DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0669; Product Identifier 2017-SW-041-AD; Amendment
39-19532; AD 2018-26-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Previously
Eurocopter France) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-25-19 for
Airbus Helicopters (previously Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and
EC130B4 helicopters. AD 2016-25-19 required inspecting the pilot's and
co-pilot's throttle twist for proper operation. This new AD retains the
requirements of AD 2016-25-19 and adds certain model helicopters to the
applicability. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 30, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of January 30,
2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of
February 2, 2017 (81 FR 95854, December 29, 2016).

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 the review 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-2018-0669.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
in Docket No. FAA-2018-0669; 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 address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is
Docket Operations, 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: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email george.schwab@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2016-25-19, Amendment 39-18745 (81 FR 95854,
December 29, 2016) (AD 2016-25-19) and add a new AD. AD 2016-25-19
applied to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B3 and EC130B4 helicopters
with an ARRIEL 2B1 engine with the two-channel Full Authority Digital
Engine Control (FADEC) and with new twist grip modification (MOD)
073254 (for the Model AS350B3 helicopter) or MOD 073773 (for the Model
EC130B4 helicopter). AD 2016-25-19 required repetitively inspecting the
wiring, performing an insulation test, inspecting the pilot and copilot
throttle twist grip controls, and testing the pilot and copilot
throttle twist grip controls for proper functioning. The actions
required in AD 2016-25-19 were intended to prevent unintended touchdown
to the ground at a flight-idle power setting during a practice
autorotation, damage to the helicopter, and injury to occupants.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 8, 2018 (83 FR
39007). The NPRM proposed to retain the requirements of AD 2016-25-19
and expand the applicability by adding Model AS350B3 helicopters with
an ARRIEL 2D engine installed and Model EC130T2 helicopters with an
ARRIEL 2D engine installed.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2017-0059, dated April 6, 2017
(EASA AD 2017-0059), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for
the Member States of the European Union, for Airbus Helicopters Model
AS 350 B3, EC 130 B4, and EC 130 T2 helicopters. EASA advises that
Airbus Helicopters added clarifications to the operational procedure,
introduced a modification to apply water-tight protection to the
microswitch connectors, and extended the applicability to helicopters
with a Turbomeca ARRIEL 2D engine installed. Accordingly, EASA AD 2017-
0059 retains the required actions and corrects the applicability of the
previous EASA AD.

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
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
its AD. We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that
an 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.

Interim Action

We consider this AD to be an interim action. If final action is
later identified, we might consider further rulemaking then.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD requires the initial inspections within 10 flight hours
or 7 days; this AD requires compliance before the next autorotation
training flight or before 100 hours time-in-service, whichever occurs
earlier, as the unsafe condition only occurs when transitioning the
throttle in-flight from flight to idle and back to flight, such as
during a practice autorotation.
Additionally, the EASA AD requires installing Airbus Helicopters
MOD 074263; this AD does not as it does not correct the unsafe
condition.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed one document that co-publishes three Airbus Helicopters
Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) identification numbers: No.
05.00.61, Revision 3, dated June 15, 2015, for Model AS350B3
helicopters; No. 05.00.41, Revision 2, dated June 15, 2015, for the
non-FAA type certificated Model AS550C3 helicopter; and No. 05A009,
Revision 3, dated June 15, 2015, for Model EC130B4 helicopters. EASB
Nos. 05.00.61 and 05A009 are incorporated by reference in AD 2016-25-19
and are retained for the requirements of this AD. EASB No. 05.00.41 is
not incorporated by reference in AD 2016-25-19 and is not incorporated
by reference in this AD. This service information applies to
helicopters with an ARRIEL 2B1 engine installed and describes
procedures for a functional check and installation of protection for
micro-contacts (microswitches) 53Ka, 53Kb, and 65K (IDLE/FLIGHT mode).
We also reviewed one document that co-publishes three Airbus
Helicopters EASB identification numbers: No. 05.00.77, Revision 1,
dated June 15, 2015, for Model AS350B3 helicopters; No. 05.00.52,
Revision 1, dated June 15, 2015, for the non-FAA type certificated
Model AS550C3 helicopter; and No. 05A014, Revision 1, dated June 15,
2015, for Model EC130T2 helicopters. EASB Nos. 05.00.77 and 05A014 are
incorporated by reference in this AD. EASB No. 05.00.52 is not
incorporated by reference in this AD. This service information applies
to helicopters with an ARRIEL 2D engine installed and describes
procedures for a check of the protection for micro-contacts
(microswitches) 53Ka, 53Kb, and 65K (IDLE/FLIGHT mode).
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 692 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to
comply with this AD.
At an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, it takes about 4
work-hours for the inspections and any necessary maintenance, for a
total cost of $340 per helicopter and $235,280 for the U.S. fleet per
inspection cycle.

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 have 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 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, 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2016-25-19, Amendment 39-18745 (81 FR 95854, December 29, 2016), and
adding the following new AD: