Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60292-60295]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-27274]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0671; Product Identifier 2016-SW-072-AD; Amendment 
39-19135; AD 2017-26-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously 
Eurocopter France)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-25-07 for 
Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2009-25-07 required 
amending the rotorcraft flight manual supplement (RFMS) and pre-flight 
checking the emergency flotation gear before each flight over water. 
Since we issued AD 2009-25-07, Airbus Helicopters developed a 
terminating action and identified an additional part-

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numbered emergency floatation gear part with the unsafe condition. This 
new AD retains the requirements of AD 2009-25-07, expands the 
applicability, and adds a terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections. The actions of this AD are intended to correct an unsafe 
condition on these helicopters.

DATES: This AD is effective January 24, 2018.

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/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.

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-
0671; 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: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to remove AD 2009-25-07 (74 FR 65682, December 11, 2009) (2009-
25-07), and add a new AD. AD 2009-25-07 applied to Eurocopter France 
(now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2009-25-07 
required amending the limitations section of RFMS to prohibit flight 
over water if the ``float arm'' pushbutton does not remain lit, 
conducting a pilot check to determine whether the ``float arm'' 
pushbutton remains lit before any flight over water, and placarding the 
``float arm'' pushbutton as inoperative if the functional check is 
unsuccessful.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2017 (82 FR 
32501). The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2016-0180, dated September 13, 
2016 (AD 2016-0180), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 
the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition 
for Model EC120B helicopters. EASA advises that Airbus Helicopters has 
designed an improved latching pushbutton, which when installed becomes 
a terminating action for the repetitive functional checks of the float 
arm pushbuttons. EASA also states that lighting and ancillary control 
unit (LACU) part number (P/N) 040101BA is equipped with the same faulty 
pushbutton and must be included in the applicability.
    Accordingly, the NPRM proposed to retain the RFMS amendment and 
repetitive functional check requirements of AD 2009-25-07, add LACU P/N 
040101BA to the applicability paragraph, require replacing the float 
arm pushbutton P/N 045004A111A with float arm pushbutton P/N 304-2500-
00 within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS), and prohibit installing 
float arm pushbutton P/N 045004A111A on any helicopter. Replacing the 
float arm pushbutton was also proposed as a terminating action for the 
repetitive functional checks prior to flight overwater. An owner/
operator (pilot) may perform the functional check required by this AD 
and must enter compliance with that paragraph into the helicopter 
maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4) 
and 91.417(a)(2)(v). A pilot may perform this check because it involves 
only a functional check to determine whether the emergency flotation 
gear has been armed and can be performed equally well by a pilot or a 
mechanic. This check is an exception to our standard maintenance 
regulations.
    The proposed requirements were intended to prohibit flight over 
water if a functional test indicates that the emergency flotation gear 
cannot be armed, which would preclude deployment of the floats in an 
emergency water ditching, resulting in subsequent damage to the 
helicopter and injury to occupants.
    Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service 
has changed its organization structure. The new structure replaces 
product directorates with functional divisions. We have revised some of 
the office titles and nomenclature throughout this Final rule to 
reflect the new organizational changes. Additional information about 
the new structure can be found in the Notice published on July 25, 2017 
(82 FR 34564).

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

    We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an 
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 requires installing the LACU float arm pushbutton 
within 13 months; this AD requires the installation within 300 hours 
TIS.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 
04A007, Revision 1, dated June 30, 2016 (EASB), for Airbus Helicopters 
Model EC120B helicopters. The EASB describes procedures for a pre-
flight check of the float arm pushbutton while arming the emergency 
flotation gear and prohibits operators from flight over water if the 
float arm pushbutton fails.
    We also reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 
EC120-31A008, Revision 0, dated June 30, 2016 (ASB), for Airbus 
Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. The ASB describes procedures for 
replacing the float arm pushbutton with a new design pushbutton and for 
re-labeling the modified LACU with a new P/N label.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate this AD will affect 53 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, the 
cost of revising the limitations section of the RFMS and of the pre-
flight functional check is negligible. Replacing the float arm 
pushbutton will require about 2 work-hours, and required parts cost 
about $311, for a cost per helicopter of $481 and a total cost of 
$25,493 to the U.S. fleet.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I,

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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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2009-25-07, Amendment 39-16126 (74 FR 65682, December 11, 2009), and 
adding the following new AD:

2017-26-04 Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France): 
Amendment 39-19135; Docket No. FAA-2017-0671; Product Identifier 
2016-SW-072-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter 
France) Model EC120B helicopters, certificated in any category, with 
a Lighting and Ancillary Control Unit (LACU) part-number (P/N) 
040101AB or 040101BA with a float arm pushbutton P/N 045004A111A 
installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of a ``float 
arm'' pushbutton, which could result in inoperative floats being 
used in an emergency water ditching, causing damage to the 
helicopter or injury to occupants.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2009-25-07, Amendment 39-16126 (74 FR 
65682, December 11, 2009).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective January 24, 2018.

(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, amend the EC120B Rotorcraft Flight 
Manual Supplement (RFMS) for the Aerazur emergency flotation gear, 
by inserting a copy of this AD into the Limitations section of the 
RFMS or by making pen and ink changes to that section to add the 
information in Figure 1 to paragraph (f)(1) of this AD:

             Figure 1 to Paragraph (f)(1)--Amendment to RFMS
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Arm the emergency flotation gear by pressing the LACU ``FLOAT ARM''
 pushbutton.
    --If both lights of the pushbutton remain lit, flight over water is
     permitted.
    --If one or both lights of the pushbutton do not remain lit, FLIGHT
     OVER WATER IS PROHIBITED.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (2) Before each flight over water:
    (i) Perform a functional check to determine whether flight over 
water is permitted under the Limitations section in paragraph (f)(1) 
of this AD. For purposes of this AD, ``flight over water'' means 
flight beyond the power-off gliding distance from shore. ``Shore'' 
is an area of land adjacent to the water and above the high water 
mark but does not include land area that is intermittently under 
water. The actions required by this paragraph may be performed by 
the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot 
certificate, and must be entered into the aircraft records showing 
compliance with this AD in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through 
(4) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record must be maintained as 
required by 14 CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439.
    (ii) If the LACU fails the functional check required by 
paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD, place a placard over the ``float 
arm'' pushbutton that reads ``INOP.''
    (3) Within 300 hours time-in-service, replace float arm 
pushbutton P/N 045004A111A with float arm pushbutton P/N 304-2500-
00. Installing float arm pushbutton P/N 304-2500-00 is terminating 
action for the functional check and placard required by paragraphs 
(f)(2)(i) and (f)(2)(ii) of this AD.
    (4) Do not install float arm pushbutton P/N 045004A111A on any 
helicopter.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 
George Schwab, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, 
Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 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.

(h) Additional Information

    (1) Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 
04A007, Revision 1, dated June 30, 2016, and Airbus Helicopters 
Alert Service Bulletin No. EC120-31A008, Revision 0, dated June 30, 
2016, 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/website/technical-expert/. You may review 
a copy of the service information at the FAA, Office of

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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. 2016-0180, dated September 13, 2016. You 
may view the EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
in Docket No. FAA-2017-0671.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2560 Emergency 
Equipment.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 12, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-27274 Filed 12-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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