DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0498; Project Identifier 2019-SW-072-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Helicopteres Guimbal Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for Helicopteres Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters with
any metal bushing installed on the main rotor (M/R) swashplate guide
bellcrank. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracks
discovered on the M/R scissor link during scheduled maintenance on
several helicopters. This proposed AD would require removing all metal
bushings from service, visually inspecting the lug bore area and
depending on the inspection results, removing certain parts from
service and installing certain part-numbered plastic bushings. This
proposed AD would also prohibit installing any metal bushing on any
helicopter. 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 August 23, 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 between 9 a.m. and
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

For service information identified in this NPRM, contact
Helicopteres Guimbal, Basile Ginel, 1070, rue du
Lieutenant Parayre, Aerodrome d'Aix-en-Provence, 13290 Les
Milles, France; telephone 33-04-42-39-10-88; email
basile.ginel@guimbal.com; web https://www.guimbal.com. 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0498; 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, the European
Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any comments received, and
other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed
above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer,
COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance &
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Mail Stop: Room 410,
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7330; email
andrea.jimenez@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-2021-0498; Project Identifier
2019-SW-072-AD" 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 NPRM.

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
Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section,
Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA,
1600 Stewart Ave., Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7330; email
andrea.jimenez@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.

Background

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0185, dated July 30, 2019 (EASA
AD 2019-0185), to correct an unsafe condition for
Helicopteres Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. EASA
advises that during scheduled maintenance on several helicopters,
cracks were found on the M/R scissor link due to corrosion. EASA states
this corrosion was caused by stress induced by the mounting of the
metal bushing inside the lug hole. EASA further states metal bushings
are also installed on the M/R swashplate guide bellcrank, where similar
cracking may occur. This condition, if not addressed,
could result in failure of the M/R swashplate guide bellcrank and
reduced control of the helicopter. Accordingly, EASA AD 2019-0185
requires replacing any part-numbered metal bushing with plastic bushing
part number (P/N) HG22-1001. EASA AD 2019-0185 also prohibits
installing any part-numbered metal bushing on the M/R swashplate guide
bellcrank other than P/N HG22-1001 on any helicopter.

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 proposing this AD
after evaluating all known relevant information and determining that
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop
on other helicopters of the same type designs.

Related Service Information

The FAA reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 17-003, Revision D,
dated August 27, 2019 (SB 17-003 Rev D). This service information
specifies disconnecting the bellcrank installed on the swashplate guide
by removing the bolts that connect the bellcrank to the swashplate
guide, removing any existing bushings, and visually inspecting the lug
bore area for corrosion or cracks. This service information also
specifies if there is any corrosion or cracks, reporting the
information to HG support, installing the new plastic bushings,
reinstalling the bellcrank, applying a specified torque, and installing
cotter pins.

Other Related Service Information

The FAA also reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 17-003, Revision
C, dated July 12, 2019 (SB 17-003 Rev C). SB 17-003 Rev C specifies the
same procedures as SB 17-003 Rev D, except SB 17-003 Rev D updates the
reference to EASA AD 2019-0185.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-service or
2 months, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD,
disconnecting the bellcrank from the swashplate guide, removing each
bolt and using a certain tool, removing certain parts from service.
This proposed AD would also require visually inspecting the lug bore
area for corrosion and cracks and depending on the inspection results,
removing certain parts from service, or repairing the area using an
FAA-approved method, installing certain part-numbered plastic bushings,
coating the area with a compound, reinstalling certain parts, applying
a specified torque, and installing cotter pins.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

EASA AD 2019-0185 applies to all Model Cabri G2 helicopters,
whereas this proposed AD would only apply to Model Cabri G2 helicopters
with any metal bushings installed and without HG modification 16-009.
The service information required by the EASA AD requires contacting
Helicopteres Guimbal for corrective actions when
corrosion or cracks are found in the lug bore area whereas this AD
requires removing the swashplate guide from service or repairing it
using an FAA-approved method.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 32 helicopters
of U.S. Registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the
following costs in order to comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs
are estimated at $85 per work-hour.

Disconnecting the bellcrank, removing each metal bushing and
visually inspecting for corrosion and cracks would take about 0.5 work-
hours for an estimated cost of $43 per inspection cycle.

Installing each plastic bushing, coating with compound, re-
installing the bellcrank, and applying torque would take about 0.5
work-hours and parts would cost about $10 for an estimated cost of $53
per helicopter.

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, I certify this proposed regulation:

(1) Is not a "significant regulatory action" under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would 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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive: