DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0513; Product Identifier 2019-SW-037-AD; Amendment
39-21321; AD 2020-23-05]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-08-01
for Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2018-08-01
required inspecting the control rod attachment yokes (yoke) of certain
main rotor rotating swashplates (swashplate). This new AD retains the
inspection requirements of AD 2018-08-01, expands the applicability,
establishes a life limit, and adds a one-time inspection of stripped
yokes. This AD was prompted by the identification of additional
swashplate serial numbers affected by the unsafe condition and the
establishment of a life limit for the swashplates. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 24, 2020.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 24,
2020.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone 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 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 https://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0513.

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-
0513; 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 Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any
service information that is incorporated by reference, any comments
received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is
Document Operations, 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: Matthew Fuller, AD Program Manager,
Operational Safety Branch, Airworthiness Products Section, General
Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX
76177; telephone 817-222-5110; 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 2018-08-01, Amendment 39-19254 (83 FR
17617, April 23, 2018) (AD 2018-08-01) and add a new AD. AD 2018-08-01
applied to Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters with certain
serial-numbered swashplates part number (P/N) 332A31-3074-00 or P/N
332A31-3074-01 installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
June 3, 2020 (85 FR 34118). The NPRM proposed to require determining
the date of manufacture of the swashplate and establishing a life limit
of 12 years since the date of manufacture. The NPRM proposed to retain
the repetitive visual inspections of AD 2018-08-01 to inspect each yoke
for a crack at intervals not to exceed 15 hours time-in-service (TIS)
for swashplates that have accumulated less than 7 years since the date
of manufacture. For a swashplate that has accumulated 7 or more years,
but less than 12 years since the date of manufacture, the NPRM proposed
to require removing the grease and stripping certain areas of the yokes
and inspecting these areas for corrosion, pitting, loss of material,
and a crack. If there are no cracks, the NPRM proposed to require
performing a dye penetrant inspection of the yoke for a crack.
Depending on the results of this inspection, the NPRM proposed to
require either repairing the surface of the swashplate or removing it
from service.
The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD No. 2019-0074, dated March 28,
2019 (EASA AD 2019-0074) issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of the European Union, to supersede EASA AD No.
2017-0191R2, dated December 15, 2017
(EASA AD 2017-0191R2). EASA AD 2019-0074 followed Airbus Helicopters
revising Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) No. 05A051, Revision
1, dated November 16, 2017, to Revision 2, dated February 26, 2019, to
establish a life limit (also called a service life limit) of 12 years
for the swashplate and add a reporting requirement if there is a crack
or corrosion in a yoke. EASA advises that additional analysis
determined that it is necessary to introduce the new life limit for the
affected swashplates. Accordingly, EASA AD 2019-0074 retains the
requirements of EASA AD 2017-0191R2 and adds a life limit and a
reporting requirement.
Additionally, when the FAA issued AD 2018-08-01 to address the
unsafe condition of a crack in a swashplate yoke, the FAA did not
require stripping certain yokes and performing a one-time inspection
within 100 hours TIS for corrosion and a crack as specified in EASA AD
2017-0191R2, as there was sufficient time to allow for notice and
comment prior to this long-term AD requirement going into effect. The
FAA has determined that this inspection is needed to address this
unsafe condition. Accordingly, the NPRM also proposed to require,
within 100 hours TIS and for certain yokes, removing the grease and
stripping certain areas of the yokes and inspecting these areas for
corrosion, pitting, loss of material, and a crack.

Comments

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

FAA's Determination

These helicopters have been approved by EASA and are approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral
agreement with the European Union, EASA has notified the FAA about the
unsafe condition described in its AD. The FAA is issuing this AD after
evaluating all of the known relevant information and determining that
an unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters
of the same type design and that air safety and the public interest
require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

The EASA AD requires performing a non-destructive inspection only
if there is doubt whether there is a crack. Instead, this AD requires a
visual inspection and if there are no cracks, requires a non-
destructive inspection. The EASA AD specifies instructions for
reporting inspection reports; this AD does not.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed one document that co-publishes two Airbus
Helicopters EASB identification numbers: EASB No. 05A051 for Model
EC225LP helicopters and EASB No. 05A046 for non-FAA type-certificated
Model EC725AP helicopters, each Revision 2 and dated February 26, 2019
(EASB 05A051 and EASB 05A046). EASB 05A051 is incorporated by reference
in this AD. EASB 05A046 is not incorporated by reference in this AD.
This service information specifies inspections for swashplate P/N
332A31-3074-00 and P/N 332A31-3074-01. This service information
specifies procedures for a repetitive inspection of the yokes for a
crack and a one-time inspection of the stripped yokes for corrosion and
a crack. If in doubt about whether there is a crack, this service
information specifies performing a non-destructive inspection. This
service information also specifies touching up the swashplate with
varnish if there is corrosion, removing any damage within allowable
limits, and refinishing the yokes. If there is a crack in a yoke, this
service information specifies replacing the swashplate. This service
information also specifies a life limit of 12 years since the date of
manufacture for the swashplates and reporting requirements if a crack
or corrosion is discovered.
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

The FAA reviewed one document that co-publishes two Airbus
Helicopters EASB identification numbers: EASB No. 05A051 for Model
EC225LP helicopters and EASB No. 05A046 for non-FAA type-certificated
Model EC725AP helicopters, each Revision 1 and dated November 16, 2017.
Revision 1 of this service information specifies the same inspections
as Revision 2 of this service information. However, Revision 2 of this
service information clarifies some of the inspection instructions and
adds a life limit and a reporting requirement.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 26 helicopters of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following
costs in order to comply with this AD. Labor rates are estimated at $85
per work-hour.
Determining the date of manufacture of the swashplate takes about
0.5 work-hour for an estimated cost of $43 per helicopter and $1,118
for the U.S. fleet.
Inspecting the yokes takes about 0.25 work-hour for an estimated
cost of $21 per helicopter and $546 for the U.S. fleet per inspection
cycle.
Removing grease, stripping the yokes, and inspecting the stripped
yokes takes about 8 work-hours, for a total estimated cost of $680 per
helicopter.
Dye-penetrant inspecting a yoke for a crack takes about 6 work-
hours and parts cost about $50, for an estimated cost of $560 per yoke.
Removing any corrosion or repairing damage within the allowable
limit takes about 3 work-hours, for an estimated cost of $255 per yoke.
Replacing the swashplate takes about 6 work-hours, and parts cost
about $85,661 for an estimated cost of $86,171 per instance.

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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-08-01, Amendment 39-19254 (83 FR 17617, April 23, 2018), and
adding the following new AD: