Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Proposed Rules 11657 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0092; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01501–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Eurocopter France) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2010–16–51, which applies to certain 

Eurocopter France (now Airbus 

Helicopters (Airbus)) Model SA330J 

helicopters. AD 2010–16–51 requires 

inspecting for a gap between the main 

gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan assembly 

(fan) rotor blade and the upper section 

of the guide vane bearing housing and 

depending on the results, replacing the 

two fan rotor shaft bearings with two 

airworthy bearings. Since the FAA 

issued AD 2010–16–51, Airbus has 

developed an improved MGB fan rotor 

shaft bearing design. This proposed AD 

would retain the inspection required by 

AD 2010–16–51, and propose installing 

improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearings 

and repetitively inspecting the new 

improved MGB fan rotor shaft bearings, 

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 12, 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 EASA material that is proposed 

for IBR in this AD, 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 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– 

0092. 

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– 

0092; 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: 

Mahmood Shah, Aerospace Engineer, 

Certification Section, Fort Worth ACO 

Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 

222–5538; email Mahmood.g.shah@

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–2021–0092; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–01501–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 

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 Mahmood Shah, 

Aerospace Engineer, Certification 

Section, Fort Worth ACO Branch, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5538; email 

Mahmood.g.shah@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 FAA issued AD 2010–16–51, 

Amendment 39–16410 (75 FR 53857, 

September 2, 2010) (AD 2010–16–51), 

which applies to all Eurocopter France 

(now Airbus) Model SA330J helicopters. 

AD 2010–16–51 requires, using a 0.2 

millimeter (mm) (0.008 inch) feeler 

gauge attached to a rigid rod, inspecting 

for a gap between a fan rotor blade and 

the upper section of the guide vane 

bearing housing over the entire width of 

the blade. If the feeler gauge can be 

inserted between the blade and the 

housing (a gap greater than or equal to 

0.2 mm), AD 2010–16–51 requires no 

further action. If the feeler gauge cannot 

be inserted between the blade and the 

housing (a gap less than 0.2 mm), AD 

2010–16–51 requires replacing the two 

fan rotor shaft bearings with two 

airworthy bearings and re-inspecting for 

the minimum gap. The FAA issued AD 

2010–16–51 to prevent rotor burst of the 

MGB fan, damage to the hydraulic lines 

and flight controls, and subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

Actions Since AD 2010–16–51 Was 

Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2010–16– 

51, Airbus has developed an improved 

MGB fan rotor shaft bearing design and 

issued new service information. 

Accordingly, the EASA, which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
11658 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

of the European Union, has issued 

EASA AD No. 2020–0171, dated July 28, 

2020 (EASA AD 2020–0171), to correct 

an unsafe condition for all Airbus 

Helicopters, Eurocopter, Eurocopter 

France, Ae ́rospatiale, Sud Aviation 

Model SA 330 J helicopters. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

the newly developed MGB fan rotor 

shaft bearing design. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to prevent rotor burst 

of the MGB fan, damage to the hydraulic 

lines and flight controls, and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter. See the 

EASA AD for additional background 

information. 

Further, since the FAA issued AD 

2010–16–51, Eurocopter France changed 

its name to Airbus Helicopters. This 

proposed AD reflects that change. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

For MGB fan rotor shaft bearings (both 

rear and front) part number (P/N) 

704A33651114 (manufacturer P/N (MP/ 

N) 205FFTX74K6–G33) and MGB fan 

rotor shaft bearings (both rear and front) 

P/N 704A33651268 (MP/N 594918), 

EASA AD 2020–0171 describes 

procedures for inspecting for play (a 

gap) between the MGB fan rotor blade 

and the upper section of the guide vane 

bearing housing. If there is play that 

does not meet the minimum 

requirement, the EASA AD requires 

replacing the affected MGB fan rotor 

shaft bearings with MGB fan rotor shaft 

bearings (both rear and front) P/N 

704A33651268 (MP/N 594918). 

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 

These products have been approved 

by the aviation authority of another 

country, and are 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 EASA AD referenced 

above. The FAA is proposing this AD 

after evaluating all the relevant 

information and determining the unsafe 

condition described previously is likely 

to exist or develop in other products of 

the same type design. 

Explanation of Retained Requirements 

Although this proposed AD does not 

explicitly restate the requirements of AD 

2010–16–51, this proposed AD would 

retain a certain requirement of AD 

2010–16–51. This requirement is 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0171, 

which, in turn, is referenced in 

paragraph (g) of this proposed AD. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2020–0171 described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this AD and except as 

discussed under ‘‘Differences Between 

this Proposed AD and the EASA AD.’’ 

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 

2020–0171 will be incorporated by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2020–0171 

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 

2020–0171 that is required for 

compliance with EASA AD 2020–0171 

will be available on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0092 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD applies to all Model 

SA 330 J helicopters, whereas this 

proposed AD applies to certain Model 

SA330J helicopters instead. The EASA 

AD refers to flight hours, whereas this 

proposed AD uses hours time-in-service. 

The EASA AD requires inspecting for 

play, whereas this proposed AD requires 

inspecting for a gap instead. The EASA 

AD requires returning certain parts, 

whereas this proposed AD requires 

removing the parts from service instead. 

The EASA AD requires completing a 

response form, whereas this proposed 

AD does not. 

Interim Action 

The FAA considers this proposed AD 

interim action. If final action is later 

identified, the FAA might consider 

further rulemaking then. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 15 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 proposed AD. 

Inspecting for a gap between the MGB 

fan rotor blade and the upper section of 

the guide vane bearing housing would 

take about 2 work-hours for an 

estimated cost of $170 per helicopter 

and $2,550 for the U.S. fleet, per 

inspection cycle. 

Replacing a set of two bearings would 

take about 6 work-hours and parts 

would cost up to about $1,665 for an 

estimated cost of up to $2,175 per 

helicopter. 

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. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 37 / Friday, February 26, 2021 / Proposed Rules 11659 

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, 

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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) 2010–16–51, Amendment 39– 

16410 (75 FR 53857, September 2, 

2010); and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Eurocopter France): 

Docket No. FAA–2021–0092; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01501–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by April 

12, 2021. 

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs) 

This AD removes AD 2010–16–51, 

Amendment 39–16410 (75 FR 53857, 

September 2, 2010). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

(type certificate previously held by 

Eurocopter France) Model SA330J 

helicopters, certificated in any category, with 

main gearbox (MGB) oil cooling fan (fan) 

rotor shaft bearings (both rear and front) part 

number (P/N) 704A33651114 (manufacturer 

P/N (MP/N) 205FFTX74K6–G33) or P/N 

704A33651268 (MP/N 594918), installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6322; Main Gearbox Oil Cooler. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by the 

development of an improved MGB fan rotor 

shaft bearing design. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to prevent rotor burst of the MGB fan, 

damage to the hydraulic lines and flight 

controls, and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

(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 No. 2020–0171, 

dated July 28, 2020 (EASA AD 2020–0171). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020–0171 

(1) Where EASA AD 2020–0171 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

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

2020–0171 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where EASA AD 2020–0171 refers to 

flight hours (FH), this AD requires using 

hours time-in-service. 

(4) Where EASA AD 2020–0171 requires 

measuring for play, this AD requires 

measuring the gap between each MGB fan 

rotor blade and the upper section of the guide 

vane bearing housing. 

(5) Where ‘‘The ASB’’ service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0171 specifies 

to return certain parts to Airbus Helicopters, 

this AD requires removing those parts from 

service instead. 

(6) While ‘‘The ASB’’ service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0171 specifies 

completing the response form in Appendix 4, 

this AD does not contain that requirement. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0171 specifies 

to submit certain information to the 

manufacturer, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

(j) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits, as described in 14 

CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed. 

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, 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 manager of the Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, send it to: Manager, 

Strategic Policy Rotorcraft Section, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5110. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-ASW-FTWAMOC-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. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2020–0171, 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, 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–2021–0092. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Mahmood Shah, Aerospace Engineer, 

Certification Section, Fort Worth ACO 

Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222–5538; 

email Mahmood.g.shah@faa.gov. 

Issued on February 5, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03665 Filed 2–25–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0020; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01639–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2019–03–12, which applies to certain 

Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP 

helicopters. AD 2019–03–12 requires 

repetitively inspecting, cleaning, and 

lubricating each life raft inflation 

cylinder percussion system bellcrank 

(bellcrank). Since the FAA issued AD 

2019–03–12, the FAA determined that 

any affected bellcrank must be replaced 

with a serviceable bellcrank, which 

would terminate the repetitive actions. 

This proposed AD would continue to 

require the actions specified in AD 

2019–03–12, and would require 

replacing any affected bellcrank with a 

serviceable bellcrank. 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 12, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS