DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0726; Product Identifier 2017-SW-097-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Leonardo S.p.A. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Finmeccanica
S.p.A., AgustaWestland S.p.A.) Model AW109SP helicopters. This proposed
AD would require inspecting and altering the rescue hoist. This
proposed AD is prompted by a report of a damaged hoist cable that
detached after load application. The actions of this proposed AD are
intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 22, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to the "Mail" address between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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-2018-
0726; 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 proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly
after receipt.

For service information identified in this proposed 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email david.hatfield@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.

We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued AD No. 2017-0025, dated February 14, 2017,
to correct an unsafe condition for Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly
Finmeccanica S.p.A, AgustaWestland S.p.A.) Model AW109SP helicopters.
EASA advises that a hoist cable became snagged behind a hoist handle
assembly nut and broke during a dummy load application. EASA further
advises that this condition could result in detachment of an external
load, and subsequent personal injury or injury to persons on the
ground. To address this unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires
inspecting the hoist cable, modifying the rescue hoist handle, and
amending the rescue hoist pre-flight inspection described in the
rotorcraft flight manual.

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 its AD. We are
proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant information
and determined that an unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop
on other helicopters of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Leonardo Helicopters Bollettino Tecnico No. 109SP-110,
dated February 13, 2017 (BT 109SP-110), which contains procedures for
inspecting the hoist handle, the passenger-side cabin doorframe, and
the hoist cable. This service information also specifies replacing the
attaching hardware on the rescue hoist handle and adding a temporary
pre-flight check of the hoist cable to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual.

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.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require, within 10 hours time-in-service
(TIS) or before the next hoist operation, whichever occurs first,
inspecting the hoist handle assembly and the upper section of the cabin
doorframe for chafing caused by the hoist cable. If there is any
chafing, this proposed AD would require, before further flight,
repairing the damage and inspecting the first 6 meters (20 feet) of the
hoist cable for cable diameter, broken wires, kinks, bird caging,
flattened areas, abrasion, and necking. If the cable dimension is less
than 4.70 mm (0.185 inch), or if there are any broken wires, kinks,
bird caging, flattened areas, abrasion, or necking, this proposed AD
would require, before the next hoist operation, replacing the hoist
cable.

This proposed AD would also require, within 25 hours TIS, replacing
the rescue hoist handle attaching hardware.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD requires amending the rotorcraft flight manual by
adding a daily rescue hoist cable preflight inspection, this proposed
AD does not since the actions in this proposed AD would correct the
unsafe condition.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 30 helicopters of
U.S. Registry.

At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, we estimate that
operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this
AD. Inspecting the hoist handle assembly, cabin doorframe, and hoist
cable would require about 2 hours, for a cost of $170 per helicopter
and $5,100 for the U.S. fleet. Replacing the hardware on the hoist
handle assembly would require about 1 hour and required parts cost
would be minimal, for a cost of $85 per helicopter and $2,550 for the
U.S. fleet.

If required, replacing a hoist cable would require about 3 hours
and required parts would cost $3,150, for a cost per helicopter of
$3,405.

According to Leonardo Helicopter's service information some of the
costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby
reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control
warranty coverage by Leonardo 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 determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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, I certify this proposed regulation:

1. Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order
12866;

2. Is not a "significant rule" under the 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 proposed 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.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):