
    To address this unsafe condition, EASA AD 2016-0118-E requires 
repetitive inspections of the shells for debonding within 10 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 50-hour TIS intervals. After 
the shells have completed 200 hours TIS since the shell was installed 
and completed an inspection of the shell, the EASA AD no longer 
requires the repetitive 50 hour TIS inspections. The EASA AD applies to 
certain part-numbered MRBs on which the shell was last replaced between 
December 1, 2010, and February 28, 2015, inclusive, or for which there 
is no maintenance record available to determine the date the shell was 
last replaced.

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 
the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same 
type designs.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin 
(EASB) BO105-10A-128, Revision 0, dated June 16, 2016, for Model 
BO105C, D, and S helicopters and EASB No. BO105 LS-10A-016, Revision 0, 
dated June 16, 2016, for Model BO105 LS A-3 helicopters. This service 
information specifies repetitively inspecting the MRB shell for 
delamination in accordance with the helicopter's maintenance manual 
procedures.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD is applicable to the Model BO105D helicopter; this AD 
is not because it does not have a type certificate in the U.S. The EASA 
AD prohibits installing an affected MRB on any helicopter until its AD 
actions have been complied with. This AD does not.

AD Requirements

    This AD applies to helicopters with certain part-numbered MRBs with 
shells that were last replaced between December 1, 2010, and February 
28, 2015, inclusive or where the most recent date of replacement of the 
shell cannot be determined from the helicopter maintenance records. 
This AD requires inspecting each MRB shell for debonding within 10 
hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS until 
the MRB reaches 200 hours TIS. After the blade has accumulated 200 
hours TIS since the last shell replacement, the 50 hours TIS 
inspections are terminated. If there is any debonding, this AD requires 
repairing or replacing the MRB before further flight.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 73 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
    At an average labor rate of $85, we estimate that operators may 
incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD. Inspecting 
the MRB shells will require 1 work-hour, for a total cost of $85 per 
helicopter and $6,205 for the fleet, per inspection cycle. If required, 
replacing an MRB will require 2 work-hours and required parts will cost 
$114,000, for a cost per helicopter of $114,170.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because the inspections required by 
this AD must be accomplished within 10 hours TIS and 50 hours TIS, a 
very short interval for helicopters used in helicopter air ambulance 
operations.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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.
    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 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, I certify that this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);

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    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 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.

Adoption of 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 (AD):

2017-05-03 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Previously 
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH): Amendment 39-18813; Docket No. FAA-
2017-0155; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-051-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model BO-
105C, BO-105LS A-3, and BO-105S helicopters, certificated in any 
category, with a main rotor blade (MRB) part number 105-15103, 105-
15141, 105-15141V001, 105-15143, 105-15150, 105-15150V001, 105-
15152, 105-81013, 105-87214, 1120-15101, or 1120-15103 that has less 
than 200 hours time-in-service (TIS) since the MRB erosion 
protective shell (shell) was last replaced, and where the shell was 
last replaced between December 1, 2010, and February 28, 2015, 
inclusive or where the most recent date of replacement of the shell 
is unknown.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as debonding of the shell 
of an MRB. This condition could result in loss of the shell in-
flight, which could strike the tailboom or tail rotor, resulting in 
loss of tail rotor control, high main rotor vibration, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective March 17, 2017.

(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 10 hours TIS, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
50 hours TIS:
    (1) Inspect by tap test each MRB for debonding of the shell.
    (2) If the shell has debonded in any area, before further 
flight, repair any debonding that does not exceed the maximum repair 
damage limits, or replace the MRB.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, Senior 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) Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) 
BO105-10A-128 for Model BO105C, D, and S helicopters and EASB BO105 
LS-10A-016 for Model BO105 LS A-3 helicopters, both Revision 0, and 
dated June 16, 2016, which are not incorporated by reference, 
contain additional information about the subject of this final rule. 
For service information identified in this final 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 a copy 
of the 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) Emergency AD No. 2016-0118-E, dated June 17, 
2016. You may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2017-0155.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6210 Main Rotor 
Blade.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 21, 2017.
Lance T. Gant,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-03963 Filed 3-1-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P