DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0671; Product Identifier 2016-SW-072-AD; Amendment
39-19135; AD 2017-26-04]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously Eurocopter France)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-25-07 for
Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2009-25-07 required
amending the rotorcraft flight manual supplement (RFMS) and pre-flight
checking the emergency flotation gear before each flight over water.
Since we issued AD 2009-25-07, Airbus Helicopters developed a
terminating action and identified an additional part-
numbered emergency floatation gear part with the unsafe condition. This
new AD retains the requirements of AD 2009-25-07, expands the
applicability, and adds a terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. The actions of this AD are intended to correct an unsafe
condition on these helicopters.

DATES: This AD is effective January 24, 2018.

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/website/technical-expert/. 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-2017-
0671; 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, 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: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email george.schwab@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2009-25-07 (74 FR 65682, December 11, 2009) (2009-
25-07), and add a new AD. AD 2009-25-07 applied to Eurocopter France
(now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC120B helicopters. AD 2009-25-07
required amending the limitations section of RFMS to prohibit flight
over water if the ``float arm'' pushbutton does not remain lit,
conducting a pilot check to determine whether the ``float arm''
pushbutton remains lit before any flight over water, and placarding the
``float arm'' pushbutton as inoperative if the functional check is
unsuccessful.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 14, 2017 (82 FR
32501). The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2016-0180, dated September 13,
2016 (AD 2016-0180), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for
the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition
for Model EC120B helicopters. EASA advises that Airbus Helicopters has
designed an improved latching pushbutton, which when installed becomes
a terminating action for the repetitive functional checks of the float
arm pushbuttons. EASA also states that lighting and ancillary control
unit (LACU) part number (P/N) 040101BA is equipped with the same faulty
pushbutton and must be included in the applicability.
Accordingly, the NPRM proposed to retain the RFMS amendment and
repetitive functional check requirements of AD 2009-25-07, add LACU P/N
040101BA to the applicability paragraph, require replacing the float
arm pushbutton P/N 045004A111A with float arm pushbutton P/N 304-2500-
00 within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS), and prohibit installing
float arm pushbutton P/N 045004A111A on any helicopter. Replacing the
float arm pushbutton was also proposed as a terminating action for the
repetitive functional checks prior to flight overwater. An owner/
operator (pilot) may perform the functional check required by this AD
and must enter compliance with that paragraph into the helicopter
maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4)
and 91.417(a)(2)(v). A pilot may perform this check because it involves
only a functional check to determine whether the emergency flotation
gear has been armed and can be performed equally well by a pilot or a
mechanic. This check is an exception to our standard maintenance
regulations.
The proposed requirements were intended to prohibit flight over
water if a functional test indicates that the emergency flotation gear
cannot be armed, which would preclude deployment of the floats in an
emergency water ditching, resulting in subsequent damage to the
helicopter and injury to occupants.
Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service
has changed its organization 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

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

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 requires installing the LACU float arm pushbutton
within 13 months; this AD requires the installation within 300 hours
TIS.

Related Service Information

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No.
04A007, Revision 1, dated June 30, 2016 (EASB), for Airbus Helicopters
Model EC120B helicopters. The EASB describes procedures for a pre-
flight check of the float arm pushbutton while arming the emergency
flotation gear and prohibits operators from flight over water if the
float arm pushbutton fails.
We also reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No.
EC120-31A008, Revision 0, dated June 30, 2016 (ASB), for Airbus
Helicopters Model EC120B helicopters. The ASB describes procedures for
replacing the float arm pushbutton with a new design pushbutton and for
re-labeling the modified LACU with a new P/N label.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate this AD will affect 53 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, the
cost of revising the limitations section of the RFMS and of the pre-
flight functional check is negligible. Replacing the float arm
pushbutton will require about 2 work-hours, and required parts cost
about $311, for a cost per helicopter of $481 and a total cost of
$25,493 to 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2009-25-07, Amendment 39-16126 (74 FR 65682, December 11, 2009), and
adding the following new AD: