Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16895-16897]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06706]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3257; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-072-AD; 
Amendment 39-18846; AD 2017-07-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH

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 D-2 
helicopters. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the engine mount 
bushings. This AD was prompted by reports of delaminated and worn 
bushings. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 12, 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 a copy of 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-
3257; 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.

[[Page 16896]]

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, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On November 21, 2016, at 81 FR 83182, 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 MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters with a bushing part number 
105-60386 installed. The NPRM proposed to require repetitively 
inspecting the bushings of the inner and outer forward trusses of both 
engines and repairing or replacing the bushings, depending on the 
outcome of the inspections. The proposed requirements were intended to 
detect delaminated engine mount bushings, which can lead to excessive 
vibration, cracking, failure of the engine mount front support pins, 
and loss of helicopter control.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2015-0198, dated September 30, 
2015, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union. EASA advises of delaminated engine mount 
bushings. According to EASA, this condition could lead to cracks and 
eventually failure of the engine mount front support pins, possibly 
resulting in loss of helicopter control.
    The EASA AD consequently requires repetitive inspections of the 
engine mount bushings and depending of the findings, repairing or 
replacing the bushings.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received one comment. However, the comment addressed 
neither the proposed actions nor the determination of the cost to the 
public. Therefore, we have made no changes to this AD.

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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD allows for a 10 hour time-in-service, non-cumulative 
tolerance for its required compliance times. This AD does not.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) MBB-
BK117 D-2-71A-002, Revision 0, dated September 28, 2015, for Model MBB-
BK 117 D-2 helicopters. The ASB introduces repetitive visual 
inspections of the engine mount bushings for defects, deformation, 
separation of the rubber, and missing rubber after reports of 
delaminated engine mount bushings and bushings with damage to the metal 
inner sleeve. If there is any deformation or separation of the rubber, 
the ASB specifies performing a detailed inspection of the bushing in 
accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 5 helicopters of U.S. Registry and 
that labor costs average $85 per work hour. Based on these estimates, 
we expect the following costs:
    <bullet> Inspecting the bushings requires 1 work hour. No parts are 
needed, for a total cost of $85 per helicopter and $425 for the U.S. 
fleet.
    <bullet> Replacing a bushing requires 1 work hour and $373 for 
parts, for a total cost of $458 per bushing.

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

    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):

2017-07-08 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39-18846; 
Docket No. FAA-2016-3257; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-072-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model 
MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters with a bushing part number 105-60386 
installed, certificated in any category.

[[Page 16897]]

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a delaminated engine 
mount bushing. This condition could result in excessive vibration, 
which could lead to cracking and failure of the engine mount front 
support pins, and loss of helicopter control.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 12, 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 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS:
    (1) Visually inspect each engine mount bushing (bushing) for 
separation of the rubber from the metal or missing rubber.
    (2) If any rubber has separated from the metal or if there is 
missing rubber, inspect the bushing for deformation, corrosion, and 
mechanical damage.
    (i) Replace the bushing with an airworthy bushing if there is 
any deformation, separation of the rubber from the metal, corrosion, 
or mechanical damage, or repair the bushing if the deformation, 
separation of the rubber, corrosion, or mechanical damage is within 
the maximum repair damage limitations.
    (ii) If the inner and outer parts of the bushing are separated 
with missing rubber, replace the bushing with an airworthy bushing.

(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) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117 D-2-
71A-002, Revision 0, dated September 28, 2015, which is not 
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the 
subject of this AD. For service information identified in 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. 2015-0198, dated September 30, 2015. You 
may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
in Docket No. FAA-2016-3257.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7200, Engine 
(Turbine, Turboprop).

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 29, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06706 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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