DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0579; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-020-AD;
Amendment 39-18115; AD 2015-05-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-04-14 for
Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII
helicopters. AD 2014-04-14 required removing certain rod end assemblies
from service because of reports of fractures. This new AD retains the
requirements of AD 2014-04-14 but expands the scope of applicable rod
end assemblies. This AD was prompted by reports of additional fractured
rod end assemblies. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a rod
end assembly, which could result in damage to the main rotor assembly
and loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective April 23, 2015.

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-
bulletins. You may view this 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, 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: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email robert.grant@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2014-04-14, Amendment 39-17773 (79 FR 11699, March
3, 2014) for Agusta Model A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII
helicopters with a main rotor lag damper assembly (lag damper), part
number (P/N) 109-0112-39-103, 109-0112-39-105, 109-0112-05-105, or 109-
0112-05-107, installed with a rod end assembly, P/N M004-01H007-041 or
P/N M004-01H007-045, with a serial number from 84 through 132 or from
4964 through 5011, and add a new AD. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on August 18, 2014 (79 FR 48698). AD 2014-04-14 required
removing the rod end assemblies from service. AD 2014-04-14 was
prompted by AD No. 2012-0208, dated October 5, 2012, issued by EASA,
which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European
Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Agusta Model A109LUH, A109S,
AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII helicopters. EASA advises of cases of in-
flight fractures of rod end assembly, P/N M004-01H007-045, installed on
main rotor lag dampers on Model A109LUH and AW109SP helicopters. An
investigation revealed that two batches of rod end assemblies, P/N
M004-01H007-041 and M004-01H007-045, could have cracks, according to
EASA. EASA states that this condition, if not corrected, could lead to
main rotor damage, possibly resulting in loss of control of the
helicopter. The actions of AD 2014-04-14 were intended to prevent such
damage and loss of control of the helicopter.

Actions Since AD 2014-04-14 Was Issued

Between the time we published the NPRM for AD 2014-04-14 (78 FR
44042, July 23, 2013) and the Final Rule for AD 2014-04-14 (79 FR
11699, March 3, 2014), EASA issued AD No. 2013-0290, dated December 9,
2013. EASA advises in AD No. 2013-0290 that a new case of a fractured
rod end assembly has been reported and that additional batches of rod
end assembly, P/N M004-01H007-041 and P/N M004-01H007-045, as well as
batches of P/N 109-0112-11-101 and P/N 109-0112-22-105 could also have
cracks. EASA expanded the applicability of its AD to include the
additional rod end assemblies.
We consequently issued the NPRM (79 FR 48698, August 18, 2014) to
amend 14 CFR part 39 to remove AD 2014-04-14 and add a new AD. The NPRM
proposed to retain the requirements of AD 2014-04-14 but expand the
scope of applicable rod end assemblies. The NPRM also proposed to add a
provision requiring compliance with the AD if the rod end assembly is
removed during maintenance before 25 hours time-in-service (TIS).

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (79 FR 48698, August
18, 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 we have correctly stated the design holder's name as
Agusta S.p.A. instead of AgustaWestland S.p.A. as specified by the
current FAA type certificate. This change is consistent with the intent
of the proposals in the NPRM (79 FR 48698, August 18, 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

The EASA AD calls for replacing certain rod end assemblies with
airworthy rod end assemblies within 25 hours TIS, 2 months, or the next
time maintenance of the applicable helicopters involves removing the
rod end assembly. This AD does not have a calendar time requirement.
The EASA AD applies to Agusta Model A109LUH helicopters. This AD does
not apply to Model A109LUH helicopters because that model does not have
a U.S. type certificate.

Related Service Information

We reviewed AgustaWestland Bollettino Tecnico (BT) No. 109S-49 for
Model A109S helicopters, BT No. 109SP-052 for Model AW109SP
helicopters, and BT No. 119-50 for Model A119 and AW119 MKII
helicopters. All of the BTs are revision A, and dated December 3, 2013.
The BTs specify a one-time inspection of each rod end assembly to
determine its serial number. The BTs then require removal from service
of certain serial-numbered rod end assemblies because fractures had
been reported on rod ends in these batches. According to the BTs, no
one was injured in the helicopters, and no helicopters were damaged
because of these fractures.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 91 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 a work-hour. Based on these estimates,
we expect the following costs:
Replacing a rod end assembly requires 1.5 work-hours for a
labor cost of $128. Parts cost $3,918 for a total cost of $4,046 per
helicopter, $368,186 for the U.S. fleet.
According to the manufacturer's service information, costs of this
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by
manufacturers. Accordingly, 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 products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

We have determined that 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, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2014-04-14, Amendment 39-17773 (79 FR 11699, March 3, 2014), and adding
the following new AD: