DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1063; Product Identifier 2017-SW-088-AD; Amendment
39-19291; AD 2018-11-03]
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) Airbus
Helicopters Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, and SA-365C2 helicopters. This AD
requires establishing a life limit of 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS)
for the Starflex star/mast connecting bolt (bolt) and removing from
service each bolt that exceeds its life limit. This AD is prompted by
the discovery that the bolt's life limit was not included in helicopter
maintenance records. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 18, 2018.
We must receive comments on this AD by July 31, 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-2017-
1063; 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 comments
received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations Office (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.
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

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. 2016-0115-E, dated June 16,
2016, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model SA-
365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, and SA-365C3 helicopters. EASA advises that
the 2,000 flight hour life limit for the bolts was not referenced in
the helicopter maintenance documentation. EASA states that some
helicopters are therefore likely to continue flying with these bolts
past their life limit. This condition, if not detected and corrected,
could lead to bolt failure, resulting in main rotor mast, hub or blade
damage and reduced helicopter control, EASA advises. As a result, the
EASA AD requires replacing the bolts if they have reached or exceeded
2,000 flight hours, if the bolt part number (P/N) cannot be identified,
or if the number of flight hours of the bolt is not known. The EASA AD
also requires maintaining the continuous airworthiness records for the
bolts.

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 these same
type designs.

Related Service Information

Airbus Helicopters has issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No.
SA365 65.51, Revision 0, dated June 2, 2016. This service information
establishes a life limit of 2,000 flight hours for certain bolts
installed on Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, SA-365C2, and
SA-365C3 helicopters and specifies replacing the bolts if necessary.

AD Requirements

This AD requires the following before further flight:
Removing from service any bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-
1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, or 365A31-
1143-20 that has accumulated 2,000 or more hours TIS or any bolt for
which the hours TIS is unknown. Thereafter, removing from service each
bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-1183-
21, 365A31-1928-20, or 365A31-1143-20 before it accumulates 2,000 hours
TIS.
Removing from service any bolt with a P/N not listed in
the AD or any bolt for which you cannot determine the P/N.
Creating a component history card or equivalent record for
each bolt P/N 365A31-1182-20, 365A31-1182-21, 365A31-1183-20, 365A31-
1183-21, 365A31-1928-20, or 365A31-1143-20 and recording a life limit
of 2,000 hours TIS.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C3
helicopters. This AD does not because the SA-365C3 helicopter has no
FAA type certificate.

Costs of Compliance

There are no costs of compliance with this AD because there are no
helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S. Registry.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

There are no helicopters with this type certificate on the U.S.
Registry. We believe it is therefore unlikely that we will receive any
adverse comments or useful information about this AD from U.S.
operators.
Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior
public comment are unnecessary. In addition, for the reasons 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.

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):