Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 111 (Monday, June 12, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 26843-26846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-11986]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0573; Directorate Identifier 2017-SW-001-AD; 
Amendment 39-18919; AD 2017-12-04]
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 superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2016-20-04 for 
Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters. AD 2016-20-04 
prohibited autorotation training flights until the landing gear rear 
crosstube (crosstube) was inspected. This new AD adds additional part-
numbered crosstubes to the applicability and revises the hardness 
criteria for the inspection. This AD is prompted by a determination 
that an additional part-numbered crosstube may have the same unsafe 
condition. The actions of this AD are intended to detect and prevent an 
unsafe condition on these helicopters.

DATES:  This AD becomes effective June 27, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of June 27, 2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by August 11, 2017.

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.

[[Page 26844]]

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-2017-
0573; 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/website/technical-expert. 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-2017-
0573.

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 September 16, 2016, we issued AD 2016-20-04 (81 FR 67904, 
October 3, 2016), which prohibited autorotation training flights by 
amending the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) and installing a placard on 
the instrument panel. AD 2016-20-04 also required, within 25 hours 
time-in-service (TIS), inspecting each crosstube with part-number (P/N) 
341A415201.00 or P/N 341A415201.01 to determine whether the metal is 
coated and removing all coating if it is present. Once there is no 
coating, AD 2016-20-04 required determining the hardness of the 
crosstube, replacing the crosstube if it did not meet the specified 
hardness criteria, and then removing the autorotation training flight 
prohibition.
    AD 2016-20-04 was prompted by Emergency AD No. 2016-0073-E, dated 
April 13, 2016 (AD 2016-0073-E), issued by EASA, which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe 
condition for Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters 
with a crosstube P/N 341A415201.00 or P/N 341A415201.01. EASA stated 
that two reported failures of a crosstube had occurred during 
maintenance and towing operations, which resulted in the helicopters 
dropping or tipping over. EASA further stated that excessive hardness 
of the crosstube material, combined with inter-granular corrosion 
initiation, may have affected the structural integrity of the 
crosstube. EASA advised that this condition could lead to failure of 
the crosstube and dropping or tipping over of the helicopter. To 
address the unsafe condition, EASA AD 2016-0073-E required 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.

Actions Since AD 2016-20-04 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2016-20-04, EASA has issued Emergency AD No. 
2016-0131-E, dated July 5, 2016 (AD 2016-0131-E), which superseded AD 
2016-0073-E. EASA advises that after AD 2016-0073-E was issued, Airbus 
Helicopters discovered that crosstubes with P/N 341A415201.02 could be 
affected by the same unsafe condition. EASA AD 2016-0131-E adds this 
crosstube P/N to the applicability and retains the requirements of AD 
2016-0073-E.
    Additionally, we determined there is no unsafe condition in most 
autorotation training. An unsafe condition exists only if the 
helicopter touches the ground or a run-on landing (also called a 
running landing, where the helicopter slides to a stop on landing) is 
completed.

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 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. 
SA341/342-32.08, Revision 2, dated October 18, 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 autorotative landing training by installing a placard on 
the instrument panel. Finally, this revision of ASB 32.08 extends the 
permissible hardness values range for the Vickers test method from 
<=434 to <=454.
    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 prohibits full touchdown autorotation training and run-on 
landing training before further flight by amending the RFM and 
installing a limitation placard on the instrument panel.

[[Page 26845]]

    This AD also requires, within 25 hours 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 replacing 
the crosstube or determining the crosstube meets the hardness criteria, 
the placard and RFM amendment prohibiting autorotation landing training 
and run-on landing training 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. The EASA AD prohibits all autorotation training flights, 
while this AD only prohibits full touchdown autorotation training and 
run-on landing training.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 20 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 of $43 per helicopter and $860 for the U.S. fleet. 
Inspecting a crosstube will require about 8 work-hours, and the 
required materials cost is minimal, for a cost of $680 per helicopter 
and $13,600 for the U.S. fleet.
    If required, replacing a crosstube will require 8 work-hours, and 
required parts will cost $11,952, for a 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2016-20-04, Amendment 39-18670 (81 FR 67904, October 3, 2016), and 
adding the following new AD:

2017-12-04 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-18919; Docket No. FAA-
2017-0573; Directorate Identifier 2017-SW-001-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, 341A415201.01, or 341A415201.02, 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) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2016-20-04, Amendment 39-18670 (81 FR 
67904, October 3, 2016).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective June 27, 2017.

(e) 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.

(f) 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 
TO A LANDING AND RUN-ON (RUNNING) LANDING TRAINING ARE PROHIBITED. A 
landing occurs when the skids contact the ground or other surface 
and bear the weight of the helicopter regardless of the duration of 
the landing and regardless of whether the engine is shut down.
    (ii) Install a placard on the instrument panel in full view of 
the pilots that states the following: AUTOROTATION TRAINING FLIGHTS 
TO A LANDING AND RUN-ON (RUNNING) LANDING TRAINING 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 2, dated October 18, 2016 (ASB

[[Page 26846]]

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 (f)(1)(i) and (f)(1)(ii) of this AD.

(g) Credit for Actions Previously Completed

    Compliance with AD 2016-20-04 (81 FR 67904, October 3, 2016) 
before the effective date of this AD is considered acceptable for 
compliance with this AD.

(h) 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.

(i) 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 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. 2016-0131-E, dated July 5, 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-2017-0573.

(j) Subject

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

(k) 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 2, dated October 18, 2016.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Airbus Helicopters 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/website/technical-expert.
    (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 May 26, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-11986 Filed 6-9-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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