[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 37 (Friday, February 26, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11662-11664]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-03777]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0100; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00309-E]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca, S.A.) Turboshaft Engines

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 all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. Arriel 2C and Arriel 2S1 model 
turboshaft engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of error 
messages on the full authority digital engine control (FADEC) B digital 
engine control unit (DECU), caused by blistering of the varnish on the 
DECU circuit board. This proposed AD would require the replacement of 
certain FADEC B DECUs. 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 April 12, 
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.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Safran 
Helicopter Engines, S.A., Avenue du 1er Mai, 40220 Tarnos, France; 
phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 40 00. You may view this service information at 
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0100; 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 
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
(781) 238-7134; fax: (781) 238-7199; 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-2021-0100; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2020-00395-E'' 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 NPRM.

[[Page 11663]]

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 Wego 
Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not 
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for 
this rulemaking.

Background

    The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has 
issued EASA AD 2020-0046, dated March 4, 2020 (referred to after this 
as ``the MCAI''), to address the unsafe condition on these products. 
The MCAI states:

    Occurrences have been reported of FADEC B DECU error messages, 
which were found to be caused by blistering of the varnish on the 
DECU circuit board. Subsequent investigation determined that the use 
of a non-compliant primer is related to the blistering effect which, 
in wet conditions, can cause malfunction of the stepper motor.
    This condition, if not corrected, could lead to loss of 
automatic control on both engines concurrently, possibly resulting 
in reduced control of the helicopter.
    To address this potentially unsafe condition, SAFRAN issued the 
MSB, as defined in this [EASA] AD, to provide instructions for 
identification and replacement of affected parts.
    For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires 
replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts. This [EASA] AD 
also prohibits (re-)installation of affected parts.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0100.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by EASA and is approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement 
with the European Community, EASA has notified the FAA of the unsafe 
condition described in the MCAI and service information. The FAA is 
issuing this NPRM because the agency evaluated all the relevant 
information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition 
described previously 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 Safran Helicopter Engines Note Technique AA187866, 
Version A, dated October 18, 2019. This service information identifies 
the serial numbers (S/Ns) of certain FADEC B DECUs installed on Arriel 
2C and Arriel 2S1 model turboshaft engines. 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 
ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Safran Helicopter Engines Mandatory Service 
Bulletin (MSB) No. 292 73 2872, Version A, dated October 17, 2019. This 
MSB describes procedures for identifying the S/Ns of certain FADEC B 
DECUs and replacing certain FADEC B DECUs on Arriel 2C and Arriel 2S1 
model turboshaft engines.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require the replacement of certain FADEC B 
DECUs installed on Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 2C and Arriel 2S1 
model turboshaft engines.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service 
Information

    Safran Helicopter Engines MSB No. 292 73 2872 is applicable to 
Arriel 2C, 2 C-PM, and Arriel 2S1 model turboshaft engines. This 
proposed AD is only applicable to Arriel 2C and Arriel 2S1 model 
turboshaft engines. There is no Arriel 2 C-PM model turboshaft engine 
type certificated in the United States.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 148 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace the FADEC B DECU..............  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85         $12,580
                                         hour = $85.
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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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative,

[[Page 11664]]

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:

Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Turbomeca, S.A.): Docket No. FAA-2021-0100; Project Identifier MCAI-
2020-00309-E.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by April 12, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type 
Certificate previously held by Turbomeca, S.A.) Arriel 2C and Arriel 
2S1 model turboshaft engines.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7321, Fuel Control/
Turbine Engines.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of error messages of the full 
authority engine control (FADEC) B digital engine control unit 
(DECU), caused by blistering of the varnish on the DECU circuit 
board. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent failure of the FADEC B 
DECU. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss 
of engine thrust control and reduced control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    For affected engines having an installed FADEC B DECU with a 
serial number (S/N) identified in Safran Helicopter Engines Note 
Technique AA187866, Version A, dated October 18, 2019 (the Note 
Technique), within 1,400 engine operating hours after the effective 
date of this AD, replace the FADEC B DECU with a part eligible for 
installation.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install onto any 
engine a FADEC B DECU having an S/N listed in the Note Technique.

(i) Definition

    For the purpose of this AD, a part eligible for installation is 
a FADEC B DECU that does not have an S/N listed in the Note 
Technique.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, ECO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
ECO Branch, send it to the attention of the person identified in 
Related Information. You may email your request to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Wego Wang, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7134; fax: (781) 238-7199; 
email: [email protected].
    (2) Refer to European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2020-0046, 
dated March 4, 2020, for more information. You may examine the EASA 
AD in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2021-0100.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Avenue du 1er Mai, 40220 Tarnos, 
France; phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 40 00. You may view this referenced 
service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call (781) 238-7759.

    Issued on February 18, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-03777 Filed 2-25-21; 8:45 am]
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