Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of corrosion found on the external tail boom skin, under the Very High Frequency (VHF) antenna. This proposed AD would require inspecting the tail boom at the VHF antenna attachments and depending on the results, repairing or modifying the tail boom skin, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 13, 2021.

ADDRESSES:

You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: (202) 493-2251.

• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For EASA material that is proposed for IBR in this AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. For Airbus Helicopter service information identified in this NPRM, 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. The EASA material is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0887.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0887; 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 NPRM, the EASA AD, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Gregory Koenig, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe & Administrative Services Section, Chicago ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 2300 E Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone (847) 294-7127; email Gregory.L.Koenig@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES . Include “Docket No. FAA-2021-0887; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00045-R” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov,, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Gregory Koenig, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe & Administrative Services Section, Chicago ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 2300 E Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone (847) 294-7127; email Gregory.L.Koenig@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2021-0015, dated January 13, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0015), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters (AH), formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter France Model EC 120 B helicopters.

This proposed AD was prompted by a report of corrosion found on the external tail boom skin, under the VHF antenna of an EC120B helicopter. The FAA is proposing this AD to detect corrosion in that area and prevent the degradation of the tail boom structure. See EASA AD 2021-0015 for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

EASA AD 2021-0015 requires a one-time inspection of the VHF antenna attachments to the tail boom and, depending on the results, corrective action or modification of the tail boom.

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.

Other Related Service Information

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. EC120-53A017, Revision 1, dated November 26, 2020. This service information specifies procedures for inspecting and modifying the VHF antenna attachments on the tail boom.

The FAA also reviewed Airbus Helicopters Service Bulletin No. EC120-53-018, Revision 0, dated November 26, 2020. This service information specifies procedures for repairing the tail boom if there is any corrosion or a crack at the VHF antenna attachments.

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 about the unsafe condition described in EASA AD 2021-0015. The FAA is proposing this AD after evaluating all known relevant information and determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2021-0015, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD and except as discussed under “Differences Between this Proposed AD and the EASA AD.”

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2021-0015 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2021-0015 in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2021-0015 does not mean that operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to “all required actions and compliance times,” compliance with this AD requirement is not limited to the section titled “Required Action(s) and Compliance Time(s)” in EASA AD 2021-0015. Service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0015 for compliance will be available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0887 after the FAA final rule is published.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0015 specifies “to check for corrosion under the VHF antenna base support,” this proposed AD would require inspecting for corrosion because that action must be accomplished by a mechanic that meets the requirements of 14 CFR part 65 subpart D. Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0015 specifies to “make sure that there is no aluminum oxide (white powder),” “make sure that there is no pitting corrosion,” and “make sure that there are no crack,” this proposed AD would require inspecting for any aluminum oxide (white powder), pitting corrosion, and cracks instead. Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0015 specifies discarding parts, this proposed AD would require removing those parts from service instead.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 89 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 proposed AD.

Inspecting and modifying each tail boom at VHF attachment would take about 4 work-hours and parts would cost about $4,745, for an estimated cost of $5,085 per helicopter and $452,565 for the U.S. fleet.

If required, repairing the VHF antenna attachment at the tail boom would take up to 15 work-hours and parts would cost up to $7,812, for an estimated cost of up to $9,087 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 products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed regulation:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would 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 Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2021-0887; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00045-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by December 13, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5302, Rotorcraft Tail Boom.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by a report of corrosion found on the external tail boom skin of a Model EC120B helicopter under the Very High Frequency antenna. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect corrosion in that area and prevent the degradation of the tail boom structure. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in possible roll-over during landing.

(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 AD 2021-0015, dated January 13, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0015).

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021-0015

(1) Where EASA AD 2021-0015 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(2) Where the service information referenced in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021-0015 specifies to check for corrosion, including to “make sure that there is no aluminum oxide (white powder),” “make sure that there is no pitting corrosion,” and “make sure that there are no crack,” this AD requires inspecting for any aluminum oxide (white powder), pitting corrosion, and cracks.

(3) Where the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0015 specifies discarding parts, this AD requires removing those parts from service.

(4) Where paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2021-0015 requires certain actions prior to the installation of a tail boom on any helicopter, including inspecting the tail boom, for this AD, the requirements of paragraph (h)(2) of this AD also apply to the inspection of the tail boom.

(5) This AD does not mandate compliance with the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2021-0015.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2021-0015 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) 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 (k)(2) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov.

(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.

(k) Related Information

(1) For EASA AD 2021-0015, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet www.easa.europa.eu. 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. This material may be found in the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0887.

(2) For more information about this AD, contact Gregory Koenig, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe & Administrative Services Section, Chicago ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 2300 E Devon Ave., Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone (847) 294-7127; email Gregory.L.Koenig@faa.gov.