This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

80379 

Vol. 89, No. 192 

Thursday, October 3, 2024 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–1297; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–00736–R; Amendment 

39–22833; AD 2024–17–08] 

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 EC225LP 

helicopters. This AD was prompted by 

a report of water in the oil of a main 

gearbox (MGB). This AD requires 

replacing certain main rotor (M/R) mast 

upper stops assembly screws. This AD 

also requires inspecting certain M/R 

mast cover plates and accomplishing 

MGB oil analyses and, depending on the 

results, taking corrective action. This 

AD prohibits installing certain M/R 

mast upper stops assembly screws, M/ 

R masts with an affected M/R mast 

upper stops assembly screw installed, 

and used M/R mast cover plates on any 

helicopter. Lastly, this AD prohibits 

installing affected M/R masts unless the 

inspections are done. 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 November 7, 

2024. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of November 7, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–1297; 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 EASA AD, 

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 

Pkwy., 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–2024–1297. 

Other Related material: For Airbus 

Helicopters material identified in this 

AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 

North Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 

75052; phone: (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 Avenue, Suite 410, 

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

5548; email: william.mccully@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 all Airbus Helicopters Model 

EC225LP helicopters. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 16, 2024 (89 FR 42820). 

The NPRM was prompted by a report 

of water in the oil of an MGB, due to 

an incorrect installation of the upper M/ 

R mast cover plate. In the NPRM, the 

FAA proposed to require replacing 

certain M/R mast upper stops assembly 

screws. The NPRM also proposed to 

require inspecting certain M/R mast 

cover plates and accomplishing MGB oil 

analyses and, depending on the results, 

replacing the M/R mast cover plate, 

accomplishing an additional inspection, 

or replacing the MGB. The NPRM 

proposed to prohibit installing certain 

M/R mast upper stops assembly screws, 

M/R masts with an affected M/R mast 

upper stops assembly screw installed, 

and used M/R mast cover plates on any 

helicopter. Lastly, the NPRM proposed 

to prohibit installing affected M/R masts 

unless the inspections are done. These 

actions are specified in EASA AD 2022– 

0104, dated June 9, 2022 (EASA AD 

2022–0104). 

The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 

water in the MGB oil, which, if not 

addressed, could result in corrosion of 

the M/R mast and inside the MGB, 

degradation of the MGB, degradation of 

the upper stops assembly, failure of a 

critical part, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. You may 

examine EASA AD 2022–0104 in the 

AD docket at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2024–1297. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received no comments on 

the NPRM or on the determination of 

the costs. 

Conclusion 

These products have been approved 

by the aviation authority of another 

country and are approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

FAA’s bilateral agreement with this 

State of Design Authority, it has notified 

the FAA of the unsafe condition 

described in its AD referenced above. 

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 

products. 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 2022–0104 requires 

replacing each M/R mast upper stops 

assembly screw, except those marked 

with ‘‘BC’’ on the screw head. For 

certain helicopters, EASA AD 2022– 

0104 requires inspecting a certain partVerDate Sep<11>2014 16:43 Oct 02, 2024 Jkt 265001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4700 Sfmt 4700 E:\FR\FM\03OCR1.SGM 03OCR1

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80380 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

numbered M/R mast cover plate and 

depending on the results, replacing the 

cover plate and accomplishing an 

additional inspection. For those same 

certain helicopters, EASA AD 2022– 

0104 also requires accomplishing MGB 

oil analyses and, depending on the 

results, accomplishing an additional 

inspection. Depending on the results of 

the additional inspection following the 

M/R mast cover plate inspection or 

MGB oil analyses, EASA AD 2022–0104 

requires replacing the MGB. As an 

option, EASA AD 2022–0104 allows 

replacing the MGB as an acceptable 

alternative method to comply with the 

required MGB oil sample analyses. 

Lastly, EASA AD 2022–0104 prohibits 

installing M/R mast upper stops 

assembly screws—except those marked 

with ‘‘BC’’ on the screw head, M/R 

masts with an affected M/R mast upper 

stops assembly screw installed, and 

used M/R mast cover plates on any 

helicopter. EASA AD 2022–0104 also 

prohibits installing an affected M/R 

mast unless its required inspections are 

done. 

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. 

EC225–62A016, Revision 1, dated 

February 28, 2023. This material 

specifies procedures for inspecting the 

M/R mast upper stops assembly screws 

to determine if they’re marked with 

‘‘BC’’ on the screw head and depending 

on the results, replacing those screws 

one by one. This material also specifies 

procedures for checking the flatness of 

the M/R mast cover plate and, 

depending on the results, removing and 

discarding that cover plate, installing a 

flat cover plate, draining the MGB, 

writing to Airbus Helicopters to do a 

detailed MGB inspection, and removing 

the M/R mast. Depending on the 

detailed MGB inspection results, this 

material specifies filling the MGB with 

oil and installing the M/R mast; or 

replacing the MGB with an airworthy 

MGB, sending the removed MGB to an 

approved D-level center for repair, and 

installing the M/R mast. 

This material also specifies 

procedures for collecting an MGB oil 

sample and sending the sample to an 

Airbus Helicopters approved laboratory 

for water content analysis. Depending 

on the analysis results, this material 

specifies draining the MGB, writing to 

Airbus Helicopters to do a detailed MGB 

inspection, and removing the M/R mast. 

Depending on the detailed MGB 

inspection results, this material 

specifies filling the MGB with oil and 

installing the M/R mast; or replacing the 

MGB with an airworthy MGB, sending 

the removed MGB to an approved Dlevel center for repair, and installing the 

M/R mast. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

For certain helicopters, EASA AD 

2022–0104 specifies sending oil samples 

to an Airbus Helicopters approved 

laboratory for an analysis of the water 

content, whereas this AD requires 

sending the main gearbox oil sample for 

water content analysis. Additionally, for 

those helicopters, EASA AD 2022–0104 

specifies taking and analyzing the 

second MGB oil sample within 110 FH 

or 3 months after the initial oil sample, 

whereas this AD requires collecting the 

second main gearbox oil sample and 

sending it for water content analysis 

within 110 hours time-in-service or 3 

months after accomplishing the initial 

instance of those actions, whichever 

occurs later. Depending on the results of 

the cover plate inspection or an oil 

sample analysis, EASA AD 2022–0104 

specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters 

to request to accomplish a detailed 

inspection, which shall be 

accomplished by authorized Airbus 

Helicopters staff and the Airbus 

Helicopters qualified staff identify any 

discrepancies, whereas this AD requires 

a detailed inspection, which must 

define what is considered a discrepancy 

and be done in accordance with a 

method approved by the FAA, EASA, or 

Airbus Helicopters’ EASA Design 

Organization Approval. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 32 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. 

Replacing the M/R mast upper stops 

assembly screws (up to 10 screws) takes 

up to approximately 0.5 work-hour and 

parts cost up to approximately $250 (for 

10 screws) for an estimated cost of up 

to $293 per helicopter and $9,376 for 

the U.S. fleet. 

For certain helicopters, inspecting the 

M/R mast cover plate takes 

approximately 0.5 work-hour for an 

estimated cost of $43 per helicopter and 

up to $1,376 for the U.S. fleet. 

Collecting an MGB oil sample and 

sending the MGB oil sample for water 

content analysis, which is considered a 

reporting requirement in this AD, takes 

approximately 1.5 work-hours (0.5 

work-hour for collecting and 1 workhour for sending) for an estimated cost 

of $128 per helicopter and up to $4,096 

for the U.S. fleet, per instance. 

If required, replacing the M/R mast 

cover plate takes approximately 2 workhours and parts cost approximately 

$276 for an estimated cost of $446 per 

helicopter. The detailed inspection that 

may be needed could vary significantly 

from helicopter to helicopter. The FAA 

has no data to determine the costs to 

accomplish the detailed inspection or 

the number of helicopters that may need 

it. Replacing an MGB takes 

approximately 40 work-hours and parts 

cost approximately $998,595 

(overhauled) for an estimated cost of 

$1,001,995 per helicopter. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to a penalty for failure to comply with 

a collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public 

reporting for this collection of 

information is estimated to take 

approximately 1.5 hours per response, 

including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

All responses to this collection of 

information are mandatory. Send 

comments regarding this burden 

estimate or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including 

suggestions for reducing this burden, to: 

Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 10101 Hillwood 

Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177–1524. 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 192 / Thursday, October 3, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 80381 

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: 

2024–17–08 Airbus Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–22833; Docket No. 

FAA–2024–1297; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2022–00736–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective November 7, 2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters 

Model EC225LP helicopters, certificated in 

any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6200, Main Rotor System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of water 

in the oil of a main gearbox (MGB), due to 

an incorrect installation of the upper main 

rotor mast cover plate. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to prevent water in the MGB oil. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 

result in corrosion of the main rotor mast and 

inside the MGB, degradation of the MGB, 

degradation of the upper stops assembly, 

failure of a critical part, 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– 

0104, dated June 9, 2022 (EASA AD 2022– 

0104). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2022–0104 

(1) Where EASA AD 2022–0104 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD 

requires using hours time-in-service. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2022–0104 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where the material referenced in 

paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2022–0104 

specifies using a rule (item zz), this AD 

requires using a straight edge. 

(4) Instead of complying with paragraph (3) 

of EASA AD 2022–0104, comply with the 

following, ‘‘For Group 2 helicopters: Within 

110 hours time-in-service or 3 months after 

the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs first, collect a main gearbox oil sample 

and send the main gearbox oil sample for 

water content analysis. Thereafter, within 

110 hours time-in-service or 3 months after 

accomplishing the initial instance of those 

actions, whichever occurs later, collect 

another main gearbox oil sample and send 

the main gearbox oil sample for water 

content analysis.’’ 

(5) Where the material referenced in EASA 

AD 2022–0104 specifies discarding a part, 

this AD requires removing that part from 

service. 

(6) Where paragraphs (4.2) and (5) of EASA 

AD 2022–0104 specify contacting AH [Airbus 

Helicopters] with a request to accomplish a 

DET, this AD requires a detailed inspection 

done in accordance with a method approved 

by the Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus 

Helicopters’ EASA Design Organization 

Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, 

the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. The detailed inspection 

must define what is considered a 

discrepancy. 

(7) Instead of complying with paragraph (6) 

of EASA AD 2022–0104, comply with the 

following, ‘‘If there is a discrepancy as a 

result of the detailed inspection, before 

further flight, replace the main gearbox with 

an airworthy main gearbox.’’ 

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

section of EASA AD 2022–0104. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the material referenced in EASA 

AD 2022–0104 specifies to submit certain 

information to the manufacturer, this AD 

does not require that action. 

(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 Avenue, 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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

AD 2022–0104, dated June 9, 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 Pkwy., 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 September 27, 2024. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22800 Filed 10–2–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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