Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 4797 

Note 1 to paragraph (h): Guidance for 

accomplishing the actions required by this 

AD can be found in Boeing Multi Operator 

Message MOM–MOM–22–0016–01B(R1), 

dated January 16, 2022, and Boeing Flight 

Crew Operations Manual Bulletin TBC–26, 

‘‘Radio Altimeter Anomalies due to 5G CBand Wireless Broadband Interference in the 

United States,’’ dated January 17, 2022. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle ACO 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 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-Seattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@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. 

(3) AMOCs approved for AD 2021–23–12, 

Amendment 39–21810 (86 FR 69984, 

December 9, 2021) providing relief for 

specific radio altimeter installations are 

approved as AMOCs for the provisions of this 

AD. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Dean Thompson, Senior Aerospace 

Engineer, Systems and Equipment Section, 

FAA, Seattle ACO Branch, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: 

206–231–3165; email: dean.r.thompson@

faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD that is not incorporated by reference, 

contact Boeing Commercial Airplanes, 

Attention: Contractual & Data Services 

(C&DS), 2600 Westminster Blvd., MC 110– 

SK57, Seal Beach, CA 90740–5600; telephone 

562–797–1717; internet https://

www.myboeingfleet.com. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued on January 26, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–01995 Filed 1–27–22; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–C 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0843; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00256–Q; Amendment 

39–21891; AD 2022–01–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Umlaut 

Engineering GmbH (Previously P3 

Engineering GmbH) HAFEX (HalonFree) Hand-Held Fire Extinguishers 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Umlaut Engineering GmbH (previously 

P3 Engineering GmbH) HAFEX (Halonfree) hand-held P3HAFEX fire 

extinguishers (fire extinguishers). This 

AD was prompted by reports of a quality 

control issue on certain fire 

extinguishers, where the spindle 

geometries of the fire extinguishers were 

found to be out of tolerance. This AD 

requires removing affected fire 

extinguishers from service. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULESER31JA22.010</GPH>

• If a go-around is needed, do the go-around and the missed approach procedure 

either in manual or automatic flight. 

During Landing 

• Radio altitude-based altitude aural callouts during approach may not be available or 

may be erroneous. 

• Manual deployment of the speedbrakes may be needed. 

• If the thrust reversers do not deploy, immediately ensure the speedbrakes are 

extended, apply manual braking, and modulate as needed for the existing runway 

conditions. 

Note: In some conditions, maximum manual braking may be needed throughout the 

entire landing roll. 

During Go-around and Missed Approach 

• TO/GA mode may not be available. 

• Monitor thrust and verify that thrust increases. 

• Monitor pitch mode engagement. 

• Monitor roll mode engagement. 

• Autopilot may not engage. 
4798 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

DATES: This AD is effective March 7, 

2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain publications listed in this AD 

as of March 7, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: For Umlaut service 

information identified in this final rule, 

contact Umlaut Engineering, 

Blohmstrasse 12, Hamburg, Germany 

21079, Phone: 49 0 40 75 25 779 0, 

email: hafex@umlaut.com, or web: 

https://www.umlaut.com/hafex. 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– 

0843. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0843; 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: 

Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance 

& Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 

11590; telephone (516) 228–7330; email 

andrea.jimenez@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 Umlaut Engineering GmbH 

(previously P3 Engineering GmbH) fire 

extinguisher part numbers (P/Ns) 

P3APP003010A and P3APP003010C 

with a manufacturing date of March 

2019 through July 2019 inclusive and 

with a serial number (S/N) listed in 

Appendix 1 of Umlaut Vendor Service 

Bulletin Doc. No. P3VSB000001, Issue 

C, dated December 13, 2019 (VSB 

P3VSB000001, Issue C), that may be 

installed on various model helicopters. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on October 8, 2021 (86 FR 

56232). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed 

to require removing affected fire 

extinguishers from service and prohibit 

installing affected fire extinguishers on 

any aircraft. 

The NPRM was prompted by EASA 

AD 2020–0013, dated January 29, 2020 

(EASA AD 2020–0013), issued by 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 

the Member States of the European 

Union, to correct an unsafe condition 

for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 332 C, 

C1, L, L1, and L2, AS 365 N2 and N3, 

EC 155 B and B1, EC 175 B, EC 225 LP, 

SA 330 J, and SA 365 C1, C2, C3, N, and 

N1 helicopters; Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135 P1, 

P2, P2+, P3, T1, T2, T2+, and T3, EC635 

P2+, P3, T1, T2+, and T3, and MBB– 

BK117 A–1, A–3, A–4, B–1, B–2, C–1, 

C–2, and D–2 helicopters; Leonardo 

S.p.A. Model AB139, AB 204B, AB 205 

A–1, AB 212, AB 412, AB 412EP, AS– 

61N, AS–61N1, AW139, AW169, and 

AW189 helicopters; and WSK PZL– 

SWIDNIK S.A. Model PZL W–3A and 

PZL W–3AS helicopters. EASA advises 

of occurrences that have been reported 

of a quality issue on certain fire 

extinguishers, manufactured by Umlaut 

Engineering GmbH (formerly P3 

Engineering GmbH), where the spindle 

geometries of the extinguishers were 

found to be out of tolerance. The 

manufacturing defect was identified in 

certain serial-numbered fire 

extinguisher P/Ns P3APP003010A and 

P3APP003010C with a manufacturing 

date of March 2019 through July 2019 

inclusive, where prolonged exposure 

(12 hours or more) to high temperature 

conditions of more than 68 °C (154.4 °F) 

could cause a non-detectable seizure of 

the spindle that could cause the fire 

extinguisher to be inoperative. This 

condition, if not addressed, could 

prevent proper extinguishing of a fire in 

the cabin, possibly resulting in damage 

to the helicopter and injury to the 

occupants. 

Accordingly, EASA AD 2020–0013 

requires replacing affected fire 

extinguishers and prohibits installing an 

affected fire extinguisher on any 

helicopter. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received comments from 

one commenter; Net Jets. Net Jets 

commented that there is a more recent 

revision of the service information. The 

following presents the comments 

received on the NPRM and the FAA’s 

response to each comment. 

Comment Regarding Updated Service 

Information 

Net Jets stated that VSB 

P3VSB000001, Issue C, which is cited in 

the applicability paragraph of the 

NPRM, has been revised to Umlaut 

Vendor Service Bulletin Doc. No. 

P3VSB000001, Issue D, dated September 

9, 2020 (VSB P3VSB000001, Issue D), 

and that it adds S/Ns. 

Although Net Jets did not request any 

changes to the NPRM, the FAA infers 

that Net Jets would like the FAA to 

update the required service information 

(VSB P3VSB000001, Issue C), which is 

required to use to identify an affected 

fire extinguisher as proposed in the 

applicability paragraph of the NPRM, to 

VSB P3VSB000001, Issue D. The FAA 

reviewed VSB P3VSB000001, Issue D, 

and while it updates certain 

information, there are no changes to the 

S/Ns identified in its Appendix 1. In 

light of this, the FAA has determined to 

allow the use of VSB P3VSB000001, 

Issue C, or VSB P3VSB000001, Issue D, 

in the applicability paragraph of this 

final rule. 

Conclusion 

These products 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, considered the 

comments received, 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, and any other 

changes described previously, this AD is 

adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 

None of the changes will increase the 

economic burden on any operator. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed VSB 

P3VSB000001, Issue C, which specifies 

procedures for identifying P3HAFEX 

fire extinguisher P/Ns P3APP003010A 

and P3APP003010C, with a date of 

manufacture between March 2019 

through July 2019, and an S/N listed in 

its Appendix 1, to determine if the fire 

extinguisher should be replaced. VSB 

P3VSB000001, Issue C, also specifies 

procedures for removing, installing, and 

tracking affected P3HAFEX fire 

extinguishers. 

The FAA also reviewed VSB 

P3VSB000001, Issue D, which specifies 

the same procedures as VSB 

P3VSB000001, Issue C, except VSB 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 4799 

P3VSB000001, Issue D, updates 

Component Maintenance Manual 

(CMM) references and material 

information. 

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. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

EASA AD 2020–0013 is issued against 

various model helicopters and defines 

an affected part, whereas this AD is an 

appliance AD action against affected fire 

extinguishers because the unsafe 

condition exists in the appliance itself 

and not in the installation of the 

appliance on certain aircraft. EASA AD 

2020–0013 identifies some helicopter 

models that are affected by this unsafe 

condition that are not identified as 

possibly affected in this AD because 

those model helicopters are not FAA 

type-certificated. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 762 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. Based on these numbers, the 

FAA estimates that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. 

Replacing a fire extinguisher takes 

about 0.25 work-hour and parts cost 

about $1,200 for an estimated cost of 

$1,221 per fire extinguisher. 

According to Umlaut Engineering 

GmbH service information, some of the 

costs of this AD may be covered under 

warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected individuals. The 

FAA does not control warranty coverage 

by Umlaut Engineering GmbH; 

accordingly, all costs are included in 

this 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. 

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: 

2022–01–03 Umlaut Engineering GmbH 

(Previously P3 Engineering GmbH) 

HAFEX (Halon-Free) Hand-Held Fire 

Extinguishers: Amendment 39–21891; 

Docket No. FAA–2021–0843; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00256–Q. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 7, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Umlaut Engineering 

GmbH (previously P3 Engineering GmbH) 

HAFEX (Halon-free) hand-held P3HAFEX 

fire extinguisher (fire extinguisher) part 

numbers P3APP003010A and P3APP003010C 

with a manufacturing date of March 2019 

through July 2019 inclusive and with a serial 

number listed in Appendix 1 of Umlaut 

Vendor Service Bulletin Doc. No. 

P3VSB000001, Issue C, dated December 13, 

2019, or Umlaut Vendor Service Bulletin 

Doc. No. P3VSB000001, Issue D, dated 

September 9, 2020. These fire extinguishers 

may be installed on but not limited to the 

following aircraft certificated in any category: 

(1) Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, 

AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS332L2, AS– 

365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, EC155B1, 

EC225LP, SA330J, SA–365C1, SA–365C2, 

SA–365N, and SA–365N1 helicopters; 

(2) Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, 

EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, 

EC135T3, MBB–BK117 A–1, MBB–BK117 A– 

3, MBB–BK117 A–4, MBB–BK117 B–1, 

MBB–BK117 B–2, MBB–BK117 C–1, MBB– 

BK117 C–2, and MBB–BK117 D–2 

helicopters; 

(3) Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139, AB412, 

AB412 EP, AW139, AW169, and AW189 

helicopters; and 

(4) PZL-Swidnik S.A Model PZL W–3A 

helicopters. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2622, Fire Bottle, Portable. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

non-conforming fire extinguisher, which 

could prevent proper extinguishing of a fire 

in the cabin, and result in subsequent 

damage to the helicopter and injury to the 

occupants. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Within 12 months after the effective 

date of this AD, remove each fire 

extinguisher identified in the introductory 

text of paragraph (c) from service. 

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do 

not install a fire extinguisher identified in the 

introductory text of paragraph (c) of this AD 

on any aircraft. 

(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. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
4800 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 20 / Monday, January 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart 

Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone (516) 228–7330; email 

andrea.jimenez@faa.gov. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0013, dated January 29, 

2020. You may view the EASA AD at https:// 

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA– 

2021–0843. 

(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) Umlaut Vendor Service Bulletin Doc. 

No. P3VSB000001, Issue C, dated December 

13, 2019. 

(ii) Umlaut Vendor Service Bulletin Doc. 

No. P3VSB000001, Issue D, dated September 

9, 2020. 

(3) For Umlaut service information 

identified in this AD, contact Umlaut 

Engineering, Blohmstrasse 12, Hamburg, 

Germany 21079, Phone: 49 0 40 75 25 779 

0, email: hafex@umlaut.com, or web: https:// 

www.umlaut.com/hafex. 

(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 21, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–01859 Filed 1–28–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0947; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00195–R; Amendment 

39–21889; AD 2022–01–01] 

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, 

AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, and 

EC130T2 helicopters; AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and 

AS355NP helicopters; and Model SA– 

365C1, SA–365C2, SA–365N, SA– 

365N1, AS–365N2, and AS 365 N3 

helicopters. This AD was prompted a 

report of increased vibration during 

flight. This AD requires the application 

of alignment markings on, and repetitive 

inspections of, the main rotor (MR) 

pitch rod upper links and, depending on 

findings, the accomplishment of 

applicable corrective actions, 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 March 7, 

2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 7, 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 

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 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– 

0947. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0947; 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance 

& Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 

11590; telephone (516) 228–7330; email 

andrea.jimenez@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2021–0048, 

dated February 16, 2021 (EASA AD 

2021–0048), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Airbus Helicopters 

(formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter 

France, Ae ́rospatiale) Model AS 350 B, 

AS 350 BA, AS 350 BB, AS 350 B1, AS 

350 B2, AS 350 B3, AS 350 D, EC 130 

B4, and EC 130 T2 helicopters; Model 

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

F2, AS 355 N, and AS 355 NP 

helicopters; and Model SA 365 C1, SA 

365 C2, SA 365 C3, SA 365 N, SA 365 

N1, AS 365 N2, and AS 365 N3 

helicopters; all serial numbers. Model 

AS 350 BB and SA 365 C3 helicopters 

are not certificated by the FAA and are 

not included on the U.S. type certificate 

data sheet; this AD therefore does not 

include those helicopters in the 

applicability. 

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 

AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D, EC130B4, 

and EC130T2 helicopters; Model 

AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, 

AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters; and 

Model SA–365C1, SA–365C2, SA–365N, 

SA–365N1, AS–365N2, and AS 365 N3 

helicopters. The NPRM published in the 

Federal Register on October 29, 2021 

(86 FR 59892). The NPRM was 

prompted by a report of increased 

vibration during flight. The NPRM 

proposed to require the application of 

alignment markings on, and repetitive 

inspections of, the MR pitch rod upper 

links and, depending on findings, the 

accomplishment of applicable corrective 

actions, as specified in EASA AD 2021– 

0048. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

loss of tightening torque of the screws 

connecting the MR pitch rods to the 

horns of the upper links. This condition, 

if not addressed, could result in loss of 

one or more MR pitch rod upper links, 

possibly resulting in loss of control of 

the helicopter. See EASA AD 2021–0048 

for additional background information. 


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