DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0237; Product Identifier 2017-SW-145-AD; Amendment
39-19254; AD 2018-08-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus
Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires inspecting each
main rotor rotating swashplate (swashplate) control rod attachment yoke
(yoke). This AD is prompted by a finding that the yoke is susceptible
to cracking. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 8, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 8, 2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by June 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-
0237; 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 (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 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical_Support_73.
html">http://www.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical_Support
_73.html. 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. It is also available
on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0237.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, 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 resulted
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific
portion of the AD, 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 them 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 rulemaking during the
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2017-0191R2, dated December 15,
2017, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model EC
225 LP helicopters with swashplate part number (P/N) 332A31-3074-00 or
P/N 332A31-3074-01 installed. EASA advises of a finding by Airbus
Helicopters that the yoke is susceptible to cracking due to strain
aging of the metal. EASA advises that this condition, if not detected
and corrected, could lead to structural failure of a yoke, possibly
resulting in loss of control of the helicopter.
Accordingly, the EASA AD requires, for swashplates that are seven
or more years old, a recurring inspection of the five yokes for a crack
and a one-time inspection of the yokes for corrosion and a crack. If
there is a crack or corrosion on a yoke, the EASA AD requires replacing
the swashplate or repairing and reworking the yokes.

FAA's Determination

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with France, 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 the same type
design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Airbus Helicopters has issued one document that co-publishes two
Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) identification numbers: No.
05A051 for Model EC225LP helicopters and No. 05A046 for non-FAA type-
certificated Model EC725AP helicopters, both Revision 1 and both dated
November 16, 2017. Airbus Helicopters EASB No. 05A051 is incorporated
by reference in this AD. Airbus Helicopters EASB No. 05A046 is not
incorporated by reference in this AD.
This service information specifies inspections for certain serial-
numbered swashplate P/N 332A31-3074-00 and P/N 332A31-3074-01. This
service information specifies a repetitive inspection of the yokes for
a crack and a one-time inspection of the stripped yokes for corrosion
and a crack. If in doubt about whether there is a crack, this service
information specifies performing a non-destructive inspection. This
service information also specifies touching up the swashplate if there
is corrosion, removing any damage within allowable limits, and
refinishing the yokes. If there is a crack in a yoke, this service
information specifies replacing the swashplate.
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.

AD Requirements

This AD requires a repetitive visual inspection of the five yokes
for a crack every 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), and replacing the
swashplate if there is a crack in any of the yokes.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD specifies performing a non-destructive inspection if in
doubt about if there is a crack and removing damage within allowable
limits, whereas this AD does not. The EASA AD also specifies stripping
the yokes and performing a one-time inspection within 100 hours TIS for
corrosion and a crack, and this AD does not. We plan to publish a
notice of proposed rulemaking to give the public an opportunity to
comment on this long-term requirement.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 5 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We
estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to
comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour.
Inspecting the yokes takes about 0.25 work-hour for an estimated
cost of $21 per helicopter and $105 for the U.S. fleet per inspection
cycle. Replacing a swashplate takes about 6 work-hours and parts cost
about $82,000 for an estimated cost of $82,510 per helicopter.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because the required corrective action must be completed within 15
hours TIS. Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity
for prior public comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reason
stated above, we find that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in less than 30 days.

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 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, 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):