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PROPOSED AD AIRBUS HELICOPTERS: Docket No. FAA-2020-0462; Product Identifier 2019-SW-021-AD.
(a) COMMENTS DUE DATE

    The FAA must receive comments by July 20, 2020.

(b) AFFECTED ADS

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters  Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 heli-
    copters, certificated in any category all manufacturer serial numbers,
    equipped with an Advanced Helicopter Cockpit & Avionics System (AHCAS)
    except  helicopters  that have Airbus Helicopters modification 0728576
    embodied in production.

(d) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 3420, Attitude and direc-
    tion data system.

(e) REASON

    This AD was prompted by a report that the affected helicopters use the
    same "flight/ground"  logic signal,  instead of  independent redundant
    signals. The  FAA is  issuing this  AD to  address certain helicopters
    that use the same "flight/ground" logic signal, instead of independent
    redundant  signals.  If  both attitude  heading and  reference systems
    (AHRS) incorrectly receive "ground" status in flight, as a result  for
    instance of a single failure, this will generate consistent  erroneous
    computation  of  the  attitudes and  vertical speed  during helicopter
    maneuvers with  consequent incorrect  flight data  indications to  the
    flight crew  on both  primary displays.  Erroneous flight  information
    could lead to  increased workload for  the flight crew  when the upper
    modes of the automatic flight control system are not engaged, possibly
    resulting  in  reduced control  of  the helicopter  during  high speed
    maneuvers in instrumental meteorological conditions (IMC).

(f) COMPLIANCE

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,  unless al-
    ready done.

(g) REQUIRED ACTIONS

(1) Within 30 days after the effective date of this AD: Amend the emergen-
    cy procedures of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM)  for your helicop-
    ter by inserting the supplemental text specified  in Figure 1 to para-
    graph (g)(1) of this AD,  immediately  following  paragraph  9 GROUND/
    FLIGHT LOGIC FAULT.

                        ILLUSTRATION (Figure 1)

(2) Within 100 hours time-in-service  or  before  intentional flight  into
    IMC,  whichever occurs first  after the effective date of this AD,  do
    the wiring modification of the "flight/ground"  logic signal source of
    the AHRS 1  in accordance  with  the  Accomplishment  Instructions  of
    Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-34.00.60, Revision
    1, dated March 29, 2019.  After completion of the wiring modification,
    the RFM amendment required  by paragraph (g)(1) of this AD must be re-
    moved from the RFM for your helicopter.

(h) SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMIT

    Special flight permits may be issued in accordance  with 14 CFR 21.197
    and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location  where the helicop-
    ter can be modified  (if the operator elects to do so),  provided  the
    helicopter is operated under visual flight rules only.

(i) CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS ACTIONS

    This paragraph provides credit for the actions specified  in paragraph
    (g) of this AD,  if those actions were performed  before the effective
    date of this  AD  using  Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No.
    AS332-34.00.60, Revision 0, dated December 6, 2018.

(j) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE (AMOCS)

(1) The Manager,  Safety Management Section,  Rotorcraft Standards Branch,
    FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD.  Send  your  proposal  to:  George
    Schwab,  Aviation Safety Engineer,  Safety Management Section,  Rotor-
    craft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177
    phone: 817-222-5110; email: 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate
    or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, notify your principal inspector or
    lacking  a  principal  inspector,  the  manager  of  the  local flight
    standards  district  office or  certificate  holding district  office,
    before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(k) RELATED INFORMATION

(1) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency
    (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 2019-0021, dated
    February 1, 2019 corrected February 4, 2019. This EASA AD may be found
    in the AD docket  on the internet  at  https://www.regulations.gov  by
    searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0462.

(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus Helicop-
    ters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052;  phone:  (972) 641-
    0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax: (972) 641-3775; or at https://www.airbus.
    com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html.  You  may  view  this
    service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, South-
    west Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy.,  Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.
    For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,  call
    (817) 222-5110.

Issued on May 29, 2020. Lance T Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 20, 2020.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14
Part 39 CFR

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0462; Product Identifier 2019-SW-021-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters.
This proposed AD was prompted by a report that the affected helicopters
use the same "flight/ground" logic signal instead of independent
redundant signals. This proposed AD would require amending the
emergency procedures of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your
helicopter, a wiring modification of the "flight/ground" logic signal
source of the attitude heading and reference system (AHRS) 1, and then
removal of the amendment to the RFM for your helicopter. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 20,
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Airbus
Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; phone: (972)
641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax: (972) 641-3775; or at https://www.airbus.
com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. You may
view this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort
Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0462;
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 NPRM, the European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union
Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT
: George Schwab, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; phone: 817-222-5110; email:
george.schwab@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include "Docket No. FAA-2020-0462;
Product Identifier 2019-SW-021-AD" at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of those comments.

The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0021, dated February 1, 2019;
corrected February 4, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0021) (referred to after this
as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information or "the MCAI"),
to correct an unsafe condition for certain Airbus Helicopters Model
AS332C1 and AS332L1 helicopters. EASA advises that the AHRS 1 and AHRS
2 installed on AS332C1e and AS332L1e helicopters use the same `flight/
ground' logic signal, instead of independent redundant signals, as
required by the original design specification. If both AHRS incorrectly
receive "ground" status in flight, as a result for instance of a
single failure, this will generate consistent erroneous computation of
the attitudes and vertical speed during helicopter maneuvers with
consequent incorrect flight data indications to the flight crew on both
primary displays. EASA AD 2019-0021 states that this condition, if not
corrected, could lead to increased workload for the flight crew when
the upper modes of the automatic flight control system are not engaged,
possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter during high
speed maneuvers in instrumental meteorological conditions (IMC).

EASA further advises that Airbus Helicopters has issued rush
revisions to the RFM, and developed a modification of the wiring
harness, ensuring independent sources of the "flight/ground" logic
signal for both AHRS. EASA AD 2019-0021 requires amending the emergency
procedures of the applicable RFM, doing the modification of the wiring
harness, and then removing the amendment to the RFM.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA-2020-0462.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
34.00.60, Revision 1, dated March 29, 2019. This service information
describes procedures for a wiring modification of the "flight/ground"
logic signal source of the AHRS 1, which changes the "flight/ground"
logic signal source to independent redundant signals.

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

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332-
34.00.60, Revision 0, dated December 6, 2018. The service information
describes procedures for a wiring modification of the "flight/ground"
logic signal source of the AHRS 1, which changes the "flight/ground"
logic signal source to independent redundant signals. Airbus Service
Bulletin No. AS332-34.00.60, Revision 1, dated March 29, 2019,
clarifies the procedures for the post-installation test in Alert
Service Bulletin No. AS332-34.00.60, Revision 0, dated December 6,
2018.

FAA's Determination

This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to a bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, the FAA
has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and
service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD
after evaluating all the relevant information and determining the
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on
other products of these same type designs.

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously, except as discussed
under "Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information."

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information


EASA AD 2019-0021 specifies to do the modification within 6 months.
This proposed AD would require the modification be done within 100
hours time-in-service or before intentional flight into IMC, whichever
occurs first. The FAA has determined this compliance time represents
the maximum interval of time allowable for the affected helicopters to
continue to safely operate before the modification is done.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 8 helicopters of
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per product
Cost on U.S. operators
7 work-hours x $85 per hour = $595
$40
$635
$5,080

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.

The FAA is 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

The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 this proposed
regulation:

(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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):