Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 191 (Monday, October 3, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67904-67906]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23347]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9168; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-028-AD; 
Amendment 39-18670; AD 2016-20-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 Airbus 
Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J. This AD prohibits autorotation 
training flights until the hardness of the landing gear rear crosstube 
(crosstube) is inspected. This AD is prompted by two reports of 
crosstubes failing during ground handling. These actions are intended 
to prevent failure of a crosstube, which could result in dropping or 
tipping of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 18, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of October 18, 
2016.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 2, 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 and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9168; or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 
p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket 
contains this AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any 
incorporated by reference service information, the economic evaluation, 
any comments received, 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 final rule, contact 
Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 
telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at 
http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 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. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9168.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 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

    On April 13, 2016, EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the 
Member States of the European Union, issued EASA Emergency AD No. 2016-
0073-E (AD 2016-0073-E) to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus 
Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters with a crosstube part 
number (P/N) 341A415201.00 or P/N 341A415201.01. EASA advises that two 
reported failures of a crosstube have occurred during maintenance and 
towing operations, resulting in the helicopters dropping or tipping 
over. EASA further states that excessive hardness of the crosstube 
material, combined with inter-granular corrosion initiation, may have 
affected the structural integrity of the crosstube. EASA advises that 
this condition could lead to failure of the crosstube and dropping or 
tipping over of the helicopter. To address this unsafe condition, EASA 
AD 2016-0073-E requires identifying the affected crosstubes, 
implementing a temporary prohibition of autorotation training flights 
on affected helicopters by amending the RFM and installing a placard, 
inspecting the hardness of each affected crosstube, and replacing any 
crosstubes that do not meet the hardness criteria.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with France, 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

[[Page 67905]]

exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
SA341/2-32.08, Revision 0, dated March 24, 2016 (ASB 32.08), which 
specifies removing the crosstube, checking its hardness, and replacing 
the crosstube if it fails the hardness test. ASB 32.08 also specifies 
prohibiting autorotation training flights by installing a placard on 
the instrument panel.
    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

    We also reviewed Aerospatiale (now Airbus Helicopters) Flight 
Manuals SA 341G, Issue 2, dated December 1974, and SA 342J, Issue 1, 
dated April 27, 1976. These manuals provide various procedures, 
limitations, and performance and loading information.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, before further flight, prohibiting autorotation 
training flights by amending the RFM and installing a limitation 
placard on the instrument panel.
    This AD also requires, within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), 
applying a solution to the crosstube to determine whether the metal is 
coated and removing all coating within a specific area. Once there is 
no coating, this AD requires inspecting the hardness of the crosstube 
and replacing the crosstube if it does not meet the hardness criteria. 
After determining the crosstube meets the hardness criteria, the 
placard and RFM amendment prohibiting autorotation training flights may 
be removed.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    EASA requires the hardness inspection to be completed within six 
months, while we require the hardness inspection to be completed within 
25 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 17 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
amending the RFM and installing a placard will require about 0.5 work-
hour, for a cost per helicopter of $43, and a total cost of $731 to the 
U.S. fleet. Inspecting a crosstube will require about 8 work-hours, and 
the required materials cost is minimal, for a cost per helicopter of 
$680 and a total cost of $11,560 to the U.S. fleet.
    If required, replacing a crosstube will require 8 work-hours, and 
required parts will cost $11,952, for a total cost of $12,632 per 
helicopter.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because certain operations must be 
prohibited before further flight until the required corrective actions 
are accomplished. Those corrective actions must then be accomplished 
within 25 hours TIS, a short time interval for these model helicopters.
    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 impracticable 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 
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.
    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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):

2016-20-04 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-18670; Docket No. FAA-
2016-9168; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-028-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model SA 341G and Model SA 
342J helicopters with a landing gear rear crosstube (crosstube) part 
number 341A415201.00 or 341A415201.01, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect hardness of 
the crosstube, which could result in failure of the crosstube and 
subsequent dropping or tipping of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 18, 2016.

(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.

[[Page 67906]]

(e) Required Actions

    (1) Before further flight:
    (i) Amend the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) by inserting a copy 
of this AD or by making pen-and-ink changes in Section 1, 
Limitations, by adding the following: AUTOROTATION TRAINING FLIGHTS 
ARE PROHIBITED.
    (ii) Install a placard on the instrument panel in full view of 
the pilots that states the following: AUTOROTATION TRAINING FLIGHTS 
ARE PROHIBITED.
    (2) Within 25 hours time-in-service:
    (i) Inspect the crosstube to determine whether the metal is 
coated. Make a copper sulfate solution by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2.b.1., of Airbus 
Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SA341/342-32.08, 
Revision 0, dated March 24, 2016 (ASB 32.08). Apply 2 to 3 drops of 
the solution to Area Z in Figure 1 of ASB 32.08 and wait 10 to 15 
seconds. If a dark mark appears as shown in Area 2 of Figure 3 of 
ASB 32.08, there is no metal coating. If a light mark appears as 
shown in Area 4 of Figure 3 of ASB 32.08, remove all metal coating 
in Area Z of Figure 1 of ASB 32.08.
    (ii) Inspect the hardness of the crosstube by using the criteria 
in the table under Paragraph 3.B.2.c. of ASB 32.08. If the hardness 
is not within the value range in the table, before further flight, 
replace the crosstube. If the hardness is within the value range in 
the table, apply corrosion protectant to Area Z in Figure 1 of ASB 
32.08.
    (iii) Remove the RFM limitation and the instrument panel placard 
required by paragraphs (e)(1)(i) and (e)(1)(ii) of this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-
5110; 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) Aerospatiale (now Airbus Helicopters) Flight Manuals SA 
341G, Issue 2, dated December 1974, and SA 342J, Issue 1, dated 
April 27, 1976, which are not incorporated by reference, contain 
additional information about the subject of this proposed rule. For 
service information identified in this proposed rule, contact Airbus 
Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone 
(972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (EASA) Emergency AD No. 2016-0073-E, dated April 13, 
2016. You may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. 
FAA-2016-9168.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3213 Main Landing 
Gear Strut/Axel/Truck.

(i) 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) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. SA341/342-
32.08, Revision 0, dated March 24, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Airbus Helicopters service information identified in 
this final rule, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, 
Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; 
fax (972) 641-3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 16, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23347 Filed 9-30-16; 8:45 am]
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