DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-4031; Product Identifier 2014-SW-072-AD; Amendment
39-19085; AD 2017-22-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Eurocopter France)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-15-03 for
Eurocopter France Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3,
AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters. AD 2013-15-03 required
inspecting the hydraulic pump drive pulley bearing (bearing) for leaks,
rust, overheating, and condition. This new AD adds a requirement to
grease the bearing and inspect for bronze particles in the grease, and
changes the inspection and inspection intervals of the bearing until it
is replaced with an improved bearing. This AD was prompted by
additional reports of hydraulic pump drive belt failure caused by
bearing seizures. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 11, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 11,
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 view this
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-2015-4031.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
in Docket No. FAA-2015-4031; or in person at the
Docket Management Facility 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 information, the economic evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-
647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephen Barbini, Manager, Safety
Management Section, Policy and Innovation Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
stephen.barbini@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2013-15-03, Amendment 39-17519 (78 FR 44422, July
24, 2013) and add a new AD. AD 2013-15-03 applied to Eurocopter France
(now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2,
AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters with a single
hydraulic system and a hydraulic pump drive installed. AD 2013-15-03
required repetitively inspecting the bearing for leaks, rust,
overheating, and condition. AD 2013-15-03 was prompted by six reports
of hydraulic pump drive belt failure caused by bearing seizures. AD
2013-15-03 also was prompted by AD No. 2013-0044-E, dated February 27,
2013, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member
States of the European Union. EASA advised that hydraulic pump drive
belt failures caused by seizure of the bearing, for helicopters with a
single hydraulic system, could lead to loss of hydraulic servo
assistance and an increase in pilot workload to the point that the
helicopter needs to land as soon as possible.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 29, 2016 (81 FR
25622). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD No. 2013-0284-E, dated
December 2, 2013, which supersedes EASA AD No. 2013-0044-E. EASA AD
No. 2013-0284-E advises that the hydraulic pump drive failure was caused
by accidental indentation of the raceways from incorrect fitting of the bearing.
Airbus Helicopters then introduced a new bearing, part number (P/N) 704A33651269,
to replace bearing P/N 704A33651243. This replacement corrects the unsafe
condition as it has a reduced pre-loading value, which significantly
improves its reliability. EASA revised AD No. 2013-0284-E with AD No.
2013-0284R1, dated July 25, 2014, to exclude helicopters that had
replaced the bearing with bearing P/N 704A33651269. EASA then
superseded AD No. 2013-0284R1 with EASA AD No. 2014-0233, dated October
23, 2014, to retain the inspections and require replacement of bearing
P/N 704A33651243 with bearing P/N 704A33651269. Installation of the new
bearing constitutes terminating action for the repetitive inspections.
As a result, the NPRM proposed to retain the inspection
requirements in AD 2013-15-03, add a requirement to grease the bearing
and inspect for bronze particles in the grease, and change the
inspection and inspection intervals of the bearing until it is replaced
with the improved bearing.
Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service
has changed its organizational structure. The new structure replaces
product directorates with functional divisions. We have revised some of
the office titles and nomenclature throughout this Final rule to
reflect the new organizational changes. Additional information about
the new structure can be found in the Notice published on July 25, 2017
(82 FR 34564).

Comments

After our NPRM was published, we received a comment from Airbus
Helicopters.

Request

Airbus Helicopters requested that we revise the Applicability
section of the AD to eliminate confusion. Specifically, Airbus
Helicopters requested we change the AD to apply to helicopters with
``Single Hydraulics pre mod 079568 with Hydraulic pump drive assembly
part number 350A35-0132-00 with bearing part number 704A33651243
installed.''
We do not agree. Airbus Helicopters' request does not make the
Applicability section clearer because the unsafe condition lies with
the bearing, which is also installed in hydraulic pump drive assembly
part number 350A35-0132-00 V. Leaving the original Applicability
language makes this point clear.

FAA's Determination

We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an
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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350BB
helicopters, and this AD does not because the Model AS350BB has no FAA-
issued type certificate. This AD applies to Model AS350D1 and AS350C
helicopters, while the EASA AD does not.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters ASB No. AS350-63.00.24, Revision 0,
dated October 21, 2014 (ASB), for Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350BB,
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, and military Model AS350L1
helicopters with a single hydraulic system and a hydraulic pump drive
assembly P/N 350A35-0132-00. The ASB calls for mandatory replacement of
bearing P/N 704A33651243 with bearing P/N 704A33651269 and introduces a
preventative maintenance operation for bearing P/N 704A33651243 until
it is replaced.
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 729 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 per work hour. Based on these
estimates, we expect the following costs:
Greasing and visually inspecting the bearing requires 1.5
work hours and no parts are needed. We estimate a total cost of $128
per helicopter and $93,312 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.
Inspecting and manually rotating the bearing requires 2
work hours, and no parts are needed. We estimate a total cost of $170
per helicopter and $123,930 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.
Replacing the bearing requires 2 work hours and $1,571 for
parts, for a total cost of $1,741 per helicopter and $1,269,189 for the
U.S. fleet.
Replacing the hydraulic pump drive assembly requires 2
work hours and $8,543 for parts, for a total cost of $8,713 per
helicopter and $6,351,777 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 have determined that 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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2013-15-03, Amendment 39-17519 (78 FR 44422, July 24, 2013), and adding
the following new AD: