94954 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

to the manager of the ACO, send it to the 

attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (m)(1) of this AD. Information may 

be emailed to: 9-ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOCRequests@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. 

(3) An AMOC that provides an acceptable 

level of safety may be used for any repair, 

modification, or alteration required by this 

AD if it is approved by the Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes Organization 

Designation Authorization (ODA) that has 

been authorized by the Manager, Seattle 

ACO, to make those findings. To be 

approved, the repair method, modification 

deviation, or alteration deviation must meet 

the certification basis of the airplane, and the 

approval must specifically refer to this AD. 

(4) For service information that contains 

steps that are labeled as Required for 

Compliance (RC), the provisions of 

paragraphs (l)(4)(i) and (l)(4)(ii) apply. 

(i) The steps labeled as RC, including 

substeps under an RC step and any figures 

identified in an RC step, must be done to 

comply with the AD. If a step or sub-step is 

labeled ‘‘RC Exempt,’’ then the RC 

requirement is removed from that step or 

sub-step. An AMOC is required for any 

deviations to RC steps, including substeps 

and identified figures. 

(ii) Steps not labeled 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 RC steps, 

including substeps and identified figures, can 

still be done as specified, and the airplane 

can be put back in an airworthy condition. 

(m) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Fnu Winarto, Aerospace Engineer, 

Systems and Equipment Branch, ANM–130S, 

FAA, Seattle ACO, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA 98057–3356; phone: 425–917– 

6659; fax: 425–917–6590; email: 

fnu.winarto@faa.gov. 

(2) Service information identified in this 

AD that is not incorporated by reference is 

available at the addresses specified in 

paragraphs (n)(3) and (n)(4) of this AD. 

(n) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) 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) Aviation Partners Boeing Service 

Bulletin AP767–22–005, Revision 1, dated 

June 16, 2015. 

(ii) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 747–22–2256, Revision 1, dated 

January 6, 2016. 

(iii) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 757–22–0096, Revision 1, dated 

February 8, 2016. 

(iv) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 767–22–0143, Revision 2, dated May 

25, 2016. 

(v) Boeing Special Attention Service 

Bulletin 767–22–0146, Revision 1, dated June 

25, 2015. 

(3) For Boeing service information 

identified in this AD, contact Boeing 

Commercial Airplanes, Attention: Data & 

Services Management, P. O. Box 3707, MC 

2H–65, Seattle, WA 98124–2207; telephone: 

206–544–5000, extension 1; fax: 206–766– 

5680; Internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 

Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

(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, call 

202–741–6030, or go to: http://

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

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

November 23, 2016. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–29247 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–3929; Directorate 

Identifier 2015–SW–031–AD; Amendment 

39–18746; AD 2016–25–20] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 

Helicopters Model EC130B4, EC130T2, 

AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, 

AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, 

AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, 

AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. 

This AD requires inspecting each bidirectional suspension cross-bar (crossbar). This AD was prompted by two 

reports of cracks in a cross-bar. These 

actions are intended to prevent the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 31, 

2017. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum 

Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232– 

0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or at http://

www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 

You may review the referenced 

service information at the FAA, Office 

of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 

6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. You 

may review the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

3929; or in person at the Docket 

Operations Office 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 (EASA) AD, the 

economic evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for the Docket Operations 

Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations Office, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Robert Grant, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Group, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

robert.grant@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion 

On April 11, 2016, at 81 FR 21284, the 

Federal Register published our notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which 

proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by 

adding an AD that would apply to 

Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4, 

EC130T2, AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, 

AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350C, AS350D, 

AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, 

AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP 

helicopters with a cross-bar part number 

(P/N) 350A38–1040–20 or P/N 350A38– 

1040–00 installed. The NPRM proposed 

to require repetitively inspecting each 

cross-bar for a crack and replacing any 

cracked cross-bar before further flight. 

The proposed requirements were 

intended to detect cracks in a cross-bar 

and prevent failure of the cross-bar and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 

2015–0094, dated May 29, 2015, issued 

by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 


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Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 94955 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, to correct an unsafe condition 

for Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 

AS350BA, AS350BB, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, 

AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, 

AS355NP, EC130B4, and EC130T2 

helicopters. EASA advises that two 

cases of cracks in a cross-bar were 

reported on AS350B3 helicopters. The 

cracks were found at the transmission 

deck attachment fitting holes in 

helicopters equipped with a cargo hook 

that had completed missions with a 

significant number of torque cycles. 

Because of common design features, 

cracks may also occur on other Model 

AS350-series, AS355-series, and EC130- 

series helicopters. EASA advises that 

crack growth may lead to failure of one 

of the four yokes and significantly 

increase stress loads on the remaining 

yokes. This condition, if not detected or 

corrected, could lead to cracks on the 

remaining yokes and increased load on 

the cross-bar, possibly resulting in 

cross-bar failure and consequently loss 

of the helicopter. To correct this 

condition, EASA AD No. 2015–0094 

requires repetitive cross-bar inspections 

and, depending on the findings, 

replacing the cross-bar. 

Comments 

One commenter submitted comments 

supporting the NPRM (81 FR 21284, 

April 11, 2016). 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of France and 

are approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with France, EASA, its 

technical representative, has notified us 

of the unsafe condition described in the 

EASA AD. We are issuing this AD 

because we evaluated all information 

provided by EASA and determined 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 applies to Airbus 

Helicopters Model AS350BB 

helicopters. This AD does not apply to 

the Model AS350BB because it does not 

have an FAA type certificate. However, 

this AD applies to Model AS350C and 

AS350D1 helicopters, while the EASA 

AD does not. The EASA AD requires a 

florescent dye-penetrant inspection if 

the visual inspection of the bidirectional suspension cross-bar causes 

doubts. This AD does not require a 

florescent dye-penetrant inspection. The 

EASA AD requires returning the 

damaged bi-directional suspension 

cross-bar to Airbus Helicopters, and this 

AD does not. 

Related Service Information 

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. EC130– 

05A021 for Model EC130B4 helicopters; 

ASB No. EC130–05A022 for Model 

EC130T2 helicopters; ASB No. AS350– 

05.00.84 for Model AS350B, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, 

AS350BB, AS350D, and military Model 

AS350L1 helicopters; and ASB No. 355– 

05.00.73 for Model AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and 

AS355 NP helicopters (ASBs). All of the 

ASBs are Revision 0 and dated May 21, 

2015. The ASBs specify visually 

inspecting the cross-bar. If there is any 

doubt after the visual inspection, the 

ASBs call for a dye-penetrant inspection 

to make sure there are no cracks. If a 

crack is detected, the ASBs call for 

replacing the cross-bar before further 

flight and sending the damaged crossbar to Airbus Helicopters. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD affects 1,132 

helicopters of U.S. Registry and that 

labor costs average $85 a work-hour. 

Based on these estimates, we expect the 

following costs: 

• Visually inspecting the cross-bar 

requires 16.5 work-hours for a labor cost 

of about $1,403. No parts are needed so 

that the cost for the U.S. fleet totals 

$1,588,196 per inspection cycle. 

• Replacing the cross-bar costs $1,630 

for parts. No additional labor costs are 

needed. 

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. 

We are 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 

helicopters identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

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) Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction; and 

(4) 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. 

We prepared an economic evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this AD and placed it in the AD docket. 

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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2016–25–20 Airbus Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–18746; Docket No. 

FAA–2015–3929; Directorate Identifier 

2015–SW–031–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model EC130B4, EC130T2, AS350B, 

AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, 

AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, 

AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and 

AS355NP helicopters with a bi-directional 

suspension cross-bar (cross-bar) part number 

(P/N) 350A38–1040–20 or P/N 350A38– 

1040–00 installed, certificated in any 

category. 


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94956 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 248 / Tuesday, December 27, 2016 / Rules and Regulations 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack in a bi-directional cross-bar, which 

could result in failure of a cross-bar and loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective January 31, 

2017. 

(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) Within the initial inspection times 

shown in Table 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD 

or the next time maintenance of the 

helicopter involves removing the main 

gearbox, whichever comes first; and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed the 

compliance times shown in Table 1 to 

paragraph (e) of this AD, inspect each crossbar for a crack. For purposes of this AD, a 

torque cycle is defined as one landing with 

or without stopping the rotor or one external 

load-carrying operation; an external loadcarrying operation occurs each time a 

helicopter picks up an external load and 

drops it off. 

TABLE 1 TO PARAGRAPH (e) 

Helicopter model Initial and recurrent inspection interval 

AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350C, AS350D, and 

AS350D1.

4,500 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 60,000 torque cycles, whichever 

occurs first. 

AS350B3, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and 

AS355 NP.

EC130B4 ..................................................................................................

3,300 hours TIS or 60,000 torque cycles, whichever occurs first. 

EC130T2 ................................................................................................... 3,300 hours TIS or 40,000 torque cycles, whichever occurs first. 

(2) If there is a crack, before further flight, 

replace the cross-bar. 

(f) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Robert Grant, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; 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, we suggest 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) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. EC130–05A021, No. EC130– 

05A022, No. AS350–05.00.84, and No. 

AS355–05.00.73, all Revision 0 and all dated 

May 21, 2015, which are not incorporated by 

reference, contain additional information 

about the subject of this final rule. For 

service information identified in this final 

rule, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. 

Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323; 

fax (972) 641–3775; or at http://

www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. You 

may review 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 (EASA) AD 

No. 2015–0094, dated May 29, 2015. You 

may view the EASA AD on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2015–3929. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6300, Main Rotor Drive System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 

6, 2016. 

Scott A. Horn, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2016–30048 Filed 12–23–16; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2016–8850; Directorate 

Identifier 2016–NM–031–AD; Amendment 

39–18755; AD 2016–25–29] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 767–200 

and –300 series airplanes. This AD was 

prompted by a report of a fire in the 

bilge area of the cargo compartment that 

burned through the insulation blankets 

that were intended to prevent smoke 

from migrating behind the cargo 

compartment sidewall liners and 

upward into the main cabin. This AD 

requires replacing the cargo 

compartment insulation blankets on the 

left and right sides with new insulation 

blankets that incorporate fire stops. We 

are issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective January 31, 

2017. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of January 31, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, 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, Transport 

Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue 

SW., Renton, WA. For information on 

the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. It is also 

available on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2016– 

8850. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2016– 

8850; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this AD, the regulatory 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

Docket Management Facility, 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: 

Francis Smith, Aerospace Engineer, 


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