DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1217; Product Identifier 2016-SW-080-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Air Comm Corporation Air Conditioning
Systems

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 Air
Comm Corporation (Air Comm) air conditioning systems installed on
various model helicopters. This proposed AD would require replacing
electrical connectors and would prohibit the installation of other
parts. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of overheated
connectors. The proposed actions are intended to address an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 12, 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-2017-1217;
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 economic evaluation, the Special Airworthiness
Information Bulletin (SAIB), 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
Air Comm Corporation, 1575 West 124th Ave., Westminster, CO 80234;
telephone (303) 440-4075; email service@aircommcorp.com; website
www.aircommcorp.com. 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: Matthew Bryant, Aerospace Engineer,
Denver ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, FAA, 26805
East 68th Ave., Room 214, Denver, CO 80249; telephone (303) 342-1092;
email matthew.bryant@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

On August 13, 2015, we issued SAIB SW-15-20 to alert owners and
operators of Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 206,
407, and 427; Agusta S.p.A. Model A119; and Airbus Helicopters Model
AS350, EC120, and EC130 helicopters of possible overheated and melted
connectors in the wiring of certain Air Comm air conditioning system
units. SAIB SW-15-20 was prompted by a report of a melted and
discolored aft evaporator assembly connector due to poor crimping
during installation of the connector or during production. SAIB SW-15-
20 recommends inspecting the connecters for evidence of overheating and
loose contact by following the Air Comm service bulletins, and if there
is evidence of overheating or loose contact, making the air
conditioning system inoperable until those connectors are replaced.

Since we issued SAIB SW-15-20, we received additional reports of
melted and burned connectors. Further investigation revealed the
connector design may be insufficient for some of these model
helicopters because of electrical current load, installation location,
vibration environment, and susceptibility to environmental factors. As
a result, the connector may develop low pin tension between the socket
and the pin, leading to high electrical resistance, subsequently
resulting in excessive pin and socket temperatures. Overheating of the
connector could result in a fire and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter. In July 2016, Air Comm introduced a newly designed
connector that can withstand the demands and environment of the aft
evaporator blower motor.

Accordingly, we are proposing an AD for certain part-numbered Air
Comm air conditioning systems installed on Airbus Helicopters Model
AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1,
and EC130B4, and Bell Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-
4, and 407 helicopters. This proposed AD would require replacing each
aft evaporator blower motor connector with the newly designed connector
and would prohibit installing certain parts in the aft evaporator
assembly, aft evaporator blower assembly, and aft condenser blower. The
actions specified in this proposed AD are intended to prevent
overheating of a connector, which could result in a fire and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter.

These Air Comm air conditioning systems may be installed on Airbus
Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C,
AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC)
SR00643DE; on Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 helicopters per STC
SR00543DE; on Bell Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4
helicopters per STC SH2750NM; and on Bell Model 407 helicopters per STC
SR00222DE. Because field reports revealed that Agusta S.p.A. Model
A119, Airbus Helicopters Model EC120, and Bell Model 427 helicopters
are not affected by this unsafe condition, we are not including these
models in this proposed AD.

FAA's Determination

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

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Air Comm Corporation Service Bulletin (SB) SB AS350-
111014 for Airbus Helicopters AS350 series helicopters and SB EC130-
6204 for Airbus Helicopters EC130 series helicopters, both Revision B
and dated January 10, 2017. We also reviewed SB 206-110414 for Bell 206
series helicopters, Revision C, and SB 407-110414 for Bell Model 407
helicopters, Revision D, both dated January 13, 2017. This service
information specifies inspecting certain aft evaporator blower motor
and certain condenser blower electrical connectors for indications of
overheating, discoloration, and plastic deformation and performing a
pull test. This service information also specifies replacing connector
housings and contacts that fail the inspection or the pull test.

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 the following Air Comm Corporation service
information:

SB AS350-111014 and SB EC130-6204, both Revision A and
both dated July 6, 2016;

SB 206-110414, Revision B, dated January 10, 2017 and
Revision A dated June 3, 2016; and

SB 407-110414, Revision C, dated January 10, 2017, and
Revision B, dated July 6, 2016.

This service information contains the same procedures described
above. However, SB AS350-111014 and SB EC130-6204, both Revision B and
dated January 10, 2017, contain additional instructions and figures for
the connectors. SB 206-110414, Revision C, and SB 407-110414, Revision
D, both dated January 13, 2017, contain minor corrections.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require replacing certain connectors with
Air Comm connectors and prohibit installing certain part-numbered
plugs, sockets, receptacles, and pin in certain part-numbered aft
evaporator assemblies, aft evaporator blower assemblies, and aft
condenser blowers.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

The Air Comm service information specifies a compliance time of 20
flight hours. This proposed AD would require compliance within 90 hours
time-in-service. The Air Comm service information specifies inspecting
each connector and replacing the connector housings and contacts that
have any signs of overheating or that fail a pull test. This proposed
AD would require replacing each connector without an inspection. This
proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain parts in certain
part-numbered aft evaporator assemblies, aft evaporator blower
assemblies, and aft condenser blowers.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 914 units installed
on helicopters of U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur
the following costs in order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are
estimated at $85 per work-hour. Replacing the connectors would take
about 1 work-hour and parts would cost about $60 for a total cost of
$145 per helicopter and $132,530 for the U.S. fleet.

According to Air Comm's service information, some of the costs of
this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty
coverage by Air Comm. Accordingly, we have included all costs in our
cost estimate.

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):