DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-0674; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-019-AD;
Amendment 39-18792; AD 2017-03-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2014-05-06 for
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) (now Airbus Helicopters Deutschland
GmbH) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters to correct an error in
the compliance time. AD 2014-05-06 required inspecting the flight-
control bearings and installing bushings and washers. This AD requires
the same actions. These actions are intended to prevent an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 31, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 14,
2014 (79 FR 13196, March 10, 2014).

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-2015-0674.

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-2015-0674;
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 Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
matthew.fuller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2014-05-06, Amendment 39-17779 (79 FR 13196, March
10, 2014) and add a new AD. AD 2014-05-06 required inspecting the
flight control bearings repetitively, replacing any loose bearing with
an airworthy flight control bearing, and installing bushings and
washers. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 30, 2015
(80 FR 16603). The NPRM proposed to retain all of the required actions
and correct an error in the compliance time. AD 2014-05-06 should have
required installing the bushings and washers on Model EC135 helicopters
within the next 100 hours time-in-service or at the next annual
inspection, whichever occurs first. However, we omitted the word
``first'' from that sentence, which changes the meaning of the required
compliance time.
AD 2014-05-06 was prompted by the discovery of loose flight control
bearings because of incorrect installation. This condition could result
in the affected control lever shifting, contacting the helicopter
structure. The actions in AD 2014-05-06 were intended to prevent this
unsafe condition, which could reduce control of the helicopter.
Also since we issued AD 2014-05-06, ECD changed its name to Airbus
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters). This AD reflects
that change and updates the contact information to obtain service
documentation.

Comments

After our NPRM (80 FR 16603, March 30, 2015) was published, we
received comments from one commenter.

Request

Airbus Helicopters first requested revising the compliance times
for the repetitive inspections to match that in its current service
information. For the Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+
helicopters, Airbus Helicopters requested increasing the 800 hour
interval to 1000 hours with an additional 10% margin. For MBB-BK 117 C-
2 helicopters, Airbus Helicopters requested increasing the 600 hour
interval to 800 hours with an additional 10% margin.
We disagree. Airbus Helicopters did not provide any technical
justification to support this request. The final rule has not been
changed as a result of this comment.
Airbus Helicopters also requested that if any bearing is loose, we
require replacing the lever or rebonding the affected bearing in accordance
with its maintenance instructions.
We agree with the comment but disagree that a change to the AD is
necessary. If there is a loose bearing, the AD requires replacing it
with an airworthy part. If a bearing can be re-bonded in a manner
acceptable to the FAA, then it would be an airworthy part.

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 comments 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 with the changes described
previously. These changes are consistent with the intent of the
proposals in the NPRM (80 FR 16603, March 30, 2015), and will not
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of
this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

Differences between this AD and the EASA AD are:
The EASA AD is applicable to the EC 635 helicopter,
whereas this AD is not because the EC 635 helicopter is not type
certificated in the U.S.
The EASA AD requires an initial inspection within 50
flight hours or one month, whichever occurs first after May 31, 2008,
and a modification within the next 12 months. This AD requires the
modification within 100 hours TIS or at the next annual inspection,
whichever occurs first, and no inspection until after the modification
has been accomplished.
The EASA AD specifies repetitive inspection intervals not
to exceed 800 hours TIS or 12 months, plus a 10% percent margin,
whichever occurs first, for Model EC135 helicopters and 600 hours TIS
or 12 months, plus a 10% percent margin, whichever occurs first, for
the Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This AD requires repetitive
inspection intervals not to exceed 800 hours TIS or 36 months,
whichever occurs first, for Model EC135 helicopters and 600 hours TIS
or 24 months, whichever occurs first, for Model MBB-BK 117 C-2
helicopters.
The EASA AD applies to all Model EC135 and Model MBB-BK
117 C-2 helicopters, while this AD applies to certain serial-numbered
Model EC135 and Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, as recommended by the
appropriate ECD ASB.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) has issued Alert Service
Bulletin (ASB) MBB BK117 C-2-67A-010, Revision 3, dated February 8,
2010 for Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, and ASB EC135-67A-019,
Revision 3, dated December 16, 2009 for Model EC135 helicopters. These
ASBs specify:
Within the next 50 flight hours (FHs), inspecting the
affected bearings and, if necessary, rebonding any affected bearings or
replacing the lever assembly.
Within 12 months, retrofitting bushings and washers on the
levers to prevent movement of the bearings.
After the retrofit, repeating the inspection every 800 FHs
or 36 months for the Model EC135 helicopters, whichever comes first,
and 600 FHs or 24 months, whichever comes first, for the Model MBB-BK
117 C-2 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 175 Model EC135 and 112 Model MBB-
BK 117 C-2 helicopters of U.S. Registry and that labor costs average
$85 per work-hour. Based on these estimates, we expect the following
costs:
For EC135 helicopters, it takes about 32 work-hours to
perform the modification. Parts cost about $312. The total cost for the
modification is about $3,032 per helicopter and $530,600 for the U.S.
operator fleet. The repetitive inspections require 6.5 work-hours for a
cost of about $553 per helicopter and about $96,775 for the fleet per
inspection cycle.
For MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, it takes about 32 work-
hours to perform the modification. Parts cost about $396. The total
cost for the modification is $3,116 per helicopter and $348,992 for the
U.S. operator fleet. The cost for the repetitive inspections thereafter
is about $85 per helicopter and $9,520 for the fleet per inspection
cycle.

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)
2014-05-06, Amendment 39-17779 (79 FR 13196, March 10, 2014), and
adding the following new AD: