Airworthiness Directives; Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex) Torso Restraint Systems

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39355-39357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16438]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0068; Product Identifier 2014-SW-076-AD; Amendment 
39-18981; AD 2017-16-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex) 
Torso Restraint Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Romtex 
torso restraint systems (restraint systems) installed on but not 
limited to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, 
and AS355NP helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain restraint 
system buckles. This AD was prompted by a report of several restraint 
system buckle knobs breaking. The actions of this AD are intended to 
correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 22, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of September 22, 
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Romtex Anjou Aeronautique, Strada Livezii nr. 98, 550042, 
Sibiu, Romania; telephone +40 269 243 918; email 
[email protected]. 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-2017-0068.

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-
0068; 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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5116; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On February 17, 2017, at 82 FR 10971, 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 Romtex 
restraint systems with a rotary buckle sub-assembly (buckle assembly) 
with a part number and serial number listed in Romtex Service Bulletin 
No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 1, dated December 12, 2014. These restraint 
systems are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus Helicopters Model 
AS350B2, AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, and AS355NP helicopters. The NPRM 
proposed to require inspecting the buckle assembly to determine whether 
the straps release, marking the seat as inoperative if the buckle fails 
to release the straps, and replacing the buckle assembly within 180 
hours time-in-service (TIS). The NPRM also proposed to prohibit 
installing the affected buckle assemblies on any helicopter. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent a restraint system strap 
from failing to release from the buckle, preventing occupants from 
exiting the helicopter during an emergency.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2014-0279, dated December 19, 2014, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Romtex Model 358 
torso restraint systems installed on Airbus Helicopters Model EC130T2, 
AS350B2, and AS350B3 helicopters. EASA advises that ruptures have 
occurred on the upper side (knob) of several rotary buckles installed 
on these restraint systems. EASA states the material used in two 
batches of the buckle assembly were altered by a supplier, resulting in 
a specification different from the approved design data. The EASA AD 
states that this condition could prevent the release of the restraint 
system straps as intended after an emergency landing. To address this 
unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires inspecting the buckle

[[Page 39356]]

assembly for proper operation, replacing or marking as inoperative any 
buckle assembly that fails to release the straps before further flight, 
and replacing all buckle assemblies within 6 months. The EASA AD also 
prohibits installing these buckle assemblies on any aircraft.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Romania and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to our bilateral agreement with Romania, 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 except we are correcting the 
name in the related service bulletin from Romtex to Anjou Aero. This 
change is consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM and 
will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 
scope of this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 30 days for the buckle 
inspection and 6 months for replacement; this AD requires the 
inspection within 30 hours TIS and replacement within 180 hours TIS. 
The EASA AD does not apply to Model EC130B4 and AS355NP helicopters, 
and this AD does.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 
1, dated December 12, 2014 (SB 358SB-14-101), which specifies removing 
from service certain part-numbered and serial-numbered buckle 
assemblies, consisting of the rotary buckle, belt, and attachment.
    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 893 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
inspecting the buckle assembly requires about .5 work-hour, for a cost 
per helicopter of $43 and a total cost of $38,399 for the fleet. 
Replacing each buckle assembly requires about .5 work-hour, and 
required parts will cost $42,000, for a cost per helicopter of $42,043 
and a total cost to U.S. operators of $37,544,399.
    According to the Anjou Aero service information, some of the costs 
of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by 
Anjou Aero. Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost 
estimate.

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):

2017-16-04 Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex) Torso Restraint 
Systems: Amendment 39-18981; Docket No. FAA-2017-0068; Product 
Identifier 2014-SW-076-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Romtex torso restraint systems (restraint 
systems) with a rotary buckle sub-assembly (buckle assembly) with a 
part number and serial number as listed in the Effectivity, 
paragraph 1.2, of Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, 
Revision 1, dated December 12, 2014. These restraint systems are 
installed on, but not limited to, Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, 
AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, and AS355NP helicopters, certificated in 
any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a broken buckle knob. 
This condition could result in a restraint system strap failing to 
release from the buckle, preventing occupants from exiting the 
helicopter during an emergency.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective September 22, 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

    (1) Within 30 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect each 
restraint system for correct operation.
    (i) If the straps do not release from the buckle assembly, 
placard the seat as inoperative. Within 180 hours TIS, replace

[[Page 39357]]

the buckle assembly with a buckle assembly not identified in 
paragraph (a) of this AD.
    (ii) If the straps release, within 180 hours TIS, replace the 
buckle assembly with a buckle assembly not identified in paragraph 
(a) of this AD.
    (2) Do not install a restraint system with a buckle assembly 
identified in paragraph (a) of this AD on any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: David Hatfield, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
(817) 222-5116; 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. 2014-0279, dated December 19, 2014. You may 
view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in 
Docket No. FAA-2017-0068.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2500 Cabin 
Equipment/Furnishings.

(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) Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 1, 
dated December 12, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Anjou Aero service information identified in this AD, 
contact Romtex Anjou Aeronautique, Strada Livezii nr. 98, 550042, 
Sibiu, Romania; telephone +40 269 243 918; email 
[email protected].
    (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 July 27, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-16438 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am]
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