[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 88 (Monday, May 10, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 24780-24783]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-09759]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0348; Project Identifier 2018-SW-076-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Agusta S.p.A.) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2011-18-52 for certain Agusta S.p.A. (now Leonardo S.p.a.) Model AB139 
and AW139 helicopters. AD 2011-18-52 requires revising the life limit 
for certain part-numbered tail rotor (T/R) blades, updating the 
helicopter's historical records, repetitively inspecting each T/R blade 
for a crack or damage, and depending on the results, replacing the T/R 
blade. Since the FAA

[[Page 24781]]

issued AD 2011-18-52, the manufacturer developed improved T/R blades 
using different materials and established life limits for each improved 
blade. This proposed AD would retain certain requirements from AD 2011-
18-52, revise certain requirements from AD 2011-18-52, and expand the 
applicability to include the newly-designed T/R blades. 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 June 24, 
2021.

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.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Leonardo 
S.p.a. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, Viale 
G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone +39-0331-
225074; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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-2021-
0348; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, AD Program Manager, 
Operational Safety Branch, Airworthiness Products Section, General 
Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 
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-2021-0348; Project Identifier 
2018-SW-076-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, Matt 
Fuller, AD Program Manager, Operational Safety Branch, Airworthiness 
Products Section, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, 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.

Background

    The FAA issued Emergency AD 2011-18-52 on August 25, 2011, which 
was published as a Final rule; request for comments, on April 18, 2012 
(77 FR 23109) (AD 2011-18-52). AD 2011-18-52 applies to Agusta S.p.A. 
(now Leonardo S.p.a.) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with a T/R 
blade part number (P/N) 3G6410A00131 or P/N 4G6410A00131 installed. AD 
2011-18-52 requires, within 5 hours time-in-service (TIS), establishing 
a life limit of 600 hours TIS or 1,500 takeoff and landing cycles 
(cycles), whichever occurs first, on the affected T/R blades and 
updating the helicopter's historical records. If a T/R blade's total 
number of cycles is unknown, determining the T/R blade cycles by 
multiplying the T/R blade's hours TIS by 4 is required. For a T/R blade 
that, on the effective date of the AD, has already exceeded 600 hours 
TIS or 1,500 cycles, the AD requires replacing the T/R blade with an 
airworthy T/R blade within 5 hours TIS.
    AD 2011-18-52 also requires, within 25 hours TIS, and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS, inspecting the T/R blade for a 
crack or damage that exceeds the limits of the applicable maintenance 
manual. The inspection must be accomplished using a mirror, magnifying 
glass (5X or greater), and light source; or borescope. If there is a 
crack, or if there is damage that exceeds the limits of the applicable 
maintenance manual, AD 2011-18-52 requires, before further flight, 
replacing the T/R blade with an airworthy T/R blade.
    AD 2011-18-52 was prompted by a fatal accident involving an Agusta 
Model AW139 helicopter, which may have been caused by cracks in a T/R 
blade. EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, issued EASA Emergency AD 2011-0156-E, dated August 25, 
2011 (EASA AD 2011-0156-E) to require repetitive inspections and 
reducing the life limit of the T/R blades. According to EASA, this 
condition, if not detected and corrected, could result in failure of a 
T/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Actions Since AD 2011-18-52 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2011-18-52, EASA issued a series of ADs as 
follows:
     EASA AD 2012-0030, dated February 17, 2012 (EASA AD 2012-
0030), which superseded Emergency AD 2011-0156-E, advised that the 
manufacturer developed improved, newly-designed T/R blades P/N 
3G6410A00132 and P/N 4G6410A00132, established life limits for each 
improved T/R blade, added repetitive inspections for the improved T/R 
blades, and advised that each T/R

[[Page 24782]]

blade P/N had its own individual life limit.
     EASA AD 2012-0076, dated May 2, 2012 (EASA AD 2012-0076), 
which superseded EASA AD 2012-0030 and was issued after the 
manufacturer developed another version of improved T/R blades P/N 
3G6410A00133 and P/N 4G6410A00133 with different materials. AD 2012-
0076 required interim life limits for the new improved version of the 
T/R blades while also retaining the inspection requirements of EASA AD 
2012-0030.
     EASA AD 2012-0076R1, dated July 13, 2012 (EASA AD 2012-
0076R1), which revised EASA AD 2012-0076 after a modification was 
developed to allow installation of certain part-numbered T/R blades 
under certain conditions.
     EASA AD 2012-0076R2, dated February 20, 2014 (EASA AD 
2012-0076R2), which revised EASA AD 2012-0076R1, was issued after 
another modification was developed. EASA AD 2012-0076R2 requires 
removing the 25 hours TIS inspection of certain part-numbered T/R 
blades, extending the life limit of certain part-numbered T/R blades, 
retaining the repetitive inspections of certain part-numbered T/R 
blades and depending on the inspection results, performing certain 
applicable corrections.
    Also, after AD 2011-18-52 was issued, the FAA issued an NPRM (78 FR 
54596), which published in the Federal Register on September 5, 2013. 
The NPRM proposed to require retaining the inspection requirements for 
certain part-numbered blades and expand the applicability to include 
the newly designed blades and establish life limits for those blades. 
The NPRM also proposed to require replacing any cracked blade or any 
blade that has reached its life limit. That NPRM was prompted by 
improved modifications of the T/R blades. However, because the FAA 
determined that the NPRM does not adequately address the identified 
unsafe condition, the NPRM was withdrawn on February 25, 2021 (86 FR 
11477).
    Additional review also revealed necessary changes to address the 
unsafe condition. This proposed AD clarifies the repetitive inspection 
for T/R blade P/Ns 3G6410A00131 and P/N 4G6410A00131 from, ``visually 
inspect the T/R blade for a crack or damage'' to ``visually inspect the 
T/R blade for a crack and damage.'' This proposed AD further revises 
that repetitive inspection from ``damage that exceeds the limits of the 
applicable maintenance manual'' to ``damage that exceeds allowable 
limits'' to meet current publishing requirements. This proposed AD 
clarifies the inspection area for that repetitive inspection by 
proposing to require using a figure in the related service information 
instead of using a figure in the body of this AD action. This proposed 
AD also revises the requirements by removing unnecessary information, 
including the special flight permits paragraph.

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 of 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 design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed AgustaWestland S.p.A Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico 
No. 139-265, Revision B, dated February 18, 2014. This service 
information specifies a precautionary inspection for a crack, a life 
limit for the affected T/R blades, and a quarantine of T/R blades that 
have exceeded their life limit. This service information also provides 
instructions for mixed usage of the affected T/R blades and sending 
certain data to the manufacturer.
    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 retain the inspection requirements of AD 
2011-18-52 for certain part-numbered T/R blades, expand the 
applicability to include the improved T/R blades, require determining 
each T/R blade's total hours TIS or landing cycles, and establish life 
limits for certain T/R blades. This proposed AD would require removing 
from service any T/R blade that has a crack or damage beyond allowable 
limits or any T/R blade that has reached its life limit.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and EASA AD

    The EASA AD does not list the T/R blade life limits and instead 
references the Airworthiness Limitations Section of 139 AMPI Chapter 4, 
while this proposed AD would include the life limits in the AD. The 
EASA AD requires reporting information to Product Support Engineering, 
whereas this proposed AD would not. The EASA AD requires contacting 
AgustaWestland if a crack or damage is found during the inspection, 
whereas this proposed AD would require removing the T/R blade from 
service.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 130 
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.
    Inspecting one T/R blade for a crack would take about 1 work-hour 
for an estimated cost of $85 per T/R blade per inspection cycle and up 
to $44,200 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.
    Replacing one T/R blade would take about 8 work-hours and parts 
would cost about $40,560 for an estimated cost of $41,240 per 
replacement.

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. Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

[[Page 24783]]

    3. Would 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2011-18-52, Amendment 39-17020 (77 
FR 23109, April 18, 2012); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Leonardo S.p.a. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Agusta S.p.A.): 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0348; Project Identifier 2018-SW-076-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by June 24, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2011-18-52, Amendment 39-17020 (77 FR 23109, 
April 18, 2012) (AD 2011-18-52).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. (type certificate previously 
held by Agusta S.p.A.) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with tail rotor (T/R) blade, part 
number (P/N) 3G6410A00131, 3G6410A00132, 3G6410A00133, 4G6410A00131, 
4G6410A00132, or 4G6410A00133, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6410, Tail Rotor 
Blades.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in a T/R blade. 
This condition could result in failure of a T/R blade and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For T/R blade P/Ns 3G6410A00131 and 4G6410A00131, within 5 
hours time-in-service (TIS) after May 3, 2012 (the effective date of 
AD 2011-18-52), establish a life limit of 600 hours TIS or 1,500 
takeoff and landing cycles (cycles), whichever occurs first, on the 
affected T/R blades and update the helicopter's historical records. 
If a T/R blade's total number of cycles is unknown, determine the T/
R blade cycles by multiplying the T/R blade's hours TIS by 4.
    (2) For T/R blade P/Ns 3G6410A00131 and 4G6410A00131, thereafter 
following paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, remove any T/R blade from 
service before accumulating 600 total hours TIS or 1,500 total 
cycles, whichever occurs first.
    (3) For T/R blade P/Ns 3G6410A00132, 3G6410A00133, 4G6410A00132, 
and 4G6410A00133, within 5 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD, determine the total number of cycles. If a T/R blade's 
total number of cycles is unknown, determine the T/R blade cycles by 
multiplying the blade's hours TIS by 4. Before further flight, 
remove any T/R blade from service that has accumulated or exceeded 
its life limit as follows. Thereafter, remove any T/R blade from 
service before accumulating its life limit as follows:
    (i) T/R blade P/Ns 3G6410A00132 and 4G6410A00132: 1,200 total 
hours TIS or 3,200 total cycles, whichever occurs first.
    (ii) T/R blade P/N 3G6410A00133: 40,000 total cycles.
    (iii) T/R blade P/N 4G6410A00133: 4,033 total hours TIS or 
40,000 cycles, whichever occurs first.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(3): A combination of T/R blades having 
different P/Ns can be installed on the same helicopter. The eligible 
combinations of T/R blades P/N are listed in AgustaWestland S.p.A. 
Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-265, Revision B, dated February 
18, 2014 (BT No. 139-265).

    (4) For T/R blade P/Ns 3G6410A00131 and P/N 4G6410A00131, within 
25 hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS, visually inspect the T/R blade 
for a crack and damage that exceeds allowable limits. Inspect in the 
area depicted in Figure 1 of BT No. 139-265 using a mirror, a 5X or 
higher power magnifying glass, and a flashlight, or borescope. If 
there is a crack or damage that exceeds allowable limits, before 
further flight, remove the T/R blade from service.
    (5) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install on any 
helicopter any T/R blade P/N 3G6410A00131 or P/N 4G6410A00131, 
unless the actions required by paragraphs (g)(1), (2), and (4) of 
this AD have been accomplished.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of 
this AD. Information may be emailed to: email [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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Matt Fuller, AD 
Program Manager, Operational Safety Branch, Airworthiness Products 
Section, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, 
Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone 
+39-0331-225074; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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.
    (3) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 
2012-0076R2, dated February 20, 2014. You may view the EASA AD on 
the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket.

    Issued on April 30, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-09759 Filed 5-7-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P