[Federal Register Volume 90, Number 185 (Friday, September 26, 2025)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 46368-46371]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2025-18711]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-2557; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00533-E]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca, S.A.) 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. (Safran) Model Arriel 2E
engines. This proposed AD was prompted by the determination that new or
more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed
AD would require revising existing maintenance or inspection program,
to incorporate the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the
existing approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP), as applicable.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this NPRM by November 10, 2025.
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-2025-2557; 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.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) material
identified in this NPRM, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668
Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: [email protected];
website: easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website
at ad.easa.europa.eu.
You may view this material 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 (817) 222-5110.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Bergeron, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (860) 386-1805; 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 using a method listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2025-2557;
Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00533-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
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
[[Page 46369]]
under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of
this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to David Bergeron,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590. 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 2025-0079, dated April 10, 2025
(EASA AD 2025-0079) (also referred to as the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition on Safran Model Arriel 2D, 2E, 2H, 2L2, and 2N
engines. The MCAI states that new or more restrictive airworthiness
limitations have been developed and the restrictive limitations include
replacing life-limited parts before exceeding the applicable life
limit, performing applicable maintenance tasks, and revising the
approved aircraft maintenance program. This condition, if not
addressed, could result in failure of one or more engines, loss of
thrust control, and consequent reduced control of the helicopter.
The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-2557.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2025-0079, which specifies procedures for
replacing components before exceeding their life limits and
accomplishing all applicable maintenance tasks within thresholds and
intervals specified in the ALS as defined in EASA AD 2025-0079.
Depending on the results of the maintenance tasks, EASA AD 2025-0079
requires accomplishing corrective action(s) or contacting Safran
Helicopters for approved instructions and accomplishing those
instructions.
Additionally, EASA AD 2025-0079 specifies procedures for
accomplishing the actions specified in the applicable ALS, including
performing maintenance tasks, replacing life-limited parts, and
specifies procedures for revising the AMP by incorporating the
limitations, tasks, and associated thresholds and intervals described
in the specified ALS, as applicable. Revising the AMP constitutes
terminating action for the requirement to record accomplishment of the
actions of replacing components before exceeding their life limits and
accomplishing maintenance tasks within thresholds and intervals
specified in the applicable ALS as required by EASA AD 2025-0079 for
demonstration of AD compliance on a continued basis.
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.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this NPRM
after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2025-0079, described previously, as incorporated by
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this proposed AD. See ``Differences Between this
Proposed AD and the MCAI'' for a discussion of the general differences
identified in this AD. An owner/operator (pilot) holding at least at
least a private pilot certificate may incorporate the actions and
associated thresholds and intervals, including life limits and
maintenance tasks, into existing approved maintenance or inspection
program as applicable, and must enter into compliance with the
applicable paragraph(s) of the proposed AD into the helicopter
maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and
91.417(a)(2)(v). The pilot may perform these actions because they only
involve revising the AMP. This is an exception to the FAA's standard
maintenance regulations.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI
EASA AD 2025-0079 applies to Safran Model Arriel 2D, 2E, 2H, 2L2,
and 2N engines, whereas this proposed AD would only apply to Safran
Model Arriel 2E engines. The ALS revisions required by this proposed AD
do not include Safran Model Arriel 2D engines, and Safran Model Arriel
2H, 2L2, and 2N engines do not have an FAA type certificate.
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 2025-0079 by reference in the FAA
final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with
EASA AD 2025-0079 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 2025-0079 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 proposed AD requirement is not limited to the
section titled ``Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)'' in EASA AD
2025-0079. Material referenced in EASA AD 2025-0079 for compliance will
be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-2557 after
the FAA final rule is published.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
affect 85 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
[[Page 46370]]
Estimated Costs
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Cost per Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost product operators
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Revise the ALS........................ 1 work-hour x $85 per $0 $85 $7,225
and the existing...................... hour = $85.
approved AMP..........................
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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, 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-2025-2557; Project Identifier MCAI-
2025-00533-E.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
(AD) by November 10, 2025.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to all Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran)
(type certificate previously held by Turbomeca S.A.) Model Arriel 2E
engines.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 7250, Turbine
Section.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the determination that new or more
restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. The FAA is
issuing this AD to prevent failure of life-limited parts. The unsafe
condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of one or more
engines, loss of thrust control, and consequent reduced control of
the helicopter.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(g) Required Actions
(1) Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD, perform all
required actions within the compliance times specified in, and in
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency AD 2025-0079,
dated April 10, 2025 (EASA AD 2025-0079).
(2) The action required by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD may be
performed by the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private
pilot certificate and must be entered into the aircraft records
showing compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)
and 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as required by 14
CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2025-0079
(1) Where EASA AD 2025-0079 refers to its effective date, this
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
(2) This AD does not require compliance with paragraphs (1),
(2), (4), and (5) of EASA AD 2025-0079.
(3) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2025-0079 requires revising
the approved aircraft maintenance program (AMP) within 12 months
after the effective date of EASA AD 2025-0079, this AD requires
incorporating the actions and associated thresholds and intervals,
including life limits and maintenance tasks, into the existing
approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, within 90
days after the effective date of this AD.
(4) This AD does not adopt the ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD
2025-0079.
(i) Provisions for Alternative Actions and Intervals
After performing the actions required by paragraph (g) of this
AD, no alternative actions and associated thresholds and intervals,
including life limits, are allowed unless they are approved as
specified in the provisions of the ``Ref. Publications'' section of
EASA AD 2025-0079.
(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) of
this AD and email 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) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact David Bergeron,
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (860) 386-1805; email:
[email protected].
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the material listed in this
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
[[Page 46371]]
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2025-0079,
dated April 10, 2025.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material identified in this AD, contact EASA,
Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999
000; email: [email protected]; website: easa.europa.eu. You may
find this EASA AD on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material 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 (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].
Issued on September 23, 2025.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2025-18711 Filed 9-25-25; 8:45 am]
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