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2021-02-09 AIRBUS HELICOPTERS: Amendment 39-21392; Docket No. FAA-2020-0974; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00273-R
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective April 15, 2021.

(b) AFFECTED ADS

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This  AD  applies  to all Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155B and EC155B1
    helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6320, Main Rotor Gearbox.

(e) REASON

    This AD  was prompted  by a  report that  non-destructive tests of the
    main gearbox (MGB) housing may have been evaluated incorrectly  during
    production.  The FAA  is issuing  this AD  to address  failure of  the
    affected MGB  housing, possibly  resulting in  reduced control  of the
    helicopter.

(f) COMPLIANCE

    Comply  with this  AD within  the compliance  times specified,  unless
    already done.

(g) REQUIREMENTS

    Except  as specified  in paragraph  (h) of  this AD:  Comply with  all
    required actions and compliance times specified in, and in  accordance
    with, European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0043, dated
    March 2, 2020 (EASA AD 2020-0043).

(h) EXCEPTIONS TO EASA AD 2020-0043

(1) Where EASA AD 2020-0043 refers to its effective date, this AD requires
    using the effective date of this AD.

(2) Where EASA AD 2020-0043  specifies  to  do  the replacement "within 10
    flight hours or  75 days, whichever  occurs first after  the effective
    date of this AD," for this AD, the compliance time for the replacement
    is within 10 hours time-in-service  after  the effective date  of this
    AD.

(3) Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2020-0043 spec-
    ifies to return certain parts,  this AD does not include that require-
    ment.

(4) The "Remarks" section of EASA AD 2020-0043 does not apply to this AD.

(i) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE (AMOCS)

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy Rotorcraft Section, FAA, has the author-
    ity to approve AMOCs for this AD,  if  requested  using the procedures
    found in  14 CFR  39.19. In  accordance with  14 CFR  39.19, send your
    request  to  your  principal  inspector  or  local  Flight   Standards
    District Office, as  appropriate.  If sending information directly  to
    the manager of the Strategic  Policy Rotorcraft Section, send it   to:
    Manager, Strategic  Policy  Rotorcraft  Section, FAA,  10101  Hillwood
    Pkwy., Fort  Worth, TX 76177;  telephone 817-222-5110. Information may
    be emailed to: 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.

(2) Before using any approved AMOC,  notify your appropriate principal in-
    spector, or lacking  a principal inspector,  the manager of  the local
    flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(j) RELATED INFORMATION

    For more information about this AD, contact Hal Jensen, Aerospace Eng-
    ineer, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 470 L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washing-
    ton DC 20024; telephone 202-267-9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov.

(k) MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(1) The Director of the Federal Register  approved  the  incorporation  by
    reference (IBR) of  the service information  listed in this  paragraph
    under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use  this service information as applicable to do the actions
    required by this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise.

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020-0043, dated March
    2, 2020.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) For EASA AD 2020-0043, 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 EASA AD on the EASA web
    site at https://ad.easa.europa.eu.

(4) 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.  This material may be found in
    the  AD  docket  on  the  Internet  at  https://www.regulations.gov by
    searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0974.

(5) You may view this material that is incorporated  by  reference  at the
    National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).  For  information
    on the availability of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@nara.
    gov,   or   go  to  https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-
    locations.html.

Issued on January 12, 2021. Lance T Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworth-
iness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Hal Jensen,  Aerospace Engineer,  Opera-
tional Safety Branch,  FAA,  470 L’Enfant Plaza SW,  Washington DC  20024;
telephone 202-267-9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0974; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00273-R;
Amendment 39-21392; AD 2021-02-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters. This AD was
prompted by a report that non-destructive tests of the main gearbox
(MGB) housing may have been evaluated incorrectly during production.
This AD requires replacing affected MGBs with serviceable MGBs, 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 April 15, 2021.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of April 15,
2021.

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 material on the EASA website at
https://ad.easa.europa.eu. 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-2020-0974.

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-2020-0974; 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: Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer,
Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 470 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington DC
20024; telephone 202-267-9167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2020-0043, dated March 2, 2020 (EASA
AD 2020-0043) (also referred to as the Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information, or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition
for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155 B and EC 155 B1 helicopters.
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 EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on November 2, 2020 (85 FR 69267). The NPRM was
prompted by a report that non-destructive tests of the MGB housing may
have been evaluated incorrectly during production. The NPRM proposed to
require replacing affected MGBs with serviceable MGBs, as specified in
an EASA AD.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address failure of the affected MGB
housing, possibly resulting in reduced 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 2020-0043 describes procedures for replacing affected MGBs
with serviceable MGBs.
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

EASA AD 2020-0043 specifies to do the replacement ``within 10
flight hours or 75 days, whichever occurs first.'' The compliance time
for this AD is within 10 hours time-in-service.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 18 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
40 work-hours x $85 per hour = $3,400
$141,137
$144,537
$2,601,666

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: