Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 74662-74663]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-25741]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5306; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-010-AD; 
Amendment 39-18697; AD 2016-22-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 
helicopters. This AD requires inspecting each terminal lug and 
replacing any lug that has discoloration, corrosion, incorrect 
crimping, or incorrect installation. This AD was prompted by the 
discovery that terminal lugs with incorrect crimping may have been 
installed on these helicopters. The actions of this AD are intended to 
detect incorrectly installed or crimped terminal lugs and prevent 
contact resistance and reduced gastightness between the wire and 
terminal lug, subsequent loss of electrical power, and an electrical 
fire.

DATES: This AD is effective December 1, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of December 1, 
2016.

ADDRESSES: 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-
5306.

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-
5306; 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, 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:

Discussion

    On April 22, 2016, at 81 FR 23656, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered 
Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require 
inspecting each terminal lug and replacing any lug that has 
discoloration, corrosion, incorrect crimping, or incorrect 
installation. The proposed requirements were intended to detect 
incorrectly installed or crimped terminal lugs and prevent contact 
resistance and reduced gastightness between the wire and terminal lug, 
subsequent loss of electrical power, and an electrical fire.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2015-0044, dated March 13, 2015, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for certain serial-
numbered Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. EASA 
advises that terminal lugs with incorrect crimping, which can adversely 
affect contact resistance and gastightness of the contact between the 
wire and the terminal lug, may have been installed on some helicopters 
in production. EASA advises that this condition, if not detected and 
corrected, could lead to the loss of electrical power during flight. 
Because of this, the EASA AD requires a one-time visual inspection of 
the terminal lugs and replacement of affected lugs if incorrect 
crimping is found.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (81 FR 23656, April 
22, 2016).

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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 and that air safety and the public interest require 
adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117 
C-2-24A-013, Revision 1, dated November 25, 2014 (ASB). The ASB 
specifies a visual inspection of the terminal lugs in the distribution 
and diode boxes for correct crimping, damage, discoloration, corrosion, 
and correct installation. If any deviation is detected, the terminal 
lug must be replaced. The ASB also specifies reporting certain 
information to Airbus Helicopters.

[[Page 74663]]

    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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 183 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. We 
estimate about 9 work-hours to inspect the terminal lugs for a cost of 
$765 per helicopter and $139,995 for the U.S. operator fleet. The cost 
to replace a lug is minimal.

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 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) 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):

2016-22-08 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters: 
Amendment 39-18697; Docket No. FAA-2016-5306; Directorate Identifier 
2015-SW-010-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with a serial number as listed in the 
Planning Information, paragraph 1.A.1, of Airbus Helicopters Alert 
Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-24A-013, Revision 1, dated 
November 25, 2014 (ASB).

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a terminal lug with 
incorrect crimping. This condition could result in contact 
resistance and reduced gastightness between the wire and terminal 
lug and a subsequent loss of electrical power, which could cause an 
electrical fire.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 1, 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.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 100 hours time-in-service or 12 months, whichever occurs 
first:
    (1) Using a mirror, inspect each terminal lug for discoloration 
and corrosion, and for correct crimping and correct installation in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Table 1, and the 
examples in Figure 1 through Figure 5 of the ASB.
    (2) If a terminal lug is not correctly crimped or installed or 
if it has any discoloration or corrosion, replace it before further 
flight.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: George Schwab, 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

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (EASA) AD No. 2015-0044, dated March 13, 2015. You may view 
the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2016-5306.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2400 Electrical 
Power System.

(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 ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-
24A-013, Revision 1, dated November 25, 2014.
    (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 October 18, 2016.
James A. Grigg,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-25741 Filed 10-26-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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