DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2018-0980; Product Identifier 2017-SW-123-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
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
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK
117 C-2 helicopters. This proposed AD would require establishing or
reducing the life limit of various parts. This proposed AD is prompted
by recalculations. 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 January
18, 2019.
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-
0980; 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
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. 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: 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
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. 2017-0174, dated September 12,
2017 (EASA AD 2017-0174), to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus
Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. EASA advises that
recalculation by Airbus Helicopters has resulted in new or reduced life
limits for certain parts. EASA AD 2017-0174 states the life limits are
mandatory for continued airworthiness and failing to replace life-
limited parts as specified could result in an unsafe condition. To
address this condition, EASA AD 2017-0174 requires replacing the
affected parts before exceeding their new or reduced life limit.
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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
We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117
C-2-04A-008, Revision 0, dated April 27, 2017, for Model MBB-BK 117 C-2
and C-2e helicopters. This service information specifies entering into
the helicopter records the reduced and new airworthiness life limits
for certain part-numbered main rotor head, swash plate, rotor flight
controls, cyclic controls, and upper controls parts.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require establishing and reducing the life
limit of the following parts: Main rotor head--nut, upper and lower
quadruple nut, bolts, and inner sleeve; swash plate control ring
assembly; rotor flight control collective bellcrank-K; cyclic
control rod tube; and upper control forked lever.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 128 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.
Replacing a nut would take about 5 work-hours and parts would cost
about $3,352 for an estimated replacement cost of $3,777.
Replacing a quadruple nut upper would take about 5 work-hours and
parts would cost about $3,283 for an estimated replacement cost of
$3,708.
Replacing a quadruple nut lower would take about 5 work-hours and
parts would cost about $3,405 for an estimated replacement cost of
$3,830.
Replacing a bolt would take about 2 work-hours and parts would cost
about $370 for an estimated replacement cost of $540.
Replacing an inner sleeve would take about 2 work-hours and parts
would cost about $20,073 for an estimated replacement cost of $20,243.
Replacing a control ring assembly would take about 5 work-hours and
parts would cost about $11,141 for an estimated replacement cost of
$11,566.
Replacing a bellcrank-K (collective) would take about 4 work-hours
and parts would cost about $3,400 for an estimated replacement cost of
$3,740.
Replacing a control rod tube would take about 4 work-hours and
parts would cost about $1,084 for an estimated replacement cost of
$1,424.
Replacing a forked lever would take about 3 work-hours and parts
would cost about $6,049 for an estimated replacement cost of $6,304.
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):
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