DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9395; Product Identifier 2016-SW-027-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
various Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model
MBB-BK117 and Model BO-105 helicopters. This proposed AD would require
removing the swashplate bellows (bellows) and repetitively inspecting
the swashplate assembly. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of
loose and missing clamps installed on bellows. The proposed actions are
intended to detect and prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 19, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

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 http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-9395;
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 proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

For service information identified in this proposed rule, 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
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.

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

We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.

We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

EASA, which is the aviation authority for Germany, has issued AD
No. 2016-0142, dated July 19, 2016, to correct an unsafe condition for
Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117A-1, MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4,
MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, MBB-BK 117C-1, MBB-BK 117C-2, MBB-BK
117C-2e, BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105D, BO105S, BO-105LS A-3 helicopters.

EASA advises of several reports of a lower clamp found missing from
the bellows and damaging the swashplate bearing ring before becoming
detached. EASA states an investigation showed that over-torqueing can
damage the clamp, which may have caused the clamp to become loose and
detach. According to EASA, this condition, if not detected and
corrected, could lead to loss of a swashplate clamp, resulting in loss
of helicopter control. A detached clamp could damage the swashplate and
pitch link or strike the tail rotor. EASA states that its AD is
considered interim action and a further AD to implement a terminating
action will follow.

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
its AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition is likely
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) BO105-
40A-107 for Model BO105 C-series, D-series and S-series helicopters;
ASB BO105 LS-40A-12 for Model BO-105LS A-3 helicopters; ASB MBB-BK117-
40A-115 for Model MBB-BK 117A-1, MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4, MBB-BK
117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters; and ASB MBB-BK117
C-2-62A-007 for Model MBB-BK 117C-2 and MBB-BK 117C-2e helicopters.
These ASBs are all Revision 4 and all dated May 23, 2016. We also
reviewed Airbus Helicopters ASB MBB-BK117 D-2-62A-003, Revision 2,
dated May 23, 2016, for Model MBB-BK117 D-2 and MBB-BK117 D-2m
helicopters. This service information specifies removing the bellows
and repetitively inspecting the swashplate.

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 AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection within 50
hours time-in-service (TIS) and repetitive inspections every 100 hours
TIS and every 400 hours TIS, by following the instructions in the
manufacturer's service bulletin. This proposed AD would also prohibit
installing on any helicopter bellows P/N 105-10113.05, P/N 4619305044,
and P/N 4638305043 and any gearbox that has these bellows installed.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD requires compliance within different time intervals for
some actions than what this proposed AD would require. The EASA AD
allows a non-cumulative tolerance of 10 percent that may be applied to
the compliance times, and this proposed AD would not. The EASA AD
allows replacing the bellows clamps with cable ties before removing the
bellows, and this proposed AD would not. This proposed AD would apply
to Model MBB-BK 117D-2 helicopters while the EASA AD does not. The EASA
AD applies to Model BO-105D helicopters, while this proposed AD would
not.

Interim Action

We consider this proposed AD to be an interim action. The design
approval holder is currently developing a modification that will
address the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this
modification is developed, approved, and available, we might consider
additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 286 helicopters of
U.S. Registry and that labor costs would average $85 per work hour.
Based on these estimates, we expect the following costs:

Removing and inspecting the swashplate assembly would require 3 work-
hours. No parts would be needed for a cost of $255 per helicopter and
$72,930 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.

Repairing a scratched support tube would require 3 work-hours. No parts
would be needed for a cost of $255 per helicopter.

Replacing a corroded or damaged clamp would require 2 work-hours. Parts
would cost $8 for a cost of $178 per helicopter.

Replacing corroded ball bearings would require 4 work-hours. Parts would
cost $3,000 for a cost of $3,340 per helicopter.

Removing foreign objects from the outer deflection ring would require 2
work-hours. No parts would be needed for a cost of $170 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 products identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

We 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, I certify this proposed regulation:

1. Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order
12866;

2. Is not a "significant rule" under the 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 proposed 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.

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):