DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0577; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-042-AD;
Amendment 39-18184; AD 2015-12-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus
Helicopters Model EC135P1, EC135T1, EC135P2, EC135T2, EC135P2+,
EC135T2+, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting
certain washers for movement and making appropriate repairs if the
washers move. This AD was prompted by play found between the Smart
Electro Mechanical Actuator (SEMA) and the control rod during
installation work on a helicopter. The actions of this AD are intended
to prevent loss of concerned control axis and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective July 23, 2015.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of July 23, 2015.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052;
telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at
http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 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: Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email matt.wilbanks@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On August 18, 2014, at 79 FR 48707, 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 Airbus Helicopters
Model EC135P1, EC135T1, EC135P2, EC135T2, EC135P2+, EC135T2+, and MBB-
BK 117 C-2 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting certain
washers for movement in the attachment hardware that connects the SEMA
and the control rod of the longitudinal, lateral, and yaw actuators. If
a washer can be moved, the NPRM proposed replacing the four screws,
installing two additional washers, and torque-tightening the screws.
The proposed requirements were intended to prevent loss of concerned
control axis and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2013-0176, dated August 7, 2013,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter
Deutschland GmbH Model EC 135 P1 (CDS), EC 135 P1 (CPDS), EC 135 P2+,
EC 135 P2 (CPDS), EC 135 T1 (CDS), EC 135 T1 (CPDS), EC 135 T2+, EC 135
T2 (CPDS), EC 635 P2+, EC 635 T1 (CPDS), EC 635 T2+, and MBB-BK 117 C-2
helicopters. EASA advises that during installation work on a
helicopter, it was discovered that it was not possible to install
attachment hardware on a threaded blind borehole between the SEMA and
the control rod without play. EASA advises that this condition, if not
detected and corrected, could lead to loss of the concerned control
axis, possibly resulting in loss of helicopter control. For these
reasons, EASA AD No. 2013-0176 requires a one-time inspection of the
affected SEMA attachment hardware to detect improper connection and
play and, depending on the findings, replacement of the affected
hardware. After the issuance of EASA AD No. 2013-0176, Eurocopter
Deutschland GmbH changed its name to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland
GmbH.

Comments

After our NPRM (79 FR 48707, August 18, 2014) was published, we
received comments from one commenter.

Request

Air Methods stated that the proposed AD requires compliance with
Revision 1 of the service information and requested that previous
compliance with the original service information, Revision 0, be
included as an acceptable method of compliance in the AD.
We agree. We have added a paragraph to the AD giving credit for
previous compliance with Revision 0 of the service information.

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
the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by EASA, reviewed the relevant information,
considered the comment received, 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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD applies to Eurocopter Model EC635P2+, EC635T1 and
EC635T2+ helicopters. This AD does not apply to these model helicopters
because they have no FAA type certificate.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Eurocopter reported in Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs) EC135-22A-
015, Revision 1, dated January 28, 2013, and MBB BK117 C-2-22A-009,
Revision 1, dated August 3, 2009, that it was discovered during the
installation work on a helicopter that it was not possible to establish
attachment hardware on a threaded blind borehole between the SEMA and
the control rod without play. The ASBs state that ``unfavourable adding
of the tolerances'' of the individual attachment hardware elements
caused the screw to push against the bottom of the threaded blind
borehole on the SEMA, preventing any clamping force on the screw head.
The ASBs call for inspecting the SEMA attachment hardware connected to
their respective control rods for play and making the proper
adjustments to eliminate any play.
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 of this
AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 385 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 per work hour. Based on these
estimates, we expect the following costs:
Inspecting for movement of the washers requires 1.5 work
hours for a labor cost of $128 per helicopter and $49,280 for the U.S.
fleet.
Replacing the screws and related work requires an
additional 0.5 work-hours for a labor cost of $43. Screws cost $4 each
while washers cost $10 each. We estimate the cost at $79 per repair.

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):