Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 224 (Thursday, November 19, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73615-73617]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-25469]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0685; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00396-R; 
Amendment 39-21325; AD 2020-23-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 helicopters. This AD was prompted by 
reports of inflight detachment of the left-hand (LH) side cabin sliding 
doors and cases of impact damage on the main rotor blades, which were 
caused by degradation of the sliding door locking mechanism. This AD 
requires repetitive checks (measurements) of the load that operates the 
sliding door opening mechanism, repetitive inspections of the markings 
of the attachment screws for proper alignment, modifying the attachment 
system of the sliding door, and corrective actions if necessary, as 
specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which 
is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 24, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 24, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated by reference (IBR) in this AD, 
contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; 
telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; internet 
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this IBR material on the EASA website 
at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this IBR material at the 
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. It is also 
available in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0685.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0685; 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 final rule, any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations 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: Kristin Bradley, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, International Validation Branch, General Aviation & 
Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone 817-222-5485; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Helicopters 
Model EC130B4 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register 
on August 6, 2020 (85 FR 47714). The NPRM was prompted by reports of 
inflight detachment of the LH side cabin sliding doors and cases of 
impact damage on the main rotor blades, which were caused by 
degradation of the sliding door locking mechanism. The NPRM proposed to 
require repetitive checks (measurements) of the load that operates the 
sliding door opening mechanism, repetitive inspections of the markings 
of the attachment screws for proper alignment, modifying the attachment 
system of the sliding door, and corrective actions if necessary, as 
specified in an EASA AD.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address degradation of the locking 
mechanism, which could lead to further events of inflight detachment of 
a LH side cabin sliding door, and possibly result in damage to the 
helicopter and injury to persons on the ground.
    The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0069, dated March 24, 2020 
(EASA AD 2020-0069) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing 
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 
for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 helicopters. See the MCAI for 
additional background information.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA has considered the comments 
received. An anonymous commenter indicated its support for the NPRM.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment 
received, and determined that air safety and the public interest 
require adopting this final rule as proposed, except for minor 
editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these minor changes:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was 
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2020-0069 describes procedures for repetitive checks 
(measurements) of the load that operates the sliding door opening 
mechanism, repetitive inspections of the markings of the attachment 
screws of the rear LH upper catch for proper alignment, modifying the 
attachment system of the sliding door, and corrective actions if 
necessary. Corrective actions include adjusting the rear LH upper catch 
to increase the load required to operate the sliding door opening 
mechanism, inspecting the rear LH upper catch to determine if any 
anchor nut is not locked, and replacing the anchor nuts of the rear LH 
upper catch. EASA AD2020-0069 also specifies that doing the 
modification of the attachment system of the sliding door is a 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections of the markings of 
the attachment screws of the rear LH upper catch for proper alignment.
    This material 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 159 helicopters of U.S. 
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 73616]]



                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Labor cost                   Parts cost         Cost per product         Cost on U.S. operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Up to 3 work-hours x $85 per hour = Up                $0  Up to $255................  Up to $40,545.
 to $255.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any 
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
helicopters that might need these on-condition actions:

                 Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Cost per
              Labor cost                   Parts cost        product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 work-hours x $85 per hour = $85.....              $0              $85
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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

    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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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:

2020-23-09 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-21325; Docket No. FAA-
2020-0685; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00396-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 24, 
2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Air Transport Association (ATA) of America Code 52, Doors.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of inflight detachment of the 
left-hand (LH) side cabin sliding doors and cases of impact damage 
on the main rotor blades, which were caused by degradation of the 
sliding door locking mechanism. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address degradation of the locking mechanism, which could lead to 
further events of inflight detachment of a LH side cabin sliding 
door, and possibly result in damage to the helicopter and injury to 
persons on the ground.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2020-0069, dated March 24, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0069).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020-0069

    (1) Where EASA AD 2020-0069 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where EASA AD 2020-0069 refers to January 24, 2019 (the 
effective date of EASA AD 2020-0069), this AD requires using the 
effective date of this AD.
    (3) The ``Remarks'' section of EASA AD 2020-0069 does not apply 
to this AD.
    (4) The ``Parts Installation'' allowance provided in paragraph 
(8) of EASA AD 2020-0069 does not apply to this AD.
    (5) Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-
0069 specifies to discard certain parts, this AD does not include 
that requirement.

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    The Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Manager, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
817-222-5110; email [email protected].

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kristin Bradley, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, International Validation Branch, General 
Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, 
TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5485; email [email protected].

[[Page 73617]]

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0069, 
dated March 24, 2020.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For EASA AD 2020-0069, contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-
Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email 
[email protected]; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 
EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu.
    (4) You may view this service information at the 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. This material may be 
found in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-
2020-0685.
    (5) You may view this material that is incorporated by reference 
at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For 
information on the availability of this material at NARA, email 
[email protected], or go to https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on November 4, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-25469 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am]
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