[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 139 (Friday, July 23, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38943-38946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-15475]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0574; Project Identifier 2019-SW-073-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal 
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 H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model CABRI G2 
helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that,

[[Page 38944]]

during scheduled maintenance on two helicopters, cracks were found on a 
certain main rotor (MR) non-rotating scissor link. This proposed AD 
would require replacing an affected MR non-rotating scissor link with a 
serviceable part. 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 August 23, 
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 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal, 1070, rue du Lieutenant Parayre, 
A[eacute]rodrome d'Aix-en-Provence, 13290 Les Milles, France; telephone 
33-04-42-39-10-88; email [email protected]; or at https://www.guimbal.com. 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. Service information 
that is incorporated by reference is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-
0574.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0574; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, 
COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments 
about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under 
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0574; Project Identifier 2019-
SW-073-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 NPRM.

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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Darren 
Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, 
Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 
1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-
7323; 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

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0186, dated July 30, 2019 (EASA 
AD 2019-0186), to correct an unsafe condition for 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model CABRI G2 helicopters, all 
manufacturer serial numbers. EASA advises that, during scheduled 
maintenance on two helicopters, cracks were found on the MR non-
rotating scissor link, part number (P/N) G41-10-200. The suspected root 
cause for the cracking is corrosion due to stress induced by the 
mounting of the metal bushings inside the lug hole. To address this 
issue the manufacturer modified the design of the MR non-rotating 
scissor link to reinforce the lugs and replace the metal bushings with 
plastic bushings. Cracking of a MR non-rotating scissor link, if not 
addressed, could result in failure of that scissor link, resulting in 
reduced control of the helicopter.
    Accordingly, EASA AD 2019-0186 requires replacement of affected MR 
non-rotating scissor links with serviceable parts.

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 issuing this AD after 
evaluating all known relevant information and determining that the 
unsafe condition described previously 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 Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 15-015, Revision C, 
dated August 27, 2019. This service information specifies procedures 
for, among other actions, modifying the helicopter by replacing the MR 
non-rotating scissor link, P/N G41-10-200, with a serviceable part, P/N 
G41-10-201 (by installing scissor link assembly, P/N G41-12-100, which 
includes MR non-rotating scissor link, P/N G41-10-201) and torqueing 
the bolts. 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

    The FAA also reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 15-015, Revision 
A, dated July 20, 2015 (SB 15-015, Revision A); and SB 15-015, Revision 
B, dated July 12, 2019 (SB 15-015, Revision B). SB 15-015, Revision A, 
describes procedures for replacing a MR

[[Page 38945]]

non-rotating scissor link, P/N G41-10-200, with P/N G41-12-100, which 
has a new, improved design. Service Bulletin SB 15-015, Revision B, 
describes the same procedures as SB 15-015, Revision A, and includes a 
revised compliance time, an updated Situation section, and added an 
action.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 32 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Replacement...........................  1 work-hour x $85 per               $323            $408         $13,056
                                         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

    This 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 that this proposed regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866, and
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
    (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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal: Docket No. FAA-2021-0574; 
Project Identifier 2019-SW-073-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by August 23, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model 
CABRI G2 helicopters, certificated in any category, with main rotor 
(MR) non-rotating scissor links, part number (P/N) G41-10-200 
installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6700, Rotorcraft 
Flight Control.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report that during scheduled 
maintenance on two helicopters, cracks were found on the MR non-
rotating scissor link with part number (P/N) G41-10-200. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address cracking of a MR non-rotating scissor 
link. Cracking of a MR non-rotating scissor link, if not addressed, 
could result in failure of that scissor link, resulting in reduced 
control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service or 2 months after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first, modify the 
helicopter by replacing the MR non-rotating scissor link, P/N G41-
10-200, with a serviceable scissor link assembly, P/N G41-12-100, in 
accordance with the Required Actions, IPC 4.1-2 (a) through (d) 
inclusive, of Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 15-015, Revision C, dated 
August 27, 2019.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a MR 
non-rotating scissor link, P/N G41-10-200, on any helicopter.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for actions required by paragraph 
(g)(1) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using the service information specified in 
paragraph (h)(1) or (2) of this AD.
    (1) Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 15-015, Revision A, dated July 
20, 2015.
    (2) Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 15-015, Revision B, dated July 
12, 2019.

(i) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 
21.199, are prohibited.

(j) 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 (k)(1) of 
this AD. Information may be emailed 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.

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(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Darren Gassetto, 
Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 
Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-
7323; email [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal, 1070, rue du Lieutenant Parayre, 
A[eacute]rodrome d'Aix-en-Provence, 13290 Les Milles, France; 
telephone 33-04-42-39-10-88; email [email protected]; or at 
https://www.guimbal.com. You may view this referenced 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.
    (3) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0186, dated July 30, 2019. You 
may view the EASA AD at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0574.

    Issued on July 14, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-15475 Filed 7-22-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P