DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0204; Product Identifier 2018-SW-082-AD; Amendment
39-21179; AD 2020-15-16]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A (Type Certificate
Previously Held by Agusta S.p.A) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-07-
08, which applied to certain Leonardo S.p.A (type certificate previously held by
Agusta S.p.A) Model A109E, A109K2, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and AW119 MKII
helicopters. AD 2018-07-08 required reducing the life limit of the tail rotor blade
retention bolt and an inspection of that bolt for cracking, and replacement of any
cracked bolt. This AD continues to require reducing the life limit of
the tail rotor blade retention bolt, inspecting that bolt for cracking,
and replacing any cracked bolt. In addition, this AD requires
repetitive inspections of the tail rotor blade retention bolt for
cracking. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 27, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 26,
2018 (83 FR 15495, April 11, 2018).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of
Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va)
Italy; telephone +39 0331 225074; fax +39 0331 229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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. It is
also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0204.

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-2020-0204;
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 final rule, any comments received, and other information. The
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: Matt Fuller, AD Program Manager,
Continued Operational Safety Branch, Airworthiness Products Section,
General Aviation and Rotorcraft Unit, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth,
TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5151; email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2018-07-08, Amendment 39-19239 (83 FR
15495, April 11, 2018) (``AD 2018-07-08''). AD 2018-07-08 applied to
certain Leonardo S.p.A Model A109E, A109K2, A109S, AW109SP, A119, and
AW119 MKII helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
March 23, 2020 (85 FR 16281). The NPRM was prompted by the FAA's
determination that repetitive inspections of the tail rotor blade
retention bolt are needed to address the unsafe condition. The NPRM
proposed to continue to require reducing the life limit of the tail
rotor blade retention bolt, inspecting that bolt for cracking, and
replacing any cracked bolt. The NPRM also proposed to require
repetitive inspections of the tail rotor blade retention bolt for
cracking. Since issuing AD 2018-07-08, the FAA has determined that
repetitive inspections of the tail rotor blade retention bolt are
needed to address the unsafe condition. The FAA is issuing this AD to
address cracked bolts, which could result in failure of the tail rotor
and loss of control of the helicopter.
The European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation
Safety Agency) (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member
States of the European Union, has issued EASA Emergency AD, 2016-0173-
E, dated August 24, 2016 (referred to after this as the Mandatory
Continuing Airworthiness Information, or ``the MCAI''), to correct an
unsafe condition for all Leonardo S.p.A. Model A109E, A109K2, A109LUH,
A109S, A119, AW109SP and AW119 MKII helicopters. 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-2020-0204.
See the MCAI for additional background information.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or
on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this final rule as proposed,
except for minor editorial changes. The FAA has determined that these
minor changes:
Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the
NPRM for addressing the unsafe condition; and
Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was
already proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

This AD requires the following service information, which the
Director of the Federal Register approved for incorporation by
reference as of April 26, 2018 (83 FR 15495, April 11, 2018).
Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No.
109EP-149, dated August 19, 2016.
Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No.
109K-72, dated August 19, 2016.
Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No.
109S-072, dated August 19, 2016.
Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No.
109SP-105, dated August 19, 2016.
Leonardo Helicopters Mandatory Bollettino Tecnico No. 119-
080, dated August 19, 2016.
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.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

The MCAI does not specify life limits for a tail rotor blade
retention bolt having part number (P/N) 709-0160-57-101 that has been
interchanged between model helicopter installations, while this AD
does.
The MCAI applies to Model A109LUH helicopters. Model A109LUH
helicopters are not certified by the FAA and are not included on the
U.S. type certificate data sheet; this AD therefore does not include
those helicopters in the applicability.

Interim Action

The FAA considers 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, the FAA might
consider additional rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 219 helicopters of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:


Estimated Costs for Required Actions

Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions

According to the manufacturer, some or all of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. 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

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.

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-07-08, Amendment 39-19239
(83 FR 15495, April 11, 2018); and

b. Adding the following new AD: