DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0419; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-077-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Airbus Helicopters (Airbus) Model AS332L2 and EC225LP helicopters. This
proposed AD would require inspections of the main rotor (M/R) blade
attachment pins (attachment pins). This proposed AD is prompted by a
report of three cracked attachment pins. 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 July 10, 2017.

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-2017-0419;
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 proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA)
AD, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for the Docket Operations Office
(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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5116; email
david.hatfield@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 Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2015-0016, dated January 30,
2015, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Model AS 332 L2 and EC
225 LP helicopters with certain part-numbered attachment pins
installed. EASA advises of three cracked attachment pins on a Model AS
332 L2 helicopter. According to EASA, the cracks resulted from a
combination of factors including corrosion that had initiated in the
inner diameter area of the attachment pin chamfer. EASA states that if
this condition is not detected and corrected, it may lead to failure of
the attachment pin with loss of control of the helicopter. Due to
design similarity, Model EC225LP helicopters are also affected by this
issue.

For these reasons, EASA AD No. 2015-0016 requires repetitive
inspections of the attachment pins for corrosion.

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
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 these same type designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No.
AS332-05.00.99, Revision 0, dated December 22, 2014 (AS332-05.00.99),
for Model AS332L2 helicopters and Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC225-
05A040, Revision 0, dated December 22, 2014 (EC225-05A040), for Model
EC225LP helicopters. Airbus Helicopters advises of cracks discovered in
attachment pins that resulted from a combination of factors, but mainly
corrosion which initiated in the inner diameter at the chamfer. This
service information specifies repetitively inspecting for corrosion and
cracks and ensuring there are no corrosion pits in the attachment pins.
If there is corrosion, this service information allows an attachment
pin to be reworked up to four times before removing it from service. If
there is a crack, this service information specifies contacting and
sending the attachment pin to Airbus 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.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require an initial and recurring inspection
of each attachment pin for corrosion, a crack, and any pitting. If
there is a crack or any pitting, this proposed AD would require
replacing the attachment pin. If there is corrosion, this proposed AD
would require removing the corrosion up to a maximum of four times.
This proposed AD would also require performing these inspections prior
to installing an attachment pin.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD does not require an inspection of the protective
coating of each attachment pin for Model EC225LP helicopters. This
proposed AD would require inspecting the protective coating of each
attachment pin for both model helicopters. The EASA AD requires
ensuring there are no corrosion pits without a corresponding corrective
action. This proposed AD would require replacing an attachment pin that
has any pitting. The EASA AD requires a non-destructive inspection if
in doubt about whether there is a crack, while this proposed AD would
not. Lastly, the EASA AD requires contacting and returning to Airbus
Helicopters any attachment pin with a crack, and this proposed AD would
not.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 5 helicopters of
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs
in order to comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs are estimated at
$85 per work-hour.

For Model AS332L2 helicopters, there would be no costs of
compliance with this proposed AD because there are no helicopters with
this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.

For Model EC225LP helicopters, which have ten attachment pins
installed, inspecting the attachment pins would take about 1 work-hour
for a total cost of $85 per helicopter and $425 for the U.S. fleet.
Removing corrosion would take about 1 work-hour for a total cost of $85
per attachment pin. Replacing an attachment pin would take negligible
additional labor time and required parts would cost about $5,720.

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):