DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0688; Project Identifier 2019-SW-025-AD; Amendment
39-21781; AD 2021-22-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Helicopteres Guimbal Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Helicopteres Guimbal (HG) Model Cabri G2 helicopters.
This AD was prompted by the determination that certain parts need life
limits and certification maintenance requirement (CMR) tasks. This AD
requires establishing life limits and CMR tasks for various parts and
removing any parts from service that have reached or exceeded their
life limits. Depending on the results of the CMR tasks, this AD
requires corrective action. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 13, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of January 13,
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Helicopteres Guimbal, 1070, rue du Lieutenant
Parayre, Aerodrome d'Aix-en-Provence, 13290 Les Milles, France;
telephone 33-04-42-39-10-88; email support@guimbal.com; or at https://
www.guimbal.com. You may view the referenced 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. It is
also available at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and
locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0688.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0688; 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
European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety
Agency) (EASA) AD, any comments received, and other information. The
street 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: Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer,
COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance &
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone (516) 228-7330; email andrea.jimenez@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to
Helicopteres Guimbal (HG) Model Cabri G2 helicopters. The
NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2021 (86 FR
47038). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require before further flight,
removing from service certain part-numbered cooling fan front flanges
and engine pulley ball bearings that have accumulated or exceeded their
life limit. The NPRM also proposed to require establishing recurring
CMR tasks for certain part-numbered cooling fan front flanges.
Depending on the results of the CMR tasks, the NPRM proposed to require
corrective action. Additionally, the NPRM proposed to require painting
certain part-numbered tail booms with glossy white paint.
The NPRM was prompted by a series of EASA ADs beginning with EASA
AD 2016-0032, dated February 24, 2016 (EASA AD 2016-0032), issued by
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for HG Model Cabri G2
helicopters. EASA AD 2016-0032 states HG has revised the airworthiness
limitations and maintenance tasks specified in the existing maintenance
manual. EASA further advised the revisions include new and more
restrictive applicable life limits and compliance times for applicable
tasks. Accordingly, EASA 2016-0032 required replacing each affected
part before exceeding its life limit, accomplishing all applicable
maintenance tasks within the defined intervals as described in revised
maintenance manual and if discrepancies were found accomplishing the
corrective actions in accordance with the applicable maintenance
instructions or contacting HG. EASA AD 2016-0032 also required revising
the existing Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP) for your helicopter by
incorporating the actions specified in the revised maintenance. After
EASA issued EASA AD 2016-0032, HG again revised the airworthiness
limitations and maintenance tasks.
Accordingly, EASA superseded EASA AD 2016-0032 with EASA AD 2019-
0025, dated February 4, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0025). EASA advises new and
more restrictive life limits have been established for cooling fan part
number (P/N) G52-00-001, and P/N G52-00-002, which have been identified
as mandatory for continued airworthiness in Helicopteres
Guimbal Cabri G2 Maintenance Manual (MM) No. J70-002 Issue 06, dated
December 6, 2018, Section C, Airworthiness Limitations (the ALS). In
addition to the new life limits, EASA advises of new and more
restrictive inspection intervals identified in the ALS for cooling fan
P/N G52-00-001 with a certain mounted cooling fan front flange P/N G52-
02-200, or P/N G52-02-201. EASA further advises that the ALS revised
the tail structure paint to include certain part-numbered tail booms
and an additional figure. This condition, if not addressed, could
result in parts remaining in service beyond their fatigue life and
failure of a part, which could result in loss of control of the
helicopter.
Accordingly, EASA AD 2019-0025 retains the requirements of EASA AD
2016-0032 and requires replacing each affected part before exceeding
its life limit, accomplishing all applicable maintenance tasks within
the defined intervals as described in the ALS, and if discrepancies are
found accomplishing the corrective actions in accordance with the
applicable maintenance instructions or contacting HG. EASA AD 2019-0025
also requires revising the tail structure paint scheme to include
certain part-numbered tail booms and an additional figure. EASA AD
2019-0025 requires revising the existing AMP for your helicopter by
incorporating the actions specified in the ALS.

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the costs.

Conclusion

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 reviewed the relevant
data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these helicopters. Except for minor editorial changes,
this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. Changes include clarifying
the name of and the specific portions of Guimbal France
Helicopteres Guimbal Cabri G2 Maintenance Manual and
Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, J70-002--Issue 06, dated
December 6, 2018 (MM J70-002 Issue 06) that are required to accomplish
this final rule. MM J70-002 Issue 06 also refers to a flashlight as a
torchlight; accordingly, changes have been made in this final rule to
clarify that where MM J70-002 Issue 06 specifies to use a torchlight,
to use a flashlight instead. This final rule also removes the
requirements of accomplishing sub section 52-A-10 Cooling Fan
Inspection, paragraph d), of MM J70-002 Issue 06 because it is
unnecessary, this final rule already provides requirements pertaining
to what to do if there is a crack.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed page C-6 of Section C, Airworthiness Limitations,
and page E-5-53 of Section E, Maintenance Instructions, of MM J70-002
Issue 06. This service information specifies airworthiness life limits,
inspection intervals, and CMR requirements for parts installed on Cabri
G2 helicopters. MM J70-002 Issue 06 also establishes life limits for
certain part-numbered cooling fan front flanges, and engine pulley ball
bearings and CMR requirements for certain cooling fan front flanges.
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.

Differences Between This AD and EASA 2019-0025

EASA AD 2019-0025 requires contacting Helicopteres
Guimbal for corrective actions when a discrepancy is
found, whereas this AD requires removing the part from service. EASA AD
2019-0025 requires accomplishing the actions specified in the ALS,
whereas this AD requires establishing a life limit for certain part-
numbered cooling fan front flanges and certain part-numbered engine
pulley ball bearings and removing any part from service accordingly
instead. EASA AD 2019-0025 requires revising the AMP with the actions
specified in the ALS, whereas this AD does not.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 32 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this AD.
Replacing a cooling fan front flange takes about 16 work-hours and
parts cost about $4,500 for an estimated cost of $5,860 per helicopter
and $187,520 for the U.S. fleet, per replacement cycle.
Replacing an engine pulley ball bearing takes about 12 work-hours
and parts cost about $250 for an estimated cost of $1,270 per
helicopter and $40,640 for the U.S. fleet, per replacement cycle.
The FAA has no way of determining the estimated costs to do
allowable repairs based on the results of the CMR tasks. If required,
replacing a cracked cooling fan front flange takes about 16 work-hours
and parts cost about $4,500 for an estimated cost of $5,860.
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 helicopters 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.

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: