[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 40 (Friday, February 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11879-11881]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-04043]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-1099; Product Identifier 2018-SW-026-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters. This 
proposed AD would require modifying the wiring of the attitude and 
heading reference system (AHRS) connector. This proposed AD is prompted 
by a report of wiring of the AHRS contrary to approved design 
specifications. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address 
an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 28, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to https://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.

[[Page 11880]]

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
1099; 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, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above. 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 https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.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: George Schwab, 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

    The FAA invites you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. The FAA also invites 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.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments received, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, 
the FAA will consider all comments received on or before the closing 
date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the 
comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring 
expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the 
comments received.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2018-0069, dated March 26, 2018 
(EASA AD 2018-0069), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus 
Helicopters Model EC 155 B and EC 155 B1 helicopters. EASA advises that 
the AHRS1 and AHRS2 on Model EC 155-series helicopters use the same 
flight/ground signal contrary to the approved design specification, 
which requires the AHRS1 and AHRS2 to use independent signals to ensure 
redundancy. EASA states that if AHRS1 and AHRS2 both receive an 
incorrect ``ground'' status due to a single failure while in flight, it 
will generate an error in the computation of the attitude and vertical 
speed and, as a result, an incorrect display of these indications to 
the flight crew. EASA advises that this condition, if not corrected, 
could lead to erroneous attitude and vertical speed indications, 
resulting in increased workload for the flight crew and reduced control 
of the helicopter during flight in instrument meteorological conditions 
(IMC).
    Accordingly, EASA AD 2018-0069 requires modifying the connection of 
connector 11 ALPHA, and based on the helicopter configuration, also 
modifying the wiring to connector 11 ALPHA.

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 an 
unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of 
the same type designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. EC155-34A033, Revision 2, dated January 30, 2018. This service 
information specifies re-allocating the electronic board output 
connections by modifying the wiring of connector 11 ALPHA for 
helicopters with modification (MOD) 0722B51 installed and modifying the 
wiring to connector 11 ALPHA for those helicopters that also have a 
combined voice and flight data recording system (MOD 0731B89) 
installed.
    The FAA also reviewed Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC155-34A037, 
Revision 0, dated February 19, 2018. This service information specifies 
installing MOD 0722B51 by modifying the wiring of connector 11 ALPHA to 
separate the flight/ground information so the left-hand landing gear 
flight information is also used by the automatic pilot system as well 
as but separately from the right-hand landing gear flight information. 
This service information also specifies re-allocating the electronic 
board output connections by modifying the wiring of connector 11 ALPHA.
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA also reviewed Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC155-34A033, 
Revision 0, dated July 19, 2017, and Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC155-
34A033, Revision 1, dated October 9, 2017. Revisions 0 and 1 of this 
service information contain the same procedures for modifying the 
wiring as Revision 2. However, Revision 1 clarifies the applicable 
helicopter configurations and updates the post-modification testing 
procedures, and Revision 2 clarifies the post-modification test 
procedures and updates a figure.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, before further flight in IMC or 
within 660 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs first, 
modifying the wiring at connector 11 ALPHA based on the helicopter 
configuration and in accordance with specified portions of the 
applicable ASB.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The compliance time for the EASA AD is within 7 or 12 months 
depending on helicopter configuration. The compliance time for this 
proposed AD would be before further flight in IMC or within 660 hours 
TIS, whichever occurs first.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 17 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following 
costs in order to comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs are 
estimated at $85 per work-hour.
    Modifying the wiring would take about 4 work-hours and parts would 
cost about $20 for an estimated cost of

[[Page 11881]]

$360 per helicopter and $6,120 for the U.S. fleet.

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, I certify this proposed regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

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: Docket No. FAA-2019-1099; Product Identifier 
2018-SW-026-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155B and EC155B1 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect wiring of an 
attitude and heading reference system (AHRS). This condition could 
result in the display of misleading attitude and vertical speed 
information, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter in 
instrument meteorological conditions (IMC).

(c) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by April 28, 2020.

(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

    Before further flight in IMC or within 660 hours time-in-
service, whichever occurs first:
    (1) For helicopters with wiring change modification (MOD) 
0722B51 installed, modify the wiring of connector 11 ALPHA as 
depicted in Figure 1 of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin 
(ASB) No. EC155-34A033, Revision 2, dated January 30, 2018 (ASB 
EC155-34A033). If a combined voice and flight data recording system 
(MOD 0731B89) is installed, also modify the wiring to connector 11 
ALPHA as depicted in Figure 2 of ASB EC155-34A033.
    (2) For helicopters without wiring change MOD 0722B51 installed, 
modify the wiring of connector 11 ALPHA as depicted in Figure 1 and 
Figure 2 of Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC155-34A037, Revision 0, 
dated February 19, 2018.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    A special flight permit may be issued for operation under visual 
flight rules only.

(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: 
George Schwab, 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, the FAA suggests 
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

    (1) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC155-
34A033, Revision 0, dated July 19, 2017, and Airbus Helicopters ASB 
No. EC155-34A033, Revision 1, dated October 9, 2017, which are not 
incorporated by reference, contain additional information about the 
subject of this AD. For service information identified in this AD, 
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 https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2018-0069, dated March 26, 2018. You may 
view the EASA AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in 
the AD Docket.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3420, Attitude and 
Direction Data System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 14, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-04043 Filed 2-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P