DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0685; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00396-R;
Amendment 39-21325; AD 2020-23-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 helicopters. This AD was prompted by
reports of inflight detachment of the left-hand (LH) side cabin sliding
doors and cases of impact damage on the main rotor blades, which were
caused by degradation of the sliding door locking mechanism. This AD
requires repetitive checks (measurements) of the load that operates the
sliding door opening mechanism, repetitive inspections of the markings
of the attachment screws for proper alignment, modifying the attachment
system of the sliding door, and corrective actions if necessary, as
specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which
is incorporated by reference. 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 material 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-2020-0685.

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-
0685; 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: Kristin Bradley, Aviation Safety
Engineer, International Validation Branch, General Aviation &
Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177;
telephone 817-222-5485; email Kristin.Bradley@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Airbus Helicopters
Model EC130B4 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register
on August 6, 2020 (85 FR 47714). The NPRM was prompted by reports of
inflight detachment of the LH side cabin sliding doors and cases of
impact damage on the main rotor blades, which were caused by
degradation of the sliding door locking mechanism. The NPRM proposed to
require repetitive checks (measurements) of the load that operates the
sliding door opening mechanism, repetitive inspections of the markings
of the attachment screws for proper alignment, modifying the attachment
system of the sliding door, and corrective actions if necessary, as
specified in an EASA AD.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address degradation of the locking
mechanism, which could lead to further events of inflight detachment of
a LH side cabin sliding door, and possibly result in damage to the
helicopter and injury to persons on the ground.
The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0069, dated March 24, 2020
(EASA AD 2020-0069) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition
for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 helicopters. See the MCAI for
additional background information.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this final rule. The FAA has considered the comments
received. An anonymous commenter indicated its support for the NPRM.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered the comment
received, 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

EASA AD 2020-0069 describes procedures for repetitive checks
(measurements) of the load that operates the sliding door opening
mechanism, repetitive inspections of the markings of the attachment
screws of the rear LH upper catch for proper alignment, modifying the
attachment system of the sliding door, and corrective actions if
necessary. Corrective actions include adjusting the rear LH upper catch
to increase the load required to operate the sliding door opening
mechanism, inspecting the rear LH upper catch to determine if any
anchor nut is not locked, and replacing the anchor nuts of the rear LH
upper catch. EASA AD2020-0069 also specifies that doing the
modification of the attachment system of the sliding door is a
terminating action for the repetitive inspections of the markings of
the attachment screws of the rear LH upper catch for proper alignment.
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.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 159 helicopters of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:


Estimated Costs for Required Actions

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

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive: