DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3941; Product Identifier 2015-SW-052-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); reopening
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an earlier proposal for Airbus Helicopters
Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-
4, MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters. This
action revises the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by expanding
the applicability and proposing to add requirements to replace certain
seals with newly certified seals and revise the Rotorcraft Flight
Manual (RFM) for your helicopter. The FAA is proposing this
airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these
products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over
those in the NPRM, the FAA is reopening the comment period to allow the
public the chance to comment on these changes.

DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published in the Federal
Register on May 5, 2016 (81 FR 27057), is reopened.

The FAA must receive comments on this SNPRM by June 12, 2020.

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 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 https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3941;
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 SNPRM, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (previously
European Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed
above. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.

For service information identified in this SNPRM, 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 https://www.airbus.
com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. You may
view the referenced 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

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2015-3941;
Product Identifier 2015-SW-052-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this SNPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
SNPRM based on those comments.

The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this SNPRM.

Discussion

The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that
would apply to Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4,
MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters with
adhesive seal part number (P/N) 117-800201.01 installed
on an exterior or interior sliding door. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on May 5, 2016 (81 FR 27057). The NPRM was prompted by
reports that the adhesive seal prevented the doors from jettisoning
properly. The NPRM proposed to require removing this part-numbered
adhesive seal from the exterior and interior of each sliding door. The
NPRM also proposed to prohibit the installation of this part-numbered
adhesive seal on any helicopter sliding door.

EASA, which is the aviation authority for the Member States of the
European Union, had issued EASA AD No. 2015-0163, dated August 6, 2015
(EASA AD 2015-0163), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus
Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4, MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK
117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters. EASA advised that difficulties
were reported regarding the jettisoning of doors. The malfunction was
caused by the adhesive seal, which hampered the free movement of the
inner handle. According to EASA, a subsequent investigation showed that
the adhesive seal has mechanical and physical properties that do not
meet relevant certification requirements. EASA stated that this
condition, if not detected and corrected, could lead to a malfunction
of the door's jettisoning mechanism, reducing or preventing the
evacuation of the helicopter during an emergency, possibly resulting in
injury to occupants. To address this condition, EASA AD 2015-0163
required inspecting the exterior and interior door jettisoning system
on the left and right sliding doors for adhesive seal P/N 117-800201.01
and removing those adhesive seals.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

Since the FAA issued the NPRM, a new adhesive seal P/N has become
available and the related service information has been revised to
provide installation instructions for this new seal and instruction to
use a revised flight manual with preflight check information for the
new seal. EASA also revised its AD to EASA AD No. 2015-0163R1, dated
April 27, 2016, to include a reference to the installation of the new
adhesive seals.

Accordingly, this SNPRM expands the applicability to include all
Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4, MBB-BK 117B-1,
MBB-BK 117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters and proposes to require
installation of the new adhesive seals and revise the RFM for your
helicopter.

Additionally, since the NPRM was issued, the website address for
Airbus Helicopters has changed. This website address has been updated
in this SNPRM. Lastly, since the NPRM was issued, the FAA's Aircraft
Certification Service has changed its organization structure. The new
structure replaces product directorates with functional divisions. The
FAA has revised some of the office titles and nomenclature throughout
this proposed AD to reflect the new organizational changes. Information
about the new structure can be found in the Notice published on July
25, 2017 (82 FR 34564).

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this proposed AD. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM
or on the determination of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

The FAA is proposing this SNPRM after evaluating all known relevant
information and determining that an unsafe condition is likely to exist
or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs. Certain
changes described above expand the scope of the original NPRM. As a
result, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the
comment period to provide additional opportunity for the public to
comment on this SNPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Helicopters
Alert Service Bulletin MBB-BK117-20A-114, Revision 2, dated March 30,
2016, for Model MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4, MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK
117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters. This service information
describes procedures for cleaning and degreasing the seal installation
areas and installing adhesive seal P/N 117-800201.02. This service
information also specifies flight manual revisions with preflight check
information for this new seal.

The FAA reviewed MBB Helicopters Flight Manual MBB-BK117 A-3,
Revision 17.1, MBB Helicopters Flight Manual MBB-BK117 A-4, Revision
16.1, MBB Helicopters Flight Manual MBB-BK117 B-1, Revision 20.1,
Eurocopter Flight Manual BK117 B-2, Revision 21.2, and Eurocopter
Flight Manual BK117 C-1, Revision 30.1, each dated March 25, 2015. This
revision of the service information adds preflight check procedures for
"Jettisonable sliding door installed, after ASB-BK117-20A-114" in the
Normal Procedures section, Preflight Exterior Check, under both
"Fuselage-right side" and "Fuselage-left side" of the RFM for
your helicopter.

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.

Proposed Requirements of the SNPRM

If adhesive seal P/N 117-800201.01 is installed, this proposed AD
would require, within 25 hours time-in-service, removing each adhesive
seal from the interior and exterior of each sliding door. For all
helicopters, this proposed AD would require cleaning and degreasing the
seal installation areas and installing adhesive seal P/N 117-800201.02.
This proposed AD would also require revising the Normal Procedures
section, Preflight Exterior Check, under both "Fuselage-right side"
and "Fuselage-left side" of the RFM for your helicopter to check the
condition of the exterior and interior seals.

This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of adhesive
seal P/N 117-800201.01 on any helicopter sliding door.

Differences Between This SNPRM and the EASA AD

The EASA AD does not mandate the installation of the new adhesive
seals, whereas this proposed AD would. Model MBB-BK 117 B-2 serial
number 7203 is affected by the EASA AD, but it is not affected by this
SNPRM because it is ineligible for U.S. registration.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 45 helicopters of
U.S. registry. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD.

If installed, removing adhesive seals P/N 117-800201.01 would take
about 0.5 work-hour for an estimated cost of about $43 per helicopter.
Installing new seals and revising the RFM for your helicopter would
take about 1 work-hour and a set of new seals (4 units) would cost
about $5 for an estimated cost of $90 per helicopter and $4,050 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.

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. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

3. 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.

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):