This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

15894 

Vol. 87, No. 54 

Monday, March 21, 2022 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0282; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–01208–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 

certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW169 

helicopters. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of a blockage in 

a fuel tank vent line. This proposed AD 

would require inspecting the fuel tank 

vent lines, as specified in a European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) 

AD, which is proposed for incorporation 

by reference (IBR). The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by May 5, 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 EASA material that is proposed 

for IBR in this AD, contact 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 the EASA material on the EASA 

website at https://ad.easa.europa.eu. 

For Leonardo Helicopters service 

information identified in this NPRM, 

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. The EASA material 

is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0282. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0282; 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 EASA AD, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations is 

listed above. 

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: 

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 ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0282; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2021–01208–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 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 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 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. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives that 

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 2021–0238, 

dated November 2, 2021 (EASA AD 

2021–0238), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Leonardo S.p.a., formerly 

Finmeccanica S.p.A., AgustaWestland 

S.p.A., Model AW169 helicopters, serial 

numbers (S/N) from 69006 up to 69125 

inclusive, except S/N 69040; and S/N 

69130, 69132, 69133, 69134, 69136, and 

69139. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

a report of a blockage in a fuel tank vent 

line. The FAA is proposing this AD to 

detect and address the blockage, which 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 54 / Monday, March 21, 2022 / Proposed Rules 15895 

if not addressed, could result in dual 

engine flameout due to fuel starvation 

and a subsequent forced landing. See 

EASA AD 2021–0238 for additional 

background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2021–0238 requires a onetime inspection of the fuel tank vent 

lines and, depending on findings, 

accomplishment of applicable corrective 

action(s). 

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 also reviewed Leonardo 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

169–205, dated September 20, 2021. 

This service information specifies 

procedures for a one-off boroscopic 

inspection of the right and left fuel tank 

vent lines. 

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 

proposing 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 the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2021–0238, described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD and 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between this Proposed AD and the 

EASA 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 2021–0238 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2021–0238 

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 2021–0238 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 2021–0238. 

Service information referenced in EASA 

AD 2021–0238 for compliance will be 

available at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0282 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

EASA AD 2021–0238 states to remove 

the sealant obstructions in accordance 

with the instructions of the service 

information and to contact Leonardo for 

approved corrective actions instructions 

and accomplishing those instructions 

within the compliance time specified 

therein; whereas, this proposed AD 

would require repair done before further 

flight in accordance with a method 

approved by the Manager, General 

Aviation and 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. 

EASA AD 2021–0238 states to inspect 

the fuel tank vent lines in accordance 

with the instructions of the service 

information, which specifies inspecting 

for evidence of a partial or total Proseal 

obstruction. This proposed AD would 

require inspecting for a partial or total 

Proseal obstruction. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 6 

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. 

Boroscopic inspecting the fuel tank 

vent lines would take approximately 6 

work-hours for an estimated cost of 

$510 per helicopter and up to $3,060 for 

the U.S. fleet. The FAA has no way of 

knowing the cost to repair a fuel tank 

vent line. 

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. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
15896 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 54 / Monday, March 21, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0282; Project Identifier MCAI–2021– 

01208–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by May 5, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

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

AW169 helicopters, certificated in any 

category, as identified in European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2021– 

0238, dated November 2, 2021 (EASA AD 

2021–0238). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2800, Aircraft Fuel System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

blockage in a fuel tank vent line. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to detect and address the 

blockage. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in dual engine 

flameout due to fuel starvation and a 

subsequent forced landing. 

(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, EASA AD 2021–0238. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0238 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0238 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD 

requires using hours time-in-service. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2021–0238 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where the service information 

referenced in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 

2021–0238 specifies recording the inspection 

outcome in the report in ANNEX A (of the 

service information), this AD does not 

require that action. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 

2021–0238 specifies inspecting ‘‘the left/right 

vent line for evidence of a partial or total 

Proseal obstruction,’’ this AD requires 

inspecting for a partial or total Proseal 

obstruction. 

(5) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0238 specifies 

immediately contacting Leonardo Company 

Product Support Engineering and waiting for 

further instructions before proceeding if there 

is any Proseal obstruction in any fuel tank 

vent line, this AD does not require that 

action. 

(6) Where the service information 

referenced in paragraph (2) of EASA AD 

2021–0238 specifies to ‘‘carefully remove the 

Proseal obstruction by means of a suitable 

method,’’ this AD requires, before further 

flight, accomplishing repairs in accordance 

with a method approved by 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. 

(7) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2021– 

0238 specifies contacting Leonardo for 

approved corrective actions and 

accomplishing those instructions within the 

compliance time specified therein, this AD 

requires, before further flight, accomplishing 

repairs in accordance with a method 

approved by the Manager, General Aviation 

& Rotorcraft Section, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Leonardo S.p.a. 

Helicopters’ EASA DOA. If approved by the 

DOA, the approval must include the DOAauthorized signature. 

(8) This AD does not mandate compliance 

with the ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2021–0238. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0238 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)(2) 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 

(1) For EASA AD 2021–0238, contact 

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 the 

EASA 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. 

This material may be found in the AD docket 

at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2022–0282. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

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. 

Issued on March 10, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–05590 Filed 3–18–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0160; Project 

Identifier AD–2022–00009–E] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; CFM 

International, S.A. Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain CFM International, S.A. (CFM) 

LEAP–1A model turbofan engines. This 

proposed AD was prompted by reports 

of two in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) and 

subsequent investigation by the 

manufacturer that revealed cracks in the 

high-pressure turbine (HPT) rotor stage 

1 blades. This proposed AD would 

require initial and repetitive borescope 

inspections (BSIs) of the HPT rotor stage 

1 blades and HPT stator stage 1 nozzle 

set. Depending on the results of the 

BSIs, this proposed AD would require 

either additional BSIs at reduced 

intervals or replacement of the HPT 

rotor stage 1 blades or HPT stator stage 

1 nozzle set. This proposed AD would 

also require sending the inspection 

results to CFM if any unserviceable 

finding is found. The FAA is proposing 

this AD to address the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by May 5, 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 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS