[4910-13-P]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0020; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-107-AD; 

Amendment 39-17558; AD 2013-16-20]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for ECD Model 

MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the rigging of the powerboosted control system and, if there is a nonparallel gap between the rigging wedges and 

the inner sleeves, performing a rigging procedure. This AD was prompted by the 

discovery, during rigging of the main rotor controls, of movement of the longitudinal 

main rotor actuator piston after shut-down of the external pump drive. Such movement 

could cause incorrect rigging results. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent 

incorrect rigging results, which could impair freedom of movement of the upper controls 

and subsequent reduced control of the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
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The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a 

certain document listed in this AD as of [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, telephone (972) 

641-0000 or (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3775, or at 

http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may review the referenced service information 

at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 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, any incorporated-byreference service information, the foreign authority’s 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: Jim Grigg, Manager, FAA, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Safety Management Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76137;

telephone (817) 222-5110; email jim.grigg@faa.gov.
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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On April 22, 2013, at 78 FR 23696, the Federal Register published our notice of 

proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an 

AD that would apply to Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to 

require inspecting the rigging of the power-boosted control system and, if there is a 

nonparallel gap between the rigging wedges and the inner sleeves, performing a rigging 

procedure. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent incorrect rigging results, 

which could impair freedom of movement of the upper controls and subsequent reduced 

control of the helicopter. 

The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2010-0248, dated November 26, 2010 (AD 

2010-0248), issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union. EASA issued AD 

2010-0248 to correct an unsafe condition for the ECD Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 

helicopter. EASA advises that during rigging of the main rotor controls, it was discovered 

that the piston of the longitudinal main rotor actuator had moved after shut-down of the 

external pump drive.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we 

did not receive any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 23696, April 22, 2013).

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of Germany and 

are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with 
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Germany, 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

We do not require inserting temporary changes into the performance section of 

the Rotorcraft Flight Manual.

Related Service Information

ECD has issued Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB BK117 C-2-67A-012, 

Revision 0, dated September 20, 2010 (ASB). The ASB specifies a one-time verification 

of the correct adjustment of the rigging of the main rotor controls and provides the 

corresponding test procedure. The ASB further provides an improved rigging procedure 

as a temporary revision to the ECD BK117C2 Aircraft Maintenance Manual. EASA 

classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD 2010-0248 to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 108 helicopters of U.S. Registry.

We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with 

this AD:

 $680 for 8 work hours per helicopter to inspect the main rotor control rigging at 

an average labor rate of $85 per work hour; 

 No additional costs are associated with rigging adjustment, if necessary; and
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 $73,440 for the total cost of the AD on U.S. 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.

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);
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(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):

2013-16-20 EUROCOPTER DEUTSCHLAND GmbH (ECD): Amendment 39-17558; 

Docket No. FAA-2013-0020; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-107-AD.

(a) Applicability.

This AD applies to Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters, certificated in any 

category. 
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(b) Unsafe Condition.

This AD defines the unsafe condition as movement of the longitudinal main rotor 

actuator piston after shut-down of the external pump drive, during rigging of the main 

rotor controls, causing an incorrect rigging result. This condition could impair freedom of 

movement of the upper controls and subsequently reduce control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date.

This AD becomes effective [INSERT DATE 35 DAYS AFTER DATE OF 

PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER]. 

(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.

Within 300 hours time-in-service:

(1) Inspect the rigging of the power-boosted control system, referencing Figure 1 

of Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB BK117 C-2-67A-012, Revision 0, dated 

September 20, 2010 (ASB). Ensure the piston of the longitudinal actuator (right-hand 

side) is held in the fully extended position and the piston of the lateral actuator (left-hand 

side) is held in the fully retracted position against the mechanical stop. Also, ensure the 

gauge block is clamped between the sliding sleeve and the support tube. 

(2) Insert the rigging wedges with the 25.4 degree (item 8) and 19.5 degree (item 

7) markings in the “A” side of the guide grooves of the rigging device (item 3).

(3) If the gap between the rigging wedges (items 7 and 8) and the inner sleeves 

(item 9) is closed, the rigging is correct.
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(4) If there is a nonparallel gap between the rigging wedges (items 7 and 8) and 

the inner sleeves (item 9), the rigging is not correct. Perform a rigging procedure.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs).

(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for 

this AD. Send your proposal to: Jim Grigg, Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 2601 

Meacham Blvd, Fort Worth, TX 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email

Jim.Grigg@faa.gov.

(2) For operations conducted under 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.

(g) Additional Information.

(1) For service information identified in this AD, contact American Eurocopter 

Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, telephone (972) 641-0000 

or (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3775, or at http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You 

may review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 

Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD No. 2010-0248, dated November 26, 2010. You may view the EASA AD at 

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2013-0020.

(h) Subject.

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6710 Main Rotor Control.
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(i) 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) Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB BK117 C-2-67A-012, Revision 

0, dated September 20, 2010.

(ii) Reserved.

(3) For Eurocopter service information identified in this AD, contact American 

Eurocopter Corporation, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052, telephone (972) 

641-0000 or (800) 232-0323, fax (972) 641-3775, or at 

http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub.

(4) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at

http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2013-0020.

(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/ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 2, 2013.

Lance T. Gant,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.
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