Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 25363-25365]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11446]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1063; Product Identifier 2017-SW-088-AD; Amendment 
39-19291; AD 2018-11-03]
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 adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) Airbus 
Helicopters Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, and SA-365C2 helicopters. This AD 
requires establishing a life limit of 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) 
for the Starflex star/mast connecting bolt (bolt) and removing from 
service each bolt that exceeds its life limit. This AD is prompted by 
the discovery that the bolt's life limit was not included in helicopter 
maintenance records. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 18, 2018.
    We must receive comments on this AD by July 31, 2018.

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.

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-
1063; 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, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior 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:

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

[[Page 25364]]

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

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2016-0115-E, dated June 16, 
2016, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model SA-
365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, and SA-365C3 helicopters. EASA advises that 
the 2,000 flight hour life limit for the bolts was not referenced in 
the helicopter maintenance documentation. EASA states that some 
helicopters are therefore likely to continue flying with these bolts 
past their life limit. This condition, if not detected and corrected, 
could lead to bolt failure, resulting in main rotor mast, hub or blade 
damage and reduced helicopter control, EASA advises. As a result, the 
EASA AD requires replacing the bolts if they have reached or exceeded 
2,000 flight hours, if the bolt part number (P/N) cannot be identified, 
or if the number of flight hours of the bolt is not known. The EASA AD 
also requires maintaining the continuous airworthiness records for the 
bolts.

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

    Airbus Helicopters has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 
SA365 65.51, Revision 0, dated June 2, 2016. This service information 
establishes a life limit of 2,000 flight hours for certain bolts 
installed on Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, and 
SA-365C3 helicopters and specifies replacing the bolts if necessary.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires the following before further flight:
    <bullet> Removing from service any bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-
1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, or 365A31-
1143-20 that has accumulated 2,000 or more hours TIS or any bolt for 
which the hours TIS is unknown. Thereafter, removing from service each 
bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-1183-
21, 365A31-1928-20, or 365A31-1143-20 before it accumulates 2,000 hours 
TIS.
    <bullet> Removing from service any bolt with a P/N not listed in 
the AD or any bolt for which you cannot determine the P/N.
    <bullet> Creating a component history card or equivalent record for 
each bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-
1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, or 365A31-1143-20 and recording a life limit 
of 2,000 hours TIS.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C3 
helicopters. This AD does not because the SA-365C3 helicopter has no 
FAA type certificate.

Costs of Compliance

    There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no 
helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    There are no helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S. 
Registry. We believe it is therefore unlikely that we will receive any 
adverse comments or useful information about this AD from U.S. 
operators.
    Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment are unnecessary. In addition, for the reasons stated 
above, we find 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.

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):

2018-11-03 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-19291; Docket No. FAA-
2017-1063; Product Identifier 2017-SW-088-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, 
and SA-365C2 helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a Starflex star/mast 
connecting bolt (bolt) remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. 
This condition could result in failure of a

[[Page 25365]]

bolt, leading to failure of the main rotor blade mast, hub, or blade 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective June 18, 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

    Before further flight:
    (1) Remove from service any bolt part number (P/N) 365A31-1182-
20, 365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, 
or 365A31-1143-20 that has accumulated 2,000 or more hours time-in-
service (TIS), or any bolt for which the hours TIS is unknown. 
Thereafter, remove from service each bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 
365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, or 
365A31-1143-20 before accumulating 2,000 hours TIS.
    (2) Remove from service any bolt with a P/N not listed in 
paragraph (e)(1) of this AD or for which the P/N is unknown.
    (3) Create a component history card or equivalent record for 
each bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 
365A31-1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, and 365A31-1143-20 and record a life 
limit of 2,000 hours TIS.

(f) 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: 
Matt Fuller, Senior 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.

(g) Additional Information

    (1) Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 
65.51, Revision 0, dated June 2, 2016, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html. 
You may review a copy of the 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. 2016-0115-E, dated June 16, 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-2017-1063.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220, Main Rotor 
Head.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 16, 2018.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11446 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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