DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0737; Product Identifier 2017-SW-096-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 AW139 helicopters. This proposed
AD would require inspecting and altering the number 1 driveshaft
(driveshaft). This proposed AD is prompted by reports of scratches that
were found on the driveshaft. The actions of this proposed AD are
intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 26, 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-
0737; 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 EASA AD No. 2017-0011, dated January 25,
2017, to correct an unsafe condition for certain serial-numbered
Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly Finmeccanica S.p.A, AgustaWestland S.p.A.)
Model AW139 helicopters. EASA advises of several helicopters found with
scratches on the driveshaft part-number (P/N) 3G6510A01132 and that an
investigation determined only helicopters equipped with rear exhaust
module assembly P/N 3G7810A00431 and tunnel assembly P/N 3G7130A13431
are affected. According to EASA, the scratches resulted from
insufficient clearance between the driveshaft and the rear exhaust
module and tunnel assemblies. EASA further advises that if not
corrected, these scratches could lead to a crack in the driveshaft,
failure of the tail rotor drive system, and subsequent reduced control
of the helicopter. To prevent this potential unsafe condition, the EASA
AD requires repetitive inspections of the driveshaft for a crack until
the exhaust module and tunnel assembly are modified to increase the
clearance.

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 products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Leonardo Helicopters Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-465,
Revision A, dated January 25, 2017, which contains procedures for
visual and eddy-current inspections of the driveshaft. This service
information also contains procedures for modifying the exhaust module
and tunnel assemblies.

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 30 hours time-in-service
(TIS) and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 100 hours TIS,
inspecting the driveshaft tube P/N 3G6510A00832 for a scratch and
indentation. If there is a scratch or indentation, the proposed AD
would require, before further flight, repairing the driveshaft tube and
performing a depth check of the repaired area. If the repaired area
depth is more than 0.2 mm, the proposed AD would require replacing the
driveshaft tube and altering the rear exhaust module and tunnel
assembly before further flight. If the depth of the repaired area of
the tube is 0.2 mm or less, the proposed AD would require, before
further flight, performing an eddy current inspection of the tube for a
crack. If there is a crack, the proposed AD would require replacing the
driveshaft tube and altering the rear exhaust module and tunnel assembly
before further flight.

This proposed AD would also require, within 300 hours TIS, altering
the rear exhaust module and tunnel assembly, if not previously done as
a result of the inspections. Because this proposed AD would also
require re-identifying the tunnel assembly part number after it is
altered, this would be terminating action for the repetitive
inspections.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 55 helicopters of
U.S. Registry.

We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD, based on an average labor rate of $85 per work-
hour. Inspecting, repairing, and eddy-current inspecting the driveshaft
tube would require about 6 work-hours, and required parts cost would be
minimal, for a cost of $510 per helicopter and $28,050 for the U.S.
fleet per inspection cycle. Altering the rear exhaust module and tunnel
assembly would require about 20 work-hours, and required parts would
cost $1,500, for a cost of $3,200 per helicopter and $176,000 for the
U.S. fleet.

If required, replacing a driveshaft tube would require 1 work-hour,
and required parts would cost $6,500, for a cost per helicopter of
$6,585.

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):