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PROPOSED AD AIRBUS HELICOPTERS: Docket No. FAA-2020-1136; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01301-R.
(a) COMMENTS DUE DATE

    The FAA must receive comments by February 4, 2021.

(b) AFFECTED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES (ADS)

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This  AD  applies  to  all  Airbus Helicopters  Model AS332L, AS332L1,
    AS332C, and AS332C1 helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6320, Main Rotor Gear Box.

(e) REASON

    This AD was prompted  by the failure of a second stage planet gear in-
    stalled in  the main  gearbox (MGB).  The FAA  is issuing  this AD  to
    address failure of an MGB second stage planet gear, which could result
    in  failure  of  the  MGB  and  subsequent  loss  of  control  of  the
    helicopter.

(f) COMPLIANCE

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

(g) REQUIREMENTS

    Except as specified in paragraph (h)  of this AD:  Comply with all re-
    quired actions and compliance times specified in,  and  in  accordance
    with,  European Union Aviation Safety Agency  (EASA)  AD  2020-0022R1,
    dated September 18, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0022R1).

(h) EXCEPTIONS TO EASA AD 2020-0022R1

(1) Where EASA AD 2020-0022R1 refers to March 30, 2018 (the effective date
    of EASA AD 2018-0066, dated March 23, 2018)  or February 21, 2020 (the
    effective date of EASA AD 2020-0022, dated February 21, 2020), this AD
    requires using the effective date of this AD.

(2) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2020-0022R1 does not apply to this
    AD.

(3) Where EASA AD 2020-0022R1 refers  to  flight hours  (FH),  this AD re-
    quires using hours time-in-service.

(4) Where the service information referred to in paragraphs (5) and (6) of
    EASA AD 2020-0022R1 specifies to perform a metallurgical analysis  and
    contact the manufacturer if  unsure about the characterization  of the
    particles  collected,  this  AD   does  not  require  contacting   the
    manufacturer  to  determine  the  characterization  of  the  particles
    collected.

(5) Although the service information  referred to in paragraph (6) of EASA
    AD 2020-0022R1 specifies  that if any 16NCD13 particles are found send
    a 1-liter sample of oil to the manufacturer,  this AD does not require
    that action.

(6) Although  the  service information referenced  in  EASA AD 2020-0022R1
    specifies to discard certain parts,  this AD does not include that re-
    quirement.

(7) Although the  service information  referenced  in  EASA AD 2020-0022R1
    specifies returning certain parts to the manufacturer,  this  AD  does
    not require that action.

(8) Although the  service information  referenced  in  EASA AD 2020-0022R1
    specifies to contact the manufacturer  if  certain  specified criteria
    are exceeded, this AD does not include that requirement.

(9) Although  the  service information referenced  in  EASA AD 2020-0022R1
    specifies to submit certain information  to the manufacturer,  this AD
    does not include that requirement.

(10) Although the service information  referenced  in  EASA AD 2020-0022R1
     specifies to watch a video  for  removing  the  grease from the FFMP,
     using a cleaning agent,  and  collecting particles,  this AD does not
     include that requirement.

(11) Where EASA AD 2020-0022R1  requires actions  after the last flight of
     the day or "ALF,"  this  AD  requires those actions  before the first
     flight of the day.

(i) 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  no
    passengers are onboard.

(j) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE (AMOCS)

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy Rotorcraft Section, FAA, has the author-
    ity to approve  AMOCs for this  AD, if requested  using the procedures
    found in  14 CFR  39.19. In  accordance with  14 CFR  39.19, send your
    request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District
    Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager
    of  the  Strategic Policy  Rotorcraft  Section, send  it  to: Manager,
    Strategic Policy Rotorcraft Section,  FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy.,  Fort
    Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5110; email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests
    @faa.gov.

(2) Before using any approved AMOC,  notify your appropriate principal in-
    spector,  or  lacking a principal inspector,  the manager of the local
    flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(k) RELATED INFORMATION

(1) For EASA AD 2020-0022R1,  contact  the  EASA,  Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3,
    50668 Cologne, Germany;  telephone  +49 221 8999 000;  email ADs@easa.
    europa.eu;  internet www.easa.europa.eu.  You may find this EASA AD on
    the EASA website  at  https://ad.easa.europa.eu.  You  may  view  this
    material at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,
    10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.  For informa-
    tion on the availability  of this material  at the FAA,  call 817-222-
    5110.  This material may be found in the AD docket  on the internet at
    https://www.regulations.gov by searching for  and  locating Docket No.
    FAA-2020-1136.

(2) For more information  about this AD,  contact  Mahmood Shah,  Aviation
    Safety Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort
    Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817 222 5538; email mahmood.g.shah@faa.gov.

Issued on December 15, 2020.  Lance T. Gant,  Director,  Compliance & Air-
worthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments  on this proposed AD  by  February 4,
2021.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1136; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01301-R]
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 all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L, AS332L1, AS332C, and AS332C1
helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the failure of a second
stage planet gear installed in the main gearbox (MGB). This proposed AD
would require identifying the part number of each second stage planet
gear assembly installed in the MGB, replacing an MGB having certain
second stage planet gear assembly part numbers with a serviceable MGB,
modifying the helicopter by installing a full flow magnetic plug
(FFMP), repetitively inspecting the FFMP and the MGB bottom housing and
conical housing for metal particles, analyzing any metal particles that
are found, and applying corrective actions if necessary, as specified
in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed
for incorporation by reference. 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 February 4,
2021.

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 material that will be incorporated by reference (IBR) in this
AD, contact the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany;
telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet
www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this IBR material on the EASA website
at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this IBR material 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. It is also
available in the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1136.

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-2020-1136;
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, 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: Mahmood Shah, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth,
TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5538; email mahmood.g.shah@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 ADDRESSES. Include "Docket No. FAA-2020-1136; Project Identifier
MCAI-2020-01301-R" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this proposal.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to
Mahmood Shah, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5538;
email mahmood.g.shah@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives that
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public
docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0022R1, dated September 18,
2020 (EASA AD 2020-0022R1) (also referred to as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an
unsafe condition for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L, AS332L1,
AS332C, and AS332C1 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the
failure of a second stage planet gear installed in the MGB of an Airbus
Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopter. Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L,
AS332L1, AS332C, and AS332C1 helicopters have a similar design to the
affected Model EC225LP helicopter, therefore, these models may be
subject to the unsafe condition revealed on the Model EC225LP
helicopter. The FAA is proposing this AD to address failure of a second
stage planet gear installed in the MGB, which could result in failure
of the MGB and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. See the
MCAI for additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

EASA AD 2020-0022R1 describes procedures for identifying the part
number of each second stage planet gear assembly installed in the MGB,
replacing a MGB having certain second stage plane gear assembly part
numbers with a serviceable MGB, modifying the helicopter by installing
an FFMP, repetitively inspecting the FFMP and the MGB bottom housing
and conical housing for metal particles, analyzing any metal particles
that are found, and applicable corrective actions. The corrective
actions include replacing an affected MGB with a serviceable MGB.

This material 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.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

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

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in EASA AD 2020-0022R1, described previously, as incorporated by
reference, except for any differences identified as exceptions in the
regulatory text of this proposed AD.

Explanation of Required Compliance Information

In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA initially worked with Airbus and EASA to develop a
process to use certain EASA ADs as the primary source of information
for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has
since coordinated with other manufacturers and civil aviation
authorities (CAAs) to use this process. As a result, EASA AD 2020-
0022R1 will be incorporated by reference in the FAA final rule. This
proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2020-
0022R1 in its entirety, through that incorporation, except for any
differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this pro-
posed AD.

Using common terms that are the same as the heading of a particular
section in the EASA AD does not mean that operators need comply only
with that section. For example, where the AD requirement refers to
"all required actions and compliance times," compliance with this AD
requirement is not limited to the section titled "Required Action(s)
and Compliance Time(s)" in the EASA AD. Service information specified
in EASA AD 2020-0022R1 that is required for compliance with EASA AD
2020-0022R1 will be available on the internet at https://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-1136 after the FAA
final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 11 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
8.50 work-hours x $85 per hour = $722.50
$17,625
$18,347.50
$201,822.50

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of
helicopters that might need these on-condition actions:

Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions

Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per product
40.50 work-hour x $85 per hour = $3,442.50 $275,000 (overhauled part)
$278,442.50

According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost
impact on affected operators. The FAA does not control warranty
coverage for affected operators. As a result, the FAA has included all
known costs in the 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.

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: