[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 207 (Monday, October 26, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67694-67696]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23446]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0967; Product Identifier 2018-SW-013-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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 
A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and 
MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting 
the tail gearbox (TGB) bellcrank attachment arm (arm) for a crack. This 
proposed AD was prompted by a report of a cracked TGB arm. 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 December 
10, 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.

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-
0967; 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 (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 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 
view 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

[[Page 67695]]

76177; telephone 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0967; Product Identifier 
2018-SW-013-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposal.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent 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]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2018-0046, dated February 19, 
2018, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 
GmbH (AHD) (formerly Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH, Eurocopter 
Hubschrauber GmbH, Messerschmitt-B[ouml]lkow-Blohm GmbH), Airbus 
Helicopters Inc. (formerly American Eurocopter LLC) Model MBB-BK117 A-
1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-
BK117 C-1, and MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. The EASA AD advises that a 
crack was detected on a Model MBB-BK117 A-4 TGB arm and that this 
condition, if not corrected, could result in disconnection of the arm 
from the TGB and possible loss of control of the helicopter. To address 
this unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires an inspection of the TGB 
arm for a crack and for surface anomalies.

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 products of the 
same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
MBB-BK117 C-2-65A-008 for Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters and ASB MBB-
BK117-30A-120 for Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, 
MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, and MBB-BK117 C-1 helicopters, each 
Revision 0 and dated January 31, 2018. The service information contains 
procedures for inspecting the TGB arm for a crack and surface 
anomalies.
    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 the following:
     Within 100 hours time-in-service, removing the surface 
coating from the TGB bellcrank attachment arm and using a 5X or higher 
power magnifying glass, dye-penetrant inspecting the TGB arm for a 
crack and for any dent, nick, and scratch.
     If there is a crack, before further flight, replacing the 
TGB.
     If there is a dent, nick, or scratch, before further 
flight, removing the surface material up to 0.2 mm using 80-grit 
abrasive paper and repeating the dye penetrant inspection. If there is 
a crack or if the damage cannot be removed, before further flight, 
replacing the TGB.
     If there is no crack and no dent, nick, or scratch, before 
further flight, finishing the surface with 600-grit or finer abrasive 
paper.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires operators to contact Airbus Helicopters if 
there is a crack or if there is damage that cannot be repaired by 
removing surface material. This proposed AD would require replacing the 
TGB instead.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 177 
helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 
work-hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA estimates that operators may 
incur the following costs in order to comply with this proposed AD.
    Removing the surface protection and inspecting the TGB arm for a 
crack would take about 2 work-hours and the cost of materials would be 
minimal, for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and $30,090 for 
the U.S. fleet.
    If required, reworking the TGB arm would take about 1 work-hour and 
the cost of materials would be minimal, for an estimated cost of $85 
per helicopter. Replacing a TGB with a cracked arm would take about 4.5 
work-hours and cost about $69,000 for required parts, for an estimated 
cost of $69,383 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.
    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

[[Page 67696]]

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:

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Docket No. FAA-2020-0967; 
Product Identifier 2018-SW-013-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Airbus Helicopters 
Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, 
MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and MBB-BK117 C-2 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in a tail 
gearbox (TGB) bellcrank attachment arm. This condition could result 
in disconnection of the bellcrank attachment arm from the TGB and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by December 10, 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

    Within 100 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Remove the surface coating from the TGB bellcrank attachment 
arm and using a 5X or higher power magnifying glass, dye-penetrant 
inspect the TGB arm for a crack and for any dent, nick, and scratch 
in the area shown in Figure 1 of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) MBB-BK117 C-2-65A-008 or ASB MBB-BK117-30A-120, each 
Revision 0 and dated January 31, 2018, as applicable to your model 
helicopter.
    (2) If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the TGB.
    (3) If there is a dent, a nick, or a scratch, before further 
flight, remove the surface material up to 0.2 mm using 80-grit 
abrasive paper and repeat the dye penetrant inspection. If there is 
a crack or if the damage cannot be removed, before further flight, 
replace the TGB.
    (4) If there is no crack and no dent, nick, or scratch, before 
further flight, finish the surface with 600-grit or finer abrasive 
paper.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, 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, 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

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD No. 
2018-0046, dated February 19, 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: 6520, Tail Rotor 
Gearbox.

    Issued on October 19, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23446 Filed 10-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P