Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 248 (Tuesday, December 27, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 94944-94946]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30053]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5247; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-008-AD; 
Amendment 39-18740; AD 2016-25-14]
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 BO-105LS A-3 
helicopters. This AD requires establishing a life limit for the 
tension-torsion (TT) straps. This AD is prompted by an error in the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual. These 
actions are intended to prevent the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 31, 2017.

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.

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-
5247; 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, 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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, Texas 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On March 25, 2016, at 81 FR 16100, 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 Airbus Helicopters 
Model BO-105LS A-3 helicopters with a TT strap part number (P/N) 
2604067 or P/N 117-14110 installed. The NPRM proposed to require 
inspecting the helicopter records to determine if there is a life limit 
for the TT straps installed in the helicopter lifting system, 
establishing a life limit if none exists, and replacing each TT strap 
that has met or exceeded its life limit. The proposed requirements were 
intended to prevent failure of a TT strap and subsequent loss of 
control of a helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2015-0042, dated March 9, 2015, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for the Airbus 
Helicopters Model BO105 LS A-3 helicopters. EASA advises that life 
limits have been introduced for TT

[[Page 94945]]

strap P/N 2604067 and P/N 117-14110 installed on the helicopter lifting 
system. During a revision of the Airworthiness Limitations section of 
the Model BO105LS A-3 maintenance manual, the life limit for the TT 
strap was inadvertently deleted. Accordingly, EASA issued AD No. 2015-
0042 to correct this error. EASA AD No. 2015-0042 requires replacing TT 
straps upon reaching their life limit and entering the life limit into 
the aircraft maintenance manual. EASA states that failure to comply 
with the life limit could result in an unsafe condition.

Comments

    After our NPRM (81 FR 16100, March 25, 2016) was published, we 
received comments from one commenter.

Request

    The commenter supported the NPRM but asked why the FAA proposed a 
drastically shorter compliance time of 20 hours time-in-service (TIS) 
instead of the two-month compliance time that EASA requires. We 
disagree that the compliance time in this AD is drastically shorter. We 
determined that, because of the average utilization of this model 
helicopter, 20 hours TIS is roughly equivalent to EASA's two-month 
compliance time.

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, reviewed the relevant information, 
considered the comment received, 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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    This AD requires compliance within 20 hours TIS. The EASA AD allows 
two months to calculate the flight cycles or calendar time of each TT 
strap.

Related Service Information

    Airbus Helicopters issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB BO105LS-10A-
013, Revision 0, dated March 9, 2015 (ASB). The ASB specifies adding a 
life limit for the TT strap P/N 2604067 or 117-14110 of 25,000 flights 
or 10 years, whichever occurs first, in the list of life-limited parts 
and corresponding log cards. The ASB also states TT straps that have 
exceeded the retirement time must be replaced and that only TT straps 
that have not exceeded the retirement time may be installed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 8 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 
Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work hour. We estimate that it 
takes 2 work hours to inspect and revise the Airworthiness Limitations 
section and to calculate and record a life limit for the TT strap for a 
total cost of $170 per helicopter and $1,360 for the fleet. If a TT 
strap is replaced, we estimate it takes 8 work hours and $16,617 for 
required parts for a total cost of $17,297 per helicopter per TT strap.

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):

2016-25-14 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters: 
Amendment 39-18740; Docket No. FAA-2016-5247; Directorate Identifier 
2015-SW-008-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model BO-105LS A-3 helicopters with a tension 
torsion (TT) strap part number (P/N) 2604067 or P/N 117-14110 
installed, certificated in any category.

 (b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a TT strap remaining in 
service beyond its fatigue life. This condition could result in 
failure of a TT strap and loss of control of a helicopter.

 (c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective January 31, 2017.

 (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 20 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Inspect the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
applicable maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness (ICA) and the component history card or equivalent 
record for TT strap P/N 2604067 and P/N 117-14110. Determine whether 
those records specify a life limit of 25,000 flights or 10 years 
since the date of manufacture, whichever occurs first.
    (2) If the Airworthiness Limitations section of the applicable 
maintenance manual or ICA

[[Page 94946]]

or the component history card or equivalent record do not specify a 
life limit for the TT strap, or if they specify a different life 
limit than in paragraph (e)(1), do the following:
    (i) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
applicable maintenance manual or ICA by establishing a life limit of 
25,000 flights or 10 years since date of manufacture, whichever 
occurs first, for each TT strap P/N 2604067 and P/N 117-14110 by 
making pen-and-ink changes or by inserting a copy of this AD into 
the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual or 
the ICA. For purposes of this AD, a flight would be counted anytime 
the helicopter lifts off into the air and then lands again 
regardless of the duration of the landing and regardless of whether 
the engine is shut down.
    (ii) Create a component history card or equivalent record for 
each TT strap P/N 2604067 and P/N 117-14110, if one does not exist, 
and record a life limit of 25,000 flights or 10 years since date of 
manufacture, whichever occurs first.
    (3) Remove from service each TT strap that has reached or 
exceeded its life limit.

 (f) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

 (g) 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, Texas 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.

 (h) Additional Information

    (1) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB BO105LS-10A-
013, Revision 0, dated March 9, 2015, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains additional information about the subject of this 
AD. For service information identified in this AD, 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) AD No. 2015-0042, dated March 9, 2015. You may 
view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in 
Docket No. FAA-2016-5247.

 (i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6200 Main Rotor 
System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 1, 2016.
Lance T. Gant,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-30053 Filed 12-23-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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