[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 230 (Monday, November 30, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 76490-76492]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26253]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1037; Project Identifier 2019-SW-077-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 certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, 
EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. 
This proposed AD would require removing certain Titanium (Ti) bolts 
from service and prohibit installing these Ti-bolts in a critical area. 
This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a broken Ti-bolt. 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 January 14, 
2021.

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.

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-
1037; 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 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 NPRM, 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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Katherine Venegas, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 
90712; telephone 562-627-5353; 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-2020-1037; Product Identifier 
2019-SW-077-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

[[Page 76491]]

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 
Katherine Venegas, Aviation Safety Engineer, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone 562-627-5353; email 
[email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives that 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. 2019-0199, dated August 16, 
2019, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 
GmbH (AHD), formerly Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH, Eurocopter 
Espa[ntilde]a S.A., Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 P3, 
EC135 T1, EC135 T2, EC135 T2+, EC135 T3, EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, EC635 T1, 
EC635 T2+, and EC635 T3 helicopters. EASA advises of a report of a 
broken Ti-bolt. Subsequent investigation revealed that an improper heat 
treatment process was accomplished on a batch of Ti-bolts, which can 
lead to hydrogen embrittlement. The investigation also identified the 
critical location where these Ti-bolts are installed on helicopters. 
According to EASA, this condition, if not detected and corrected, could 
lead to failure of an affected Ti-bolt installed in a critical 
location, possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter. 
Accordingly, the EASA AD requires a one-time inspection of Ti-bolt part 
number (P/N) L535M2001203 marked with manufacturer monogram ``D'' or 
with an illegible manufacturer monogram installed on the forward tail 
rotor (T/R) drive shaft and, depending on the inspection results, 
replacing the Ti-bolt. The EASA AD also prohibits the (re)installation 
of these Ti-bolts.

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 
these same type designs.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. EC135-00A-001, Revision 1, dated September 2, 2019, for Airbus 
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 T1, T2, T2+, T3, P1, P2, P2+, 
P3, 635 T1, 635 T2+, 635 T3, 635 P2+, and 635 P3 helicopters, and 
Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC135H-00A-001, Revision 1, dated September 
2, 2019, for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135, T3H, P3H, 
635 T3H, and 635 P3H helicopters. This service information specifies 
inspecting the forward T/R drive shaft, distance plate of the 5B-0.50-
2.50P-XN-1 antenna, main rotor controls, FWD connection of ball bearing 
control, and AFT connection of ball bearing control and yaw actuator 
for the installation of Ti-bolt P/N L535M2001203, EN3308-040020F, 
L221M1040201, EN3740-060020F, and EN3308-060020F, marked with 
manufacturer monogram ``D'' or an illegible manufacturer monogram. If a 
specified Ti-bolt is installed, the service information specifies 
replacing the Ti-bolt and discarding the removed Ti-bolt.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require removing any Ti-bolt P/N 
L535M2001203 marked with manufacturer monogram ``D'' or with an 
illegible manufacturer monogram installed on the forward T/R drive 
shaft from service. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing an 
affected Ti-bolt on the forward T/R drive shaft of any helicopter.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD applies to Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 
P3, EC135 T1, EC135 T2, EC135 T2+, EC135 T3, EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, EC635 
T1, EC635 T2+, and EC635 T3 helicopters and requires inspecting Ti-bolt 
P/N L535M2001203 marked with manufacturer monogram ``D'' or with an 
illegible manufacturer monogram installed on the forward T/R drive 
shaft. This proposed AD applies to Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, 
EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters with a Ti-
bolt P/N L535M2001203 marked with manufacturer monogram ``D'' or with 
an illegible manufacturer monogram installed on the forward T/R drive 
shaft instead. This proposed AD does not apply to Model EC635 P2+, 
EC635 P3, EC635 T1, EC635 T2+, or EC635 T3 helicopters because these 
models are not FAA type-certificated. The EASA AD requires discarding 
the affected Ti-bolts, whereas this proposed AD would require removing 
the affected Ti-bolts from service instead.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 326 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.
    Replacing a Ti-bolt would take about four work-hours and parts 
would cost about $82 for an estimated cost of $422 per Ti-bolt.

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 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

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    (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-2020-1037; 
Project Identifier 2019-SW-077-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Airbus Helicopters 
Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, 
EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters, certificated in any 
category, with a Titanium (Ti) bolt part number L535M2001203 marked 
with manufacturer monogram ``D'' or with an illegible manufacturer 
monogram installed on the forward tail rotor drive shaft.

    Note 1 to paragraph (a):  Helicopters with an EC135P3H 
designation are Model EC135P3 helicopters. Helicopters with an 
EC135T3H designation are Model EC135T3 helicopters.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of an affected 
Ti-bolt installed in a critical location, possibly resulting in 
reduced control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by January 14, 2021.

(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

    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service or 3 months, whichever 
occurs first, remove any Ti-bolt identified in paragraph (a) of this 
AD, located on the forward tail rotor drive shaft, from service.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a Ti-
bolt identified in paragraph (a) of this AD on the forward tail 
rotor drive shaft of any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs):

    The Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Manager, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
817-222-5110; email [email protected].

(g) Additional Information

    (1) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC135-
00A-001 and ASB No. EC135H-00A-001, each Revision 1 and dated 
September 2, 2019, 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 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) No. 2019-0199, dated August 16, 2019. 
You may view the EASA AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Codes: 1430, Fasteners; 
and 6510, Tail Rotor Drive Shaft.

    Issued on November 20, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-26253 Filed 11-27-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P