Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 216 (Monday, November 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 69111-69113]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-28314]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3969; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-010-AD; 
Amendment 39-18318; AD 2015-23-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta 
S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB412 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting 
the filters installed on the pressure lines of utility hydraulic 
systems for metal particles. This AD is prompted by a report of a pump 
failure on the hydraulic external hoist caused by metal particles. 
These actions are intended to detect metal particles in the filter of 
the pressure line and prevent the pumps' failure, which could lead to a 
hoisting accident and injury to persons.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 24, 2015.
    We must receive comments on this AD by January 8, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3969 
or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,

[[Page 69112]]

Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, and other 
information. The street address for the Docket Operations Office 
(telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact 
AgustaWestland, Product Support Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015 
Lonate Pozzolo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Maurizio D'Angelo; telephone 39-0331-
664757; fax 39-0331-664680; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bulletins. You may review 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, we 
invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to the 
economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit them only one time. We will file in the docket all comments that 
we receive, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, issued EASA AD No. 2014-0063-E, dated March 12, 2014, 
to correct an unsafe condition for Agusta Model AB412 helicopters. EASA 
advises that during a hoist operation, a pressure line pump part number 
(P/N) 1-8072 Rev. A failed on a Model AB412 helicopter. Preliminary 
investigations reveal that unusual wear of an internal subcomponent 
generated metal particles, which caused the pump to fail, EASA advises. 
The root cause of this wear has not been determined.
    This condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to future 
pump failures, resulting in hoisting accidents and injuries. As a 
result, EASA requires repetitive inspections of the pump's filter for 
metal particles and replacement of the pressure line pump if particles 
exist. EASA advises that its AD is an interim action and that further 
AD action may follow, depending on the outcome of the investigations.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with Italy, EASA, its technical representative, 
has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the EASA AD. We 
are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information provided by 
EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist 
or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.

Related Service Information

    AgustaWestland has issued Bollettino Tecnico No. 412-140, dated 
March 11, 2014 (BT), for Model AB412 helicopters with a hydraulic 
external hoist P/N BL10300-60 installed. The BT notes that Agusta 
received a report that pump P/N 1-8072 Rev. A failed during a hoist 
operation on a Model AB412 helicopter due to metal particles generated 
by unusual wear of an internal subcomponent. The BT calls for 
inspecting the filter installed on the external hoist's pressure line 
for metal particles. The BT notes that an investigation is underway to 
determine the failure's root causes and that the BT could be updated.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS, inspecting to 
determine whether metal particles are in the filter installed on the 
pressure line of the utility hydraulic system. If there are any metal 
particles, this AD requires, before the next flight, flushing the 
utility hydraulic system, replacing the filter with an airworthy 
filter, and replacing the pressure line pump with an airworthy pressure 
line pump.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD to be an interim action. The design approval 
holder is investigating the root cause for the unsafe condition 
identified in this AD. Once the investigation is completed, we might 
consider additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no 
helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    There are no helicopters with this type certificate are on the U.S. 
Registry. Therefore, we believe it is unlikely that we will receive any 
adverse comments or useful information about this AD from U.S. 
Operators.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are unnecessary because there are 
none of these helicopters on the U.S. Registry and that good cause 
exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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.
    We are 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

    We determined that 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

[[Page 69113]]

responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed, I certify that this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that 
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
    4. 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.

Adoption of 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 (AD):

2015-23-02 Agusta S.p.A.: Amendment 39-18318; Docket No. FAA-2015-
3969; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-010-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model AB412 helicopters with a hydraulic 
external hoist part number BL10300-60 installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of a hydraulic 
external hoist pressure line pump. This condition, if not detected 
and prevented, could result in loss of hydraulic pressure and 
subsequent injury to persons being lifted in the hoist.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 24, 2015.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 25 hours TIS:
    (1) Inspect the hydraulic external hoist pressure line filter 
for metal particles.
    (2) If there are any metal particles, before further flight, 
flush the utility hydraulic system, replace the pressure line pump, 
and replace the filter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office, before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(g) Additional Information

    (1) AgustaWestland Bollettino Tecnico No. 412-140, dated March 
11, 2014, which is not incorporated by reference, contains 
additional information about the subject of this AD. For service 
information identified in this AD, contact AgustaWestland, Product 
Support Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015 Lonate Pozzolo (VA) 
Italy, ATTN: Maurizio D'Angelo; telephone 39-0331-664757; fax 39-
0331-664680; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-bulletins. You may review a copy of the service information at the 
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2014-0063-E, dated March 12, 2014. You 
may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2015-3969.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2550, Cargo 
Compartments.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 30, 2015.
James A. Grigg,
Acting Assistant Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-28314 Filed 11-6-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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