DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1124; Product Identifier 2017-SW-073-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1
helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the jettisoning
mechanism of the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) cabin sliding plug
doors. This proposed AD is prompted by a report that during a scheduled
inspection a cabin door failed to jettison. The actions of this
proposed AD are intended to correct an unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 9, 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-2017-
1124; 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html.

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 Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2017-0022, dated February 8,
2017, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters (previously
Eurocopter) Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, and AS332L1 helicopters
equipped with a cabin sliding plug door modified in accordance with
Airbus Helicopters modification (MOD) 0722338. Helicopters with
Eurocopter MOD 0725366 are exempt from the EASA AD's requirements.

EASA advises that the emergency jettison test of a cabin lateral
sliding plug door failed during a scheduled inspection and test of the
door's jettison mechanism. According to EASA, an investigation revealed
that the jettison handle cable interfered with the cable clamps. EASA
states that this condition could lead to jamming of the door
jettisoning mechanism, preventing jettisoning of the affected door
during an emergency, possibly obstructing evacuation of the occupants.
The EASA AD consequently requires repetitive inspections of the
jettisoning mechanism of the LH and RH door, followed by corrective
actions if needed.

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 the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
52.00.56, Revision 0, dated January 30, 2017, which specifies pulling
on the inner jettison handle to determine whether the cables come into
contact with the cable clamps. If there is contact, this service
information specifies changing the position of the cable clamps to
prevent interference.

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.

Other Related Service Information

We also reviewed Eurocopter Service Bulletin No. 332-52.00.28,
Revision 1, dated April 29, 1998, which contains procedures to improve
the door jettison system. Eurocopter identifies compliance with this
service information as MOD 0725366.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require before flight over water or within
110 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs first, inspecting the
jettisoning mechanism of the LH and RH cabin doors for correct
operation by pulling on the inner jettison handle to determine whether
the cable clamp contacts the top and bottom horizontal cables. If there
is contact between cable clamp and the horizontal cables, this proposed
AD would require changing the position of the cable clamps to remove
any contact.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD requires that the initial inspection occur during the
next jettisoning test of the doors or within 110 flight hours,
whichever occurs first, and thereafter during certain maintenance
tasks. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection within 110
hours TIS or prior to flying over water.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 19 helicopters of
U.S. Registry and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on
these estimates, we expect that inspecting the jettisoning mechanism
and changing the orientation of the cable clamps, if necessary, would
require 4 work-hours. No parts would be required for a total cost of
$340 per helicopter and $6,460 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.

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):