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

46424 

Vol. 83, No. 178 

Thursday, September 13, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0057; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–119–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.A. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Leonardo S.p.A. (Leonardo) Model 

AW169 helicopters. This proposed AD 

would require replacing the seals, filler 

wedges, and handles of each emergency 

exit window. This proposed AD is 

prompted by a report that a high level 

of pushing force was required to jettison 

some windows. The actions of this 

proposed AD are intended to address an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 13, 

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– 

0057; 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 Leonardo 

S.p.A. Helicopters, Matteo Ragazzi, 

Head of Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 

520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) 

Italy; telephone +39–0331–711756; fax 

+39–0331–229046; or at http://

www.leonardocompany.com/-/bulletins. 

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: Matt 

Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft 

Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

matthew.fuller@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– 

0155, dated August 23, 2017, to correct 

an unsafe condition for Leonardo Model 

AW169 helicopters, serial numbers 

69007, 69009, 69011 to 69019 inclusive, 

69021 to 69024 inclusive, 69027, 69032, 

69033, 69041, 69045, and 69051. EASA 

advises that during scheduled 

replacement of emergency exit window 

seals on in-service Model AW169 

helicopters, an ‘‘excessively high’’ level 

of pushing force was required to jettison 

some windows. Further investigation 

determined that the affected windows 

were incorrectly installed during 

manufacturing. The installation did not 

conform to the approved drawings 

during the first installation in the 

production line. According to EASA, 

due to the similarity in the 

manufacturing process, incorrect 

window installation may have occurred 

on Model AW169 helicopters. EASA 

states that this condition, if not 

corrected, could prevent the jettisoning 

of helicopter emergency exit windows, 

possibly affecting the evacuation of 

occupants after an emergency landing. 

EASA consequently requires 

replacement of the seal, the nonmetallic channel (filler wedges), and the 

handle of emergency exit windows 

installed in the cockpit doors and cabin. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Italy and are 

approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Italy, 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 Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Leonardo Service 

Bulletin No. 169–032, Revision A, dated 

September 8, 2017, which specifies 


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Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules 46425 

replacing the seals, the non-metallic 

channels, handles, and decals on the 

cockpit doors and cabin emergency exit 

windows. 

This service information 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. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

within 70 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

replacing the seals and filler wedges on 

various cockpit and passenger windows 

and replacing certain internal and 

external window straps. This proposed 

AD also would require replacing decals 

on certain internal and external 

passenger and cockpit windows. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires that the 

corrective actions occur within 70 hours 

TIS or 6 months. This proposed AD 

would require that the corrective actions 

occur within 70 hours TIS. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 1 helicopter of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs average $85 

a work-hour. Based on these estimates, 

we expect that 24 work-hours would be 

needed to replace the decal, seal, filler 

wedges, and handle of each emergency 

exit window installed in cockpit doors 

and the cabin. Parts would cost $1,500 

for a total cost of $3,540 for this 

helicopter. 

According to Leonardo’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 

Leonardo. 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): 

Leonardo S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0057; Product Identifier 2017–SW–119– 

AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.A. 

(Leonardo) Model AW169 helicopters, serial 

numbers 69007, 69009, 69011 through 69019, 

69021 through 69024, 69027, 69032, 69033, 

69041, 69045, and 69051, certificated in any 

category, where the emergency exit windows 

have never been removed and reinstalled. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

failure of an emergency window to jettison, 

which could prevent occupants from 

evacuating the helicopter during an 

emergency. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

13, 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 

Within 70 hours time-in-service: 

(1) Replace the seals and filler wedges on 

the left hand (LH) and right hand (RH) 

cockpit door upper windows. 

Note 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD: 

Leonardo refers to filler wedges as ‘‘nonmetallic channels.’’ 

(2) Replace the seals and filler wedges on 

the forward LH and RH passenger door 

windows. For helicopters without passenger 

sliding window kit part number (P/N) 

6F5630F00411, also replace the seals and 

filler wedges of the aft LH and RH passenger 

door windows. 

(3) For helicopters with a strap P/N 

A487A003A, replace each strap with 

emergency exit window handle P/N 

8G9500L00151 on the internal side of the 

window and P/N 8G9500L00251 on the 

external side of the window. 

(4) Remove any decal P/N A180A005E21 

from the internal side of the passenger and 

cockpit windows and replace with decal P/ 

N A180A022E21, using as a reference Figure 

1 and Figure 2 of Leonardo Service Bulletin 

No. 169–032, Revision A, dated September 8, 

2017 (SB No. 169–032). 

(5) Remove any decal P/N A487A003A 

from the external side of the passenger and 

cockpit windows and replace with decals P/ 

N AW003DE005E33B, using as a reference 

Figure 3 of SB No. 169–032. 

(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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation 

Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, 

Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 9-ASWFTW-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. 

(g) Additional Information 

The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2017–0155, dated August 23, 2017. You 


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46426 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 178 / Thursday, September 13, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

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: 5220, Emergency Exits 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 11, 

2018. 

Scott A. Horn, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–19736 Filed 9–12–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–1126; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–125–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(Previously Eurocopter Deutschland 

GmbH) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97–26–03 

for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

Model MBB–BK 117 A–1, MBB–BK 117 

A–3, MBB–BK 117 A–4, MBB–BK 117 

B–1, MBB–BK 117 B–2, and MBB–BK 

117 C–1 helicopters. AD 97–26–03 

requires visual inspections for cracks in 

the ribbed area of the main rotor (M/R) 

mast flange (flange). Since we issued AD 

97–26–03, we have determined that a 

certain reinforced M/R mast is not 

affected by the unsafe condition. This 

proposed AD would retain the 

requirements of AD 97–26–03 and 

would remove a certain M/R mast from 

the applicability. The actions of this 

proposed AD are intended to address an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 13, 

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–2017– 

1126; 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 this 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: Matt 

Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft 

Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

matthew.fuller@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 

We issued AD 97–26–03, Amendment 

39–10246 (62 FR 65750, December 16, 

1997) (AD 97–26–03) for Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH (now Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH) Model 

MBB–BK 117 A–1, MBB–BK 117 A–3, 

MBB–BK 117 A–4, MBB–BK 117 B–1, 

MBB–BK 117 B–2, and MBB–BK 117 C– 

1 helicopters. AD 97–26–03 requires 

visual inspections for cracks in the 

ribbed area of the M/R flange and 

replacing the M/R mast if a crack is 

found. AD 97–26–03 was prompted by 

AD 97–276, effective September 25, 

1997, issued by Luftfahrt-Bundesamt 

(LBA), which is the airworthiness 

authority for Germany, to correct an 

unsafe condition for Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH Model MBB–BK 117 

A–1, MBB–BK 117 A–3, MBB–BK 117 

A–4, MBB–BK 117 B–1, MBB–BK 117 

B–2, and MBB–BK 117 C–1 helicopters. 

The LBA AD required immediate and 

repetitive inspections for a crack in the 

flange area after an M/R mast was found 

to have cracks ‘‘of critical magnitude.’’ 

When LBA AD 97–276 was issued, the 

cause of the cracks was under 

investigation. The actions of AD 97–26– 

03 are intended to detect cracks in the 

flange, which could result in failure of 

the flange and subsequent loss of 

helicopter control. 

Actions Since AD 97–26–03 Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 97–26–03, EASA, 

which is the Technical Agent for the 

Member States of the European Union, 

issued EASA AD No. 2017–0193, dated 

September 29, 2017, to supersede the 

LBA AD. EASA advises that reinforced 

M/R mast part number (P/N) 4639 305 

095, which is part of M/R mast assembly 

P/N 4639 205 016, is not affected by the 

unsafe condition. The EASA AD retains 

the repetitive inspection requirements 

but only for helicopters with M/R mast 

P/N 4639 305 002. 

Also, since we issued AD 97–26–03, 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH 

Helicopters changed its name to Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH. This 

proposed AD reflects that change and 

updates the contact information to 

obtain service documentation. 

Additionally, the FAA’s Aircraft 

Certification Service has changed its 


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