[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 33 (Tuesday, February 19, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4692-4694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-02631]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0555; Product Identifier 2010-SW-047-AD; Amendment 
39-19537; 2014-05-06 R2]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 
(Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH) 
Helicopters

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments; removal.

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SUMMARY: We are removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-05-06 R1, 
which applied to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (type certificate 
previously held by Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 
117 C-2 helicopters. AD 2014-05-06 R1 required installing bushings and 
washers on the flight controls. This action is prompted by an error in 
the issuance of 2014-05-06 R1. Accordingly, AD 2014-05-06 R1 is 
removed.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 19, 2019.
    We must receive comments on this AD by April 22, 2019.

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

[[Page 4693]]

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-2013-
0555; 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 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior 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

    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 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

    We issued AD 2014-05-06 R1, Amendment 39-19529 (83 FR 64734, 
December 18, 2018) (AD 2014-05-06 R1), for certain Model EC135 P1, P2, 
P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters and Model MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters. 
AD 2014-05-06 R1 required installing bushings and washers on the flight 
controls to prevent shifting of the flight control bearings in the 
axial direction. AD 2014-05-06 R1 removed AD 2014-05-06, Amendment 39-
17779 (79 FR 13196, March 10, 2014) (AD 2014-05-06), which had the same 
requirements but had the additional requirement of repetitively 
inspecting the flight control bearings. The actions of AD 2014-05-06 
and AD 2014-05-06 R1 were intended to detect and correct incorrectly 
installed flight control bearings.

Actions Since AD 2014-05-06 R1 Was Issued

    After we published AD 2014-05-06 R1, we realized that the 
amendatory language is in error. Although, as published, AD 2014-05-06 
R1 stated it replaced AD 2014-05-06, we previously removed AD 2014-05-
06 when we issued AD 2017-03-01, Amendment 39-18792 (82 FR 11502, 
February 24, 2017) (AD 2017-03-01). AD 2017-03-01 contains the same 
requirements as AD 2014-05-06, including the repetitive inspections, 
but corrected an error in the compliance time. Instead of issuing AD 
2014-05-06 R1, we should have issued a new AD to change the repetitive 
inspections by replacing AD 2017-03-01.
    AD 2017-03-01 is still an effective AD that requires repetitively 
inspecting the flight control bearings and installing bushings and 
washers. Accordingly, we are removing AD 2014-05-06 R1.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    AD 2014-05-06 R1 removed an AD that is no longer effective and 
required actions that are already required by an AD that is effective. 
As a result, AD 2014-05-06 R1 was causing confusion for operators and 
would have required unnecessary maintenance actions. We believe it is 
therefore unlikely that we will receive any adverse comments or useful 
information about this AD from U.S. operators. Therefore, we find good 
cause that notice and opportunity for prior public comment are 
unnecessary. In addition, for the reason stated above, we find 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),
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2014-05-06 R1, Amendment 39-19529 (83 FR 64734, December 18, 2018), and 
adding a new AD:

2014-05-06 R2 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH): Amendment 39-19537; 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0555; Product Identifier 2010-SW-047-AD.

[[Page 4694]]

(a) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective February 19, 2019.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD removes AD 2014-05-06 R1, Amendment 39-19529 (83 FR 
64734, December 18, 2018).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 
GmbH (type certificate previously held by Eurocopter Deutschland 
GmbH) helicopters, certificated in any category:
    (1) Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters, serial 
number (S/N) 0005 through 00829, with a tail rotor control lever, 
part number (P/N) L672M2802205 or L672M1012212; cyclic control 
lever, P/N L671M1005250; collective control lever assembly, P/N 
L671M2020108; or collective control plate, P/N L671M5040207; 
installed, and
    (2) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, S/N 9004 through 9310, 
with a tail rotor control lever assembly, P/N B672M1007101 or 
B672M1807101; tail rotor control lever, P/N B672M1002202 or 
L672M2802205; or lateral control lever assembly, P/N B670M1008101, 
installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6710, Main Rotor 
Control.

(e) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Matt Fuller, Senior 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft 
Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone (817) 222-5110; email [email protected].

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 20, 2018.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-02631 Filed 2-15-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P