2528 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0948; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00394–R; Amendment 

39–21883; AD 2021–26–24] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. (Type Certificate Previously Held 

by Agusta S.p.A.) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Leonardo S.p.a. (type certificate 

previously held by Agusta S.p.A.) 

Model A109A and A109A II helicopters. 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

internal corrosion on a main rotor (M/ 

R) blade. This AD requires repetitively 

inspecting affected M/R blades and 

accomplishing film analysis and repair 

in accordance with certain approved 

methods. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective February 22, 

2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of February 22, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: For Leonardo Helicopters 

service information identified in this 

final rule, contact Leonardo S.p.A. 

Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of 

Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 

21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; 

telephone +39–0331–225074; fax +39– 

0331–229046; or at https://

customerportal.leonardocompany.com/ 

en-US/. 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 

in the AD docket at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0948. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0948; 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 European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, COS 

Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

kristin.bradley@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 Leonardo S.p.a. (type certificate 

previously held by Agusta S.p.A.) 

Model A109A and A109A II helicopters 

with an M/R blade part number (P/N) 

109–0103–01–115 installed. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

October 29, 2021 (86 FR 59890). In the 

NPRM, the FAA proposed to require 

repetitively radiographic inspecting 

each affected M/R blade and 

accomplishing film analysis and repair 

in accordance with certain approved 

methods. The NPRM was prompted by 

EASA AD 2020–0065, dated March 20, 

2020 (EASA AD 2020–0065), issued by 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 

the Member States of the European 

Union, to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Leonardo S.p.A., Agusta S.p.A., 

Costruzioni Aeronautiche Giovanni 

Agusta Model A109A and A109AII 

helicopters. EASA advises of a report of 

internal corrosion on an M/R blade. 

Leonardo Helicopters advises that the 

corrosion was on the spar near the 

inertia weights between STA1250 and 

STA1630. Leonardo Helicopters further 

advises that the issue is related to 

design and production processes of the 

M/R blades. This condition, if not 

addressed, could result in failure of an 

M/R blade and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

Accordingly, EASA AD 2020–0065 

requires inspecting M/R blades P/N 

109–0103–01–115 and depending on the 

results, corrective action. EASA AD 

2020–0065 also prohibits installation of 

an affected M/R blade unless it passed 

the required inspection within 24 

months prior to installation on a 

helicopter. 

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. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Leonardo 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

109–155, dated March 13, 2020 (ASB 

109–155), for Leonardo S.p.a. Model 

A109A and A109AII helicopters. This 

service information specifies procedures 

for X-ray inspecting M/R blades P/N 

109–0103–01–115 and sending the films 

to Leonardo Helicopters S.p.a. for 

analysis. Depending on the outcome, 

ASB 109–155 specifies procedures for 

re-identifying the M/R blades. 

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. 

Interim Action 

The FAA considers this AD an 

interim action. The design approval 

holder is currently developing a 

modification that will address the 

unsafe condition identified in this AD. 

Once this modification is developed, 

approved, and available, the FAA might 

consider additional rulemaking. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

The compliance time in EASA AD 

2020–0065 is time-in-service of the 

airframe, whereas the compliance time 

in this AD is time-in-service of the 

affected M/R blade as installed on the 

airframe. EASA AD 2020–0065 requires 

sending developed films to Leonardo 

Helicopters S.p.a. for analysis and 

contacting Leonardo for approved 

corrective action(s) instructions, 

whereas this AD requires film analysis 

and repair of an affected blade in 

accordance with a method approved by 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 2529 

the Manager, General Aviation & 

Rotorcraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or 

Leonardo S.p.a Helicopters’ EASA 

Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 

approved by the DOA, the approval 

must include the DOA-authorized 

signature. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 28 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. 

Inspecting the M/R blades takes about 

10 work-hours for an estimated cost of 

$850 per helicopter and $23,800 for the 

U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle. Sending 

the film for analysis, which is 

considered a reporting requirement in 

this AD, takes about 1 work-hour for an 

estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and 

$2,380 for the U.S. fleet, per inspection 

cycle. 

The FAA has no way of determining 

the costs pertaining to the film analysis 

or any necessary repairs. 

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 hour 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 

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: 

2021–26–24 Leonardo S.p.a. (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by Agusta 

S.p.A.): Amendment 39–21883; Docket 

No. FAA–2021–0948; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–00394–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective February 22, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. (type 

certificate previously held by Agusta S.p.A.) 

Model A109A and A109A II helicopters, 

certificated in any category, with a main rotor 

(M/R) blade part number 109–0103–01–115 

installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6210, Main Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

internal corrosion of the spar of an M/R 

blade. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 

failure of an M/R blade due to corrosion on 

the internal surface of the spar. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result in 

loss of control of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

For each M/R blade identified in paragraph 

(c) of this AD: 

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service or 3 

months after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs first, unless already done 

within the last 24 months for the M/R blade, 

and thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 24 

months for the M/R blade, inspect the M/R 

blade by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, paragraphs 1. through 5., of 

Leonardo Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin 

No. 109–155, dated March 13, 2020. 

(2) Before further flight, send the film for 

analysis and accomplish repair in accordance 

with a method approved by the Manager, 

General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA); or Leonardo S.p.a Helicopters’ EASA 

Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 

approved by the DOA, the approval must 

include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(h) 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 (i)(1) 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. 


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2530 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 11 / Tuesday, January 18, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

kristin.bradley@faa.gov. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

EASA AD 2020–0065, dated March 20, 2020. 

You may view the EASA AD at https://

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA– 

2021–0948. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

the service information listed in this 

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

part 51. 

(2) You must use this service information 

as applicable to do the actions required by 

this AD, unless this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Leonardo Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 109–155, dated March 13, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For Leonardo Helicopters service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Emanuele 

Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, Viale G. 

Agusta 520, 21017 C. Costa di Samarate (Va) 

Italy; telephone +39–0331–225074; fax +39– 

0331–229046; or at https://customerportal.

leonardocompany.com/en-US/. 

(4) You may view this service information 

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 that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email 

fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: https://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued on December 16, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–00759 Filed 1–14–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0570; Project 

Identifier 2019–SW–091–AD; Amendment 

39–21888; AD 2021–26–29] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW169 

helicopters. This AD was prompted by 

a report of a broken adjustable device 

that is part of the pilot and co-pilot yaw 

pedal assemblies. This AD requires 

modification of certain pilot and copilot yaw pedal assemblies with an 

improved design and re-identification of 

affected parts, as 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 February 22, 

2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of February 22, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: For EASA material 

incorporated by reference (IBR) in this 

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

telephone +49 221 8999 000; email 

ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

IBR material on the EASA website at 

https://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 the EASA material 

at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. It is 

also available in the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0570. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0570; 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, COS 

Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5485; email 

kristin.bradley@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2021–0199, 

dated August 27, 2021 (EASA AD 2021– 

0199), (also referred to as the MCAI), to 

correct an unsafe condition for 

Leonardo S.p.a. (formerly Finmeccanica 

S.p.A and AgustaWestland S.p.A) 

Model AW169 helicopters, all serial 

numbers. EASA AD 2021–0199 

supersedes EASA AD 2019–0252, dated 

October 10, 2019 (EASA AD 2019– 

0252), which was issued to correct an 

unsafe condition for Leonardo S.p.a. 

(formerly Finmeccanica S.p.A and 

AgustaWestland S.p.A) Model AW169 

helicopters, all serial numbers. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW169 

helicopters with an affected part 

installed as identified in EASA AD 

2019–0252. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on July 28, 2021 (86 FR 

40371). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed 

to require modification of the pilot and 

co-pilot yaw pedal assemblies. The 

NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 

2019–0252, which advised that there 

was a report of a broken adjustable 

device that is part of the pilot and copilot yaw pedal assemblies. This 

condition, if not addressed, could result 

in failure of a yaw pedal adjuster, which 

could result in reduced yaw control of 

the helicopter. 

Accordingly, EASA AD 2019–0252 

required modification (rework) of the 

affected pilot and co-pilot assemblies 

and re-identification of each affected 

part after it has been modified. The 

modification included the installation of 

additional end stroke stops on the pilot 

and co-pilot pedal assemblies. EASA 

considered EASA AD 2019–0252 an 

interim action and stated that further 

EASA AD action may follow. 

The FAA issued a supplemental 

notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) 

to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an 

AD that would apply to all Leonardo 

S.p.a. Model AW169 helicopters. The 

SNPRM published in the Federal 

Register on October 29, 2021 (86 FR 

59900). The SNPRM proposed to require 

modification of certain pilot and copilot 

yaw pedal assemblies with an improved 

design and re-identification of the 

affected parts, as specified in EASA AD 

2021–0199. 

EASA advises that since EASA AD 

2019–0252 was issued three additional 

events have been reported where the 

universal joint of the adjusting 

mechanism on the yaw pedals failed. 

Prompted by these findings, Leonardo 


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