Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 248 (Monday, December 28, 2020)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 84204-84206]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28383]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0468; Product Identifier 2018-SW-046-AD; Amendment 
39-21365; AD 2020-26-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 
Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. This 
AD requires revising the existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for 
your helicopter and installing a placard to prohibit intentional entry 
into autorotation. This AD would also allow replacement of an affected 
fuel control unit (FCU) as an optional terminating action for the RFM 
revision and placard installation. This AD was prompted by reports that 
certain FCUs may not have been calibrated to specification during 
overhaul. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 1, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of February 1, 
2021.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of 
Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) 
Italy; telephone +39-0331-225074; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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. It is also available 
on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0468.

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-
0468 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 (now European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, any service information that is 
incorporated by reference, any comments received, and other 
information. The street 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: Mitch Soth, Flight Test Engineer, 
Southwest Section, Flight Test Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 
Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5110; 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 Leonardo Model A119 
and AW119 MKII helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register 
on June 11, 2020 (85 FR 35602). The NPRM proposed to require revising 
the Limitations Section of the existing RFM for your helicopter and 
installing a placard to prohibit intentional entry into autorotation. 
The NPRM also proposed to allow replacing affected FCUs with non-
affected FCUs as an optional terminating action for the RFM revision 
and placard installation. The proposed requirements were intended to 
address certain FCUs that may not have been calibrated to specification 
during overhaul, which can lead to N1 fluctuations, hung engine starts, 
and the inability to recover power during autorotation training, and 
possibly result in reduced control of the helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2018-0124, dated June 5, 2018, 
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for all Leonardo 
Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. EASA advises that certain FCUs 
may not have been calibrated to specification during overhaul, and that 
this condition, if not corrected, can lead to N1 fluctuations, hung 
engine starts, and the inability to recover power during autorotation 
training, possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter. To 
address this unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires amendment of the 
applicable RFM and installation of a placard to prohibit intentional 
entry into autorotation. The EASA AD also allows removal of the RFM 
limitation and placard after replacement of an affected FCU.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule, but the FAA did not receive any comments on 
the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by EASA and are approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral 
agreement with the European Union, EASA has notified the FAA of the 
unsafe condition described in its AD. The FAA is issuing this AD after 
evaluating all of the information provided by EASA and determining 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.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this AD interim action. If final action is later 
identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Leonardo has issued Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018. This service 
information describes procedures for revising the RFM and installing a 
placard in the cockpit.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal

[[Page 84205]]

course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 64 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on 
these numbers, the FAA estimates that operators may incur the following 
costs in order to comply with this AD.
    Revising the existing RFM for your helicopter and installing a 
placard takes about 2 work-hours and parts cost about $50, for an 
estimated cost of $220 per helicopter and $14,080 for the U.S. fleet.
    The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable it to 
provide cost estimates for the optional terminating action specified in 
this AD.

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 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) 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:

2020-26-10 Leonardo S.p.a.: Amendment 39-21365; Docket No. FAA-2020-
0468; Product Identifier 2018-SW-046-AD.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective February 1, 
2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 MKII 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 1100, Placards and 
markings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports that certain fuel control units 
(FCU) may not have been calibrated to specification during overhaul. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address certain FCUs that may not have 
been calibrated to specification during overhaul. This condition, if 
not corrected, can lead to N1 fluctuations, hung engine starts, and 
the inability to recover power during autorotation training, 
possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Definitions

    For the purposes of this AD, the definitions in paragraphs 
(g)(1) through (3) of this AD apply.
    (1) An affected FCU is one that is identified in section 1.A., 
``Effectivity,'' of Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018.
    (2) Group 1 helicopters are those that have an affected FCU 
installed.
    (3) Group 2 helicopters are those that do not have an affected 
FCU installed.

(h) Required Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) Amendment

    For Group 1 helicopters: Before further flight involving 
intentional autorotation, or within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first, revise the Limitations Section 
of the existing RFM for your helicopter in accordance with paragraph 
4. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Leonardo Helicopters 
Emergency Alert Service Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 
2018.

(i) Required Placard Installation

    For Group 1 helicopters: Concurrently with the RFM amendment 
required by paragraph (h) of this AD, install a placard in the 
cockpit in accordance with paragraph 3. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018.

(j) Optional Terminating Action

    For Group 1 helicopters: Replacing the affected FCU with a non-
affected FCU allows the amendment to be removed from the existing 
RFM for your helicopter and the placard to be removed from the 
helicopter.

(k) Parts Installation Prohibition

    (1) For Group 1 helicopters: Do not install an affected FCU on 
any helicopter after replacement with a non-affected FCU.
    (2) For Group 2 helicopters: Do not install an affected FCU on 
any helicopter after the effective date of this AD.

(l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Mitch Soth, Flight 
Test Engineer, Southwest Section, Flight Test 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, 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.

(m) Related Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 2018-
0124, dated June 5, 2018. This EASA AD may be found in the AD docket 
on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and 
locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0468.

(n) 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.

[[Page 84206]]

    (i) Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin 119-
089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, 
Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone 
+39-0331-225074; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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.
    (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.
    (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, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on December 9, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-28383 Filed 12-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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