This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

43559 

Vol. 83, No. 166 

Monday, August 27, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0696; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–101–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus 

Helicopters) Model MBB–BK 117 D–2 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require replacing the rescue hoist cable 

cut pushbutton flip guard (flip guard). 

This proposed AD is prompted by 

reports of unintended lifting of several 

flip guards. The actions of this proposed 

AD are intended to correct an unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by October 26, 2018. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://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 http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0696; 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 Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) AD, the economic 

evaluation, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations (telephone 800–647– 

5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/ 

en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html. 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Clark Davenport, Flight Test Engineer, 

Flight Test Branch, Compliance and 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone 817 222 5151; email 

clark.davenport@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to participate in this 

rulemaking by submitting written 

comments, data, or views. We also 

invite comments relating to the 

economic, environmental, energy, or 

federalism impacts that might result 

from adopting the proposals in this 

document. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. To ensure the docket 

does not contain duplicate comments, 

commenters should send only one copy 

of written comments, or if comments are 

filed electronically, commenters should 

submit only one time. 

We will file in the docket all 

comments that we receive, as well as a 

report summarizing each substantive 

public contact with FAA personnel 

concerning this proposed rulemaking. 

Before acting on this proposal, we will 

consider all comments we receive on or 

before the closing date for comments. 

We will consider comments filed after 

the comment period has closed if it is 

possible to do so without incurring 

expense or delay. We may change this 

proposal in light of the comments we 

receive. 

Discussion 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2017– 

0038, dated February 22, 2017 (AD No. 

2017–0038), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Airbus Helicopters Models 

MBB–BK 117 D–2 and MBB–BK 117 

D–2m helicopters. The EASA AD 

advises that multiple events were 

reported of unintended lifting of the flip 

guard and that the flip guard has two 

stable positions, open and closed. AD 

No. 2017–0038 states that if the 

unintended lifting is not detected, the 

requirement for dual action when 

activating the rescue hoist cable cut is 

not guaranteed. According to EASA, this 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in inadvertent cutting of the rescue hoist 

cable and subsequent personal injury. 

EASA further advises that Airbus 

Helicopters has developed an improved 

mono-stable (closed) flip guard, and AD 

No. 2017–0038 requires installing the 

new flip guard and re-identifying the 

collective lever switch unit. 

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 Germany, EASA, its 

technical representative, has notified us 

of the unsafe condition described in its 

AD. We are proposing this AD because 

we evaluated all known relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information 

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert 

Service Bulletin No. MBB–BK117 D–2– 

67A–002, Revision 0, dated January 23, 

2017, which contains procedures for 

replacing flip guard part number 

(P/N) 79552176 with improved flip 

guard P/N 79553511 and for identifying 

the collective lever switch unit with the 

Alert Service Bulletin number. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

before the next hoist operation or within 


amozie on DSK3GDR082PROD with PROPOSALS1
43560 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 166 / Monday, August 27, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

440 hours time in service (TIS), 

whichever occurs first, replacing the flip 

guard with flip guard P/N 79553511 on 

the collective lever switch unit. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD applies to Model 

MBB–BK 117 D–2m helicopters; this 

proposed AD would not as these models 

are not type certificated in the U.S. 

Also, the EASA AD requires compliance 

within 440 hours TIS, this proposed AD 

would require compliance before the 

next hoist operation or within 440 hours 

TIS, whichever occurs first. Finally, the 

EASA AD requires identifying the 

collective lever switch unit with the 

service information number; this 

proposed AD would not. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 21 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. 

At an average labor rate of $85 per 

hour, we estimate that operators would 

incur the following costs in order to 

comply with this proposed AD. 

Replacing the flip guard would require 

about 14 hours, and required parts 

would cost $735, for a cost per 

helicopter of $1,925 and a cost of 

$40,148 to the U.S. fleet. 

According to Airbus Helicopter’s 

service information, some of the costs of 

this proposed AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected individuals. We do 

not control warranty coverage by Airbus 

Helicopters. Accordingly, we have 

included all costs in our 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. 

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 

products identified in this rulemaking 

action. 

Regulatory Findings 

We 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. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

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 proposed 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. 

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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: 

Docket No. FAA–2018–0696; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–101–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model MBB–BK 117 

D–2 helicopters, certificated in any category, 

with a cable cut flip guard (flip guard) part 

number (P/N) 79552176 installed. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

unintended lifting of a flip guard. This 

condition could result in inadvertent cutting 

of the rescue hoist cable and subsequent 

personal injury. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by October 26, 

2018. 

(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 

Before the next hoist operation or within 

440 hours time in service (TIS), whichever 

occurs first, remove flip guard P/N 79552176 

from service and install flip guard P/N 

79553511 on the collective lever switch unit. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 

may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your 

proposal to: Clark Davenport, Flight Test 

Engineer, Flight Test Branch, Compliance 

and Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone 817 222 5151; 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, 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) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. MBB–BK117 D–2–67A–002, 

Revision 0, dated January 23, 2017, which is 

not incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the subject of 

this AD. For service information identified in 

this AD, 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.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/ 

Technical-Support_73.html. 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. 2017–0038, dated February 22, 2017. You 

may view the EASA AD on the internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6700 Rotorcraft Flight Control. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 13, 

2018. 

Mitchell Soth, 

Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–18346 Filed 8–24–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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