13232 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 43 / Monday, March 8, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

inspector, the manager of the responsible 

Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except 

as required by paragraph (i)(2) of this AD, if 

any service information contains procedures 

or tests that are identified as RC, those 

procedures and tests must be done to comply 

with this AD; any procedures or tests that are 

not identified as RC are recommended. Those 

procedures and tests that are not identified 

as RC may be deviated from using accepted 

methods in accordance with the operator’s 

maintenance or inspection program without 

obtaining approval of an AMOC, provided 

the procedures and tests identified as RC can 

be done and the airplane can be put back in 

an airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(4) 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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For information about EASA AD 2020– 

0222, contact the EASA, Konrad-AdenauerUfer 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–2021–0128. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3223; email Sanjay.Ralhan@

faa.gov. 

Issued on February 26, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–04441 Filed 3–5–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0127; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00829–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. (Type Certificate Previously Held 

by Agusta S.p.A.) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 

2015–25–04 for Agusta S.p.A (now 

Leonardo S.p.a.) Model A109A and 

A109A II helicopters. AD 2015–25–04 

requires inspecting the slider assembly 

pitch control (slider) for play and 

replacing the slider if the play exceeds 

certain limits. Since the FAA issued AD 

2015–25–04, further investigation 

determined the play was caused by a 

manufacturing issue. This proposed AD 

would retain certain requirements of AD 

2015–25–04, require replacing certain 

part-numbered sliders as a terminating 

action for the inspections, and prohibit 

installing the affected part on any 

helicopter. 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 April 22, 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–2021– 

0127; 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 proposed 

AD, the 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Matthew Fuller, AD Program Manager, 

Operational Safety Branch, 

Airworthiness Products Section, 

General Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, 

telephone 817–222–5110; email 

matthew.fuller@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–2021–0127; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–00829–R’’ 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 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 43 / Monday, March 8, 2021 / Proposed Rules 13233 

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 Matthew Fuller, AD 

Program Manager, Operational Safety 

Branch, Airworthiness Products 

Section, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 

Unit, telephone 817–222–5110; email 

matthew.fuller@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 

The FAA issued AD 2015–25–04, 

Amendment 39–18342 (80 FR 76381, 

December 9, 2015) (AD 2015–25–04) for 

Agusta S.p.A (now Leonardo S.p.a.) 

Model A109A and A109A II helicopters. 

AD 2015–25–04 requires repetitively 

inspecting the slider for play and 

replacing the slider if the play exceeds 

certain limits. 

AD 2015–25–04 was prompted by 

EASA AD No. 2015–0097, dated June 1, 

2015 (EASA AD 2015–0097), issued by 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 

the Member States of the European 

Union. EASA advises that during a 

scheduled 100-flight-hour inspection on 

a Model A109A II helicopter, unusual 

play was detected on a certain partnumbered slider. EASA advises further 

investigation revealed excessive wear of 

the slider broaching at the point of 

contact with the tail rotor shaft. EASA 

stated the cause of the excessive play 

has not been determined. 

Actions Since AD 2015–25–04 Was 

Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2015–25– 

04, EASA issued EASA AD No. 2020– 

0142 (EASA AD 2020–0142), dated June 

25, 2020, to correct an unsafe condition 

for Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109A and 

A109A II helicopters with a certain partnumbered slider. EASA advises that 

further investigation results identified 

the reason for the excessive play was a 

manufacturing issue. Accordingly, 

EASA AD 2020–0142 retains the 

repetitive inspections for a certain partnumbered slider, requires replacing a 

certain part-numbered slider with a 

modified slider, and provides a 

terminating action for the repetitive 

inspections. 

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 an unsafe condition is 

likely to exist or develop on other 

products of the same type designs. 

Related Service Information 

The FAA reviewed Leonardo 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

109–149, Revision A, dated May 18, 

2020, which describes procedures for 

repetitively inspecting the slider for 

play. This service information also 

references procedures for replacing the 

affected slider with a modified slider. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would retain the 

initial and repetitive 25 hours time-inservice (TIS) inspections required by AD 

2015–25–04 and depending on the 

inspection results, would continue to 

require replacing the slider with an 

airworthy slider. Additionally, this 

NPRM would require, within 800 hours 

TIS, removing slider part number (P/N) 

109–0130–11–7 from service and 

replacing it with a modified slider P/N 

109–0130–11–7 marked with an ‘‘R’’ 

after the serial number, which would 

provide a terminating action for the 

repetitive inspections. Finally, this 

NPRM would prohibit installing certain 

sliders on any helicopter. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires replacing the 

affected part-numbered slider within 60 

months, while this proposed AD would 

require replacing the affected slider 

within 800 hours TIS. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD would affect 147 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 slider for play 

would take about 1 work-hour for an 

estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and 

$12,495 for the U.S. fleet per inspection 

cycle. 

Replacing a slider would take about 

10 work-hours and parts would cost 

about $4,068 for an estimated cost of 

$4,918 per helicopter and $722,946 for 

the U.S. fleet. 

According to Leonardo Helicopters 

service information some of the costs of 

this proposed AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected persons. The FAA 

does not control warranty coverage by 

Leonardo. Accordingly, the FAA has 

included all costs in this 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, 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, 

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. 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
13234 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 43 / Monday, March 8, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) 2015–25–04, Amendment 39– 

18342 (80 FR 76381, December 9, 2015); 

and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

Leonardo S.p.a (Type Certificate Previously 

Held by Agusta S.p.A.): Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0127; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–00829–R. 

(a) Applicability 

This airworthiness directive (AD) applies 

to Leonardo S.p.a. (Type Certificate 

previously held by Agusta S.p.A.) Model 

A109A and A109A II helicopters, certificated 

in any category, with a slider assembly pitch 

control (slider) part number (P/N) 109–0130– 

11–7 installed, except those sliders marked 

with an ‘‘R’’ after the serial number. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

play on a slider. This condition could result 

in loss of tail rotor pitch control and 

consequently loss of helicopter control. 

(c) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2015–25–04, 

Amendment 39–18342 (80 FR 76381, 

December 9, 2015). 

(d) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by April 

22, 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 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

after the effective date of this AD, and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 25 hours 

TIS, inspect the slider for play. If there is 

play greater than 2.3 millimeters (0.09 inch), 

before further flight, replace the slider with 

a slider P/N 109–0130–11–7 with suffix ‘‘R’’ 

marked after the serial number. 

(2) Within 800 hours TIS after the effective 

date of this AD, if not previously required per 

paragraph (f)(1) of this AD, replace slider P/ 

N 109–0130–11–7 with slider P/N 109–0130– 

11–7 with suffix ‘‘R’’ marked after the serial 

number. 

(3) Installing slider P/N 109–0130–11–7 

with suffix ‘‘R’’ marked after the serial 

number is a terminating action for the 

repetitive inspections required by paragraph 

(f)(1) of this AD. 

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

not install slider P/N 109–0130–11–7 on any 

helicopter unless the slider is marked with 

suffix ‘‘R’’ after the serial number. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 

Matthew Fuller, AD Program Manager, 

Operational Safety Branch, Airworthiness 

Products Section, General Aviation & 

Rotorcraft Unit, telephone 817–222–5110; 

email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-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. 

(h) Additional Information 

(1) Leonardo Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 109–149, Revision A, dated May 

18, 2020 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. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD No. 2020–0142, dated June 25, 

2020. You may view the EASA AD on the 

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

AD Docket. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6720, Tail Rotor Control System. 

Issued on February 24, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–04232 Filed 3–5–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0104; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00477–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

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 

certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH Model MBB–BK117 D–2 

helicopters. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports that collective 

lever switch units having certain part 

numbers did not have retaining rings 

installed in the cable cut switch guard. 

This proposed AD would require 

inspecting certain collective lever 

switch units for discrepancies (missing 

retaining rings, incorrectly installed 

retaining rings, and a missing axis in the 

cable cut switch guard), doing all 

applicable corrective actions, and 

marking affected parts, as specified in a 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD, which is proposed for 

incorporation by reference (IBR). 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 22, 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 is proposed for IBR 

in this AD, contact the EASA, KonradAdenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 

Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; 

email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

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

material 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. It is also 

available in the AD docket on the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0104. 

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–2021– 

0104; 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: Hal 

Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational 

Safety Branch, FAA, 470 L’Enfant Plaza 

SW, Washington, DC 20024; telephone 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS