[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 92 (Friday, May 12, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30682-30685]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-10075]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-0937; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00134-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 all Airbus Helicopters Model EC155B1 helicopters. This proposed AD 
was prompted by reports of failure of the main gearbox (MGB) oil 
cooling fan hub (fan hub). This proposed AD would require for 
helicopters with an affected part (fan hub) installed, using an 
endoscope, repetitively inspecting the fan hub, including the area 
around the fan hub attachment screws, for a crack. Depending on the 
inspection results, this proposed AD would require performing 
additional inspections and replacing an affected fan hub. This proposed 
AD would also allow an affected fan hub to be installed on a helicopter 
if certain actions are accomplished, as specified in a European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation 
by reference. 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 June 26, 
2023.

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 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.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2023-0937; 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, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For EASA material that is proposed for incorporation by 
reference in this NPRM, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 
Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; 
internet easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA 
website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
     You may view this material 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. The EASA material is also 
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0937.
    Other Related Service Information: For Airbus Helicopters service 
information identified in this NPRM, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 
North Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or 
(800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. You may also view this service 
information at the FAA contact information under Material Incorporated 
by Reference above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kevin Kung, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1200 District 
Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7244; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or

[[Page 30683]]

arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-0937; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-00134-R'' 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 
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 NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Kevin 
Kung, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; 
telephone (781) 238-7244; 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.

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued a series of EASA ADs with the most recent 
being EASA AD 2022-0006R2, dated January 31, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-
0006R2), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model EC 
155 B1 helicopters.
    This proposed AD was prompted by reports of failure of the fan hub. 
The FAA is proposing this AD to inspect for cracks on and around the 
fan hub. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in an 
undetected loss of lubrication of the MGB or engine and reduced control 
of the helicopter.
    You may examine EASA AD 2022-0006R2 in the AD docket at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-0937.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2022-0006R2 requires, for helicopters with a certain part-
numbered fan hub installed, repetitively inspecting the fan hub, 
including the area around the fan hub attachment screws, for a crack. 
EASA AD 2022-0006R2 also requires, if there is a crack, additional 
inspections, replacing an affected fan hub, and sending certain 
information to Airbus Helicopters.
    This material 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 Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 
EC155-05A039, Revision 0, dated January 6, 2022. This service 
information specifies procedures, using an endoscope, to inspect the 
fan hub and the fan hub attachment screws for a crack. This service 
information also specifies procedures to interpret the results of the 
endoscope inspection; and depending on the results, performing close 
monitoring, replacing an affected fan hub, and sending certain 
information to Airbus Helicopters.

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 
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop 
on other helicopters of the same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in EASA AD 2022-0006R2, described previously, as incorporated by 
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the 
regulatory text of this proposed AD and except as discussed under 
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the EASA AD.''

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

    In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD 
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation 
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance 
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been 
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the 
FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2022-0006R2 by reference in the FAA 
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with 
EASA AD 2022-0006R2 in its entirety through that incorporation, except 
for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of 
this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading 
of a particular section in EASA AD 2022-0006R2 does not mean that 
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD 
requirement refers to ``all required actions and compliance times,'' 
compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section 
titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD 2022-
0006R2. Service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0006R2 for 
compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-
2023-0937 after the FAA final rule is published.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    EASA AD 2022-0006R2 requires replacing each affected fan hub with a 
serviceable fan hub if any crack is detected, whereas this proposed AD 
would require removing each affected fan hub from service and replacing 
it with a serviceable fan hub if any crack is detected.
    Service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0006R2 specifies 
sending certain information, including pictures, to the manufacturer, 
whereas this proposed AD would not.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action. 
If final action is later identified, the FAA might consider further 
rulemaking then.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 10 helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor rates are estimated at 
$85 per work-hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA

[[Page 30684]]

estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD.
    Inspecting the fan hub including each fan hub attachment screw and 
interpreting the results would take about 1 work-hour for an estimated 
cost of $85 per inspection and $850 for the U.S. fleet per inspection 
cycle.
    Replacing an affected fan hub with a serviceable fan hub would take 
about 8 work-hours and parts would cost about $7,273 for an estimated 
cost of $7,953 per fan hub 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 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, 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: Docket No. FAA-2023-0937; Project Identifier 
MCAI-2022-00134-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by June 26, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC155B1 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6320, Main rotor 
gearbox.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of failure of the main gearbox 
(MGB) oil cooling fan hub (fan hub). The FAA is issuing this AD to 
inspect for cracks on and around the fan hub. The unsafe condition, 
if not addressed, could result in an undetected loss of lubrication 
of the MGB or engine and reduced control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0006R2, dated January 31, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0006R2).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0006R2

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0006R2 requires compliance in terms of 
flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service (TIS).
    (2) Where EASA AD 2022-0006R2 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (3) Where paragraph (2.2) of EASA AD 2022-0006R2 requires within 
50 FH [flight hours] after crack detection around the attachment 
screw, replace the affected part [fan hub] with a serviceable part, 
for this AD, within 50 hours TIS after crack detection around the 
attachment screw, remove the affected fan hub from service, and 
replace it with a serviceable fan hub.
    (4) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0006R2 requires 
replacing an affected part with a serviceable part before next 
flight if any crack is detected in any area other than around the 
attachment screw, for this AD, if any crack is detected in any area 
other than around the attachment screw, before further flight, 
remove the affected fan hub from service, and replace it with a 
serviceable fan hub.
    (5) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0006R2 specifies to ``make sure that there is no crack,'' this AD 
requires inspecting the area for a crack.
    (6) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0006R2 specifies to discard certain parts, this AD requires removing 
those parts from service.
    (7) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0006R2 specifies creating a Technical Event and sending certain 
information to Airbus Helicopters, this AD does not include those 
requirements.
    (8) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0006R2 specifies to use tooling, this AD allows the use of 
equivalent tooling.
    (9) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 
2022-0006R2.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-
0006R2 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, 
this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(k) 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 (l) 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.

(l) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kevin Kung, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 
01803; telephone (781) 238-7244; email [email protected].

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this

[[Page 30685]]

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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0006R2, 
dated January 31, 2022.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2022-0006R2, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 
3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email 
[email protected]; internet easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA 
material on the EASA website atad.easa.europa.eu.
    (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 material 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: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on May 2, 2023.
Michael Linegang,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-10075 Filed 5-11-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P