DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0111; Product Identifier 2016-SW-079-AD; Amendment
39-19211; AD 2018-05-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; AgustaWestland S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
AgustaWestland S.p.A. (AgustaWestland) Model AW189 helicopters. This AD
requires replacing the seal and filler wedges of all emergency exit
windows. This AD was prompted by a report that some windows were
improperly glued when installed. The actions of this AD are intended to
correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 4, 2018.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Matteo Ragazzi, Head of
Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va)
Italy; telephone +39-0331-711756; fax +39-0331-229046; or at http://www.leonardocompany.com/-/bulletins. 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-
0111; 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 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
Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is 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: Martin R. Crane, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations & Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch,
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-
5110; email martin.r.crane@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On November 2, 2017, at 82 FR 50847, 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 AgustaWestland Model
AW189 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require replacing the seal and
filler wedges of all emergency exit windows. The proposed requirements
were intended to prevent the failure of the windows from jettisoning
during an emergency.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2016-0216, dated October 28, 2016,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Leonardo
Helicopters (previously Finmeccanica S.p.A., previously AgustaWestland)
Model AW189 helicopters, serial numbers 49007 through 49021, 49023,
49029, 49033, 49035, 89001, 89003, 89004, 92001, 92003, and 92005. The
EASA AD does not apply to windows that have been reinstalled at least
once since helicopter delivery and windows that are part of bubble
window kit part number (P/N) 8G5620F00111.
EASA advises that some windows were installed with glue applied in
locations that were not in accordance with the approved design. This
condition, if not corrected, could prevent the jettisoning of
helicopter emergency exit windows, possibly affecting the evacuation of
crew and passengers during an emergency situation, EASA advises. EASA
consequently requires replacement of the seal and the filler wedges of
the emergency exit windows installed in the cockpit doors and cabin.
The FAA is in the process of updating AgustaWestland's name change
to Leonardo Helicopters on its type certificate. Because this name
change is not yet effective, this AD specifies AgustaWestland.

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
Italy and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with Italy, 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

We reviewed Leonardo Helicopters Bollettino Tecnico No. 189-118,
dated October 20, 2016. This service information specifies replacing
the seal and filler wedges on all cockpit door and cabin emergency exit
windows of Model AW189 helicopters, except on those windows that have
been replaced or that are part of bubble window kit P/N 8G5620F00111.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 2 helicopters of U.S. Registry and
that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these estimates,
we expect that removing and replacing the window seals and fillers
requires 40 work-hours and that parts cost about $834, for a total cost
of $4,234 per helicopter and $8,468 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):