DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0068; Product Identifier 2014-SW-076-AD; Amendment
39-18981; AD 2017-16-04]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex)
Torso Restraint Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Romtex
torso restraint systems (restraint systems) installed on but not
limited to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2,
and AS355NP helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain restraint
system buckles. This AD was prompted by a report of several restraint
system buckle knobs breaking. The actions of this AD are intended to
correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 22, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of September 22,
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Romtex Anjou Aeronautique, Strada Livezii nr. 98, 550042,
Sibiu, Romania; telephone +40 269 243 918; email
seatbelts@anjouaero.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. It is
also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0068.

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-
0068; 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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5116;
email david.hatfield@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On February 17, 2017, at 82 FR 10971, the Federal Register
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Romtex
restraint systems with a rotary buckle sub-assembly (buckle assembly)
with a part number and serial number listed in Romtex Service Bulletin
No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 1, dated December 12, 2014. These restraint
systems are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus Helicopters Model
AS350B2, AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, and AS355NP helicopters. The NPRM
proposed to require inspecting the buckle assembly to determine whether
the straps release, marking the seat as inoperative if the buckle fails
to release the straps, and replacing the buckle assembly within 180
hours time-in-service (TIS). The NPRM also proposed to prohibit
installing the affected buckle assemblies on any helicopter. The
proposed requirements were intended to prevent a restraint system strap
from failing to release from the buckle, preventing occupants from
exiting the helicopter during an emergency.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2014-0279, dated December 19, 2014,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Romtex Model 358
torso restraint systems installed on Airbus Helicopters Model EC130T2,
AS350B2, and AS350B3 helicopters. EASA advises that ruptures have
occurred on the upper side (knob) of several rotary buckles installed
on these restraint systems. EASA states the material used in two
batches of the buckle assembly were altered by a supplier, resulting in
a specification different from the approved design data. The EASA AD
states that this condition could prevent the release of the restraint
system straps as intended after an emergency landing. To address this
unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires inspecting the buckle
assembly for proper operation, replacing or marking as inoperative any
buckle assembly that fails to release the straps before further flight,
and replacing all buckle assemblies within 6 months. The EASA AD also
prohibits installing these buckle assemblies on any aircraft.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
Romania and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Romania, 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 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 except we are correcting the
name in the related service bulletin from Romtex to Anjou Aero. This
change is consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM 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

The EASA AD requires compliance within 30 days for the buckle
inspection and 6 months for replacement; this AD requires the
inspection within 30 hours TIS and replacement within 180 hours TIS.
The EASA AD does not apply to Model EC130B4 and AS355NP helicopters,
and this AD does.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, Revision
1, dated December 12, 2014 (SB 358SB-14-101), which specifies removing
from service certain part-numbered and serial-numbered buckle
assemblies, consisting of the rotary buckle, belt, and attachment.
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 893 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour,
inspecting the buckle assembly requires about .5 work-hour, for a cost
per helicopter of $43 and a total cost of $38,399 for the fleet.
Replacing each buckle assembly requires about .5 work-hour, and
required parts will cost $42,000, for a cost per helicopter of $42,043
and a total cost to U.S. operators of $37,544,399.
According to the Anjou Aero service information, some of the costs
of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by
Anjou Aero. 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 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):