[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 108 (Thursday, June 4, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34375-34378]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12028]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0462; Product Identifier 2019-SW-021-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters. 
This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the affected helicopters 
use the same ``flight/ground'' logic signal instead of independent 
redundant signals. This proposed AD would require amending the 
emergency procedures of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your 
helicopter, a wiring modification of the ``flight/ground'' logic signal 
source of the attitude heading and reference system (AHRS) 1, and then 
removal of the amendment to the RFM for your helicopter. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 20, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Airbus 
Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; phone: (972) 
641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax: (972) 641-3775; or at https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. You may 
view this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

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-2020-
0462; 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 NPRM, the European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union 
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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX

[[Page 34376]]

76177; phone: 817-222-5110; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0462; 
Product Identifier 2019-SW-021-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0021, dated February 1, 2019; 
corrected February 4, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0021) (referred to after this 
as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information or ``the MCAI''), 
to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Helicopters Model 
AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters. EASA advises that the AHRS 1 and AHRS 
2 installed on AS332C1e and AS332L1e helicopters use the same `flight/
ground' logic signal, instead of independent redundant signals, as 
required by the original design specification. If both AHRS incorrectly 
receive ``ground'' status in flight, as a result for instance of a 
single failure, this will generate consistent erroneous computation of 
the attitudes and vertical speed during helicopter maneuvers with 
consequent incorrect flight data indications to the flight crew on both 
primary displays. EASA AD 2019-0021 states that this condition, if not 
corrected, could lead to increased workload for the flight crew when 
the upper modes of the automatic flight control system are not engaged, 
possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter during high 
speed maneuvers in instrumental meteorological conditions (IMC).
    EASA further advises that Airbus Helicopters has issued rush 
revisions to the RFM, and developed a modification of the wiring 
harness, ensuring independent sources of the ``flight/ground'' logic 
signal for both AHRS. EASA AD 2019-0021 requires amending the emergency 
procedures of the applicable RFM, doing the modification of the wiring 
harness, and then removing the amendment to the RFM.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0462.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
34.00.60, Revision 1, dated March 29, 2019. This service information 
describes procedures for a wiring modification of the ``flight/ground'' 
logic signal source of the AHRS 1, which changes the ``flight/ground'' 
logic signal source to independent redundant signals.
    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

    Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
34.00.60, Revision 0, dated December 6, 2018. The service information 
describes procedures for a wiring modification of the ``flight/ground'' 
logic signal source of the AHRS 1, which changes the ``flight/ground'' 
logic signal source to independent redundant signals. Airbus Service 
Bulletin No. AS332-34.00.60, Revision 1, dated March 29, 2019, 
clarifies the procedures for the post-installation test in Alert 
Service Bulletin No. AS332-34.00.60, Revision 0, dated December 6, 
2018.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to a bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, the FAA 
has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD 
after evaluating all the relevant information and determining the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on 
other products of these same type designs.

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously, except as discussed 
under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    EASA AD 2019-0021 specifies to do the modification within 6 months. 
This proposed AD would require the modification be done within 100 
hours time-in-service or before intentional flight into IMC, whichever 
occurs first. The FAA has determined this compliance time represents 
the maximum interval of time allowable for the affected helicopters to 
continue to safely operate before the modification is done.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 8 helicopters of 
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 work-hours x $85 per hour = $595...........................             $40             $635           $5,080
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

[[Page 34377]]

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 above, 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-2020-0462; Product Identifier 
2019-SW-021-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 20, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 
helicopters, certificated in any category, all manufacturer serial 
numbers, equipped with an Advanced Helicopter Cockpit & Avionics 
System (AHCAS), except helicopters that have Airbus Helicopters 
modification 0728576 embodied in production.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 3420, Attitude and 
direction data system.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by a report that the affected helicopters 
use the same ``flight/ground'' logic signal, instead of independent 
redundant signals. The FAA is issuing this AD to address certain 
helicopters that use the same ``flight/ground'' logic signal, 
instead of independent redundant signals. If both attitude heading 
and reference systems (AHRS) incorrectly receive ``ground'' status 
in flight, as a result for instance of a single failure, this will 
generate consistent erroneous computation of the attitudes and 
vertical speed during helicopter maneuvers with consequent incorrect 
flight data indications to the flight crew on both primary displays. 
Erroneous flight information could lead to increased workload for 
the flight crew when the upper modes of the automatic flight control 
system are not engaged, possibly resulting in reduced control of the 
helicopter during high speed maneuvers in instrumental 
meteorological conditions (IMC).

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Amend 
the emergency procedures of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for 
your helicopter by inserting the supplemental text specified in 
Figure 1 to paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, immediately following 
paragraph 9 GROUND/FLIGHT LOGIC FAULT.
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

[[Page 34378]]

[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP04JN20.000

BILLING CODE 4910-13-C
    (2) Within 100 hours time-in-service or before intentional 
flight into IMC, whichever occurs first after the effective date of 
this AD, do the wiring modification of the ``flight/ground'' logic 
signal source of the AHRS 1 in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
34.00.60, Revision 1, dated March 29, 2019. After completion of the 
wiring modification, the RFM amendment required by paragraph (g)(1) 
of this AD must be removed from the RFM for your helicopter.

(h) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 CFR 
21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where the 
helicopter can be modified (if the operator elects to do so), 
provided the helicopter is operated under visual flight rules only.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 
Bulletin No. AS332-34.00.60, Revision 0, dated December 6, 2018.

(j) 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; phone: 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, 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 
2019-0021, dated February 1, 2019; corrected February 4, 2019. This 
EASA AD may be found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2020-0462.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 
phone: (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax: (972) 641-3775; or at 
https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. 
You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

    Issued on May 29, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12028 Filed 6-3-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P