DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3741; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-040-AD;
Amendment 39-18507; AD 2016-09-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Eurocopter France)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2013-08-17 for
Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and
SA-366G1 helicopters. AD 2013-08-17 required initial and recurring
inspections of the 9-degree fuselage frame for a crack and repairing
the frame if a crack exists. This new AD modifies the compliance times
and expands the inspection area of the 9-inch frame. The actions of
this AD are intended to detect a crack in the 9-degree frame to prevent
loss of structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective June 10, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of June 10, 2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort
Worth, TX 76177. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3741.

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-2015-
3741; 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: Robert Grant, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort
Worth, Texas 76177; 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 2013-08-17, Amendment 39-17434 (78 FR 25380, May
1, 2013) and add a new AD. AD 2013-08-17 applied to Airbus Helicopters
Model SA-365N, SA-365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters
and required initial and recurring inspections of the inner angles and
flanges of the 9-degree fuselage frame on the right-hand (RH) and left-
hand (LH) sides for a crack. If a crack was found, AD 2013-08-17
required repairing the frame. AD 2013-08-17 was prompted by EASA
Emergency AD No. 2010-0064-E, dated April 1, 2010, to correct an unsafe
condition for the specified model
helicopters. EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States
of the European Union, advises that of a crack found in the 9-degree
frame of an AS 365 N2 helicopter that had logged a total of 10,786
flight hours. EASA states that the time required for initiation of a
crack in this area varies according to the weight and balance data of
the different aircraft versions.

The NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2015 (80
FR 79274). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD No. 2014-0159, dated July
7, 2014, which supersedes EASA Emergency AD No. 2010-0064-E. EASA
advises of further analysis on the strength of the 9-degree frame by
Airbus Helicopters, which indicates compliance times should be modified
and the inspection area expanded. Consequently, the NPRM proposed
retaining the inspections of the 9-degree fuselage frame for a crack
but in the expanded area and within the modified compliance times.
These actions are intended to detect a crack in the 9-degree frame to
prevent loss of structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of
the helicopter.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 79274, December
21, 2015).

FAA's Determination

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with France, 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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

We do not require contacting the manufacturer for approved repair
instructions. We also do not allow flight with a known crack.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Airbus Helicopters has issued an Emergency Alert Service Bulletin
(EASB), Revision 2, dated April 7, 2014, containing the following three
numbers: No. 05.00.57 for the Model SA-365N and N1, and AS-365N2 and N3
and for military Model AS365F, Fs, Fi, and K helicopters; No. 05.39 for
Model SA-366G1 and military Model SA 366-GA helicopters; and No.
05.00.25 for military Model AS565MA, MB, SA, SB, and UB helicopters.

The EASB specifies checking at regular intervals for a crack in the
areas of the inner angles and flanges of the 9-degree frame on the RH
and LH sides, near the splice. Revision 2 of the EASB modifies the
compliance times, adds a compliance time based on take-off/landing
cycles, and expands the inspection areas up to the junction with the
upper part of the frame. EASA classified this service information as
mandatory and issued EASA AD No. 2014-0159 to ensure the continued
airworthiness of these helicopters.

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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 40 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 a work hour. Based on these estimates,
we expect the following costs:

Inspecting the 9-degree frame requires 3 work-hours per
inspection for a cost of $255 per helicopter and $10,200 for the fleet
per inspection cycle.

Repairing the 9-degree frame requires 24 work-hours for a
labor cost of $2,040. Parts cost $3,350 for a total cost of $5,390 per
helicopter.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2013-08-17, Amendment 39-17434 (78 FR 25380, May 1, 2013) and adding
the following new AD: