8174 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 30 / Monday, February 14, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Where Figure 1 to 

paragraph (g) refers to ‘‘Life Cycles,’’ for the 

purpose of this AD, this refers to life cycles 

since new. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, ECO 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 certification office, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: ANE-ADAMOC@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 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Scott Stevenson, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 

238–7132; fax: (781) 238–7199; email: 

Scott.M.Stevenson@faa.gov. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) 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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) General Electric Company Service 

Bulletin PASSPORT20–A–72–00–0116–00A– 

930A–D, Issue 002, dated August 13, 2021. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact General Electric Company, 

1 Neumann Way, Cincinnati, OH 45215; 

phone: (513) 552–3272; email: 

aviation.fleetsupport@ge.com; website: 

www.ge.com. 

(4) You may view this referenced service 

information at the FAA, Airworthiness 

Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. 

For information on the availability of this 

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

(5) You may view this service information 

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/ 

ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on January 26, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–03008 Filed 2–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0019; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00371–R; Amendment 

39–21930; AD 2022–03–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014–21– 

03, which applied to Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS332L2 helicopters with a 

certain yaw control damper support 

(support) installed. AD 2014–21–03 

required repetitively inspecting the 

support attachment points for a crack. 

Since the FAA issued AD 2014–21–03, 

an improved (reinforced) support was 

developed. This AD retains the 

inspection requirements of AD 2014– 

21–03 and requires installing the 

improved support 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 becomes effective 

March 1, 2022. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 30 / Monday, February 14, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 8175 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of March 1, 2022. 

The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD by March 31, 2022. 

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 

https://www.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. 

For material that is incorporated by 

reference (IBR) in this AD, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 

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

internet www.easa.europa.eu. You may 

view the EASA 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. The EASA material 

is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0019. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0019; 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 

AD, the EASA AD, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations is 

listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal 

Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational 

Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 

20024; telephone (202) 267–9167; email 

hal.jensen@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued AD 2014–21–03, 

Amendment 39–17995 (79 FR 63809, 

October 27, 2014) (AD 2014–21–03), for 

Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 

helicopters with a support part number 

(P/N) 332A25–1334–00 installed. AD 

2014–21–03 required for helicopters 

with 3,900 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

or more, within 100 hours TIS and 

thereafter at intervals not exceeding 825 

hours TIS, inspecting each support at 

the four attachment points for a crack. 

If there is a crack, AD 2014–21–03 

required replacing the support before 

further flight. AD 2014–21–03 was 

prompted by EASA AD 2014–0080, 

dated March 27, 2014 (EASA AD 2014– 

0080), issued by EASA, which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States 

of the European Union, to correct an 

unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters, 

formerly Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, 

Aerospatiale, Model AS332L2 

helicopters with support P/N 332A25– 

1334–00 installed. EASA advised of 

several reports of cracks on the two 

front attachment points of the support, 

and that subsequent investigations 

determined pilot actions on the yaw 

pedals could generate detrimental 

loading conditions on the support 

attachment points and initiate a crack. 

This condition, if not addressed could 

lead to structural failure of the support, 

detachment of the damper unit, possible 

blocking of the yaw flight control 

channel, and reduced control of the 

helicopter. Accordingly, EASA AD 

2014–0080 required repetitive 

inspections of the support and, if there 

is a crack, replacing the support. 

Actions Since AD 2014–21–03 Was 

Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2014–21–03 

Airbus Helicopters developed an 

improved support with improved 

fatigue and load carrying capabilities 

and issued service information that 

provides instructions for modifying the 

support. 

Accordingly, EASA issued AD 2021– 

0086, dated March 24, 2021 (EASA AD 

2021–0086), which superseded EASA 

AD 2014–0080. EASA AD 2021–0086 

retains the inspection requirements of 

EASA AD 2014–0080 and requires 

replacement of any affected part with a 

serviceable part. EASA AD 2014–0086 

also expands the applicability to 

include all Model AS332L2 helicopters. 

See EASA AD 2021–0086 for additional 

background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2021–0086 specifies 

procedures for repetitively inspecting 

the support at the four attachment 

points in accordance with the 

instructions of the service information. 

EASA AD 2021–0086 also specifies 

procedures for modifying the helicopter 

by replacing an affected part with an 

improved part, which is a terminating 

action for the repetitive inspections. 

EASA AD 2021–0086 prohibits 

installing any affected part on any 

helicopter. 

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 Service Information 

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters 

Alert Service Bulletin No. AS332– 

05.00.98, Revision 1, dated February 10, 

2021 (ASB AS332–05.00.98 Rev 1), 

which specifies procedures to inspect 

for cracks on the support at the four 

attachments of the yaw damper. ASB 

AS332–05.00.98 Rev 1 specifies if any 

crack is found, replace the support by 

modifying your helicopter in 

accordance with the modification 

service bulletin. 

The FAA also reviewed Airbus 

Helicopters Service Bulletin SB No. 

AS332–67.00.52, Revision 0, dated 

March 2, 2020, which specifies 

procedures to modify your helicopter by 

replacing the support with a new 

improved support (modification 

0728207). 

FAA’s Determination 

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 is issuing 

this AD after evaluating all known 

relevant information and determining 

that the unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

on other helicopters of these same type 

designs. 

Explanation of Retained Requirements 

Although this AD does not explicitly 

restate the requirements of AD 2014– 

21–03, this AD retains certain 

requirements of AD 2014–21–03. Those 

requirements are referenced in EASA 

AD 2021–0086, which in turn, is 

referenced in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

Requirements of This AD 

This AD requires accomplishing the 

actions specified in EASA AD 2021– 

0086, described previously, as 

incorporated by reference, except for 

any differences identified as exceptions 

in the regulatory text of this AD and 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between this AD and EASA AD 2021– 

0086.’’ 


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8176 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 30 / Monday, February 14, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

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 certain 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, EASA AD 2021–0086 

is incorporated by reference in this AD. 

This AD therefore, requires compliance 

with EASA AD 2021–0086 in its 

entirety, through that incorporation, 

except for any differences identified as 

exceptions in the regulatory text of this 

AD. Using common terms that are the 

same as the heading of a particular 

section in EASA AD 2021–0086 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 2021–0086. 

Service information specified in EASA 

AD 2021–0086 that is required for 

compliance with it will be available at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0019 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Differences Between This AD and EASA 

AD 2021–0086 

Where Note 1 of EASA AD 2021–0086 

identifies the flight hours (FH) specified 

in Table 1 of EASA AD 2021–0086 are 

those accumulated by the affected part 

on April 3, 2014 (the effective date of 

EASA AD 2014–0080), since first 

installation on a helicopter, this AD 

requires using the total hours TIS 

accumulated by the helicopter as of the 

effective date of this AD. Where Table 

1 of EASA AD 2021–0086 requires a 

compliance time of within 100 FH after 

April 3, 2014, this AD requires a 

compliance time of within 100 hours 

TIS after the effective date of this AD. 

Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021– 

0086 allows credit for inspections of a 

helicopter as required in paragraph (1) 

of its AD if the inspections are 

accomplished before the effective date 

of its AD, this AD allows credit for the 

initial inspection of a helicopter as 

required by paragraph (1) of EASA AD 

2021–0086, if accomplished before the 

effective date of this AD. 

Justification for Immediate Adoption 

and Determination of the Effective Date 

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the 

Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 

U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies 

to dispense with notice and comment 

procedures for rules when the agency, 

for ‘‘good cause’’ finds that those 

procedures are ‘‘impracticable, 

unnecessary, or contrary to the public 

interest.’’ Under this section, an agency, 

upon finding good cause, may issue a 

final rule without providing notice and 

seeking comment prior to issuance. 

Further, section 553(d) of the APA 

authorizes agencies to make rules 

effective in less than thirty days, upon 

a finding of good cause. 

There are currently no domestic 

operators of these products. 

Accordingly, notice and opportunity for 

prior public comment are unnecessary, 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In 

addition, for the foregoing reasons, the 

FAA finds that good cause exists 

pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making 

this amendment effective in less than 30 

days. 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written data, views, or arguments about 

this final rule. Send your comments to 

an address listed under ADDRESSES. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2022–0019; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2021–00371–R’’ 

at the beginning of your comments. The 

most helpful comments reference a 

specific portion of the final rule, 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 final rule 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 https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this final rule. 

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 AD 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 AD, 

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 AD. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to: Hal Jensen, Aerospace 

Engineer, Operational Safety Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 950 L’Enfant Plaza N SW, 

Washington, DC 20024; telephone (202) 

267–9167; email hal.jensen@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. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The requirements of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when 

an agency finds good cause pursuant to 

5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without 

prior notice and comment. Because the 

FAA has determined that it has good 

cause to adopt this rule without prior 

notice and comment, RFA analysis is 

not required. 

Costs of Compliance 

There are no costs of compliance with 

this AD because there are no helicopters 

with these type certificates on the U.S. 

Registry. 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 30 / Monday, February 14, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 8177 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed, I certify 

that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

and 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska. 

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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

2014–21–03, Amendment 39–17995 (79 

FR 63809, October 27, 2014); and 

■ b. Adding the following new 

airworthiness directive: 

AD 2022–03–13 Airbus Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–21930; Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0019; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2021–00371–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 1, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2014–21–03, 

Amendment 39–17995 (79 FR 63809, October 

27, 2014) (AD 2014–21–03). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS332L2 helicopters, certificated in 

any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6700, Rotorcraft Flight Control. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by several reports 

of cracks in the front attachment points of 

certain yaw control damper supports 

(supports) and the subsequent development 

of an improved (reinforced) support with 

improved fatigue and load carrying 

capabilities. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

prevent failure of the support, separation of 

the yaw damper unit, blocking of the yaw 

flight control channel, and reduced control of 

the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021–0086, dated 

March 24, 2021 (EASA AD 2021–0086). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0086 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0086 requires 

compliance from its effective date, this AD 

requires using the effective date of this AD. 

(2) The ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2021–0086 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where EASA AD 2021–0086 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours (FH), this 

AD requires using hours time-in-service 

(TIS). 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0086 specifies 

using a light source and a mirror to ensure 

that there are no cracks on the support at the 

four attachments of the yaw damper, and ‘‘if 

there is any doubt’’ removing the yaw 

damper, this AD requires the yaw damper to 

be removed prior to that inspection. 

(5) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD specifies discarding 

certain parts, this AD requires removing 

those parts from service. 

(6) Where Table 1 of EASA AD 2021–0086 

requires a compliance time of within 100 FH 

after April 3, 2014 (the effective date of 

EASA AD 2014–0080, dated March 27, 2014 

[EASA AD 2014–0080]), this AD requires a 

compliance time of within 100 hours TIS 

after the effective date of this AD. 

(7) Where Note 1 of EASA AD 2021–0086 

identifies the FH specified in Table 1 are 

those accumulated by support part number 

332A25–1334–00 on April 3, 2014 (the 

effective date of EASA AD 2014–0080) since 

first installation on a helicopter, this AD 

requires using the total hours TIS 

accumulated by the helicopter as of the 

effective date of this AD. 

(8) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021– 

0086 allows credit for inspections 

accomplished before the effective date of its 

AD, this AD allows credit for the initial 

inspection if accomplished before the 

effective date of this AD. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0086 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 Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 950 L’Enfant 

Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 20024; 

telephone (202) 267–9167; email hal.jensen@

faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) 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) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2021–0086, dated March 24, 

2021. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2021–0086, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

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

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(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. 

This material may be found in the AD docket 

on the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for and 

locating Docket No. FAA–2022–0019. 

(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 January 24, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–03113 Filed 2–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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