Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 64435 

principal inspector or local Flight Standards 

District Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the manager of the 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (k) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMLAACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(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. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair, 

modification, or alteration required by this 

AD if it is approved by the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, FAA, to make those findings. 

To be approved, the repair method, 

modification deviation, or alteration 

deviation must meet the certification basis of 

the airplane, and the approval must 

specifically refer to this AD. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Muoi Vuong, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, FAA, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 

Lakewood, CA 90712–4137; phone: 562–627– 

5205; fax: 562–627–5210; email: 

muoi.vuong@faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Boeing Alert Requirements Bulletin 

727–57A0188 RB, dated May 31, 2018. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., 

MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; 

telephone 562–797–1717; internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Des Moines, Washington, on 

November 29, 2018. 

James Cashdollar, 

Acting Director, System Oversight Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–26622 Filed 12–14–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–1217; Product 

Identifier 2016–SW–080–AD; Amendment 

39–19528; AD 2018–25–17] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Air Comm 

Corporation Air Conditioning Systems 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Air 

Comm Corporation (Air Comm) air 

conditioning systems installed on 

various model helicopters. This AD 

requires replacing electrical connectors 

and prohibits the installation of other 

parts. This AD was prompted by reports 

of overheated connectors. The actions of 

this AD are intended to address an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 22, 

2019. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain documents listed in this AD 

as of January 22, 2019. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact Air 

Comm Corporation, 1575 West 124th 

Ave., Westminster, CO 80234; telephone 

(303) 440–4075; email service@

aircommcorp.com; website 

www.aircommcorp.com. You may 

review a copy of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. It is also 

available on the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

1217. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

1217; 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 AD, any 

incorporated-by-reference service 

information, the economic evaluation, 

the Special Airworthiness Information 

Bulletin (SAIB), any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations 

(phone: 800–647–5527) 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: 

Matthew Bryant, Aerospace Engineer, 

Denver ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 26805 

East 68th Ave., Room 214, Denver, CO 

80249; telephone (303) 342–1092; email 

matthew.bryant@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On January 11, 2018, at 83 FR 1313, 

the Federal Register published our 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), 

which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 

39 by adding an AD that would apply 

to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 

AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, 

AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, 

and EC130B4, and Bell Model 206A, 

206B, 206L, 206L–1, 206L–3, and 206L– 

4, and 407 helicopters with certain partnumbered Air Comm air conditioning 

systems installed. The NPRM proposed 

to require replacing certain connectors 

with Air Comm connectors and to 

prohibit installing certain partnumbered plugs, sockets, receptacles, 

and pin in some aft evaporator 

assemblies, aft evaporator blower 

assemblies, and aft condenser blowers. 

The proposed requirements were 

intended to address the unsafe 

condition of an overheated connector, 

which could result in a fire and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

Ex Parte Contact 

On April 17, 2018, after the comment 

period closed, we had a teleconference 

with Air Comm about some of the Air 

Comm parts identified in the NPRM. We 

subsequently continued this discussion 

by email. Air Comm’s comment during 

these discussions is addressed below. A 

copy of each email contact and a 

summary of each telephone contact can 

be found in the rulemaking docket at 

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket 

No. FAA–2017–1217. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD. The 

following presents the comment we 

received and the FAA’s response. 

Request 

Air Comm requested that we review 

paragraph (e)(2) of the NPRM, which 

lists aft evaporator assembly part 

number (P/N) AS350–6202. Air Comm 

stated that this P/N is not part of the 

type design for the air conditioning 

system. According to Air Comm, the 


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64436 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 

correct P/N is AS350–6202–1. In 

support of this request, Air Comm 

provided the type design data for our 

review. 

We agree. Although Figure 1 of Air 

Comm Corporation Service Bulletin (SB) 

AS350–111014, Revision B, dated 

January 10, 2017, identifies the aft 

evaporator assembly as P/N AS350– 

6202, the correct P/N is AS350–6202–1. 

We have corrected this error in this 

Final Rule. 

Further, because of Air Comm’s 

comments, we conducted additional 

review of the blower and wire harness 

drawings for the affected components. 

As a result, we determined that plug 

P/N 03–09–1042 and receptacle 

P/N 03–09–2042 were listed in error in 

the NPRM. These two P/Ns are also not 

part of the type design for the air 

conditioning system. Accordingly, we 

have removed these P/Ns from 

paragraph (e)(2) of this Final Rule. 

FAA’s Determination 

We have reviewed the relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other products of 

these same type designs and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed with the changes described 

previously. These changes are 

consistent with the intent of the 

proposals in the NPRM and will not 

increase the economic burden on any 

operator nor increase the scope of the 

AD. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Air Comm Corporation has issued SB 

AS350–111014, Revision B, dated 

January 10, 2017, for Airbus Helicopters 

AS350 series helicopters and SB EC130– 

6204, Revision B, dated January 10, 

2017, for Airbus Helicopters EC130 

series helicopters. Air Comm 

Corporation has also issued SB 206– 

110414 for Bell 206 series helicopters, 

Revision C, and SB 407–110414 for Bell 

Model 407 helicopters, Revision D, both 

dated January 13, 2017. This service 

information specifies inspecting certain 

aft evaporator blower motor and certain 

condenser blower electrical connectors 

for indications of overheating, 

discoloration, and plastic deformation 

and performing a pull test. This service 

information also specifies replacing 

connector housings and contacts that 

fail the inspection or the pull test. 

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 

Air Comm Corporation has also 

issued the following: 

• SB AS350–111014 and SB EC130– 

6204, both Revision A and both dated 

July 6, 2016; 

• SB 206–110414, Revision B, dated 

January 10, 2017, and Revision A dated 

June 3, 2016; and 

• SB 407–110414, Revision C, dated 

January 10, 2017, and Revision B, dated 

July 6, 2016. 

This service information contains the 

same procedures described above. 

However, SB AS350–111014 and SB 

EC130–6204, both Revision B and dated 

January 10, 2017, contain additional 

instructions and figures for the 

connectors. SB 206–110414, Revision C, 

and SB 407–110414, Revision D, both 

dated January 13, 2017, contain minor 

corrections. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

Service Information 

The Air Comm service information 

specifies a compliance time of 20 flight 

hours. This AD requires compliance 

within 90 hours time-in-service. The Air 

Comm service information specifies 

inspecting each connector and replacing 

the connector housings and contacts 

that have any signs of overheating or 

that fail a pull test. This AD requires 

replacing each connector without an 

inspection. This AD also prohibits 

installing certain parts in certain partnumbered aft evaporator assemblies, aft 

evaporator blower assemblies, and aft 

condenser blowers. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 914 

units installed on helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. We estimate that operators 

may incur the following costs in order 

to comply with this AD. Labor costs are 

estimated at $85 per work-hour. 

Replacing the connectors takes about 

1 work-hour and parts cost about $60 for 

a total estimated cost of $145 per 

helicopter and $132,530 for the U.S. 

fleet. 

According to Air Comm’s service 

information, some of the costs of this 

AD may be covered under warranty, 

thereby reducing the cost impact on 

affected individuals. We do not control 

warranty coverage by Air Comm. 

Accordingly, we have included all costs 

in our cost estimate. 

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. 

We are 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) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction; and 

(4) 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. 

We prepared an economic evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of 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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 241 / Monday, December 17, 2018 / Rules and Regulations 64437 

2018–25–17 Air Comm Corporation (Air 

Comm) Air Conditioning Systems: 

Amendment 39–19528; Docket No. 

FAA–2017–1217; Product Identifier 

2016–SW–080–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to the following 

helicopters, certificated in any category: 

(1) Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 

AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, 

AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters 

with an Air Comm air conditioning system 

part number (P/N) AS350–202–1, AS350– 

202–2, AS350–202–3, AS350–202–4, AS350– 

202–5, AS350–204–1, AS350–204–2, AS350– 

204–3, AS350–204–4, AS350–204–5, AS350– 

204–6, AS350–204–7, AS350–204–8, AS350– 

204–9, AS350–204–10, AS350–204–11, or 

AS350–204–12 installed. 

(2) Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 

helicopters with an Air Comm air 

conditioning system P/N EC130–202–1, 

EC130–202–2, EC130–202–3, EC130–202–4, 

EC130–202–5, EC130–202–6, EC130–202–7, 

or EC130–202–8 installed. 

(3) Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

(Bell) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L–1, 

206L–3, and 206L–4 helicopters with an Air 

Comm air conditioning system P/N 206EC– 

200, 206EC–201, 206EC–202, 206EC–203, 

206EC–204, 206EC–205, 206EC–206, 206EC– 

207, 206EC–208, 206EC–209, 206EC–210, 

206EC–211, or 206EC–212 installed. 

(4) Bell Model 407 helicopters with an Air 

Comm air conditioning system P/N 407 EC– 

201, 407 EC–202, or 407 EC–203 installed. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as an 

overheated connector. This condition could 

result in a fire and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective January 22, 

2019. 

(d) Compliance 

You are responsible for performing each 

action required by this AD within the 

specified compliance time unless it has 

already been accomplished prior to that time. 

(e) Required Actions 

(1) Within 90 hours time-in-service: 

(i) For Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 

AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, 

AS350C, AS350D, and AS350D1 helicopters, 

replace each aft evaporator blower motor 

connector with an Air Comm connector as 

depicted in Figures 2, 3, and 4 of Air Comm 

Service Bulletin (SB) SB AS350–1110014, 

Revision B, dated January 10, 2017, by using 

a Deutsch HDT–48–00 or an equivalent MIL– 

DTL22520 Type 1 crimping tool. 

(ii) For Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 

helicopters, replace each aft evaporator 

blower motor connector with an Air Comm 

connector as depicted in Figures 2, 3, and 4 

of Air Comm SB EC130–6204, Revision B, 

dated January 10, 2017, by using a Deutsch 

HDT–48–00 or an equivalent MIL–DTL22520 

Type 1 crimping tool. 

(iii) For Bell Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 

206L–1, 206L–3, and 206L–4 helicopters, 

replace each aft evaporator blower motor 

connector with an Air Comm connector as 

depicted in Figures 4, 5, and 6 of Air Comm 

SB 206–110414, Revision C, dated January 

13, 2017, by using a Deutsch HDT–48–00 or 

an equivalent MIL–DTL22520 Type 1 

crimping tool. 

(iv) For Bell Model 407 helicopters, replace 

each aft evaporator blower motor connector 

with an Air Comm connector as depicted in 

Figures 4, 5, and 6 of Air Comm SB 407– 

110414, Revision D, dated January 13, 2017, 

by using a Deutsch HDT–48–00 or an 

equivalent MIL–DTL22520 Type 1 crimping 

tool. 

(2) After the effective date of this AD, do 

not install the following in any aft evaporator 

assembly P/Ns AS350–6202–1, EC130–6204– 

1, or EC130–6204–2; aft evaporator blower 

assembly P/Ns S–6078EC–15, S–6102EC–3, 

or S–6102EC–4; or aft condenser blower P/Ns 

S–7060EC–1, S–7060EC–2, S–7062EC–1 or 

S–7062EC–2: 

(i) Plug P/N 03–09–1022 and 03–09–1032; 

(ii) Socket P/N 02–09–1103 and 02–09– 

1104; 

(iii) Receptacle P/N 03–09–2022 and 03– 

09–2032; and 

(iv) Pin P/N 02–09–2103. 

(f) Credit for Previous Actions 

Replacing the connectors before the 

effective date of this AD in accordance with 

Air Comm SB 206–110414, Revision A, dated 

June 3, 2016; SB AS350–111014 or SB 

EC130–6204, both Revision A and both dated 

July 6, 2016; SB 407–110414, Revision B, 

dated July 6, 2016; SB 206–110414, Revision 

B, dated January 10, 2017; or SB 407–110414, 

Revision C, dated January 10, 2017, is 

considered acceptable for compliance with 

the corresponding required actions specified 

in paragraph (e)(1) of this AD. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Denver ACO Branch, 

FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send 

your proposal to: Matthew Bryant, Aerospace 

Engineer, Denver ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 26805 East 

68th Ave., Room 214, Denver, CO 80249; 

telephone (303) 342–1092; email 

matthew.bryant@faa.gov and 9-DenverAircraft-Cert@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 

CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 

14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that 

you notify your principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the local flight standards district office or 

certificate holding district office before 

operating any aircraft complying with this 

AD through an AMOC. 

(h) Additional Information 

Air Comm SB 206–110414, Revision A, 

dated June 3, 2016; SB AS350–111014 or SB 

EC130–6204, both Revision A and both dated 

July 6, 2016; SB 407–110414, Revision B, 

dated July 6, 2016; SB 206–110414, Revision 

B, dated January 10, 2017; and SB 407– 

110414, Revision C, dated January 10, 2017, 

which are not incorporated by reference, 

contain additional information about the 

subject of this AD. For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Air Comm 

Corporation, 1575 West 124th Ave., 

Westminster, CO 80234; telephone (303) 

440–4075; email service@aircommcorp.com; 

website www.aircommcorp.com. You may 

review a copy of this service information at 

the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, 

Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2197, Air Conditioning System Wiring. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the service information listed in this 

paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Air Comm Corporation Service Bulletin 

(SB) SB AS350–111014, Revision B, dated 

January 10, 2017. 

(ii) Air Comm Corporation SB EC130–6204, 

Revision B, dated January 10, 2017. 

(iii) Air Comm Corporation SB 206– 

110414, Revision C, dated January 13, 2017. 

(iv) Air Comm Corporation SB 407– 

110414, Revision D, dated January 13, 2017. 

(3) For Air Comm service information 

identified in this AD, contact Air Comm 

Corporation, 1575 West 124th Ave., 

Westminster, CO 80234; telephone (303) 

440–4075; email service@aircommcorp.com; 

website www.aircommcorp.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at 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. 

(5) You may view this service information 

that is incorporated by reference at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, call 

(202) 741–6030, or go to: http://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 

7, 2018. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–27134 Filed 12–14–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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