DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-1018; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01383-R;
Amendment 39-21391; AD 2021-02-08]
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) 2018-19-
01, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3,
EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N1, and SA-366G1 helicopters. AD 2018-19-01
required repetitive inspections of the aft fuselage outer skin. This AD
continues to require repetitive inspections and adds Model SA-365N
helicopters, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency
(EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by
aft fuselage (baggage compartment area) outer skin disbonding and a
determination that Model SA-365N helicopters are also affected by the
unsafe condition identified in AD 2018-19-01. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective April 15, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of April 15, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
October 22, 2018 (83 FR 46862, September 17, 2018).
ADDRESSES: For EASA 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 material on the EASA website at
https://ad.easa.europa.eu. For Airbus Helicopters 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website
/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html. 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-2020-1018.
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-
1018; 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: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA,
2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and fax 206-231-
3218; email kathleen.arrigotti@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0080, dated April 3, 2019 (EASA
AD 2019-0080) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition
for all Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1,
SA-365N, and SA-365N1 helicopters.
The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2018-19-01, Amendment 39-19401 (83 FR
46862, September 17, 2018) (AD 2018-19-01). AD 2018-19-01 applied to
all Airbus Helicopters Model AS 365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-
365N1, and SA-366G1 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on November 10, 2020 (85 FR 71580). The NPRM was prompted by
a
determination that Model SA-365N helicopters are also affected by the
unsafe condition identified in AD 2018-19-01. The NPRM proposed to
continue to require repetitive inspections and add Model SA-365N
helicopters, as specified in an EASA AD.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address disbonding of the aft
fuselage outer skin. This condition could result in loss of aft
fuselage structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter. 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
EASA AD 2019-0080 describes procedures for repetitive inspections
of the aft fuselage outer skin for Model AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B,
EC155B1, SA-365N, and SA-365N1 helicopters.
Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. SA366-05.48,
Revision 1, dated March 27, 2019, describes procedures for repetitive
inspections of the aft fuselage outer skin for Model SA366-G1
helicopters.
This AD also requires Airbus Helicopters ASB No. SA366-05.48,
Revision 0, dated July 21, 2017, which the Director of the Federal
Register approved for incorporation by reference as of October 22, 2018
(83 FR 46862, September 17, 2018).
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.
Differences Between This AD and the MCAI
The applicability of EASA AD 2019-0080 does not include Airbus
Helicopters Model SA-366G1 helicopters. Those helicopters are no longer
listed on the EASA type certificate data sheet (TCDS); however, they
are still listed on the U.S. TCDS and are affected by the unsafe
condition. Therefore, the FAA has included Airbus Helicopters Model SA-
366G1 helicopters in the applicability of this AD.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 52 helicopters of U.S.
registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs for Required Actions
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Cost on
U.S. operators
|
4 work-hours x $85 per hour =
$340 |
$0
|
$340
|
$17,680
|
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
Labor cost
|
Parts cost
|
Cost per
product
|
Up to 10 work-hours x $85 per
hour = $850 |
Up to $20,000
|
$20,850
|
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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2018-19-01, Amendment 39-19401 (83 FR 46862, September 17, 2018), and
adding the following new AD:
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