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PROPOSED AD AIRBUS HELICOPTERS DEUTSCHLAND GMBH: Docket No. FAA-2020-1171; Product Identifier 2017-SW-124-AD.
(a) COMMENTS DUE DATE

    The FAA must receive comments by April 26, 2021.

(b) AFFECTED AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES (ADS)

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This AD applies  to Airbus Helicopters  Deutschland GmbH Model  MBB-BK
    117 C-2  and Model  MBB-BK 117  D-2 helicopters,  certificated in  any
    category, all manufacturer serial numbers, except the Model MBB- BK117
    C-2(e) configuration.

Note  1 to  paragraph (c):  Model  MBB-BK117 C-2  helicopters  utilizing a
Garmin 500H  flight display  system are  designated by  EASA as  Model MBB
-BK117 C-2e variants of the Model  BK 117 C-2 helicopters, and by  the FAA
as a Model MBB-BK117 C-2(e) configuration.

(d) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)  Code  2500,  Cabin  Equipment/
    Furnishings.

(e) REASON

    This AD  was prompted  by a  determination that  a life  limit for the
    adapter  forward  (FWD)  of  the  outboard  load  system,   repetitive
    inspections  of  other  components of  that  system,  and for  certain
    helicopters, a modification of the outboard load system are  necessary
    to address the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to address
    detachment of an  external load or  person from the  helicopter hoist,
    which could  result in  personal injury,  or injury  to persons on the
    ground.

(f) COMPLIANCE

    Comply  with this  AD within  the compliance  times specified,  unless
    already done.

(g) REQUIREMENTS

    Except  as specified  in paragraph  (h) of  this AD:  Comply with  all
    required actions and compliance times specified in, and in  accordance
    with, European  Aviation Safety  Agency (now  European Union  Aviation
    Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 2017-0177, dated September 14, 2017 (EASA  AD
    2017-0177).

(h) EXCEPTIONS TO EASA AD 2017-0177

(1) Where EASA AD 2017-0177 refers to its effective date, this AD requires
    using the effective date of this AD.

(2) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2017-0177 does not apply to this AD.

(3) Where the service information referenced  in  EASA AD 2017-0177 speci-
    fies contacting the applicable manufacturer of the dedicated equipment
    for a definition of a cycle and recalculation to hoist cycles, this AD
    does not  require contacting  the manufacturer  for a  definition of a
    cycle and recalculation to hoist cycles.

(4) Where paragraph (3)  of  EASA AD 2017-0177 specifies to do "applicable
    corrective  actions,"  for  this  AD,  if  there  are  any   defective
    components,  replace   all  defective   components  with   serviceable
    components  in  accordance  with  FAA-approved  procedures.  For   the
    purposes of this  AD, a defect  may be indicated  by cracking, damage,
    corrosion, or incorrect installation.

(5) Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2017-0177 spec-
    ifies to discard certain parts,  this AD requires removing those parts
    from service instead.

(6) Where the service information  referenced  in EASA AD 2017-0177 refers
    to flight hours (FH), this AD requires using hours time-in-service.

(7) Paragraph (9) of EASA AD 2017-0177 does not apply to this AD.

(i) 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.

(j) RELATED INFORMATION

(1) For EASA AD 2017-0177, 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
    information 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-2020-1171.

(2) For more information about this AD,  contact Kathleen Arrigotti, Avia-
    tion Safety Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation
    Branch, FAA,  2200 South  216th St.,  Des Moines,  WA 98198; phone and
    fax: 206-231-3218; email: kathleen.arrigotti@faa.gov.

Issued on January 5, 2021. Gaetano A. Sciortino, Deputy Director for Stra-
tegic Initiatives, Compliance & Airworthiness Division,  Aircraft Certifi-
cation Service.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 26, 2021
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-1171; Product Identifier 2017-SW-124-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH

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 Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 and
Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a
determination that a life limit for the adapter forward (FWD) of the
outboard load system, repetitive inspections of other components of
that system, and for certain helicopters, a modification of the
outboard load system, are necessary to address the unsafe condition.
This proposed AD would require a modification of the outboard load
system for certain helicopters, repetitive inspections of the outboard
load system and its components for any defect (including cracking,
damage, corrosion, and incorrect installation) and applicable
corrective actions, and implementation of a new life limit for the FWD
adapter, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD,
which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 April 26,
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 is proposed for 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 material 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 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-2020-1171.

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-
1171; 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: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA,
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-
3218; email: kathleen.arrigotti@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-2020-1171; Product Identifier
2017-SW-124-AD" 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
https://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
Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety Engineer, Large Aircraft Section,
International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines,
WA 98198; phone and fax: 206-231-3218; email:
kathleen.arrigotti@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 (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued
EASA AD 2017-0177, dated September 14, 2017 (EASA AD 2017-0177) (also
referred to as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or
the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition for all Airbus Helicopters
Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, except the Model C-
2e variant, and all Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters.

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH MBB-BK 117 C-2e variant
helicopters are not a unique model on the U.S. type certificate but are
considered a configuration of the Model MBB-BK117 C-2. The U.S. type
certificate data sheet explains that the FAA determined that the type
design changes involved did not rise to the level that required an FAA
amended type certificate. However, the FAA does recognize that
helicopters with these type design changes exist, therefore the
designation Model MBB-BK117 C-2(e) is used, starting from Serial Number
9601. The Model MBB-BK117 C-2(e) is a visual flight rules only
configuration of the Model MBB-BK117 C-2 utilizing a Garmin 500H flight
display system.

This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that a life limit
for the adapter FWD of the outboard load system, repetitive inspections
of other components of that system, and for certain helicopters, a
modification of the outboard load system, are necessary to address the
unsafe condition. The FAA is proposing this AD to address detachment of
an external load or person from the helicopter hoist, resulting in
personal injury, or injury to persons on the ground. See the MCAI for
additional background information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

EASA AD 2017-0177 describes procedures for modification of the
outboard load system for certain Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters,
repetitive inspections of the outboard load system and its components
for any defect (including cracking, damage, corrosion, and incorrect
installation) and corrective actions, and implementation of a new life
limit for the FWD adapter (i.e., repetitive replacements). The
corrective actions include replacement of any defective component with
a serviceable part.

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 after evaluating all the
relevant information and determining 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 2017-0177, 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 2017-0177
will be incorporated by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD
would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2017-0177 in its entire-
ty, through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as
exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed 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 2017-0177 that is
required for compliance with EASA AD 2017-0177 will be available on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2020-1171 after the FAA final rule is published.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 175 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
2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170 $1,306 $1,476 $258,300

* The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable providing cost estimates for the modification specified in this proposed AD.

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 Action *

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product
2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170 $ (*) $170 (*)

* The FAA has not received any definitive data regarding the parts cost,
therefore this table does not include estimated costs for parts.

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: