DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9143; Product Identifier 2013-SW-037-AD; Amendment
39-19051; AD 2017-19-21]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus
Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires modifying the
emergency lubrication system (EMLUB). This AD was prompted by two
incidents of emergency ditching after there was a warning of a loss of
oil pressure and a false EMLUB failure. The actions of this AD are
intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 30, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of October 30,
2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final 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.

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-2016-
9143; 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: Rao Edupuganti, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations & Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch,
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, Texas 76177; telephone (817)
222-5110; email rao.edupuganti@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On March 14, 2017, at 82 FR 13565, 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 Airbus Helicopters
(formerly Eurocopter France) Model EC225LP helicopters. The NPRM
proposed to require replacing the EMLUB glycol pump, the air and glycol
pressure switches, and the MGB lubrication card, and modifying and re-
identifying the helicopter wiring harness. The NPRM also proposed
testing the function of the EMLUB and electrical systems and revising
the Emergency Procedures section of the RFM. Lastly, the NPRM proposed
to prohibit installing certain part-numbered EMLUB glycol pumps, air-
pressure switches, glycol pressure switches and electronic boards on
any helicopter. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a
false EMLUB warning. This condition when associated with a loss of the
MGB oil pressure could result in an unnecessary emergency landing or
ditching.

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2013-0156, dated July 18, 2013,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for the Airbus
Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. EASA advises of two incidents of
emergency ditching in the North Sea after a warning indication of MGB
loss of oil pressure followed by a red alarm on the EMLUB. In both
cases, the EMLUB provided a false failure indication due to a design
nonconformity on the electrical outputs of some EMLUB air and glycol
pressure-switches. EASA states that a false red EMLUB warning during an
MGB emergency lubrication system operation could cause the flight crew
to perform an immediate landing or ditching. As a result, the EASA AD
requires several actions that restore safe operation of the EMLUB
system.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM.

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
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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) issued Alert Service Bulletin
(ASB) No. EC225-05A033, Revision 0, dated July 14, 2013, for Model
EC225LP helicopters. This ASB specifies replacing the air and glycol
pressure switches, modifying the helicopter wiring, replacing the
glycol pump, replacing the MGB lubrication card, modifying the RFM
emergency procedures in the event of EMLUB activation, and canceling
the RFM limitations of Eurocopter Emergency ASB No. 04A010, dated July
14, 2013.
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.

Related Service Information

Eurocopter (now Airbus Helicopters) also issued the following Alert
Service Bulletins (ASBs), each dated July 14, 2013:
Emergency ASB, Revision 1, with two different numbers: No.
04A010 for Model EC225LP helicopters and No. 04A009 for military Model
EC725AP helicopters, which are not FAA type certificated. This
Emergency ASB specifies modifying the RFM emergency procedures in the
event of activation of the EMLUB system and applies only to those
helicopters that have not been altered by certain modifications.
Emergency ASB No. 05A032, Revision 2, for both Model
EC225LP and military Model EC725AP helicopters. This Emergency ASB
specifies checking that the EMLUB electrical system (harness, control,
alarm, and indicator panel) operates correctly and applies only to
those helicopters that have not been altered by certain modifications
(the same as those for Emergency ASB No. 04A010 and No. 04A009).

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 4 helicopters of U.S. Registry and
that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these estimates,
we expect the following costs. We estimate that 34 work-hours are
needed to replace the air and glycol pressure switches, modify the
helicopter wiring, replace the glycol pump, and replace the MGB
lubrication card. The required parts cost $121,695 per helicopter.
Based on these estimates, the total costs are $124,585 per helicopter
and $498,340 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 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):