DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0020; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01639-R]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2019-03-12, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP
helicopters. AD 2019-03-12 requires repetitively inspecting, cleaning,
and lubricating each life raft inflation cylinder percussion system
bellcrank (bellcrank). Since the FAA issued AD 2019-03-12, the FAA
determined that any affected bellcrank must be replaced with a
serviceable bellcrank, which would terminate the repetitive actions.
This proposed AD would continue to require the actions specified in AD
2019-03-12, and would require replacing any affected bellcrank with a
serviceable bellcrank. 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 12,
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 service information identified in this proposed 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 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.

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-2021-
0020; 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: Blaine Williams, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood,
CA 90712-4137; telephone 562-627-5371; email blaine.willaims@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-2021-0020; Project Identifier
MCAI-2020-01639-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
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
Blaine Williams Aviation Safety Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 3960
Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712-4137; telephone 562-627-5371;
email blaine.willaims@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 FAA issued AD 2019-03-12, Amendment 39-19564 (84 FR 8250, March
7, 2019) (AD 2019-03-12), which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters
Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2019-03-12 requires repetitively
inspecting, cleaning, and lubricating each bellcrank. The FAA issued AD
2019-03-12 to address jammed bellcranks in the life raft jettison
inflation cylinder percussion system. This condition could result in
failure of a life raft to release in an emergency and subsequent injury
to occupants.

Actions Since AD 2019-03-12 Was Issued

Since the FAA issued AD 2019-03-12, the FAA determined that the
affected bellcranks must be replaced with serviceable bellcranks, which
would terminate the need for the repetitive actions.

The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0287, dated November 27, 2019
(EASA AD 2019-0287) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition
for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. EASA AD 2019-
0287 supersedes EASA AD 2019-0102, dated May 9, 2019. EASA AD 2019-
0102, dated May 9, 2019, superseded EASA AD 2016-0200, dated October
11, 2016, which corresponds to FAA AD 2019-03-12.

This proposed AD was prompted by reports of jammed bellcranks in
the life raft inflation cylinder percussion system. The FAA is
proposing this AD to address jammed bellcranks in the life raft
jettison inflation cylinder percussion system. This condition could
result in failure of a life raft to release in an emergency and
subsequent injury to occupants. See the MCAI for additional background
information.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert Service Bulletin EC225-25A211,
Revision 1, dated October 23, 2019. This service information describes
procedures for replacing any affected life raft release bellcrank with
a serviceable bellcrank. 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

Airbus Helicopters has also issued Emergency Alert Service Bulletin
No. 05A050, Revision 0, dated July 22, 2016; and Emergency Alert
Service Bulletin No. 05A050, Revision 1, dated April 3, 2019. This
service information describes procedures for cleaning and lubricating
each bellcrank and pivot link of the life raft inflation cylinder
percussion system and removing any corrosion.

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 FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority,
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI
and service information referenced above. The FAA is proposing this AD
after evaluating all known relevant information and determining that an
unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other products of the
same type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would retain all requirements of AD 2019-03-12.
This proposed AD would also require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information described previously, except as discussed
under "Differences Between this Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information."

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI or Service
Information

EASA AD 2019-0287 requires replacing each affected bellcrank with a
serviceable part within 6 months after the effective date of that AD.
This proposed AD would require replacing each affected bellcrank with a
serviceable part within 6 months after the effective date of this AD,
or before the next operation over water, whichever occurs first.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 28 helicopters of
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required 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

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2019-03-12, Amendment 39-19564
(84 FR 8250, March 7, 2019); and

b. Adding the following new AD: