DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0555; Product Identifier 2010-SW-047-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-05-06
for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117C-2
helicopters. AD 2014-05-06 requires repetitive inspections of the
flight-control bearings, replacing any loose bearings with airworthy
flight-control bearings, and installing bushings and washers. This
proposed AD would retain the requirements of AD 2014-05-06 but would
remove the repetitive inspections. The actions of this proposed AD are
intended to correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 31, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

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

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2013-0555;
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 proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, the
economic evaluation, any comments received and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

For service information identified in this proposed 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
http://www.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.
html. You may review service information at the FAA, Office
of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room
6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.

We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, issued EASA AD No. 2010-0058, dated March 30, 2010, for
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (now Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH)
Model EC135, EC635, and MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters. EASA advises that
during an inspection of an MBB-BK117 C-2, "bearings were detected
which had not been correctly fixed." EASA advises that this condition,
if not detected and corrected, may cause the affected control lever to
shift in the axial direction and contact the helicopter structure,
possibly resulting in reduced helicopter control. As some bearings on
the EC135 and MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopter are installed with the same
procedure, they are equally affected by the possibility of the unsafe
condition, EASA advises.

As a result, we published AD 2014-05-06 (79 FR 13196, March 10,
2014), which requires repetitively inspecting the flight-control
bearings, replacing any loose bearings with an airworthy flight-control
bearing, and installing bushings and washers.

Actions Since AD 2014-05-06 Was Issued

Since we published AD 2014-05-06, EASA issued AD No. 2010-0058R1,
dated April 7, 2017, to remove the repetitive inspections required by
EASA AD No. 2010-0058. EASA advises that a review of data and feedback
from in-service helicopters determined the Airbus Helicopters
modification removes the need for repetitive inspections. We have made
a similar determination and are issuing this proposed AD to remove the
repetitive inspections required by AD 2014-05-06.

FAA's Determination

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, EASA, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
its AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition is likely
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Eurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EC135-67A-019,
Revision 3, dated December 16, 2009, for Model EC135-series
helicopters, and ASB MBB-BK117 C-2-67A-010, Revision 3, dated February
8, 2010, for Model MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters. This service information
specifies a repetitive inspection of the affected bearings and
retrofitting bushings on the levers to prevent movement of the
bearings.

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.

Other Related Service Information

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters ASB EC135-67A-019 for Model EC135-
series helicopters and ASB MBB-BK117C-2-67A-010 for Model MBB-BK 117C-2
helicopters, both Revision 4 and both dated April 3, 2017. This service
information removes the repetitive inspections and retains the
procedures for retrofitting the bushings on the levers to prevent
movement of the bearings. Revision 3 of this service information is
attached as an appendix to Revision 4.

Proposed AD Requirements

For EC135 helicopters, this proposed AD would require within 100
hours time-in-service (TIS) or at the next annual inspection, whichever
occurs first, modifying the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) guidance
units and cyclic shaft by installing bushings and washers to prevent
shifting in the axial direction.

For MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters, this proposed AD would require
within 100 hours TIS or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs
first, modifying the LH and RH guidance units and the lateral control
lever by installing bushings and washers to prevent shifting of the
bearings in the axial direction.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

Differences between this AD and the EASA AD are:

The EASA AD is applicable to EC 635-series helicopters,
whereas this proposed AD would not because these model helicopters have
no U.S. type certificate.

The EASA AD requires the modification within the next 12
months after April 13, 2010. This proposed AD would require the
modification within 100 hours TIS or at the next annual inspection,
whichever occurs first.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 295 Model EC135-series helicopters
and 117 Model MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters of U.S. Registry and that labor
costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these estimates, we expect
the following costs:

For EC135 helicopters, completing the required
modification would require about 32 work-hours and parts would cost
about $312, for a total cost of $3,032 per helicopter and $894,400 for
the U.S. fleet.

For MBB-BK 117C-2 helicopters, completing the required
modification would require about 32 work-hours and parts would cost
about $396, for a total cost of $3,116 per helicopter and $364,572 for
the U.S. fleet.

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.

We are 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

We 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, I certify this proposed regulation:

1. Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order
12866;

2. Is not a "significant rule" under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and

4. 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.

We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply
with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2014-05-06, Amendment 39-17779 (79 FR 13196, March 10, 2014), and
adding the following new AD: