Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 3883 

(o) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2020–0214, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +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, Airworthiness Products 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 

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

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 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–2020–1169. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Tom Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3226; email tom.rodriguez@

faa.gov. 

Issued on January 4, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00105 Filed 1–14–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–1119; Project 

Identifier 2019–SW–089–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 all 

Airbus Helicopters Model EC 155B and 

EC155B1 helicopters. This proposed AD 

was prompted by a report of mechanical 

deformation of the protective cover of 

the ‘‘SHEAR’’ control pushbutton on the 

copilot collective stick. This proposed 

AD would require replacement of the 

protective cover of the ‘‘SHEAR’’ control 

pushbutton on the pilot and copilot 

collective sticks and re-identification of 

the pilot and copilot collective sticks, as 

specified in a European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is 

proposed for incorporation by reference. 

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 March 1, 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 above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For material that will be incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 

221 89990 000; email: ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet: 

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

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://ad.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view this IBR 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. It is also available in 

the AD docket on the internet at https:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

1119. 

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–2020– 

1119; 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, 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Katherine Venegas, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, 3960 

Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

phone: 562–627–5353; email: 

katherine.venegas@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–2020–1119; Project Identifier 

2019–SW–089–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. 

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 Katherine Venegas, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Los Angeles 

ACO, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., 

Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: 562–627– 

5353; email: katherine.venegas@faa.gov. 

Any commentary that the FAA receives 

that is not specifically designated as CBI 

will be placed in the public docket for 

this rulemaking. 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2019–0246, dated October 1, 2019 

(EASA AD 2019–0246) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Airbus Helicopters Model EC 

155B and EC155B1 helicopters. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

a report of mechanical deformation of 

the protective cover of the ‘‘SHEAR’’ 

control pushbutton on the copilot 

collective stick of an EC 225 LP 

helicopter from incorrect handling. The 

FAA has determined that Model EC 

3884 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

155B and EC155B1 helicopters are also 

affected due to an identical switch 

guard design. The FAA is proposing this 

AD to address mechanical deformation 

of the protective cover of the ‘‘SHEAR’’ 

control pushbutton on the copilot 

collective stick, which could lead to uncommanded shearing of the hoist cable 

and possible injury to hoisted person(s). 

See the MCAI for additional background 

information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2019–0246 describes 

procedures for replacement of the 

protective cover of the ‘‘SHEAR’’ control 

pushbutton on the pilot and copilot 

collective sticks and re-identification of 

the pilot and copilot collective sticks. 

This material 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. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country, and is approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, the FAA has been 

notified of the unsafe condition 

described in the MCAI referenced 

above. The FAA is proposing this AD 

because the FAA evaluated all the 

relevant information and determined 

the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

in other products of the same type 

design. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2019–0246, described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD and 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between this Proposed AD and the 

MCAI.’’ 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA initially worked with 

Airbus and EASA to develop a process 

to use certain EASA ADs as the primary 

source of information for compliance 

with requirements for corresponding 

FAA ADs. The FAA has since 

coordinated with other manufacturers 

and civil aviation authorities (CAAs) to 

use this process. As a result, EASA AD 

2019–0246 will be incorporated by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2019–0246 

in its entirety, through that 

incorporation, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Using common terms that are the same 

as the heading of a particular section in 

the EASA AD does not mean that 

operators need comply only with that 

section. For example, where the AD 

requirement refers to ‘‘all required 

actions and compliance times,’’ 

compliance with this AD requirement is 

not limited to the section titled 

‘‘Required Action(s) and Compliance 

Time(s)’’ in the EASA AD. Service 

information specified in EASA AD 

2019–0246 that is required for 

compliance with EASA AD 2019–0246 

will be available on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–1119 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the MCAI 

Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 

2019–0246 refers to a table for the 

compliance time for the modification, 

for this proposed AD, the compliance 

time for the modification is before any 

hoist operations after the effective date 

of this AD but no later than 3 months 

after the effective date of this AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD affects 17 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. The FAA estimates the 

following costs to comply with this 

proposed AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 .......................................................................................... $2,446 $2,616 $44,472 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this proposed AD 

may be covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. The FAA does not control 

warranty coverage for affected operators. 

As a result, the FAA has included all 

known costs in the 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. 

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 above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(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, 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 10 / Friday, January 15, 2021 / Proposed Rules 3885 

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: 

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA–2020– 

1119; Project Identifier 2019–SW–089– 

AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by March 

1, 2021. 

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs) 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters 

Model EC 155B and EC155B1 helicopters, 

certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6700, Rotorcraft flight control. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

mechanical deformation of the protective 

cover of the ‘‘SHEAR’’ control pushbutton on 

the copilot collective stick. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address mechanical 

deformation of the protective cover of the 

‘‘SHEAR’’ control pushbutton on the copilot 

collective stick, which could lead to uncommanded shearing of the hoist cable and 

possible injury to hoisted person(s). 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019–0246, dated 

October 1, 2019 (EASA AD 2019–0246). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2019–0246 

(1) Where EASA AD 2019–0246 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2019–0246 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2019–0246 specifies 

to use tooling, equivalent tooling may be 

used. 

(4) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2019– 

0246 refers to a table for the compliance time 

for the modification, for this AD, the 

compliance time for the modification is 

before the first hoist operation done after the 

effective date of this AD but no later than 3 

months after the effective date of this AD. 

(5) Although the service information 

referenced in EASA 2019–0246 specifies to 

discard certain parts, this AD does not 

include that requirement. 

(i) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits may be issued in 

accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 

to operate the helicopter to a location where 

the helicopter can be modified (if the 

operator elects to do so), provided the 

helicopter is not used for hoist operations 

and no passengers are onboard. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): 

The Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 

FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send 

your proposal to: Manager, Rotorcraft 

Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; phone: 817– 

222–5110; email: 9-ASW-FTW-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2019–0246, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 89990 

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–2020–1119. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Katherine Venegas, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Los Angeles ACO, FAA, 3960 

Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

phone: 562–627–5353; email: 

katherine.venegas@faa.gov. 

Issued on December 4, 2020. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–00325 Filed 1–14–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–1167; Project 

Identifier AD–2020–01007–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

The Boeing Company Model DC–10–10, 

DC–10–10F, DC–10–15, DC–10–30, DC– 

10–30F (KC–10A and KDC–10), DC–10– 

40 and DC–10–40F airplanes; and 

Model MD–10–10F and MD–10–30F 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report that an operator 

found a crack in the upper flange of the 

pylon aft bulkhead bracket. This 

proposed AD would require a general 

visual inspection of the left and right 

wing pylon at the aft bulkhead bracket 

for any lockbolt and collar; repetitive 

surface and open hole eddy current high 

frequency (ETHF) inspections of the left 

and right wing pylon at the aft bulkhead 

bracket for any cracking; and applicable 

on-condition actions. 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 March 1, 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 above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, 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. You may view 

this referenced service information at 

the FAA, Airworthiness Products 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

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

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 206–231– 

3195. It is also available on the internet 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–1167. 

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–2020– 

1167; 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, any 

comments received, and other