81160 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 / Proposed Rules 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): 

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 International Validation Branch, send 

it to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (k)(2) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@

faa.gov. 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. 

(j) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden 

Statement 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject to 

a penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork Reduction 

Act unless that collection of information 

displays a current valid OMB Control 

Number. The OMB Control Number for this 

information collection is 2120–0056. Public 

reporting for this collection of information is 

estimated to be approximately 1 hour per 

response, including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data sources, 

gathering and maintaining the data needed, 

and completing and reviewing the collection 

of information. All responses to this 

collection of information are mandatory as 

required by this AD. Send comments 

regarding this burden estimate or any other 

aspect of this collection of information, 

including suggestions for reducing this 

burden to: Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 

10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177–1524. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2017–0032, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; 

email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet: 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this 

material 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. This 

material may be found in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–1131. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 470 

L’Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20024; 

phone: 202–267–9167; email: hal.jensen@

faa.gov. 

Issued on December 9, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27460 Filed 12–14–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0309; Product 

Identifier 2018–SW–014–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model 

AW189 helicopters. This proposed AD 

would require inspecting the tail plane 

installation forward bolts (bolts) and 

depending on the results of those 

inspections, removing certain parts from 

service or installing a tail plane 

retromod. This proposed AD would also 

require torqueing certain part-numbered 

nuts, inspecting bolts and nuts for wear, 

and depending on the results of those 

inspections, removing parts from 

service. This proposed AD was 

prompted by two reported failures of the 

bolts. The actions of this proposed AD 

are intended to address an unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by January 29, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Send comments to the U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 

20590–0001. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to the 

‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0309; 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, 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 

listed above. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed rule, contact Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, 

Head of Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 

520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) 

Italy; telephone +39–0331–225074; fax 

+39–0331–229046; or at https://

www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 

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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Scott Franke, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone 817–222–5889; email 

scott.franke@faa.gov. 

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–2018–0309; Product Identifier 

2018–SW–014–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 proposal. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 / Proposed Rules 81161 

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 Scott Franke, Aviation 

Safety Engineer, General Aviation & 

Rotorcraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone 817–222–5889; email 

scott.franke@faa.gov. Any commentary 

that the FAA receives which is not 

specifically designated as CBI will be 

placed in the public docket for this 

rulemaking. 

Discussion 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA Emergency AD 

No. 2018–0047–E, dated February 28, 

2018, to correct an unsafe condition for 

Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly Finmeccanica 

S.p.A., AgustaWestland S.p.A.) Model 

AW189 helicopters. EASA advises of 

two reported incidents of failed bolts 

and that fretting and wear were 

identified as the root cause of the 

failures. EASA states that this condition, 

if not detected and corrected, could lead 

to reduced control of the helicopter. 

According to EASA, Leonardo 

Helicopters issued Emergency Alert 

Service Bulletin No. 189–177, Revision 

A, dated February 28, 2018 (EASB 189– 

177), to address this unsafe condition 

and provide instructions for inspecting 

each bolt part number (P/N) 

8G5510A06251 and 8G5510A05951 and 

installing an improved tail plane 

installation retromod P/N 

8G5510P00511 (tail plane retromod). 

However, EASA advises that because 

the tail plane retromod was previously 

available in production or through 

optional Leonardo Service Bulletin No. 

189–130, dated January 30, 2017 (SB 

189–130), adjustment of the bolt torque 

is necessary for some helicopters 

because an incorrect torque value for 

installation of the bolts was specified. 

Accordingly, the EASA AD requires 

repetitive inspections of each bolt, 

installing a tail plane retromod, 

adjustment of the bolt torque for some 

helicopters that had the tail plane 

retromod installed either in production 

or by following SB 189–130, and 

repetitive torque checks of the bolts. 

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 of the unsafe condition described 

in its AD. The FAA is proposing this AD 

after evaluating all known relevant 

information and determining that an 

unsafe condition is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type designs. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed EASB 189–177, 

which contains procedures for 

inspecting each bolt and installing the 

tail plane retromod. This service 

information also contains procedures for 

repetitively verifying the torque of the 

associated nut P/N MS17825–7 (nut). 

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. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

For Model AW189 helicopters 

without a tail plane retromod installed, 

this proposed AD would require, before 

further flight and thereafter before each 

flight, inspecting each bolt for a missing 

bolt head, breakage, and correct 

installation. If there is a missing bolt 

head, a broken bolt, or an incorrectly 

installed bolt, this proposed AD would 

require, before further flight, removing 

the bolt from service and installing the 

tail plane retromod. 

For Model AW189 helicopters with a 

tail plane retromod installed with an 

incorrect torque value (installed either 

in service in accordance with SB 189– 

130 or in production, which this 

proposed AD specifies by serial 

number), this proposed AD would 

require, within 10 hours time-in-service 

(TIS), correcting the torque, installing a 

cotter pin, and lockwiring each nut on 

the adjustable rod assembly P/N 

4F5510A00232. 

Lastly, within 10 hours TIS after 

installing a tail plane installation 

retromod, within 10 hours TIS after 

correcting an incorrect torque value, or 

within 10 hours TIS after the effective 

date of this AD, whichever occurs later, 

and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 

50 hours TIS, this proposed AD would 

require determining the torque of each 

nut. If the torque is less than 15 Nm (11 

ft-lbs) or more than 20 Nm (14.75 ft-lbs), 

this proposed AD would require 

inspecting the bolt and nut for wear, 

and removing the bolt and nut from 

service if there is any wear. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires repetitive 

torque checks at progressively 

increasing intervals, while this 

proposed AD would require the 

repetitive torque check at intervals not 

to exceed 50 hours TIS. Since there is 

not enough field data at this time to 

substantiate progressively increasing the 

time between inspections up to 400 

hours TIS, the FAA has determined an 

interval of 50 hours TIS is necessary. 

The FAA may take further rulemaking 

action to increase this interval should 

more data become available. 

Interim Action 

The FAA considers this proposed AD 

to be an interim action. If final action is 

later identified, the FAA might consider 

further rulemaking then. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD would affect 4 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. The FAA estimates that 

operators may incur the following costs 

in order to comply with this proposed 

AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. 

Inspecting the bolts before each flight 

would take about 0.25 work-hour, for an 

estimated cost of $21 per helicopter and 

$84 for the U.S. fleet per inspection 

cycle. 

If required, installing a tail plane 

retromod would take about 12 workhours and parts would cost about 

$5,500, for an estimated cost of $6,520 

per helicopter. 

Inspecting and verifying the torque of 

the bolts and nuts would take about 1 

work-hour, for an estimated cost of $85 

per helicopter and $340 for the U.S. 

fleet per inspection cycle. 

If required, replacing a bolt and nut 

would take about 1 work-hour and parts 

would cost about $250, for an estimated 

cost of $335 per replacement. 

According to Leonardo’s service 

information, some of the costs of this 

AD may be covered under warranty, 

thereby reducing the cost impact on 

affected individuals. The FAA does not 

control warranty coverage by Leonardo. 

Accordingly, the FAA has included all 

costs in its 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 

81162 Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 241 / Tuesday, December 15, 2020 / Proposed Rules 

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 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, 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 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 

■ 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: 

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0309; Product Identifier 2018–SW–014– 

AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This airworthiness directive (AD) applies 

to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters, 

certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

failure of a tail plane installation bolt. This 

condition could result in reduced control of 

the helicopter. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by 

January 29, 2021. 

(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) For helicopters without a tail plane 

installation retromod part number (P/N) 

8G5510P00511 (tail plane retromod) 

installed, before further flight and thereafter 

before each flight, inspect each forward 

attachment bolt (bolt) P/N 8G5510A06251 

and 8G5510A05951 for a missing bolt head, 

breakage, and correct installation as depicted 

in Figure 12 of Leonardo Helicopters 

Emergency Alert Service Bulletin No. 189– 

177, Revision A, dated February 28, 2018 

(EASB 189–177). If there is a missing bolt 

head, a broken bolt, or an incorrectly 

installed bolt, before further flight, remove 

the bolt from service and install the tail plane 

retromod by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Part II, paragraphs 3.1 through 

3.33 of EASB 189–177, except you are not 

required to discard parts and where EASB 

189–177 specifies contacting Leonardo PSE 

for corrective action, the action must be 

accomplished using a method approved by 

the Manager, International Validations 

Branch, FAA. The Manager’s approval letter 

must specifically refer to this AD. 

(2) For helicopters with a tail plane 

retromod installed in accordance with 

Leonardo Helicopters Service Bulletin No. 

189–130, dated January 30, 2017, and for 

helicopters with serial number 49046, 49053, 

89008, 89009, 92007, or 92008, within 10 

hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 

date of this AD, loosen and then torque each 

nut P/N MS17825–7 (nut) to 15 to 20 Nm (11 

to 14.75 ft-lbs), and install a cotter pin and 

lockwire each nut on the adjustable rod 

assembly P/N 4F5510A00232, as depicted in 

Figure 7, Detail N Step 6.5 and Figure 9, 

Detail P Step 7.9 of EASB 189–177. 

(3) Within 10 hours TIS after installing a 

tail plane retromod, within 10 hours TIS after 

complying with paragraph (e)(2) of this AD, 

or within 10 hours TIS after the effective date 

of this AD, whichever occurs later, and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours 

TIS, do the following: 

(i) Determine the torque of each nut. 

(ii) If the torque is less than 15 Nm (11 ftlbs) or more than 20 Nm (14.75 ft-lbs), before 

further flight, remove the bolt and nut and 

inspect for wear. If there is any wear on the 

bolt or nut, before further flight, remove the 

bolt and nut from service. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Scott Franke, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, General Aviation & 

Rotorcraft Section, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222–5110; 

email 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 

CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 

14 CFR part 91, subpart K, the FAA suggests 

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. 

(g) Additional Information 

(1) Leonardo Helicopters Service Bulletin 

No. 189–130, dated January 30, 2017, which 

is not incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the subject of 

this AD. For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Leonardo S.p.a. Helicopters, 

Emanuele Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, 

Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di 

Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone +39–0331– 

225074; fax +39–0331–229046; or at https:// 

www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (now 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency) 

(EASA) AD No. 2018–0047–E, dated 

February 28, 2018. You may view the EASA 

AD on the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 5510, Tail Stabilizer. 

Issued on December 8, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2020–27452 Filed 12–14–20; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–1116; Project 

Identifier AD–2020–00784–E] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM).