DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9395; Product Identifier 2016-SW-027-AD; Amendment
39-19618; AD 2019-07-07]
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 various
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-
BK117 and Model BO-105 helicopters. This AD requires removing the
swashplate bellows (bellows) and repetitively inspecting the swashplate
assembly. This AD was prompted by reports of loose and missing clamps
installed on bellows. The actions of this AD are intended to detect and
prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 24, 2019.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of May 24, 2019.

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.airbushelicopters.com/techpub.

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-2016-9395.

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-2016-
9395; 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 April 20, 2018, at 83 FR 17510, 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 BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105S, BO105LS A-3, MBB-BK 117A-1, MBB-BK
117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4, MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, MBB-BK 117C-1,
MBB-BK 117C-2, and MBB-BK 117D-2 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to
require removing the bellows and repetitively inspecting the swashplate
assembly. The proposed requirements were intended to detect and prevent
a loose bellows clamp. This condition can cause loss of the bellows,
contact of the bellows with the main rotor blades, main rotor mast, and
tail rotor, and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2016-0142, dated July 19, 2016,
issued by EASA (EASA AD 2016-0142), which is the Technical Agent for
the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition
for Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117A-1, MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-
4, MBB-BK 117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, MBB-BK 117C-1, MBB-BK 117C-2, MBB-BK
117C-2e, BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105D, BO105S, BO-105LS A-3 helicopters.

EASA advises of several reports of a lower clamp found missing from
the bellows and damaging the swashplate bearing ring before becoming
detached. EASA states an investigation showed that over-torqueing can
damage the clamp, which may have caused the clamp to become loose and
detach. According to EASA, this condition, if not detected and
corrected, could lead to loss of a swashplate clamp, resulting in loss
of helicopter control. A detached clamp could damage the swashplate and
pitch link or strike the tail rotor. EASA states that its AD is
considered interim action and a further AD to implement a terminating
action will follow.

Changes to the Final Rule

On April 12, 2018, EASA revised its AD and issued AD No. 2016-
0142R1 ("EASA AD 2016-0142R1"). EASA AD 2016-0142R1 removed the
repetitive 100-hour and 400-hour inspections contained in EASA AD 2016-
0142. EASA determined that the repetitive inspections were no longer
required to address the unsafe condition. EASA states the 400-hour
inspections will be included in the airworthiness limitations section
of the aircraft maintenance manual, and the 100-hour inspections will
be deleted.

We have made the same determination because of the lack of
corrosion found on the parts since the bellows were removed. The 100-
hour repetitive inspections contained in the NPRM have been removed in
this Final rule.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

These helicopters have been approved by EASA and are approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement
with the European Union, EASA 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, except for the change
previously described. This change is 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 this AD.

Interim Action

We consider this AD to be an interim action. The design approval
holder is currently developing a modification that will address the
unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this modification is
developed, approved, and available, we might consider additional
rulemaking.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

EASA AD 2016-0142R1 has a different compliance time for helicopters
with new bellows, while this AD does not. This AD applies to Model MBB-
BK 117D-2 helicopters while EASA AD 2016-0142R1 does not. EASA AD 2016-
0142R1 applies to Model BO-105D helicopters, while this AD does not. This AD
requires repetitively inspecting the swashplate every 400 hours time-in-service,
while EASA AD 2016-0142R1 does not.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) BO105-
40A-107 for Model BO105 C-series, D-series and S-series helicopters;
ASB BO105 LS-40A-12 for Model BO-105LS A-3 helicopters; ASB MBB-BK117-
40A-115 for Model MBB-BK 117A-1, MBB-BK 117A-3, MBB-BK 117A-4, MBB-BK
117B-1, MBB-BK 117B-2, and MBB-BK 117C-1 helicopters; and ASB MBB-BK117
C-2-62A-007 for Model MBB-BK 117C-2 and MBB-BK 117C-2e helicopters.
These ASBs are all Revision 4 and all dated May 23, 2016. We also
reviewed Airbus Helicopters ASB MBB-BK117 D-2-62A-003, Revision 2,
dated May 23, 2016, for Model MBB-BK117 D-2 and MBB-BK117 D-2m
helicopters. This service information specifies removing the bellows
and repetitively inspecting the swashplate.

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 286 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 per work hour. Based on these
estimates, we expect the following costs:

Removing and inspecting the swashplate assembly requires 3
work-hours. No parts are needed for a cost of $255 per helicopter and
$72,930 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.

Repairing a scratched support tube requires 3 work-hours.
No parts are needed for a cost of $255 per helicopter.

Replacing a corroded or damaged clamp requires 2 work-
hours. Parts cost $8 for a cost of $178 per helicopter.

Replacing corroded ball bearings requires 4 work-hours.
Parts cost $3,000 for a cost of $3,340 per helicopter.

Removing foreign objects from the outer deflection ring
requires 2 work-hours. No parts are needed for a cost of $170 per
helicopter.

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):