11408 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–1026; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00745–R; Amendment 

39–21418; AD 2021–03–15] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2020–13– 

02 for Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo) 

Model A119 and AW119 MKII 

helicopters. AD 2020–13–02 required 

inspecting for movement and the 

tightening torque of the tail rotor (T/R) 

plug, the installation of the outboard 

and inboard faces of the T/R duplex 

bearing, and the condition of the T/R 

duplex bearing, T/R plug threads, and 

nut threads. Depending on the 

inspection results, AD 2020–13–02 

required corrective actions and 

reporting information. This new AD 

retains the requirements of AD 2020– 

13–02 except the reporting requirement, 

updates the service information, and 

requires repeating the inspection. This 

AD was prompted by Leonardo’s update 

to the service information. The actions 

of this AD are intended to address an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 1, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of April 1, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final 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 this 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 https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

1026. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2020–1026; 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 Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any service 

information that is incorporated by 

reference, any comments received, and 

other information. The street 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: 

David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Aircraft Systems Section, 

Technical Innovation Policy Branch, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222– 

5110; email david.hatfield@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to remove AD 2020–13–02, 

Amendment 39–21147 (85 FR 37551, 

June 23, 2020) (AD 2020–13–02), and 

add a new AD. AD 2020–13–02 applied 

to Leonardo Model A119 and AW119 

MKII helicopters with a T/R duplex 

bearing part number (P/N) 129–0160– 

11–103 installed. The NPRM published 

in the Federal Register on November 18, 

2020 (85 FR 73432). The NPRM 

proposed to retain all of the inspection 

requirements and the installation 

prohibition of AD 2020–13–02. The 

NPRM also proposed to require 

repeating the inspection for presence of 

the P/N and serial number (S/N) 

markings of the outboard and inboard 

faces of T/R duplex bearing every 200 

hours time-in-service (TIS). The NPRM 

also proposed to remove the reporting 

requirements required by AD 2020–13– 

02. 

The NPRM was prompted by EASA 

AD No. 2020–0128, dated June 4, 2020 

(EASA AD 2020–0128), issued by 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 

the Member States of the European 

Union, to correct an unsafe condition 

for Leonardo Model A119 and 

AW119MKII helicopters, S/N up to 

14972 inclusive, except S/Ns 14950, 

14957, 14961, 14962, 14964, 14965, 

14967, and 14970. EASA AD 2020–0128 

supersedes EASA Emergency AD No. 

2019–0194–E, dated August 9, 2019 

(EASA AD 2019–0194–E), which 

prompted AD 2020–13–02. EASA 

advises that after EASA AD 2019–0194– 

E was issued, Leonardo determined that 

additional serial-numbered helicopters 

are affected by the unsafe condition. 

EASA also advises that Leonardo 

canceled Emergency Alert Service 

Bulletin (EASB) No. 119–100, dated 

August 7, 2019 (EASB 119–100) and 

instead included the repetitive 

inspections in the maintenance manual 

(MM). 

FAA AD 2020–13–02 did not require 

repeating the inspection of the T/R 

duplex bearing installation every 200 

hours TIS, as there was sufficient time 

to allow for notice and comment prior 

to this long-term action going into effect. 

The FAA has determined that repeating 

the inspection is needed to address this 

unsafe condition. Although Leonardo 

has added this action to the MM, the 

FAA must mandate it through an AD in 

order to require it for all operators. 

Accordingly, the FAA included this 

long-term requirement in the NPRM. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule, but the FAA did not 

receive any comments on the NPRM or 

on the determination of the cost to the 

public. 

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 issuing this AD 

after evaluating all of the information 

provided by EASA and determining the 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

The EASA AD is applicable to certain 

serial-numbered Model A119 and 

AW119MKII helicopters, whereas this 

AD applies to Model A119 and AW119 

MKII helicopters with a T/R duplex 

bearing P/N 129–0160–11–103 installed 

instead. The EASA AD requires 

inspecting the tightening torque of the 

T/R plug in the range of 30.5–33.9 Nm, 

whereas this AD requires inspecting the 

tightening torque of the T/R plug to a 

minimum of 30.5 Nm instead. This AD 

requires repeating the inspections for 

the presence of the P/N and S/N 

markings, for rough rotation, brinelling, 

spalling, chipping, flaking, evidence of 

overheated bearing balls, and damage to 

the races, and for damaged threads of 

the T/R plug and nut, at intervals not to 

exceed 200 hours TIS, whereas the 

EASA AD does not require repeating 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 11409 

these inspections. The EASA AD 

requires inspecting the threads of nut P/ 

N MS17825–7 for damage, but does not 

state what to do if the threads have 

damage. This AD requires inspecting for 

damage to the threads of the nut 

indicated by uneven threads, missing 

threads, or cross-threading, and if the 

nut has any damaged threads, removing 

the nut from service. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Leonardo EASB 

No. 119–105, Revision A, dated June 3. 

2020 (EASB 119–105 Rev A), which 

specifies a one-time inspection of the 

tightening torque of T/R plug P/N 129– 

0160–45–103, and a one-time inspection 

for correct installation of the inboard 

and outboard faces of T/R duplex 

bearing P/N 129–0160–11–103, for 

damage to the threads of the T/R plug 

and nut P/N MS17825–7, and of the T/ 

R duplex bearing for roughness, ease of 

rotation, and presence of brinelling, 

spalling, chipping, and flaking or traces 

of overheating of bearing balls, and 

general damage to races. 

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 EASB 119– 

100, which specifies the same 

procedures as EASB 119–105 Rev A, 

except EASB 119–100 also specifies 

repeating the inspection for correct 

installation of the inboard and outboard 

faces of T/R duplex bearing P/N 129– 

0160–11–103, for damage to the threads 

of the T/R plug and nut P/N MS17825– 

7, and of the T/R duplex bearing for 

roughness, ease of rotation, and 

presence of brinelling, spalling, 

chipping, and flaking or traces of 

overheating of bearing balls, and general 

damage to races in conjunction every 

200 hours TIS or at any removal, 

installation, or disassembly of the T/R 

duplex bearing. 

The FAA also reviewed Leonardo 

Helicopters EASB No. 119–105, dated 

May 18, 2020, which contains the same 

procedures as EASB 119–105 Rev A, 

except EASB 119–105 Rev A applies to 

additional serial-numbered helicopters. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 89 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. Based on these numbers, the 

FAA estimates that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. 

Inspecting the tightening torque of the 

T/R plug takes about 0.5 work-hour for 

an estimated cost of $43 per helicopter 

and $3,827 for the U.S. fleet. 

Inspecting for correct installation of 

the outboard and inboard faces of the T/ 

R duplex bearing and the condition of 

the T/R duplex bearing, T/R plug 

threads, and nut threads takes about 2 

work-hours for an estimated cost of 

$170 per helicopter and $15,130 for the 

U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle. 

Assembling and installing the T/R 

duplex bearing assembly takes about 2 

work-hours for an estimated cost of 

$170 per helicopter and $15,130 for the 

U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle. 

If required, the parts for replacing the 

T/R duplex bearing, internal spacer, 

external spacer, bearing liner assembly, 

and T/R control rod cost about $4,200, 

and parts for replacing the T/R plug cost 

about $171. 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in this cost estimate. However, 

according to Leonardo, some of the costs 

of this AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected operators. 

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 has 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 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. 

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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) 2020–13–02, Amendment 39– 

21147 (85 FR 37551, June 23, 2020); and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

2021–03–15 Leonardo S.p.a.: Amendment 

39–21418; Docket No. FAA–2020–1026; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2020–00745–R. 

(a) Applicability 

This airworthiness directive (AD) applies 

to Leonardo S.p.a. Model A119 and AW119 

MKII helicopters, certificated in any category, 

with a tail rotor (T/R) duplex bearing part 

number (P/N) 129–0160–11–103 (T/R duplex 

bearing) installed. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

structural failure of the T/R assembly, 

possibly due to an incorrect installation. This 

condition could result in loss of T/R pitch 

change control and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

(c) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2020–13–02, 

Amendment 39–21147 (85 FR 37551, June 

23, 2020) (AD 2020–13–02). 

(d) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective April 1, 2021. 

(e) 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. 

(f) Required Actions 

(1) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

remove the lockwire that secures the T/R 

plug P/N 129–0160–45–103 (T/R plug) to the 

bearing liner assembly P/N 109–0135–16–101 

(bearing liner assembly). Without loosening 

the T/R plug first, inspect the tightening 

11410 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

torque of the T/R plug by increasing the 

torque up to 30.5 Nm and inspect for any 

movement the moment torque is applied. 

(i) If there is no movement and the 

tightening torque is at least 30.5 Nm, before 

further flight, install lockwire by following 

the Accomplishment Instructions, part I, 

paragraph 4, of Leonardo Helicopters 

Emergency Alert Service Bulletin (EASB) No. 

119–105, Revision A, dated June 3, 2020 

(EASB 119–105 Rev A). 

(ii) If there is any movement or the 

tightening torque is less than 30.5 Nm, before 

further flight, comply with paragraph (f)(2) of 

this AD. 

(2) Within 50 hours TIS, unless required 

before further flight by paragraph (f)(1)(ii) of 

this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to 

exceed 200 hours TIS, inspect to determine 

whether the P/N and serial number (S/N) are 

visible on the outboard and inboard faces of 

the T/R duplex bearing by following the 

Accomplishment Instructions, part II, 

paragraphs 4 through 13 (except paragraphs 

9.1, 13.1, and 13.2), of EASB 119–105 Rev A. 

Instead of the excluded steps, do the 

following: 

Note 1 to paragraph (f)(2): You are not 

required to discard parts and you may use 

equivalent tooling to that identified in EASB 

119–105 Rev A. 

(i) If the P/N and S/N markings are visible 

on the outboard or inboard face of the T/R 

duplex bearing, before further flight, remove 

from service the T/R duplex bearing, internal 

spacer P/N 129–0160–43–101 (internal 

spacer), external spacer P/N 129–0160–44– 

101 (external spacer), bearing liner assembly, 

and T/R control rod P/N 109–0135–02–101 

(T/R control rod). 

(ii) If the P/N and S/N markings are not 

visible on the inboard face of the T/R duplex 

bearing, before further flight, inspect the T/ 

R duplex bearing, T/R plug, and nut by 

following the Accomplishment Instructions, 

part II, paragraphs 14 and 15 (but not 

paragraphs 15.1 through 15.2), of EASB 119– 

105 Rev A. For purposes of this inspection, 

damage to the races may be indicated by nonmovement of the inner race, movement of the 

outer race, deformation, roughness, or 

incorrect installation; and damage to the 

threads of the T/R plug and nut may be 

indicated by uneven threads, missing 

threads, or cross-threading. 

(A) If the T/R duplex bearing has any rough 

rotation, brinelling, spalling, chipping, 

flaking, evidence of overheated bearing balls, 

or damage to the races, before further flight, 

remove from service the T/R duplex bearing, 

the internal spacer, the external spacer, the 

bearing liner assembly, and the T/R control 

rod. 

(B) If the T/R plug or nut has any damaged 

threads, before further flight, remove from 

service the affected part. 

(C) Reassemble the T/R duplex bearing 

assembly by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, part II, paragraphs 16 through 

31, of EASB 119–105 Rev A. 

(3) As of the effective date of this AD, do 

not install a T/R duplex bearing P/N 129– 

0160–11–103 on any helicopter unless you 

have complied with the requirements in 

paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. 

(g) Credit for Previous Actions 

(1) Accomplishment of AD 2020–13–02 

before the effective date of this AD is 

considered acceptable for compliance with 

paragraph (f)(1) and the initial inspection 

required by paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. 

(2) Actions accomplished before the 

effective date of this AD in accordance with 

the procedures specified in Leonardo 

Helicopters EASB No. 119–100, dated August 

7, 2019, or Leonardo Helicopters EASB No. 

119–105, dated May 18, 2020, are considered 

acceptable for compliance with the 

corresponding actions specified in paragraph 

(f)(1) and the initial inspection required by 

paragraph (f)(2) of this AD. 

(h) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 

David Hatfield, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Aircraft Systems Section, Technical 

Innovation Policy Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone 817–222–5110; email 9-ASW-FTWAMOC-Requests@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. 

(j) Additional Information 

(1) Leonardo Helicopters EASB No. 119– 

100, dated August 7, 2019, and Leonardo 

Helicopters EASB No. 119–105, dated May 

18, 2020, which are not incorporated by 

reference, contain additional information 

about the subject of this AD. For service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

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 a copy of the 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 Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD No. 2020–0128, dated June 4, 

2020. You may view the EASA AD on the 

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

Docket No. FAA–2020–1026. 

(k) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6400, Tail Rotor System. 

(l) 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) Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert 

Service Bulletin No. 119–105, Revision A, 

dated June 3, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, 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. 

(4) 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. 

(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, 

email fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https:// 

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

Issued on January 29, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03663 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0649; Product 

Identifier 2019–SW–061–AD; Amendment 

39–21410; AD 2021–03–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model 

AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This AD 

requires removing certain engine 

mounting rods from service and 

prohibits their installation on any 

helicopter. This AD was prompted by a 

report of non-conforming engine 

mounting rods. The actions of this AD 

are intended to address an unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 1, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of April 1, 2021.