Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 48 (Monday, March 12, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 10565-10567]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-04861]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1010; Product Identifier 2016-SW-089-AD; Amendment 
39-19191; AD 2018-03-18]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta 
S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AW189 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting 
and altering the emergency flotation system (EFS). This AD is prompted 
by a report of punctured EFS kits. The actions of this AD are intended 
to prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

DATES: This AD is effective April 16, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Matteo Ragazzi, Head of 
Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) 
Italy; telephone +39-0331-711756; fax +39-0331-229046; or at http://www.leonardocompany.com/-/bulletins. 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-
1010; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department 
of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin R. Crane, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-
5110; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On November 2, 2017, at 82 FR 50849, 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 Agusta Model AW189 
helicopters with certain part-numbered and serial-numbered EFS float 
assemblies installed. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting each 
float bag for punctures, replacing the pressure relief/topping (PRT) 
valve O-ring part number

[[Page 10566]]

(P/N) P-G10025 with a PRT valve gasket P/N 316683A, and replacing the 
inflate/deflate protection P/N 304694A with inflate/deflate protection 
P/N 304694B. The NPRM also proposed to require repairing the float bag 
if there are any cuts, tears, punctures, or abrasion on a float bag. 
The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a punctured EFS 
float bag, which could result in loss of buoyancy of an EFS float bag 
while being used in an emergency water ditching and subsequent injury 
to helicopter occupants.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2016-0263-E, dated December 22, 
2016 (AD 2016-0263-E), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 
the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition 
for Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters (previously Agusta) Model AW189 
helicopters. EASA advises that during the first scheduled maintenance 
of an EFS kit, float bags were found punctured due to protruding parts 
of the pressure relief/topping valves that were not adequately 
protected. EASA further states that this condition could result in a 
partial loss of buoyancy of the EFS float bags, possibly resulting in 
injury to the helicopter's occupants in a ditching event. To prevent 
this unsafe condition, EASA AD 2016-0263-E requires a one-time 
inspection of the EFS, repair of any discrepancies found, replacing the 
pressure relief/topping valve O-ring with a gasket, and replacing the 
inflate/deflate protection with a new design inflate/deflate 
protection.
    The FAA is in the process of updating Agusta's name change to 
Leonardo Helicopters on its type certificate. Because this name change 
is not yet effective, this AD specifies Agusta.

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 helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with Italy, 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 the same type design 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 compliance within 15 hours time-in-service 
(TIS) or 10 days for helicopters flying overwater above sea state 4 or 
within 120 hours or 60 days for helicopters operating overwater up to 
sea state 4. This AD requires compliance within 120 hours TIS 
regardless of sea state conditions.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Leonardo Helicopters Bollettino Tecnico No. 189-135, 
dated December 20, 2016 (BT 189-135), and Aero Sekur Service Bulletin 
No. SB-189-25-003, dated November 30, 2016 (SB-189-25-003), which is 
attached to BT 189-135 as Annex A. BT 189-135 specifies following the 
procedures in SB-189-25-003 to inspect and modify certain EFS kits 
installed on Model AW189 helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects two helicopters of U.S. Registry. 
We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. 
Inspecting each float bag, replacing the PRT valve gasket, and 
replacing the inflate/deflate protection require about 40 work-hours, 
and required parts cost about $500, for a cost per helicopter of $3,900 
and a cost of $7,800 for the U.S. fleet. If required, repairing a float 
bag will require about 2 work-hours, and required parts cost about $90, 
for a cost per float bag of $260.

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):

2018-03-18 Agusta S.p.A.: Amendment 39-19191; Docket No. FAA-2017-
1010; Product Identifier 2016-SW-089-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AW189 
helicopters, certificated in any category, with an emergency float 
system (EFS) float assembly part number (P/N) 8G9560V00131, serial 
number (S/N) 066 or lower; P/N 8G9560V00231, S/N 068 or lower; P/N 
8G9560V00331, S/N 068 or lower; or P/N 8G9560V00431, S/N 067 or 
lower, installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a punctured EFS float 
bag. This condition could result in loss of buoyancy of an EFS

[[Page 10567]]

float bag being used in an emergency water ditching and subsequent 
injury to helicopter occupants.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 16, 2018.

(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 120 hours time-in-service:
    (i) Unfold and inspect each float bag assembly for any cuts, 
tears, punctures, or abrasion. If there is a cut, tear, puncture, or 
any abrasion, before further flight, repair the float bag assembly.
    (ii) Replace each O-ring P/N S-B10104 with a pressure relief/
topping (PRT) valve gasket P/N 316683A.
    (iii) Install each PRT valve P/N P-G10025 and apply a torque of 
4.5 to 5.5 Nm (39.8 to 48.6 inch-pounds).
    (iv) Replace each inflate/deflate protection P/N 304694A with a 
PRT valve protection P/N 304694B.
    (v) Install a piece of tape approximately 220 millimeters long 
over each PRT valve protection P/N 304694B.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install an EFS 
float assembly P/N 8G9560V00131, S/N 066 or lower; P/N 8G9560V00231, 
S/N 068 or lower; P/N 8G9560V00331, S/N 068 or lower; or P/N 
8G9560V00431, S/N 067 or lower on any helicopter unless you have 
complied with the actions in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Martin R. Crane, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Regulations and Policy 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.

(g) Additional Information

    (1) Leonardo Helicopters Bollettino Tecnico No. 189-135, dated 
December 20, 2016, and Aero Sekur Service Bulletin No. SB-189-25-
003, dated November 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 Leonardo 
S.p.A. Helicopters, Matteo Ragazzi, Head of Airworthiness, Viale 
G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone +39-
0331-711756; fax +39-0331-229046; or at http://www.leonardocompany.com/-/bulletins. 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. 2016-0263-E, dated December 22, 2016. 
You may view the EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2017-1010.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3212 Emergency 
Flotation Section.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 2, 2018.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-04861 Filed 3-9-18; 8:45 am]
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