Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 45 (Thursday, March 7, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8250-8251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04024]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0694; Product Identifier 2016-SW-068-AD; Amendment 
39-19564; AD 2019-03-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 
Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires repetitive 
inspections of each life raft inflation cylinder percussion system 
bellcrank (bellcrank). This AD was prompted by reports of jammed 
bellcranks. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 11, 2019.

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.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.

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-2018-
0694; 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: David Hatfield, 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

    On August 9, 2018, at 83 FR 39382, 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 Airbus Helicopters 
Model EC225 LP helicopters with a life raft installed. The NPRM 
proposed to require, before further flight and thereafter at intervals 
not exceeding 6 months, cleaning and lubricating each bellcrank and 
pivot link. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a jammed 
bellcrank which could result in failure of a life raft to release in an 
emergency and subsequent injury to occupants.
    The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD No. 2016-0200, dated October 11, 
2016 (EASA AD 2016-0200), 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 EC 225 LP helicopters. EASA 
advises of a report of the left-hand and right-hand bellcranks becoming 
jammed. EASA states an investigation determined the bellcranks were 
jammed by the accumulation of a foreign coating material in the 
bellcrank hole. EASA further states that investigation of an additional 
incident of a jammed bellcrank determined that corrosion in the 
bellcrank hole caused the jam. This condition, according to EASA, could 
result in failure of the life rafts to release in an emergency and 
subsequent injury to occupants during an otherwise survivable accident. 
To address this unsafe condition, EASA AD 2016-0200 requires repetitive 
cleaning and lubrication of each bellcrank and pivot link.

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 
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 
its 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

[[Page 8251]]

public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 
05A050, Revision 0, dated July 22, 2016, which contains procedures for 
cleaning and lubricating each bellcrank and pivot link of the life raft 
inflation cylinder percussion system and removing any corrosion if 
necessary.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that This AD affects 5 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
    At an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, we estimate that 
operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this 
AD. Cleaning and lubricating both bellcranks and pivot links requires 
about 16 work-hours, and required materials costs are minimal, for a 
cost of $1,360 per helicopter and $6,800 for the U.S. fleet per 
inspection cycle.

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):

2019-03-12 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-19564; Docket No. FAA-
2018-0694; Product Identifier 2016-SW-068-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies Airbus Helicopters Model EC225 LP helicopters 
with a life raft installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a jammed bellcrank in a 
life raft jettison inflation cylinder percussion system (bellcrank). 
This condition could result in failure of a life raft to release in 
an emergency and subsequent injury to occupants.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 11, 2019.

(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, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
6 months:
    (1) Clean each bellcrank and pivot link and inspect each 
bellcrank hole for corrosion. If there is any corrosion in a 
bellcrank hole:
    (i) Remove the corrosion without exceeding a maximum depth of 
0.1 millimeter (0.004 inch).
    (ii) Clean each pivot link using 400-grain abrasive paper.
    (iii) Apply corrosion protectant (Alodine 1200 or equivalent) to 
each bellcrank hole.
    (2) Lubricate each bellcrank hole with grease before assembling 
the bellcrank.

(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 
David Hatfield, 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. 
05A050, Revision 0, dated July 22, 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 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. 2016-0200, dated October 11, 2016. You 
may view the EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
in Docket No. FAA-2018-0694.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2564 Life Raft.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 15, 2019.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04024 Filed 3-6-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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