DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1011; Product Identifier 2017-SW-004-AD; Amendment
39-19232; AD 2018-07-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-16-14 for
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (now Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH)
Model EC 135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters. AD 2013-16-14
required installing a washer in and modifying the main transmission
filter housing upper part. Since we issued AD 2013-16-14, Airbus
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH has extended the overhaul interval for the
main transmission and determined that other models may have the same
unsafe condition. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2013-16-14,
adds models to the applicability, and revises
the required compliance time for the modification. The actions of this
AD are intended to correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 3, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 3, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
October 9, 2013 (78 FR 54383, September 4, 2013).

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 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-2017-1011.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
in Docket No. FAA-2017-1011; 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 information, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is Docket
Operations, 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: Rao Edupuganti, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch,
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-
5110; email rao.edupuganti@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2013-16-14, Amendment 39-17552 (78 FR 54383,
September 4, 2013), and add a new AD. AD 2013-16-14 applied to
Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (now Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH)
Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters with a certain
serial-numbered main transmission FS108 housing upper part (upper
part), part number (P/N) 4649 301 034. AD 2013-16-14 required
installing a corrugated washer in the upper part filter housing and
modifying each affected upper part by machining the oil filter bypass
inlet.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on November 3, 2017 (82
FR 51175). The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2017-0002, dated January 9,
2017 (AD 2017-0002), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for
the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition
for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model EC 135 and EC635 helicopters.
EASA advises that some affected upper parts have been re-identified
with P/N 4649 301 067 or P/N 4649 301 088 without changing the serial
number. EASA further advises that Airbus Helicopters has extended the
compliance time to retrofit the housing to 5,150 hours to coincide with
the extended interval between transmission overhauls.
Accordingly, the NPRM proposed to retain the requirement to install
a corrugated washer and modify the upper part and also proposed adding
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland Model EC135P3 and Model EC135T3
helicopters and upper part P/N 4649 301 067 and P/N 4649 301 088 to the
applicability and extending the compliance time for machining the upper
part to 5,150 hours TIS.

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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) EC135-
63A-017, Revision 2, dated December 5, 2016 (ASB EC135-63A-017), for
Model EC135 T1, T2, T2+, T3, P1, P2, P2+, P3, and 635 T1, T2+, T3, P2+,
and P3 helicopters. This service information specifies removing the oil
filter element and installing a corrugated washer. ASB EC135-63A-017
also specifies reworking the affected upper part at the next repair or
overhaul of the main transmission, no later than 5,150 flight hours
after receipt of the service bulletin. EASA classified this ASB as
mandatory and issued AD 2017-0002 to ensure the continued airworthiness
of these helicopters.
We also reviewed ZF Luftfahrttechnik GmbH Service Instruction No.
EC135FS108-1659-1009, dated September 14, 2010, which specifies
procedures for repairing the main transmission upper housing, and
includes dimensions and tolerances for machining the upper part.
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.

Other Related Service Information

We reviewed Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin EC135-63A-017,
Revision 0, dated October 11, 2010, for Model EC135 T1, T2, T2+, P1,
P2, P2+, and 635 T1, T2+, and P2+ helicopters. This service information
specifies the same Accomplishment Instructions as ASB EC135-63A-017,
Revision 2, except with a shorter compliance time to rework the
affected upper part.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 236 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. At an average labor rate of $85 per work hour, we estimate
that operators will incur the following costs in order to comply with
this AD. Installing the corrugated washer requires about .5 work hour,
and required parts cost about $10, for a cost per helicopter of about
$53, and a cost to the U.S. operator fleet of $12,508. Machining the
housing upper part requires about 5 work hours and required parts cost
about $73, for a cost per helicopter of $498, and a total cost to U.S.
operators of $117,528. Based on these figures, we estimate the total
cost of this AD to be $130,036 for the U.S. operator fleet or $551 per
helicopter.
According to Airbus Helicopters' service information some of the
costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected persons. We do not control warranty coverage by
Airbus Helicopters. 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 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)
2013-16-14, Amendment 39-17552 (78 FR 54383, September 4, 2013), and
adding the following new AD: