DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0020; Project Identifier MCAI-2021-00784-R;
Amendment 39-22000; AD 2022-07-12]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-02-
20, which applied to certain Helicopteres Guimbal (HG)
Model Cabri G2 helicopters. AD 2021-02-20 required initial and
repetitive inspections of certain rotating and non-rotating scissor
fittings, and depending on the results, replacing the affected
assembly. AD 2021-02-20 also prohibited installing certain main rotor
hubs (MRHs) and swashplate guides unless the initial inspection was
accomplished. This AD was prompted by a report of a crack in a rotating
scissor fitting. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2021-02-20,
and requires installation of newly designed parts, provides a
terminating action for the initial and repetitive inspections, and
revises the applicability. This AD also extends the repetitive
inspection interval and prohibits installing certain MRHs and
swashplate guides. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 10, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of May 10, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of
February 22, 2021 (86 FR 8299, February 5, 2021).

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 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. Service information
that is incorporated by reference is also available at https://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0020.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0020; 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 Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, 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: Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer,
COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance &
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY
11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; email Darren.Gassetto@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2021-02-20, Amendment 39-21403 (86 FR 8299,
February 5, 2021) (AD 2021-02-20). AD 2021-02-20 applied to HG Model
Cabri G2 helicopters, with rotating or non-rotating scissor fitting
part number (P/N) G12-00-200, installed on the MRH or swashplate guide,
respectively. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 31,
2022 (87 FR 4822). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to retain certain
inspection and corrective action requirements of AD 2021-02-20. The
NPRM also proposed to require within 60 hours time-in-service (TIS) or
6 months, whichever occurs first after the effective date of the
proposed AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 60 hours TIS or
6 months, whichever occurs first, leaving each scissor fitting
assembled and visually inspecting each scissor fitting for a crack. If
there is a crack during the initial inspection or the recurring
inspection, the NPRM proposed to require before further flight,
replacing certain parts or as an alternative, installing HG
modification (mod) 20-040.
The NPRM proposed to require, within 60 months or during the next
main gearbox overhaul, whichever occurs first after the effective date
of the proposed AD, removing from service MRH P/N G12-00-100, or G12-
00-101, or G12-00-102 and swashplate guide P/N G21-01-101 or G21-01-102
and installing HG mod 20-040. The proposed NPRM also allowed installing
HG mod 20-040 to be a terminating action for the initial and recurring
visual inspections required by the proposed AD.
Additionally, for any pre-HG mod 20-040 helicopter, as of February
22, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-02-20), the NPRM proposed to
prohibit installing an MRH or swashplate guide, with a certain part-
numbered rotating or non-rotating scissor fitting installed, unless
certain actions have been accomplished. For any post-HG mod 20-040
helicopter, as of the effective date of the proposed AD, the NPRM
proposed to prohibit installing an MRH or swashplate guide, with a
certain part-numbered rotating or non-rotating scissor fitting
installed, on any helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2021-0155, dated July 2, 2021
(EASA AD 2021-0155), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for
the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition
for HG Cabri G2 helicopters, all manufacturer serial numbers. EASA
advises that a design change was developed for the MRH and swashplate
guide including installation instructions for the modification. EASA AD
2021-0155 advises the design change requires installing new scissor
fitting P/N G12-00-202, which is not affected by stress corrosion
cracking. EASA AD 2021-0155 further advises once a helicopter installs
a certain part-numbered MRH and a certain part-numbered swashplate
guide containing the newly designed scissor fitting, HG mod 20-040 is
accomplished. This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure
of a rotating or non-rotating scissor fitting and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.
Accordingly, EASA AD 2021-0155 retains the requirements of EASA AD
2020-0199, dated September 21, 2020, and corrected September 24, 2020
(EASA AD 2020-0199), which prompted AD 2021-02-20, and requires
replacement of the MRH and swashplate guide assemblies with assemblies
equipped with the newly designed scissor fitting. EASA AD 2021-0155
also increases the interval for the repetitive inspection and prohibits
any affected part to be installed on any helicopter that has HG mod 20-
040 installed. EASA AD 2021-0155 allows a terminating action for the
initial and repetitive inspections if the helicopter has been modified and includes
the updated modification information.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

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. This AD is adopted as proposed in the
NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 20-012, Revision C; SB
20-011, Revision D; and SB 21-007 Revision C, each dated July 22, 2021
(SB 20-012 Rev C, SB 20-011 Rev D, and SB 21-007 Rev C). SB 20-012 Rev
C specifies removing the bolts connecting the two scissor fittings P/N
G12-00-200 and accomplishing a one-time detailed inspection for a crack
in certain areas. SB 20-012 Rev C also specifies reassembling the two
scissor fittings using correct bolt torque limits, installing new
cotter pins, and reporting any findings to HG customer support.
SB 20-011 Rev D specifies procedures for a recurring inspection
after accomplishment of SB 20-012 Rev C of the same areas of the
scissor fittings for a crack as SB 20-012 Rev C, except without
removing the bolts which connect the two scissor fittings. SB 20-011
Rev D also specifies reporting any findings to HG customer support. SB
21-007 Rev C specifies instructions for installing the newly designed
scissor fitting.
This AD also requires Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 20-012, Revision
B, dated October 5, 2020 (SB 20-012 Rev B), which the Director of the
Federal Register approved for incorporation by reference as of February
22, 2021 (86 FR 8299, February 5, 2021).
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.

Other Related Service Information

The FAA also reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 20-011, Revision
C, dated October 5, 2020 (SB 20-011 Rev C). SB 20-011 Rev C specifies
the same procedures as SB-20-011 Rev D, except SB 20-011 Rev D updates
the applicability and references SB 21-007 Rev C.
The FAA reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 20-011, Revision B,
and SB 20-012, Revision A, each dated September 1, 2020 (SB 20-011 Rev
B and SB 20-012 Rev A). SB 20-012 Rev A specifies the same procedures
as SB 20-012 Rev B, except SB 20-012 Rev B revises the compliance time,
adds the EASA AD identification information, and updates the Situation
section description. SB 20-011 Rev B specifies the same procedures as
SB 20-011 Rev C, except SB 20-011 Rev C adds the EASA AD identification
information and updates the Situation section description.
The FAA also reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 21-007, Revision
B, dated April 4, 2021 which states the same procedures as SB 21-007
Rev C, except SB 21-007 Rev C revises the compliance time to coincide
with the effective date of EASA AD 2021-0155.

Differences Between This AD and EASA AD 2021-0155

EASA AD 2021-0155 requires detailed inspections, whereas this AD
requires cleaning each scissor fitting and visually inspecting each
scissor fitting using a flashlight. EASA AD 2021-0155 also requires
reporting certain information, whereas this AD does not. EASA AD 2021-
0155 requires replacing certain parts if a crack is detected with
serviceable parts, whereas this AD requires replacing certain parts
with airworthy parts.

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.
Removing and installing the bolt and cotter pins in the initial
inspection takes a minimal amount of time with a minimal parts cost.
Inspecting each scissor fitting takes about 0.5 work-hour for an
estimated cost of $43 per fitting, per inspection cycle. There are 2
scissor fittings installed on a helicopter, for an estimated cost of
$85 per helicopter and $2,720 for the U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle.
Removing an MRH and swashplate guide and installing the improved
MRH and swashplate guide takes about 6 work-hours and parts cost about
$1,608 through the parts exchange program for an estimated cost of
$2,118 per helicopter and $67,776 for the U.S. fleet. The FAA expects
the majority of operators to use the parts exchange program. If not
accomplished through the parts exchange program, an improved MRH and
swashplate guide costs about $8,695 for an estimated cost of $9,205 per
helicopter and $294,560 for the U.S. fleet.
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition replacements that are required based on the results of the
inspection. The agency has no way of determining the number of aircraft
that might need these on-condition replacements:
Replacement of an MRH due to a crack in the scissor fitting with an
airworthy MRH takes about 5 work-hours and parts cost about $7,360 for
an estimated cost of $7,785 per helicopter; and replacement of a
swashplate guide due to a crack in the scissor fitting with an
airworthy swashplate guide takes about 6 work-hours and parts cost
about $1,312 for an estimated cost of $1,822 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

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2021-02-20, Amendment 39-21403 (86
FR 8299, February 5, 2021); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: