DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0132; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-00947-E;
Amendment 39-21466; AD 2021-05-22]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Turbomeca, S.A.), Turboshaft Engines

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A. (Safran Helicopter Engines)
Arriel 1B, Arriel 1C, Arriel 1C2, Arriel 1D1, Astazou XIV B, and
Astazou XIV H model turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by the
detection of positive segregation (freckles) on Stage 2 high-pressure
turbine (HPT) disks and Stage 3 turbine wheels. This AD requires
removal from service of certain Stage 2 HPT disks for Safran Helicopter
Engines Arriel 1B, 1C, 1C2, and 1D1 model turbofan engines and affected
Stage 3 turbine wheels for Safran Helicopter Engines Astazou XIV B and
XIV H model turbofan engines. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 22, 2021.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by April 19, 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 final rule, contact
Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., Avenue du 1er Mai, Tarnos, France;
phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 45 11. You may view this service information at
the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (781) 238-7759. It is
also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0132.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0132; 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, the
mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments
received, and other information. The street address for the Docket
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Wego Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer,
ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone:
(781) 238-7134; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: wego.wang@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the
Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has
issued EASA AD 2020-0151-E, dated July 9, 2020, for Safran Helicopter
Engines Arriel 1B, Arriel 1C, Arriel 1C2, and Arriel 1D1 model
turboshaft engines, and AD 2020-0161-E, dated July 17, 2020, for Safran
Helicopter Engines Astazou XIV B and Astazou XIV H model turboshaft
engines to address an unsafe condition for the specified products. EASA
AD 2020-0151-E states:

Positive segregation (freckles) was detected on Stage 2 HP
turbine discs manufactured from a certain block of material. Other
parts manufactured from that same block of material may also be
affected by this non-conformity.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to HP turbine disc
failure and result in high-energy debris release, with consequent
damage to, and reduced control of, the helicopter.
To address this unsafe condition, SAFRAN issued the MSB, as
defined in this [EASA] AD, to identify affected HP turbine discs and
provide instructions for replacement.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts, and prohibits
re-installation of affected parts.

EASA AD 2020-0161-E states:

Positive segregation (freckles) was detected on Stage 3 turbine
wheels manufactured from a certain block of material. Other parts
manufactured from that same block of material may also be affected
by this non-conformity.
This condition, if not corrected, could lead to turbine wheel
failure and result in high-energy debris release, with consequent
damage to, and reduced control of, the helicopter.
To address this unsafe condition, SAFRAN issued the MSB, as
defined in this [EASA] AD, to identify affected turbine wheels and
provide instructions for replacement.
For the reason described above, this [EASA] AD requires
replacement of affected parts with serviceable parts, and prohibits
re-installation of affected parts.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAIs in the AD
docket at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating
Docket No. FAA-2021-0132.

FAA's Determination

This product has been approved by EASA and is approved for
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement
with the European Community, EASA has notified us of the unsafe
condition described in the MCAI. The FAA is issuing this AD because the
agency evaluated all the relevant information provided by EASA and has
determined that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to
exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

The FAA reviewed Safran Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) 292 72
0860, Version A, dated July 9, 2020 (MSB 292 72 0860). MSB 292 72 0860
identifies affected Stage 2 HPT disks and describes procedures for
removing and replacing affected Stage 2 HPT disks on Safran Helicopter
Engines Arriel 1B, Arriel 1C, Arriel 1C2, and Arriel 1D1 model turbofan
engines. The FAA also reviewed Safran MSB 283 72 0814, Version A, dated
July 16, 2020 (MSB 283 72 0814). MSB 283 72 0814 describes procedures
for replacing the Stage 3 turbine wheel on Safran Helicopter Engines
Astazou XIV B and Astazou XIV H model turbofan engines.

AD Requirements

This AD requires the removal from service and replacement of
affected Stage 2 HPT disks for Safran Helicopter Engines Arriel 1B,
Arriel 1C, Arriel 1C2, and Arriel 1D1 model turbofan engines.

This AD also requires the removal from service and replacement of each
affected Stage 3 turbine wheel for Safran Helicopter Engines Astazou
XIV B and Astazou XIV H model turbofan engines.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI or Service Information

EASA AD 2020-0161-E requires operators to use Safran Helicopter
Engines service information to perform the removal and replacement of
affected Stage 2 HPT disks while this AD does not.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
The FAA has found the risk to the flying public justifies waiving
notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule because no domestic
operators use this product. It is unlikely that the FAA will receive
any adverse comments or useful information about this AD from any U.S.
operator. Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment
are unnecessary, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, for
the foregoing reason(s), the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant
to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30
days.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include Docket No. FAA-2021-0132 and Project Identifier
MCAI-2020-00947-E at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, 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 final rule 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 final rule.

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 AD 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 AD, 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 AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Wego
Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not
specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for
this rulemaking.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 0 engines installed on
helicopters of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate.
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected operators.

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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

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: