[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 216 (Friday, November 12, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 62714-62717]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24541]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0620; Project Identifier 2019-SW-074-AD; Amendment 
39-21766; AD 2021-21-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal (HG) Model Cabri G2 helicopters with 
certain part-numbered aluminum cooling fans (cooling fan) installed. 
This AD was prompted by a report of an occurrence of an in-flight 
shutdown due to a crack and subsequent failure of the cooling fan. This 
AD requires removing certain part-numbered cooling fans from service, 
or modifying certain part-numbered cooling fans before exceeding a 
certain total hours time-in-service (TIS), and installing newly 
designed cooling fans. This AD also prohibits installing any affected 
cooling fan on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 17, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of December 17, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal, Basile Ginel, 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]; web https://www.guimbal.com. 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 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-
0620.

Examining the AD Docket

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

[[Page 62715]]

FAA-2021-0620; 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 final rule, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency 
(EASA) AD, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, 
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 
COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; telephone (516) 228-7330; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal (HG) Model Cabri G2 helicopters with 
a cooling fan part number P/N G52-00-000; or P/N G52-00-001 or P/N G52-
04-100, if it is or has previously been mounted on a 12-hole engine 
pulley P/N G52-10-100 or P/N G52-10-101, installed. The NPRM published 
in the Federal Register on August 9, 2021 (86 FR 43449). In the NPRM, 
the FAA proposed to require removing from service any affected part-
numbered cooling fan. As an alternative for certain part-numbered 
cooling fans, modifying the cooling fan before it exceeds a certain 
total hours TIS was proposed.
    The NPRM was prompted by a series of EASA ADs beginning with EASA 
AD 2014-0038, dated February 14, 2014 (EASA AD 2014-0038), issued by 
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. EASA 
advised of a report of an in-flight engine shutdown caused by a failure 
of the cooling fan. EASA further advised the failure of the cooling fan 
was caused by a crack in the fan external ring. After EASA AD 2014-0038 
was issued, an occurrence was reported of an in-flight failure caused 
by failure of the cooling fan, which was determined to be caused by a 
crack on the cooling fan front flange.
    Accordingly, EASA issued EASA AD 2014-0196, dated September 2, 2014 
(EASA AD 2014-0196), which retained the modification requirements of 
EASA AD 2014-0038 and required repetitive inspections of the engine 
cooling fan front flange and corrective actions depending on the 
findings. After EASA issued EASA AD 2014-0196, further analysis 
determined the crack propagation depends mainly on the engine start/
stop (ESS) cycles. Therefore, EASA superseded EASA AD 2014-0196 with 
EASA AD 2016-0033, dated February 24, 2016 (EASA AD 2016-0033), which 
retained the inspection and modification requirements of EASA AD 2014-
0196 and depending on the findings, required replacement of the 
affected part pending approval of the newly designed part.
    After EASA issued EASA AD 2016-0033, HG developed a newly designed 
engine cooling fan P/N G52-04-101, which consists of composite 
materials having improved structural strength. Accordingly, EASA 
superseded EASA AD 2016-0033 with EASA AD 2017-0039, dated February 24, 
2017 (EASA AD 2017-0039), which retained the requirements of EASA AD 
2016-0033 and required replacing the affected cooling fans with the 
newly designed cooling fan which terminated the repetitive inspections 
from EASA AD 2016-0033.
    Since EASA issued EASA AD 2017-0039, HG issued a revision to its 
service bulletin requiring a life limit requirement for the replacement 
of the affected cooling fans. Accordingly, EASA superseded EASA AD 
2017-0039 with EASA AD 2019-0187, dated July 31, 2019, and corrected 
August 2, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0187). EASA AD 2019-0187 retains some of 
the requirements in EASA AD 2017-0039 and requires a new compliance 
time and life limit for the replacement of the affected part. EASA AD 
2019-0187 also removes the modification and inspection requirements 
which are covered by EASA AD 2019-0025, dated February 4, 2019.
    The unsafe condition described in the EASA ADs, if not addressed, 
could result in failure of the cooling fan and subsequent engine in-
flight shut-down and reduced control of the helicopter.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received comments from one commenter. The following 
presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.

Request To Change the Summary Paragraph

    H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal requested the FAA revise the 
references made to the amount of in-flight shut-down occurrences; the 
commenter stated that there were not two engine shutdowns due to fan 
failure but one. The FAA agrees that there was only one occurrence of 
an in-flight shut-down, and one occurrence of an in-flight failure. 
Therefore, the FAA has revised this final rule accordingly.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, including the changes described above, this AD 
is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. These changes do not increase the 
scope of the AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 16-021 E, dated August 
27, 2019. This service information specifies instructions for 
retrofitting the cooling fan with the new front flange, aft ring, and 
24-hole pulley. This service information also specifies that upon 
completion of all the required actions, the cooling fan assembly P/N 
G52-00-000, P/N G52-00-001, and P/N G52-04-100 become P/N G52-04-101.
    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 16-021 D, dated 
May 20, 2019, which specifies procedures for accessing the cooling fan 
and removing it from service; modifying, applying adhesive and 
torqueing the rear flange; installing the improved cooling fan, and 
additional actions.

Differences Between This AD and EASA AD 2019-0187

    EASA AD 2019-0187 allows certain cooling fans with certain total 
hours TIS to be retrofitted before exceeding their life limit, whereas 
this AD requires removing these cooling fans from service or as an 
alternate to removing them from service, modifying the cooling fan 
before exceeding the total hours TIS. EASA AD 2019-0187 allows a 
compliance time in months TIS to replace certain part-numbered cooling 
fans, whereas this AD only allow hours TIS.
    EASA AD 2019-0187 retains the compliance time of March 10, 2017, 
which is the effective date of EASA AD 2017-0039. This AD requires

[[Page 62716]]

compliance within the effective date of this AD. The FAA has determined 
that these compliance times are adequate to address the identified 
unsafe condition.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 32 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on 
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this AD.
    Removing the affected cooling fan from service and installing the 
newly designed cooling fan takes about 16 work-hours and parts cost 
about $4,600 for an estimated cost of $5,960 per replacement and 
$190,720 for the U.S. fleet.

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 helicopters identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
    (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 Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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:

2021-21-06 H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal: Amendment 39-21766; 
Docket No. FAA-2021-0620; Project Identifier 2019-SW-074-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 17, 
2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal (HG) Model 
Cabri G2 helicopters, certificated in any category, the following 
aluminum cooling fan (cooling fan) part number (P/N) installed:
    (1) P/N G52-00-000,
    (2) P/N G52-00-001 or P/N G52-04-100, if it is or has previously 
been mounted on a 12-hole engine pulley P/N G52-10-100 or P/N G52-
10-101.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7100, Powerplant 
System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of an in-flight engine shutdown 
due to a crack and subsequent failure of the cooling fan. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to prevent failure of the cooling fan. This 
condition, if not addressed, could result in an in-flight engine 
shut-down and 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 Model Cabri G2 helicopters with cooling fan P/N G52-00-
000 installed, within 150 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this AD:
    (i) Remove the cooling fan from service by following the 
Required Actions, Cooling Fan Removal, paragraphs (a) through (g), 
of Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 16-021 E, dated August 27, 2019 (SB 
16-021 Rev E), except you are not required to discard any parts.
    (ii) Install the improved cooling fan P/N G52-04-101 by 
following the Required Actions, Cooling Fan Installation, paragraphs 
(a) through (j), of SB 16-021 Rev E.
    (2) For Model Cabri G2 helicopters with a cooling fan P/N G52-
00-001 or P/N G52-04-100 that is mounted or was previously mounted 
on a 12-hole engine pulley P/N G52-10-100 or P/N G52-10-101, and 
with 1,500 or more total hours TIS, since first installation on a 
helicopter, within 150 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD:
    (i) Remove the cooling fan from service by following the 
Required Actions, Cooling Fan Removal, paragraphs (a) through (g), 
of SB 16-021 Rev E, except you are not required to discard any 
parts, or remove the cooling fan by following the Required Actions, 
Cooling Fan Removal, paragraphs (a) through (g), of SB 16-021 Rev E 
and modify the cooling fan by following the Required Actions, 
Cooling Fan Retrofit, paragraphs (a) through (h) of SB 16-021 Rev E.
    (ii) Install the improved cooling fan P/N G52-04-101 by 
following the Required Actions, Cooling Fan Installation, paragraphs 
(a) through (j), of SB 16-021 Rev E.
    (3) For Model Cabri G2 helicopters with a cooling fan P/N G52-
00-001 or P/N G52-04-100 that is mounted or was previously mounted 
on a 12-hole engine pulley P/N G52-10-100 or P/N G52-10-101 and with 
500 total hours TIS but with less than 1,500 total hours TIS, since 
first installation on a helicopter, within 500 hours TIS after the 
effective date of this AD, perform the actions required by 
paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (ii) of this AD.
    (4) For Model Cabri G2 helicopters with a cooling fan P/N G52-
00-001 or P/N G52-04-100 that is mounted or was previously mounted 
on a 12-hole engine pulley P/N G52-10-100 or P/N G52-10-101 and with 
less than 500 total hours TIS since first installation on a 
helicopter, within 1,000 hours TIS after the effective date of this 
AD, perform the actions required by paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (ii) of 
this AD.
    (5) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
cooling fan listed in paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified in 
paragraph (g) of this AD, if those actions were performed before the 
effective date of this AD using Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 16-021 
D, dated May 2019.

(i) 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 (j)(1) of 
this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].

[[Page 62717]]

    (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.

(j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Andrea Jimenez, 
Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational 
Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 
Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-
7330; email [email protected].
    (2) Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 16-021 D, dated May 20, 2019, 
which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional 
information about the subject of this AD. This service information 
is available at the contact information specified in paragraphs 
(k)(3) and (4) of this AD.
    (3) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0187, dated July 31, 2019. You 
may view the EASA AD at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 
FAA-2021-0620.

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 16-021 E, dated August 27, 2019.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal, Basile Ginel, 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]; web https://www.guimbal.com.
    (4) 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on November 4, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24541 Filed 11-10-21; 8:45 am]
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