Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.a 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 certain Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model AW109SP helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of an ineligible hydraulic pump being installed on Model AW109SP helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting each hydraulic pump for damage and, depending on the inspections results, removing parts from service and accomplishing other corrective actions. This proposed AD would also require removing certain parts from service before they exceed their life limits. The proposed corrective actions would be required to be accomplished 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 October 25, 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 this IBR material on the EASA website at https://ad.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. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0720.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0720; 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:

Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; email Darren.Gassetto@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-2021-0720; Project Identifier 2019-SW-079-AD” 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 Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; email Darren.Gassetto@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 2019-0213, dated August 29, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0213), to correct an unsafe condition for Leonardo S.p.a. (formerly Finmeccanica S.p.A. Helicopter Division, AgustaWestland S.p.A, Agusta S.p.A.) Model AW109SP helicopters.

This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a hydraulic pump part number (P/N) 109-0760-42-103 being ineligibly installed on Model AW109SP helicopters. EASA advises that because hydraulic pump P/N 109-0760-42-103 is not eligible for installation on Model AW109SP helicopters, applicable instructions for continued airworthiness are not available. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the ineligible installation of the affected part-numbered hydraulic pump on Model AW109SP helicopters since there are no applicable instructions for continuing airworthiness available. See EASA AD 2019-0213 for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

EASA AD 2019-0213 requires inspecting each affected hydraulic pump and depending on the inspection results, replacing an affected hydraulic pump with a serviceable hydraulic pump, before further flight. EASA AD 2019-0213 also requires replacing any affected hydraulic pump before exceeding 1,600 total flight hours (FH) since first installation on a helicopter, or within 200 FH, whichever occurs later. Finally, EASA AD 2019-0213 prohibits installing any affected hydraulic pump on any helicopter.

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 also reviewed Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters, Alert Service Bulletin No. 109SP-134, dated July 29, 2019. This service information specifies procedures for inspecting and replacing hydraulic pump P/N 109-0760-42-103.

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 its AD. 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 2019-0213, 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 2019-0213 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2019-0213 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 2019-0213 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 2019-0213. Service information required by EASA AD 2019-0213 for compliance will be available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0720 after the FAA final rule is published.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and EASA AD 2019-0213

EASA AD 2019-0213 applies to Model AW109SP helicopters, all serial numbers, whereas this proposed AD would only apply to Model AW109SP helicopters with certain part-numbered hydraulic pumps installed.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 17 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 proposed AD.

Visually inspecting each hydraulic pump for wear, burrs, and abrasion would take about 4 work-hours and parts would cost about $5 for an estimated cost of $345 per inspection and $5,865 for the U.S. fleet.

Removing from service each affected hydraulic pump and replacing with an airworthy hydraulic pump would take about 6 work-hours and parts would cost about $22,819 for an estimated cost of $23,329 per pump replacement.

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators.

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:

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA-2021-0720; Project Identifier 2019-SW-079-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by October 25, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW109SP helicopters, certificated in any category, with an affected part as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0213, dated August 29, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0213).

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Codes: 2913, Hydraulic Pump (Elect/Eng), Main.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by reports of the ineligible installation of hydraulic pump part number (P/N) 109-0760-42-103 on Model AW109SP helicopters resulting in the applicable instructions for continued airworthiness not being available. The FAA is issuing this AD to address this unsafe condition. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the hydraulic pump 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 paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2019-0213.

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2019-0213

(1) Where EASA AD 2019-0213 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.

(2) Where EASA AD 2019-0213 requires compliance from its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.

(3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2019-0213 specifies to replace a part if any discrepancy is detected during the inspection, this AD requires removing that part from service.

(4) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2019-0213 specifies to replace a part before exceeding 1,600 flight hours since first installation on a helicopter, this AD requires removing that part from service before 1600 hours time in service since first installation on a helicopter.

(5) Where the service information required by EASA AD 2019-0213 specifies discarding the o-ring and gasket, this AD requires removing those parts from service.

(6) Where the service information required by EASA AD 2019-0213 specifies recording compliance with the service bulletin in the helicopter logbook, this AD does not include that requirement.

(7) This AD does not require the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2019-0213.

(i) No Reporting Requirement

Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2019-0213 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Special Flight Permit

Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, 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)(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.

(l) Related Information

(1) For EASA AD 2019-0213, 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 this EASA AD on the EASA website at https://ad.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-2021-0720.

(2) For more information about this AD, contact Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; email Darren.Gassetto@faa.gov.