Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter France) Helicopters

Published date22 March 2021
Citation86 FR 15140
Record Number2021-05426
SectionProposed rules
CourtFederal Aviation Administration
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 53 (Monday, March 22, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 53 (Monday, March 22, 2021)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 15140-15142]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-05426]
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                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Aviation Administration
                14 CFR Part 39
                [Docket No. FAA-2017-0432; Project Identifier 2013-SW-074-AD]
                RIN 2120-AA64
                Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate
                Previously Held by Eurocopter France) Helicopters
                AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
                ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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                SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
                for certain Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate previously held by
                Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and EC130T2 helicopters. This proposed
                AD was prompted by a report of failure of an engine digital electronic
                control unit (DECU). This proposed AD would require revising the
                existing Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter. This
                proposed AD would also allow the option of modifying the electronic
                engine control unit (EECU) as terminating action for the RFM revision.
                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 April 21,
                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 Airbus Helicopters service information identified in this NPRM,
                contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
                75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775;
                or at https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. For Safran Turbomeca service information identified in
                this NPRM, contact Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., 64511 Bordes,
                France; phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 45 11. 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-2017-0432; 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
                Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency)
                (EASA) AD, the EASA safety information bulletin (SIB), any comments
                received, and other information. The street address for Docket
                Operations is listed above.
                [[Page 15141]]
                FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Jordan, Rotorcraft Flight Test
                Pilot, Southwest Section, Flight Test Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood
                Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
                [email protected].
                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-2017-0432; Project Identifier
                2013-SW-074-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 Jon
                Jordan, Rotorcraft Flight Test Pilot, Southwest Section, Flight Test
                Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone
                (817) 222-5110; email [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA
                receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in
                the public docket for this rulemaking.
                Background
                 The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the
                European Union, has issued EASA AD 2013-0287, dated December 5, 2013
                (EASA AD 2013-0287), to correct an unsafe condition for Eurocopter
                (formerly Eurocopter France, Aerospatiale) Model AS 350 B3 and EC 130
                T2 helicopters with an ARRIEL 2D engine and THALES full authority
                digital engine control (FADEC) part number (P/N) C13165DA00 or P/N
                C13165FA00 installed. The EASA advises of a report of an in-flight
                event where the pilot noticed that the temporary amber governor (GOV)
                light had illuminated, followed by the failure of the vehicle engine
                monitoring display (VEMD) screens, and no availability of the automatic
                or auxiliary engine back-up control ancillary unit (EBCAU). Subsequent
                investigation identified an internal failure of the engine DECU, which
                led to loss of fuel flow regulation (frozen fuel metering unit). This
                failure was not indicated to the pilot by a red GOV warning light as
                expected, but with amber GOV indication and loss of VEMD display
                instead. EASA also advises that if this fuel metering unit is frozen in
                the open position, it may lead to a rotor overspeed, and if it is
                frozen in the closed position, it may lead to unavailability of engine
                power. EASA states that this condition, if not addressed, could result
                in the pilot identifying the type of failure condition incorrectly,
                possibly resulting in an improper response.
                 Accordingly, and pending the development of a DECU assembly design
                improvement, the EASA AD requires incorporating a new procedure into
                the Emergency Procedures section of the RFM and informing all flight
                crews of the RFM change. EASA considers its AD an interim action and
                states that further AD action may follow.
                 After EASA issued EASA AD 2013-0287, EASA issued SIB No. 2013-23,
                dated December 19, 2013, for Eurocopter AS 350 B3 and EC 130 T2
                helicopters with a Turbom[eacute]ca ARRIEL 2D engine installed. The SIB
                recommends modifying certain EECUs.
                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 Under 1 CFR Part 51
                 The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB)
                No. AS350-01.00.67 and ASB No. EC130-04A004, each Revision 2 and dated
                February 17, 2014 (ASB AS350-01.00.67 and ASB EC130-04A004). ASB AS350-
                01.00.67 applies to Model AS350B3 helicopters and ASB EC130-04A004
                applies to Model EC130T2 helicopters. This service information provides
                a new RFM procedure in the event of illumination of the amber GOV
                followed by the loss of the VEMD display.
                 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 reviewed Safran Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin No.
                292 73 2852, Revision B, dated February 12, 2014. This service
                information specifies replacing certain FADEC D EECUs with certain
                amended FADEC D EECUs.
                Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
                 This proposed AD would require revising the Emergency Procedures of
                the existing RFM for your helicopter by inserting Appendix 4. of ASB
                AS350-01.00.67 or ASB EC130-04A004, or a different document with
                information identical to that in Appendix 4., as applicable to your
                helicopter model.
                 As an optional terminating action for the RFM revision, this
                proposed AD would allow installing amendment A on FADEC P/N C13165DA00
                or amendment B on FADEC P/N C13165FA00.
                Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD
                 The EASA AD applies to Model AS350B3 and EC130T2 helicopters, with
                an ARRIEL 2D engine and THALES FADEC P/N C13165DA00 or P/N C13165FA00
                installed, whereas this proposed AD would apply to those helicopters
                except not those with THALES FADEC P/N C13165DA00 with amendment A or
                P/N C13165FA00 with amendment B installed. This proposed AD would also
                allow installing those amendments on the FADEC as an optional
                termination action, whereas the EASA AD does not.
                [[Page 15142]]
                Costs of Compliance
                 The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
                affect up to 628 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 proposed AD.
                 Revising the existing RFM for your helicopter would take about 0.25
                work-hour for an estimated cost of $21 per helicopter and up to $13,188
                for the U.S. fleet.
                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
                0
                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]
                0
                2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
                directive:
                Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Eurocopter
                France): Docket No. FAA-2017-0432; Project Identifier 2013-SW-074-
                AD.
                (a) Comments Due Date
                 The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
                (AD) by April 21, 2021.
                (b) Affected ADs
                 None.
                (c) Applicability
                 This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate
                previously held by Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and EC130T2
                helicopters, certificated in any category, with an ARRIEL 2D engine
                and THALES full authority digital engine control (FADEC) part number
                (P/N) C13165DA00 without amendment A or P/N C13165FA00 without
                amendment B, installed.
                 Note 1 to paragraph (c): Helicopters with an AS350B3e
                designation are Model AS350B3 helicopters.
                (d) Subject
                 Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7321, Engine Fuel
                Control/Turbine Engines.
                (e) Unsafe Condition
                 This AD was prompted by a report of failure of an engine digital
                electronic control unit. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
                incorrect indicator illumination, display failure, and loss of fuel
                flow regulation (frozen fuel metering unit). The unsafe condition,
                if not addressed, could result in misleading information to the
                pilot, rotor overspeed or unavailability of engine power, and
                subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
                (f) Compliance
                 Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
                unless already done.
                (g) Required Actions
                 (1) Within 25 hours time-in-service after the effective date of
                this AD, revise the Emergency Procedures of the existing Rotorcraft
                Flight Manual (RFM) for your helicopter by inserting Appendix 4. of
                Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-01.00.67
                or ASB No. EC130-04A004, each Revision 2 and dated February 17, 2014
                (ASB AS350-01.00.67 or ASB EC130-04A004), as applicable to your
                helicopter model. Inserting a different document with information
                identical to that in Appendix 4. of ASB AS350-01.00.67 or ASB EC130-
                04A004, as applicable to your helicopter model, is acceptable for
                compliance with the requirement of this paragraph.
                 (2) As an optional terminating action for the requirement of
                paragraph (g)(1) of this AD, install amendment A on FADEC P/N
                C13165DA00 or amendment B on FADEC P/N C13165FA00.
                (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
                 (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the
                authority 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 International Validation Branch, send
                it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of
                this AD. Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
                 (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
                principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
                of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
                district office.
                (i) Related Information
                 (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jon Jordan,
                Rotorcraft Flight Test Pilot, Southwest Section, Flight Test Branch,
                FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817)
                222-5110; email [email protected].
                 (2) For Airbus Helicopters service information identified in
                this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand
                Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax
                (972) 641-3775; or at https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. For Safran Turbomeca service information
                identified in this NPRM, contact Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A.,
                64511 Bordes, France; phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 45 11. You may view
                this 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.
                 (3) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
                Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD
                2013-0287, dated December 5, 2013. You may view the EASA AD on the
                internet at https://www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket.
                 Issued on March 5, 2021.
                Lance T. Gant,
                Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
                Service.
                [FR Doc. 2021-05426 Filed 3-19-21; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
                

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