Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2024 / Proposed Rules 91291 

additional requirements when the 

Contract or bond amount changes. 

Isabella Casillas Guzman, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26831 Filed 11–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8026–09–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–2425; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00967–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109C, A109E, 

A109S, and AW109SP helicopters. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a report 

of a quality escape on a batch of main 

rotor blades (MRBs). This proposed AD 

would require repetitively tap 

inspecting certain MRBs, replacing 

those MRBs, and prohibit installing 

those MRBs, as specified in a European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD, which is proposed for incorporation 

by reference. The FAA is proposing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this NPRM by January 3, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 

for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–2425; 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 NPRM, the mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information 

(MCAI), any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

Material Incorporated by Reference: 

• For EASA material identified in this 

proposed AD, contact EASA, KonradAdenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, 

Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; 

email: ADs@easa.europa.eu; website: 

easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

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–2024–2425. 

Other Related Material: For Leonardo 

material identified in this proposed AD, 

contact Leonardo S.p.A., Emanuele 

Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, Viale G. 

Agusta 520, 21017 C. Costa di Samarate 

(Va) Italy; phone: (+39) 0331–225074; 

fax: (+39) 0331–229046; or website: 

customerportal.leonardocompany.com/ 

en-US/. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Frank Huynh, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 983– 

5288; email: Frank.Huynh@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under the ADDRESSES section. Include 

‘‘Docket No. FAA–2024–2425; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2023–00967–R’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. The most 

helpful comments reference a specific 

portion of the proposal, explain the 

reason for any recommended change, 

and include supporting data. The FAA 

will consider all comments received by 

the closing date and may amend this 

proposal because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to 

regulations.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. The agency 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact received 

about this NPRM. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Frank Huynh, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, 

NY 11590; phone: (404) 983–5288; 

email: Frank.Huynh@faa.gov. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives 

which is not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this rulemaking. 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2023–0159, 

dated August 10, 2023 (EASA AD 2023– 

0159) (also referred to as the MCAI), to 

correct an unsafe condition on all 

Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109C, A109E, 

A109S, and AW109SP helicopters. The 

MCAI states that a report was received 

of a quality escape on a batch of MRBs, 

where the tip cap had been replaced by 

following a procedure and using tools 

not in accordance with Leonardo 

Technical Publications. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to prevent premature 

debonding of an MRB tip cap, which 

could lead to the loss of the MRB tip cap 

in flight, possibly resulting in loss of 

control of, and damage to, the 

helicopter, and injury to occupants. 

You may examine the MCAI in the 

AD docket at regulations.gov under 

Docket No. FAA–2024–2425. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

Under 1 CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2023–0159 requires 

repetitively tap inspecting certain partnumbered and serial-numbered MRBs 

for deficiency (debonding) of the tip 

cap, and depending on the results, 

replacing the MRB. For affected MRBs 

that are not replaced as a result of a tap 

inspection, EASA AD 2023–0159 

requires replacing those MRBs within a 

longer compliance time. EASA AD 

2023–0159 also prohibits installing 

those MRBs on any helicopter. 

This material is reasonably available 

because the interested parties have 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
91292 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2024 / Proposed Rules 

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 Leonardo 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 

No. 109–159, ASB No. 109EP–181, ASB 

No. 109S–116, and ASB No. 109SP–158, 

each dated August 2, 2023. This 

material specifies procedures for tap 

inspecting the MRB tip cap for 

debonding, determining if any 

debonding exceeds allowable limits, 

and replacing an MRB. 

FAA’s Determination 

This product has been approved by 

the aviation authority of another 

country and is 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 the MCAI referenced above. The FAA 

is issuing this NPRM after determining 

that the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

in other products of the same type 

design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2023–0159, described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA developed a process to 

use some civil aviation authority (CAA) 

ADs as the primary source of 

information for compliance with 

requirements for corresponding FAA 

ADs. The FAA has been coordinating 

this process with manufacturers and 

CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to 

incorporate EASA AD 2023–0159 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2023–0159 

in its entirety through that 

incorporation, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Using common terms that are the same 

as the heading of a particular section in 

EASA AD 2023–0159 does not mean 

that operators need comply only with 

that section. For example, where the AD 

requirement refers to ‘‘all required 

actions and compliance times,’’ 

compliance with this AD requirement is 

not limited to the section titled 

‘‘Required Action(s) and Compliance 

Time(s)’’ in EASA AD 2023–0159. 

Material referenced in EASA AD 2023– 

0159 for compliance will be available at 

regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA– 

2024–2425 after the FAA final rule is 

published. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 19 

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 proposed AD. 

Tap inspecting the MRBs (up to four 

affected MRBs per helicopter) would 

take up to 1 work-hour for an estimated 

cost of up to $85 per helicopter and 

$1,615 for the U.S. fleet, per inspection 

cycle. Replacing an MRB would take 4 

work-hours and parts would cost 

$111,218 for an estimated cost of 

$111,558 per MRB. 

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 

The FAA 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 above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would 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 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: 

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA–2024– 

2425; Project Identifier MCAI–2023– 

00967–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by January 3, 

2025. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. Model 

A109C, A109E, A109S, and AW109SP 

helicopters, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6210, Main Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of a 

quality escape on a batch of main rotor 

blades (MRBs). The FAA is issuing this AD 

to detect and address non-conforming MRB 

tip caps. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in premature 

debonding of an MRB tip cap, loss of the 

MRB tip cap in flight, and subsequent loss of 

control of, and damage to, the helicopter, and 

injury to occupants. 

(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 AD 2023–0159, dated 

August 10, 2023 (EASA AD 2023–0159). 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 223 / Tuesday, November 19, 2024 / Proposed Rules 91293 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023–0159 

(1) Where EASA AD 2023–0159 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD 

requires using hours time-in-service. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2023–0159 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where the note in the material 

referenced in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 

2023–0159 specifies that the hammer tapping 

inspection must be performed only by 

appropriate qualified personnel in 

accordance with the national aviation 

regulation; for this AD, the tap test must be 

accomplished by persons authorized under 

14 CFR 43.3. These inspections must be 

performed by at least a Level I inspector 

certified in the FAA-acceptable standards for 

nondestructive inspection personnel. 

Note 1 to paragraph (h)(3): Advisory 

Circular 65–31B contains examples of FAAacceptable Level I qualification standards 

criteria for inspection personnel doing 

nondestructive test inspections. 

(4) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023– 

0159 states ‘‘any deficiency;’’ this AD 

requires replacing that text with ‘‘any 

debonding.’’ 

(5) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023– 

0159 states ‘‘replace that affected part with a 

serviceable part in accordance with the 

instructions of Part II of the ASB;’’ this AD 

requires replacing that text with ‘‘replace that 

affected part, as defined in EASA AD 2023– 

0159, with a serviceable part, as defined in 

EASA AD 2023–0159.’’ 

(6) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2023– 

0159 states ‘‘replace each affected part with 

a serviceable part in accordance with the 

instructions of Part II of the ASB;’’ this AD 

requires replacing that text with ‘‘replace 

each affected part, as defined in EASA AD 

2023–0159, with a serviceable part, as 

defined in EASA AD 2023–0159.’’ 

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

section of EASA AD 2023–0159. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the material referenced in EASA 

AD 2023–0159 specifies to submit certain 

information to the manufacturer, this AD 

does not require that action. 

(j) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(k) 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 

responsible Flight Standards 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 (l)(1) of this AD and 

email to: AMOC@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the responsible Flight Standards Office. 

(l) Additional Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Frank Huynh, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 

410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (404) 983– 

5288; email: Frank.Huynh@faa.gov. 

(2) For advisory circular material identified 

in this AD that is not incorporated by 

reference, go to faa.gov/regulations_policies/ 

advisory_circulars/index.cfm/go/ 

document.information/documentID/1023552. 

(m) 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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2023–0159, dated August 10, 

2023. 

(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 this 

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 November 12, 2024. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–26811 Filed 11–18–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–2533 Airspace 

Docket No. 22–AAL–26] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Amendment of Colored Federal 

Airways Green 8 (G–8), Green 10 (G– 

10), Green 12 (G–12), and Red 99 (R– 

99). Revocation of Colored Federal 

Airway Blue 27 (B–27) and Alaskan 

Very High Frequency Omnidirectional 

Range Federal Airway V–619 in Alaska 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

amend Colored Federal Airways Green 

8 (G–8), Green 10 (G–10), Green 12 (G– 

12), and Red 99 (R–99). Revocation of 

Colored Federal Airway Blue 27 (B–27) 

and Alaskan Very High Frequency 

Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal 

Airway V–619 in Alaska. This proposed 

action is due to the decommissioning of 

the Chinook, Fort Davis, Hotham, 

Oscarville, and Kachemak 

Nondirectional Radio Beacons (NDB) in 

Alaska. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before January 3, 2025. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments identified 

by FAA Docket No. FAA–2024–2533 

and Airspace Docket No. 22–AAL–26 

using any of the following methods: 

* Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

www.regulations.gov and follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

* Mail: Send comments to Docket 

Operations, M–30; U.S. Department of 

Transportation, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Room W12–140, West 

Building Ground Floor, Washington, DC 

20590–0001. 

* Hand Delivery or Courier: Take 

comments to Docket Operations in 

Room W12–140 of the West Building 

Ground Floor at 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue SE, Washington, DC, between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. 

* Fax: Fax comments to Docket 

Operations at (202) 493–2251. 

Docket: Background documents or 

comments received may be read at 

www.regulations.gov at any time. 

Follow the online instructions for 

accessing the docket or go to the Docket 

Operations in Room W12–140 of the 

West Building Ground Floor at 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

FAA Order JO 7400.11J, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at www.faa.gov/air_traffic/ 

publications/. You may also contact the 

Rules and Regulations Group, Office of 

Policy, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 600 Independence 

Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20597; 

telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Steven Roff, Rules and Regulations 

Group, Office of Policy, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 600 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20597; telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 


ddrumheller on DSK120RN23PROD with PROPOSALS1