Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 173 (Thursday, September 8, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54874-54877]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-19257]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0804; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00081-R; 
Amendment 39-22158; AD 2022-18-07]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 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 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 
helicopters. This AD was prompted by review of maintenance instructions 
that showed conflicting methods of

[[Page 54875]]

recording torque cycles for certain parts. This AD requires 
recalculating the torque cycles of certain parts and updating log 
cards; removing certain other parts from service; and applying an 
operational restriction on certain parts, as specified in a European 
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by 
reference. This AD also requires incorporating the re-calculated life 
limits into existing maintenance records. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 13, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of October 13, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: For EASA material that is incorporated by reference (IBR) in 
this final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 
Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email [email protected]; internet 
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website 
at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. For Airbus Helicopters service 
information identified in this final rule, contact Airbus Helicopters, 
2701 North 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 this 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-
0804.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0804; 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, the 
EASA AD, 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: Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, COS 
Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 
76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2022-0012, dated January 24, 2022 
(EASA AD 2022-0012), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus 
Helicopters (AH), formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, Aerospatiale, 
Model AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, and AS 332 L1 helicopters.
    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 AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on June 29, 2022 (87 FR 38689). The 
NPRM was prompted by review of maintenance instructions that showed 
conflicting methods of recording torque cycles for certain parts. The 
NPRM proposed to require recalculating the torque cycles of certain 
parts and updating log cards; removing certain other parts from 
service; and applying an operational restriction on certain parts, as 
specified in EASA AD 2022-0012. The NPRM also proposed to require 
incorporating the re-calculated life limits into existing maintenance 
records.
    The FAA is issuing this AD to address under-calculated torque cycle 
accumulations and prevent a part from remaining in service beyond its 
fatigue life. See EASA AD 2022-0012 for additional background 
information.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    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 about the 
unsafe condition described in its AD. The FAA reviewed the relevant 
data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as 
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these helicopters.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    EASA AD 2022-0012 requires recalculating the torque cycles of 
certain affected parts, updating log cards, and replacing those parts 
before exceeding their recalculated service life limits. EASA AD 2022-
0012 also requires removing certain other affected parts from service 
and prohibits installing those parts. Lastly, EASA AD 2022-0012 applies 
an operational restriction to certain affected parts.
    The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 
No. AS332-01.00.76, Revision 1, dated March 8, 2022 (ASB AS332-
01.00.76, Rev 1). This service information specifies procedures for 
determining the corrected accumulated torque cycles and updating the 
log cards for certain parts, new life limits expressed in torque 
cycles, and new procedures for counting torque cycles.
    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.

ADs Mandating Airworthiness Limitations

    The FAA has previously mandated airworthiness limitations by 
mandating each airworthiness limitation task (e.g., inspections and 
replacements (life limits)) as an AD requirement or issuing ADs that 
require revising the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the 
existing maintenance manual or instructions for continued airworthiness 
to incorporate new or revised inspections and life limits. This AD, 
however, requires operators to incorporate into maintenance records 
required by 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2) or 135.439(a)(2), as applicable for 
your helicopter, the requirements (airworthiness limitations) specified 
in service information required by a civil aviation authority AD. The 
FAA does not intend this as a substantive change. For these ADs, the 
ALS requirements for operators are the same but are complied with 
differently. Requiring the incorporation of the new ALS requirements 
into the maintenance records, rather than requiring individual ALS 
tasks (e.g., repetitive inspections and replacements), requires 
operators to record AD compliance once after updating the maintenance 
records, rather than after every time the ALS task is completed.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    EASA AD 2022-0012 allows using Airbus Helicopters ASB No. AS332-

[[Page 54876]]

01.00.76, Revision 0, dated December 16, 2021, for corrective actions; 
whereas this AD does not and instead requires using ASB AS332-01.00.76, 
Rev 1. EASA AD 2022-0012 requires replacing each affected part before 
exceeding its re-calculated life limit; whereas this AD requires, 
within 30 days after the effective date of the AD, incorporating the 
re-calculated life limits into maintenance records required by 14 CFR 
91.417(a)(2) or 135.439(a)(2), as applicable for your helicopter.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 7 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on 
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this AD.
    Recalculating the torque cycles and updating maintenance records 
takes about 4 work-hours for an estimated cost of about $340 per 
helicopter and $2,380 for the U.S. fleet. Incorporating actions and 
associated thresholds and intervals, including life limits and 
maintenance tasks, into maintenance records, takes about 2 work-hours 
for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and $1,190 for the U.S. 
fleet. Replacing a main rotor shaft takes about 40 work-hours and parts 
cost about $175,684 for an estimated cost of $179,084. Replacing a main 
gearbox flexible mounting plate support takes about 80 work-hours and 
parts cost about $57,457 for an estimated cost of $64,257.

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.

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:

2022-18-07 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-22158; Docket No. FAA-
2022-0804; Project Identifier MCAI-2022-00081-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 13, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, 
AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 1400, 
Miscellaneous Hardware.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by review of maintenance instructions that 
showed conflicting methods of recording torque cycles for certain 
parts. The FAA is issuing this AD to address under-calculated torque 
cycle accumulations and prevent a part from remaining in service 
beyond its fatigue life. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in failure of a part and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

 (g) Requirements

    Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply 
with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 
2022-0012, dated January 24, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0012).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022-0012

    (1) Where EASA AD 2022-0012 defines ``the ASB'' as ``AH Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) AS332-01.00.76,'' for this AD replace that 
definition with ``Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 
AS332-01.00.76, Revision 1, dated March 8, 2022.''
    (2) Where EASA AD 2022-0012 references flight hours (FH) and the 
service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0012 specifies life 
limit thresholds in terms of FH, this AD requires using total hours 
time-in-service.
    (3) Where EASA AD 2022-0012 refers to its effective date, this 
AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (4) This AD does not mandate paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2022-0012; 
instead, for this AD, within 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD, incorporate into maintenance records required by 14 CFR 
91.417(a)(2) or 135.439(a)(2), as applicable for your helicopter, 
the actions and associated thresholds and intervals, including life 
limits and maintenance tasks, specified in the Appendix, section 4., 
of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-01.00.76, 
Revision 1, dated March 8, 2022. After the action required by this 
paragraph has been done, no alternative actions and associated 
thresholds and intervals, including life limits, may be used unless 
the actions or intervals are approved as an alternative method of 
compliance (AMOC) in accordance with the procedures specified in 
paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
    (5) This AD does not mandate compliance with the ``Remarks'' 
section of EASA AD 2022-0012.

 (i) No Reporting Requirement

    Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2022-0012 
specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD 
does not include that requirement.

 (j) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l) of 
this AD.

[[Page 54877]]

Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(l) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Kristi Bradley, 
Program Manager, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety 
Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

(m) 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 this AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
01.00.76, Revision 1, dated March 8, 2022.
    (ii) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022-0012, 
dated January 24, 2022.
    (3) For Airbus Helicopters service information identified in 
this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 North 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. For EASA AD 2022-0012, contact EASA, Konrad-
Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; 
email [email protected]; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find 
the EASA material 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0804.
    (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 August 19, 2022.
Christina Underwood,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-19257 Filed 9-7-22; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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