[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 175 (Monday, September 10, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 45578-45580]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-19436]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1085; Product Identifier 2016-SW-094-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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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 
117 A-1, MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-BK 117 B-2, 
MBB-BK 117 C-1, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would 
require repetitive inspections of the tail rotor (T/R) gearbox housing. 
This proposed AD is prompted by a report that a crack was found in a T/
R gearbox housing. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to 
address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 9, 
2018.

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.

[[Page 45579]]

     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-
1085; 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 proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, the 
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations (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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html. 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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 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 EASA AD No. 2016-0134, dated July 8, 2016, 
to correct an unsafe condition on Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117 
A-1, MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-BK 117 B-2, 
MBB-BK 117 C-1, MBB BK 117 C-2, and MBB-BK 117 C-2e helicopters. EASA 
advises that a crack was found in the T/R gearbox housing of a Model 
MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopter. According to EASA, investigations determined 
high vibrations caused by T/R imbalance were a contributing factor to 
the crack. EASA states that this condition, if not detected and 
corrected, could lead to the loss of the T/R gearbox and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter. As a result, the EASA AD requires 
repetitive inspections of the T/R gearbox housing and replacing the 
housing if a crack 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-
BK117-30A-119, Revision 0, dated May 24, 2016, for Model MBB-BK 117 A-
1, MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-BK 117 B-2, and 
MBB-BK 117 C-1 helicopters and ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-65A-007, Revision 0, 
dated May 24, 2016, for MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This service 
information specifies an initial and repetitive inspections of the T/R 
gearbox housing for cracks.
    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 
(TIS) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, cleaning 
and visually inspecting the T/R gearbox housing for a crack. If there 
is a crack, this proposed AD would require replacing the T/R gearbox 
before further flight.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD applies to Model MBB-BK117 C-2e helicopters, and this 
proposed AD would not because it is not an FAA type-certificated model. 
The EASA AD allows a non-cumulative tolerance of 10 hours TIS for the 
inspections, and this proposed AD would not. The EASA AD requires 
performing the inspection after a certain maintenance action and before 
a T/R gearbox housing is installed, and this proposed AD would not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 176 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs average $85 a work-hour. Based on 
these estimates, we expect that inspecting the T/R gearbox would 
require 1 work-hour and no parts would be required for a cost of $85 
per helicopter and $14,960 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle. 
Replacing the T/R gearbox would require 4.5 work-hours and parts would 
cost $69,219 for a cost of $69,602 per helicopter.

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.

[[Page 45580]]

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-2017-1085; 
Product Identifier 2016-SW-094-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model 
MBB-BK 117 A-1, MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-
BK 117 B-2, MBB-BK 117 C-1, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in a tail rotor 
(T/R) gearbox housing. This condition could result in the loss of 
the T/R gearbox and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 9, 2018.

(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 (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, clean and visually inspect 
the T/R gearbox housing for a crack in the area depicted in Figure 1 
of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) MBB-BK117-30A-
119, Revision 0, dated May 24, 2016, or ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-65A-007, 
Revision 0, dated May 24, 2016, as applicable to your model 
helicopter. If there is a crack, replace the T/R gearbox before 
further flight.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 
David Hatfield, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, 
Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 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.

(h) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD No. 2016-0134, dated July 8, 2016. You may view the 
EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in the AD 
Docket.

 (i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6520, Tail Rotor 
Gearbox.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 27, 2018.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-19436 Filed 9-7-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P