Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 46 (Thursday, March 11, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 13809-13811]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-05090]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0967; Product Identifier 2018-SW-013-AD; Amendment 
39-21394; AD 2021-02-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 
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 
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, 
MBB-BK117 A-4, MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and MBB-
BK117 C-2 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the tail gearbox 
(TGB) bellcrank attachment arm (arm) for a crack. This AD was prompted 
by a report of a cracked TGB arm. The actions of this AD are intended 
to address an unsafe condition on these products.

[[Page 13810]]


DATES: This AD is effective April 15, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of April 15, 2021.

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 
https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. You 
may view 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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0967.

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-
0967; 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: Kristi Bradley, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 
Validation 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 Airbus Helicopters 
Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, 
MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and MBB-BK117 C-2 
helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 26, 
2020 (85 FR 67694). The NPRM proposed to require dye-penetrant 
inspecting the TGB arm for a crack and for any dent, nick, and scratch, 
and depending on the inspection results, replacing the TGB, removing 
the surface material up to 0.2 mm using 80-grit abrasive paper and 
repeating the dye penetrant inspection, or finishing the surface with 
600-grit or finer abrasive paper. The proposed requirements were 
intended to detect a crack in the TGB arm.
    The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD No. 2018-0046, dated February 19, 
2018, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus 
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) (formerly Eurocopter Deutschland 
GmbH, Eurocopter Hubschrauber GmbH, Messerschmitt-B[ouml]lkow-Blohm 
GmbH), Airbus Helicopters Inc. (formerly American Eurocopter LLC) Model 
MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 
B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. EASA advises that a 
crack was detected on a Model MBB-BK117 A-4 TGB arm and that this 
condition, if not corrected, could result in disconnection of the arm 
from the TGB and possible loss of control of the helicopter. To address 
this unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires an inspection of the TGB 
arm for a crack and for surface anomalies.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this final rule. The FAA received comments from two 
commenters in support of the NPRM.

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 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 operators to contact Airbus Helicopters if 
there is a crack or if there is damage that cannot be repaired by 
removing surface material, whereas this AD requires replacing the TGB 
instead.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
MBB-BK117 C-2-65A-008 for Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters and ASB MBB-
BK117-30A-120 for Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, 
MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, and MBB-BK117 C-1 helicopters, each 
Revision 0 and dated January 31, 2018. The service information contains 
procedures for inspecting the TGB arm for a crack and surface 
anomalies.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 177 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.
    Removing the surface coating and inspecting the TGB arm for a crack 
takes about 2 work-hours and the cost of materials is minimal, for an 
estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and $30,090 for the U.S. fleet.
    If required, reworking the TGB arm takes about 1 work-hour and the 
cost of materials is minimal, for an estimated cost of $85 per 
helicopter. Replacing a TGB with a cracked arm takes about 4.5 work-
hours and costs about $69,000 for required parts, for an estimated cost 
of $69,383 per helicopter.

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.

[[Page 13811]]

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:

2021-02-11 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39-21394; 
Docket No. FAA-2020-0967; Product Identifier 2018-SW-013-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Airbus Helicopters 
Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 A-1, MBB-BK117 A-3, MBB-BK117 A-4, 
MBB-BK117 B-1, MBB-BK117 B-2, MBB-BK117 C-1, and MBB-BK117 C-2 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in a tail 
gearbox (TGB) bellcrank attachment arm. This condition could result 
in disconnection of the bellcrank attachment arm from the TGB and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 15, 2021.

(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 100 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Remove the surface coating from the TGB bellcrank attachment 
arm and using a 5X or higher power magnifying glass, dye-penetrant 
inspect the TGB arm for a crack and for any dent, nick, and scratch 
in the area shown in Figure 1 of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) MBB-BK117 C-2-65A-008 or ASB MBB-BK117-30A-120, each 
Revision 0 and dated January 31, 2018, as applicable to your model 
helicopter.
    (2) If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the TGB.
    (3) If there is a dent, a nick, or a scratch, before further 
flight, remove the surface material up to 0.2 mm using 80-grit 
abrasive paper and repeat the dye penetrant inspection. If there is 
a crack or if the damage cannot be removed, before further flight, 
replace the TGB.
    (4) If there is no crack and no dent, nick, or scratch, before 
further flight, finish the surface with 600-grit or finer abrasive 
paper.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Kristi Bradley, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 
International Validation 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, the FAA suggests 
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.

(h) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 
Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD No. 
2018-0046, dated February 19, 2018. You may view the EASA AD on the 
internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2020-0967.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6520, Tail Rotor 
Gearbox.

(j) 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) MBB-BK117 C-
2-65A-008, Revision 0, dated January 31, 2018.
    (ii) Airbus Helicopters ASB MBB-BK117-30A-120, Revision 0, dated 
January 31, 2018.
    (3) 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 
https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html.
    (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 January 14, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-05090 Filed 3-10-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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