DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0517; Product Identifier 2017-SW-098-AD; Amendment
39-19443; AD 2018-20-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2
and MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD requires altering and re-
identifying the overhead panel shock mount assembly (shock mount). This
AD was prompted by the manufacturer's stress recalculations. The
actions of this AD are intended to correct an unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 7, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of November 7,
2018.

ADDRESSES: 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. It is also available
on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2018-0517.

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-
0517; 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 (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

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:

Discussion

On June 7, 2018, at 83 FR 26387, the Federal Register published our
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Airbus Helicopters Model
MBB-BK 117 C-2 and Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters with an overhead
panel shock mount assembly part number (P/N) B246M2035102 or P/N
B246M2036101 installed. The NPRM proposed to require installing a
retaining plate on the shock mount and re-identifying the shock mount
by changing the last three digits of the P/N to -966. The NPRM also
proposed prohibiting the installation of shock
mount P/N B246M2035102 and P/N B246M2036101 on any helicopter. The
proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of a shock
mount, which could result in detachment of the overhead panel and
injury to occupants during an emergency landing.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2017-0026, dated February 14, 2017,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus
Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117 C-2, MBB-BK117 C-2e, MBB-BK 117 D-2, and
MBB-BK117 D-2m helicopters. EASA advises that a recent stress
calculation identified that the shock mount may not withstand
certification crash loads. EASA states that this condition, if not
corrected, could lead to the overhead panel disconnecting during an
emergency landing and injuring occupants. Accordingly, the EASA AD
requires modifying and re-identifying the shock mounts.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

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
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 and that air safety and the public interest require
adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD applies to Model MBB-BK117 D-2m helicopters, whereas
this AD does not since the Model MBB-BK117 D-2m is not FAA type-
certificated. This AD also does not include the Model MBB-BK117 C-2(e)
in the applicability section because it is a marketing designation and
not an FAA type-certificated model. However, this AD applies to those
helicopters, as they are Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters. The EASA AD
specifies particular helicopter serial numbers (S/Ns) that may not be
required to complete some of the requirements of the AD since the
specified S/Ns were manufactured with shock mounts not affected by the
unsafe condition. This AD does not specify particular S/Ns.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) MBB-
BK117 C-2-24A-015 for Model MBB-BK117 C-2 helicopters and ASB MBB-BK117
D-2-24A-004 for Model MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters, both Revision 0 and
dated September 14, 2016. This service information contains procedures
for altering the shock mounts by installing retaining plates and re-
identifying the shock mounts by changing the last three digits of the
P/N to -966.
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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 144 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.
Installing retaining plates and re-identifying the four shock
mounts takes about 3 work-hours and parts cost about $184 for a total
estimated cost of $439 per helicopter and $63,216 for the U.S. fleet.
According to Airbus Helicopter's service information, some of the
costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty
coverage by Airbus 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 helicopters identified in this
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

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 above, 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):