Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 73267 

it to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (o) of this AD. Information may be 

emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

Before using any approved AMOC, notify 

your appropriate principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the responsible Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Dassault 

Aviation’s EASA Design Organization 

Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, 

the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. 

(o) Additional Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Tom Rodriguez, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 206– 

231–3226; email: tom.rodriguez@faa.gov. 

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the material listed in this paragraph 

under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use this material as 

applicable to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(3) The following material was approved 

for IBR on October 15, 2024. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2024–0033, dated January 31, 

2024. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(4) The following material was approved 

for IBR on December 29, 2023 (88 FR 82246, 

November 24, 2023). 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2023–0063, dated March 20, 

2023. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(5) For EASA ADs 2024–0033 and 2023– 

0063, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 

3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

website easa.europa.eu. You may find these 

EASA ADs on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(6) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Airworthiness Products Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, 2200 South 216th St., Des 

Moines, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, call 

206–231–3195. 

(7) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on July 16, 2024. 

James D. Foltz, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20315 Filed 9–9–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–1002; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–01574–R; Amendment 

39–22799; AD 2024–15–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 

AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, 

AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, 

AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This 

AD was prompted by reports of 

debonding on the leading edge 

protection of certain part-numbered 

main rotor blades (MRBs). This AD 

requires repetitively tap inspecting the 

MRB and, depending on the results, 

taking corrective action. This AD also 

prohibits installing an affected MRB on 

any helicopter unless its requirements 

are met. These actions are specified in 

a European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) AD, which is 

incorporated by reference. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 15, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 15, 2024. 

ADDRESSES:

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–1002; 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 final rule, the mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI), any comments received, and 

other information. The address for 

Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For EASA material identified in this 

AD, contact EASA, Konrad-AdenauerUfer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: 

+49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@

easa.europa.eu; website: 

easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA 

material on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

• You may view this material at the 

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 

Parkway, 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 

at regulations.gov under Docket No. 

FAA–2024–1002. 

Other Related Material: For Airbus 

Helicopters material identified in this 

AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 

North Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 

75052; telephone (972) 641–0000 or 

(800) 232–0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or 

at airbus.com/en/products-services/ 

helicopters/hcare-services/airbusworld. 

You may also view this material at the 

FAA contact information under Material 

Incorporated by Reference above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

McCully, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 474– 

5548; email: william.mccully@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2022–0246, 

dated December 12, 2022 (EASA AD 

2022–0246), to correct an unsafe 

condition on all Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS 350 B, AS 350 BA, AS 350 

B1, AS 350 B2, AS 350 BB, AS 350 D, 

AS 355 E, AS 355 F, AS 355 F1, AS 355 

F2, and AS 355 N helicopters. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to Airbus Helicopters Model 

AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N 

helicopters. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on April 16, 2024 (89 

FR 26794). The NPRM was prompted by 

reports of debonding on the stainless 

steel leading edge protection of certain 

part-numbered MRBs. The NPRM 

proposed to require repetitively tap 

inspecting the MRB and, depending on 

the results, taking corrective action. The 

NPRM also prohibited installing an 

affected MRB on any helicopter unless 

its requirements are met, as specified in 

EASA AD 2022–0246. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the debonding of the MRB leading edge 

protection. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in a significant 

unbalance of the main rotor, a high level 

of vibration, failure of the main rotor, 

failure of the main gearbox, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 


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73268 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received no comments on 

the NPRM or on the determination of 

the costs. 

Conclusion 

These helicopters have been approved 

by EASA and are approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

FAA’s bilateral agreement with the 

European Union, EASA has notified the 

FAA about the unsafe condition 

described in its AD. The FAA reviewed 

the relevant data and determined that 

air safety requires adopting this AD as 

proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these helicopters. Except 

for minor editorial changes, this AD is 

adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

Under 1 CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2022–0246 requires 

repetitively tap inspecting affected 

MRBs and, depending on findings, 

either repairing or replacing the MRB. 

For certain helicopters, EASA AD 2022– 

0246 prohibits installing an affected 

MRB unless it is a serviceable part as 

defined within and is inspected 

following installation. For other certain 

helicopters, EASA AD 2022–0246 

prohibits installing an affected MRB. 

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. 

Other Related Material 

The FAA also reviewed Airbus 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

AS350–05.01.07 and No. AS355– 

05.00.91, both Revision 0 and dated 

December 6, 2022. This material 

describes procedures for tap inspecting 

the stainless steel leading edge 

protection of the MRB and, depending 

on the results, repairing or sending the 

MRB for repair to Airbus Helicopters. 

This material also specifies sending 

certain information to Airbus 

Helicopters. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

EASA AD 2022–0246 applies to 

Model AS350BB helicopters, whereas 

this AD does not because that model is 

not FAA-type certificated. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 405 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. Based on these numbers, the 

FAA estimates the following costs to 

comply with this AD. 

Tap inspecting affected MRBs for 

disbonding takes up to approximately 1 

work-hour (up to three MRBs per 

helicopter) for an estimated cost of up 

to $85 per helicopter and $34,425 for 

the U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle. 

Replacing a blade takes approximately 6 

work-hours and parts cost up to 

approximately $84,000 for an estimated 

cost of up to $84,510 per MRB. The FAA 

has no data to determine the cost of or 

the number of helicopters that might 

need the MRB repaired. 

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 

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) 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 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: 

2024–15–08 Airbus Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–22799; Docket No. 

FAA–2024–1002; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2022–01574–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 15, 2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N 

helicopters, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6210, Main Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

debonding on the stainless steel leading edge 

protection of certain main rotor blades 

(MRBs). The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the debonding of the MRB leading 

edge protection. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in a significant 

unbalance of the main rotor, a high level of 

vibration, failure of the main rotor, failure of 

the main gearbox, 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 paragraphs (h) and 

(i) of this AD: Comply with all required 

actions and compliance times specified in, 

and in accordance with, European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2022– 

0246, dated December 12, 2022 (EASA AD 

2022–0246). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022–0246 

(1) Where EASA AD 2022–0246 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD 

requires using hours time-in-service. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2022–0246 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 175 / Tuesday, September 10, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 73269 

(3) Where the material referenced in 

paragraphs (2) and (3) of EASA AD 2022– 

0246 specifies sending removed blade(s) to 

Airbus Helicopters, this AD does not require 

that action. 

(4) This AD does not adopt the ‘‘Remarks’’ 

section of EASA AD 2022–0246. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the material referenced in EASA 

AD 2022–0246 specifies to submit certain 

information to the manufacturer, this AD 

does not include that requirement. 

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, International Validation 

Branch, 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 International Validation 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (k) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: 9-AVS-AIR730-AMOC@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. 

(k) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Dan McCully, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 474–5548; 

email: william.mccully@faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the material listed in this paragraph under 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. 

(2) You must use this material as 

applicable to do the actions required by this 

AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2022–0246, dated December 12, 

2022. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA material identified in this 

AD, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 

8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; 

website: easa.europa.eu. You may find the 

EASA material on the EASA website at 

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this material at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N– 

321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

(5) You may view this material at the 

National Archives and Records 

Administration (NARA). For information on 

the availability of this material at NARA, 

visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations or email fr.inspection@nara.gov. 

Issued on July 23, 2024. 

Steven W. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–20343 Filed 9–9–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–0761; Project 

Identifier AD–2023–01256–T; Amendment 

39–22798; AD 2024–15–07] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

The Boeing Company Model 777 

airplanes. This AD was prompted by a 

determination that the nitrogen 

enriched air distribution system 

(NEADS) cover plate assembly attached 

to a certain vent stringer in the center 

wing tank was installed without a 

designed electrical bond. This AD 

requires installing electrical bonding 

and grounding, installing the cover plate 

assembly with new fasteners, and 

revising the existing maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate new airworthiness 

limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 15, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 15, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–0761; 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 final rule, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

address for Docket Operations is U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 

20590. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For Boeing material identified in 

this AD, contact Boeing Commercial 

Airplanes, Attention: Contractual & Data 

Services (C&DS), 2600 Westminster 

Boulevard, MC 110–SK57, Seal Beach, 

CA 90740–5600; telephone 562–797– 

1717; website myboeingfleet.com. 

• You may view this material at the 

FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. 

It is also available at regulations.gov 

under Docket No. FAA–2024–0761. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anthony Decaro, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., 

Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone: 562– 

627–5374; email: Anthony.D.Decaro@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain The Boeing Company 

Model 777 airplanes. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

March 25, 2024 (89 FR 20555). The 

NPRM was prompted by a report 

indicating a production audit by the 

design approval holder found that the 

design of the NEADS cover plate 

assembly did not comply with the 

requirements for nitrogen generation 

system certification (14 CFR 25.981). It 

was discovered that the NEADS cover 

plate assembly attached to a certain vent 

stringer in the center wing tank was 

installed without a designed electrical 

bond for electrostatic dissipation. In the 

NPRM, the FAA proposed to require 

installing electrical bonding and 

grounding, installing the cover plate 

assembly with new fasteners, and 

revising the existing maintenance or 

inspection program, as applicable, to 

incorporate new airworthiness 

limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the accumulation of 

electrostatic charge in the cover plate 

assembly and float valve assembly 

during airplane refueling, which could 

lead to electrostatic discharge to the 

surrounding structure. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result 

in result in an ignition source inside the 

fuel tank and subsequent fire or 

explosion. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received a comment from 

the Air Line Pilots Association, 

International (ALPA) who supported the 

NPRM without change and a comment 

from United Airlines who reviewed the 


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