DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1217; Product Identifier 2016-SW-080-AD; Amendment
39-19528; AD 2018-25-17]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Air Comm Corporation Air Conditioning
Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Air
Comm Corporation (Air Comm) air conditioning systems installed on
various model helicopters. This AD requires replacing electrical
connectors and prohibits the installation of other parts. This AD was
prompted by reports of overheated connectors. The actions of this AD
are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 22, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of January 22,
2019.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Air Comm Corporation, 1575 West 124th Ave., Westminster, CO
80234; telephone (303) 440-4075; email service@aircommcorp.com; website
www.aircommcorp.com. You may review a copy of 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-2017-1217.

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-
1217; 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, any incorporated-by-reference service information, the
economic evaluation, the Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin
(SAIB), 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: Matthew Bryant, Aerospace Engineer,
Denver ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 26805 East
68th Ave., Room 214, Denver, CO 80249; telephone (303) 342-1092; email
matthew.bryant@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On January 11, 2018, at 83 FR 1313, 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 AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D,
AS350D1, and EC130B4, and Bell Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3,
and 206L-4, and 407 helicopters with certain part-numbered Air Comm air
conditioning systems installed. The NPRM proposed to require replacing
certain connectors with Air Comm connectors and to prohibit installing
certain part-numbered plugs, sockets, receptacles, and pin in some aft
evaporator assemblies, aft evaporator blower assemblies, and aft
condenser blowers. The proposed requirements were intended to address
the unsafe condition of an overheated connector, which could result in
a fire and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Ex Parte Contact

On April 17, 2018, after the comment period closed, we had a
teleconference with Air Comm about some of the Air Comm parts
identified in the NPRM. We subsequently continued this discussion by
email. Air Comm's comment during these discussions is addressed below.
A copy of each email contact and a summary of each telephone contact
can be found in the rulemaking docket at http://www.regulations.gov in
Docket No. FAA-2017-1217.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. The following presents the comment we received and the FAA's
response.

Request

Air Comm requested that we review paragraph (e)(2) of the NPRM,
which lists aft evaporator assembly part number (P/N) AS350-6202. Air
Comm stated that this P/N is not part of the type design for the air
conditioning system. According to Air Comm, the
correct P/N is AS350-6202-1. In support of this request, Air Comm
provided the type design data for our review.
We agree. Although Figure 1 of Air Comm Corporation Service
Bulletin (SB) AS350-111014, Revision B, dated January 10, 2017,
identifies the aft evaporator assembly as P/N AS350-6202, the correct
P/N is AS350-6202-1. We have corrected this error in this Final Rule.
Further, because of Air Comm's comments, we conducted additional
review of the blower and wire harness drawings for the affected
components. As a result, we determined that plug P/N 03-09-1042 and
receptacle P/N 03-09-2042 were listed in error in the NPRM. These two
P/Ns are also not part of the type design for the air conditioning
system. Accordingly, we have removed these P/Ns from paragraph (e)(2)
of this Final Rule.

FAA's Determination

We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other
products of these same type designs and that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed with the
changes described previously. These changes are consistent with the
intent of the proposals in the NPRM and will not increase the economic
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Air Comm Corporation has issued SB AS350-111014, Revision B, dated
January 10, 2017, for Airbus Helicopters AS350 series helicopters and
SB EC130-6204, Revision B, dated January 10, 2017, for Airbus
Helicopters EC130 series helicopters. Air Comm Corporation has also
issued SB 206-110414 for Bell 206 series helicopters, Revision C, and
SB 407-110414 for Bell Model 407 helicopters, Revision D, both dated
January 13, 2017. This service information specifies inspecting certain
aft evaporator blower motor and certain condenser blower electrical
connectors for indications of overheating, discoloration, and plastic
deformation and performing a pull test. This service information also
specifies replacing connector housings and contacts that fail the
inspection or the pull test.
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.

Other Related Service Information

Air Comm Corporation has also issued the following:
SB AS350-111014 and SB EC130-6204, both Revision A and
both dated July 6, 2016;
SB 206-110414, Revision B, dated January 10, 2017, and
Revision A dated June 3, 2016; and
SB 407-110414, Revision C, dated January 10, 2017, and
Revision B, dated July 6, 2016.
This service information contains the same procedures described
above. However, SB AS350-111014 and SB EC130-6204, both Revision B and
dated January 10, 2017, contain additional instructions and figures for
the connectors. SB 206-110414, Revision C, and SB 407-110414, Revision
D, both dated January 13, 2017, contain minor corrections.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

The Air Comm service information specifies a compliance time of 20
flight hours. This AD requires compliance within 90 hours time-in-
service. The Air Comm service information specifies inspecting each
connector and replacing the connector housings and contacts that have
any signs of overheating or that fail a pull test. This AD requires
replacing each connector without an inspection. This AD also prohibits
installing certain parts in certain part-numbered aft evaporator
assemblies, aft evaporator blower assemblies, and aft condenser
blowers.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 914 units installed on 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 the connectors takes about 1 work-hour and parts cost
about $60 for a total estimated cost of $145 per helicopter and
$132,530 for the U.S. fleet.
According to Air Comm'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 Air
Comm. 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

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):