DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0472; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-040-AD;
Amendment 39-18018; AD 2014-23-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters (Type
Certificate Currently Held by AgustaWestland S.p.A.) (Agusta)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Agusta Model A109E, A109K2, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters. This AD
requires repetitively performing a magnetic particle inspection of the
Gleason crown for a crack. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack
that was found on a Gleason crown, which if not detected, could cause
damage to or loss of the main rotor drive and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 26, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of December 26,
2014.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
AgustaWestland, Product Support Engineering, Via del Gregge, 100, 21015
Lonate Pozzolo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Maurizio D'Angelo; telephone 39-0331-
664757; fax 39-0331-664680; or at http://www.agustawestland.com/technical-
bullettins. You may review the referenced service information
at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
or in person at the Docket Operations Office
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 (EASA) AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information,
the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information.
The street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office,
M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rao Edupuganti, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email rao.edupuganti@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On July 16, 2014, at 79 FR 41462, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Agusta Model A109E,
A109K2, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters with a main transmission, part
number (P/N) 109-0400-03-103, 109-0400-05-103, and 109-0400-03-109,
with a Gleason crown, P/N 109-0403-07-103, installed. The NPRM proposed
to require, for main transmissions with 2,400 or more hours time-in-
service (TIS), performing repetitive magnetic particle inspections of
the Gleason crown for a crack. If there is a crack, the NPRM proposed
replacing the Gleason crown assembly before further flight. The NPRM
also proposed to prohibit installing a Gleason crown, P/N 109-0403-07-
103, or a Gleason crown assembly, P/N 109-0401-27-101 or P/N 109-0401-
27-109, on any helicopter. The proposed requirements were intended to
detect a crack, which could cause damage to or loss of the main rotor
drive and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2013-0118, dated June 3, 2013,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe
condition for Agusta Model A109K2, A109E, A119, and AW119MKII
helicopters. EASA advises that during an overhaul of an A119 main
transmission, P/N 109-0400-05-103, a crack on the Gleason crown, P/N
109-0403-07-103, was found. EASA further states that the crack
originated from the bottom of one of the 40 threaded holes in the
Gleason crown, and that this part-numbered Gleason crown is also
installed on Model A109 helicopters. EASA states that this condition,
if not corrected, could cause damage to or loss of the main rotor drive
and loss of control of the helicopter. To correct this unsafe
condition, EASA AD No. 2013-0118 requires repetitive magnetic particle
inspections of the Gleason crown and, if there is a crack, replacing
the Gleason crown with a different part-numbered Gleason crown. EASA AD
No. 2013-0118 also prohibits installing a Gleason crown, P/N 109-0403-
07-103, or a Gleason crown assembly, P/N 109-0401-27-101 or P/N 109-
0401-27-109, on any helicopter, as Gleason crown, P/N 109-0403-07-103,
is a component of these assemblies.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (79 FR 41462,
July 16, 2014).

FAA's Determination

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with Italy, EASA, its technical representative,
has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the EASA AD. We
are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information provided by
EASA and determined 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, except for minor editorial changes. These changes are
consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM (79 FR 41462,
July 16, 2014) and will not increase the economic burden on any
operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

This AD requires compliance within 200 hours TIS for main
transmissions with 2,400 or more hours. The EASA AD requires different
compliance times, depending on the number of flight hours the
transmission has accumulated.

Related Service Information

We reviewed Agusta Bollettino Tecnico (BT) No. 109EP-128 for Model
A109E helicopters, Agusta BT No. 109K-57 for Model A109K2 helicopters,
and Agusta BT No. 119-058 for Model A119 and AW119MKII helicopters,
each Revision A and dated May 28, 2013. Each BT describes procedures
for performing a magnetic particle inspection on the Gleason crown, P/N
109-0403-07-103, for a crack. If there is a crack, each BT specifies
replacing the Gleason crown assembly with a Gleason crown assembly, P/N
109-0401-27-107.
We also reviewed Agusta BT No. 109EP-126 for Model A109E
helicopters, Agusta BT No. 109K-56 for Model A109K2 helicopters, and
Agusta BT No. 119-053 for Model A119 and AW119MKII helicopters, each
dated December 20, 2012. These BTs contain procedures for upgrading the
transmission system by replacing the Gleason crown assembly with a
Gleason crown assembly, P/N 109-0401-27-107.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 218 helicopters of U.S. registry.
We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD. At an average
labor rate of $85 per hour, magnetic particle inspecting the Gleason
crown requires about 24 work-hours, for an estimated cost per
helicopter of $2,040, and a total cost of $444,720 for the U.S. fleet,
per inspection cycle.
If required, replacing the Gleason crown assembly requires about 24
work-hours, and required parts will cost $29,000, for a cost per
helicopter of $31,040.
According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, we have included all costs in our cost
estimate.

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 helicopters 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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.

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

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):