DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0737; Product Identifier 2017-SW-096-AD; Amendment
39-19661; AD 2019-12-06]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Leonardo S.p.A. (type certificate previously held by Finmeccanica
S.p.A., AgustaWestland S.p.A.) Model AW139 helicopters. This AD
requires inspecting and altering the number 1 driveshaft (driveshaft).
This AD was prompted by reports of scratches that were found on the
driveshaft. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 30, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of July 30, 2019.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Matteo Ragazzi, Head of
Airworthiness, Viale G. Agusta 520, 21017 C. Costa di Samarate (Va)
Italy; telephone +39-0331-711756; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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-2018-0737.

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-2018-0737;
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 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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email david.hatfield@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On August 27, 2018, at 83 FR 43561, 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 Model AW139
helicopters, serial numbers 31499, 31504, 31507, 31509, 31512, 31518,
31519, 31524, 31529, 31533, 31535 through 31564, 31567, 31569, 31570,
31589, 41363, 41368 through 41370, 41372 through 41375, 41378, 41381,
and 41384, with a tunnel assembly part number (P/N) 3G7130A13431
installed. The NPRM proposed to require repetitively inspecting the
driveshaft tube P/N 3G6510A00832 for a scratch and indentation. If
there is a scratch or indentation, the NPRM proposed to require, before
further flight, repairing the driveshaft tube and performing a depth
check of the repaired area. Depending on the repaired area depth, the
NPRM proposed to require replacing the driveshaft tube and altering the
rear exhaust module and tunnel assembly before further flight or
performing an eddy current inspection of the tube for a crack. If there
is a crack, the NPRM proposed to require replacing the driveshaft tube
and altering the rear exhaust module and tunnel assembly before further
flight. The NPRM also proposed to require altering the rear exhaust
module and tunnel assembly, if not previously done as a result of the
inspections, and re-identifying the tunnel assembly P/N after it is
altered, which would be terminating action for the repetitive
inspections. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a crack
in the driveshaft, failure of the tail rotor drive system, and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2017-0011, dated January 25, 2017,
issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of
the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for certain serial-
numbered Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly Finmeccanica S.p.A, AgustaWestland
S.p.A.) Model AW139 helicopters. EASA advises of several helicopters
found with scratches on the driveshaft P/N 3G6510A01132 and that an
investigation determined only helicopters equipped with rear exhaust
module assembly P/N 3G7810A00431 and tunnel assembly P/N 3G7130A13431
are affected. According to EASA, the scratches resulted from
insufficient clearance between the driveshaft and the rear exhaust
module and tunnel assemblies. EASA further advises that if not
corrected, these scratches could lead to a crack in the driveshaft,
failure of the tail rotor drive system, and subsequent reduced control
of the helicopter.

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 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 its 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 the same type
designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Leonardo Helicopters Bollettino Tecnico No. 139-465,
Revision A, dated January 25, 2017, which contains procedures for
visual and eddy-current inspections of the driveshaft. This service
information also contains procedures for modifying the exhaust module
and tunnel assembly.
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 55 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.
Inspecting, repairing, and eddy-current inspecting the driveshaft
tube requires about 6 work-hours, and required parts cost is minimal,
for a cost of $510 per helicopter and $28,050 for the U.S. fleet per
inspection cycle. Altering the rear exhaust module and tunnel assembly
requires about 20 work-hours, and required parts cost $1,500, for a
cost of $3,200 per helicopter and $176,000 for the U.S. fleet.
According to Leonardo 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 Leonardo 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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):