Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 97 (Monday, May 20, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 22693-22695]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-10307]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1124; Product Identifier 2017-SW-073-AD; Amendment 
39-19637; AD 2019-09-03]
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 AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. 
This AD requires inspecting the jettisoning mechanism of the left-hand 
(LH) and right-hand (RH) cabin sliding plug doors. This AD is prompted 
by a report that during a scheduled inspection a cabin door failed to 
jettison. The actions of this AD are intended to correct an unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 24, 2019.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of June 24, 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. It is also available 
on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2017-1124.

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-
1124; 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 
incorporated-by-reference service information, 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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177;

[[Page 22694]]

telephone (817) 222-5110; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On May 8, 2018, at 83 FR 20751, 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 
AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters, with a cabin sliding 
plug door installed in accordance with Airbus Helicopters modification 
(MOD) 0722338, except helicopters with a plug door jettison system 
installed in accordance with MOD 0725366. The NPRM proposed to require 
inspecting the jettisoning mechanism of the LH and RH cabin sliding 
plug doors. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent the 
cabin sliding door from failing to jettison, which could prevent 
helicopter occupants from evacuating the helicopter during an 
emergency.
    The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD No. 2017-0022, dated February 8, 
2017, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus 
Helicopters (previously Eurocopter) Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and 
AS332L1 helicopters equipped with a cabin sliding plug door modified in 
accordance with MOD 0722338. Helicopters with Eurocopter MOD 0725366 
are exempt from the EASA AD's requirements.
    EASA advises that the emergency jettison test of a cabin lateral 
sliding plug door failed during a scheduled inspection and test of the 
door's jettison mechanism. According to EASA, an investigation revealed 
that the jettison handle cable interfered with the cable clamps. EASA 
states that this condition could lead to jamming of the door 
jettisoning mechanism, preventing jettisoning of the affected door 
during an emergency, possibly obstructing evacuation of the occupants. 
The EASA AD consequently requires repetitive inspections of the 
jettisoning mechanism of the LH and RH door, followed by corrective 
actions if needed.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    Theses helicopters have been approved by EASA and are approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement 
with the European Union, EASA 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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires that the initial inspection occur during the 
next jettisoning test of the doors or within 110 flight hours, 
whichever occurs first, and thereafter during certain maintenance 
tasks. This AD requires a one-time inspection within 110 hours TIS or 
prior to flying over water.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
52.00.56, Revision 0, dated January 30, 2017, which specifies pulling 
on the inner jettison handle to determine whether the cables come into 
contact with the cable clamps. If there is contact, this service 
information specifies changing the position of the cable clamps to 
prevent interference.
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    We also reviewed Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 332-52.00.28, 
Revision 1, dated April 29, 1998, which contains procedures to improve 
the door jettison system. Eurocopter identifies compliance with this 
service information as MOD 0725366.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 19 helicopters of U.S. Registry 
and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these 
estimates, we expect that inspecting the jettisoning mechanism and 
changing the orientation of the cable clamps, if necessary, requires 4 
work-hours. No parts are required for a total cost of $340 per 
helicopter and $6,460 for 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, 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):


[[Page 22695]]


2019-09-03 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-19637; Docket No. FAA-
2017-1124; Product Identifier 2017-SW-073-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, 
AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters, certificated in any category, with 
a cabin sliding plug door installed in accordance with Airbus 
Helicopters modification (MOD) 0722338, except helicopters with a 
plug door jettison system installed in accordance with MOD 0725366.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of a cabin 
sliding door to jettison, which could prevent helicopter occupants 
from evacuating the helicopter during an emergency.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective June 24, 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

    Within 110 hours time-in-service (TIS) or before the next 
operation over water, whichever occurs first, inspect the 
jettisoning mechanism of the left-hand and right-hand cabin doors 
for correct operation:
    (1) Pull the jettisoning handle and determine whether the cable 
clamp contacts the top or bottom horizontal cables, using as a 
reference the photographs under paragraph 3.B.2 of Airbus 
Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB No. AS332-52.00.56, Revision 
0, dated January 30, 2017 (ASB).
    (2) If there is contact between a cable clamp and a horizontal 
cable, before further flight, install both cable clamps as depicted 
in the bottom photograph under paragraph 3.B.2 of the ASB.

(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) Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 332-52.00.28, Revision 1, 
dated April 29, 1998, 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. 2017-0022, dated February 8, 2017. You 
may view the EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov 
in Docket No. FAA-2017-1124.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5200, Doors.

(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) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB No. AS332-
52.00.56, Revision 0, dated January 30, 2017.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Airbus Helicopters 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.
    (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 May 1, 2019.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-10307 Filed 5-17-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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