Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2022 / Proposed Rules 17201 

(j) Additional AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or responsible Flight 

Standards Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the Large Aircraft 

Section, 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. Before using any 

approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, the manager of the responsible 

Flight Standards Office. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): Except 

as required by paragraphs (h)(3) and (4), (i), 

and (j)(2) of this AD, if any service 

information contains procedures or tests that 

are identified as RC, those procedures and 

tests must be done to comply with this AD; 

any procedures or tests that are not identified 

as RC are recommended. Those procedures 

and tests that are not identified as RC may 

be deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the 

procedures and tests identified as RC can be 

done and the airplane can be put back in an 

airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2021–0233, 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 this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this 

material at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 206–231–3195. This 

material may be found in the AD docket at 

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

and locating Docket No. FAA–2022–0380. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Vladimir Ulyanov, Aerospace 

Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, FAA, 

International Validation Branch, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone 

and fax 206–231–3229; email 

vladimir.ulyanov@faa.gov. 

Issued on March 22, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–06392 Filed 3–25–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0294; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00550–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(AHD) Model 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. This 

proposed AD was prompted by the 

FAA’s determination that aging of the 

elastomeric material of certain tension 

torsion straps (TT-Straps), during the 

period since manufacturing date up to 

first flight on a helicopter, may affect its 

structural characteristics. This proposed 

AD would require the replacement of 

certain TT-Straps, implementation of 

storage life limits for TT-Straps, a 

prohibition on installing certain TTStraps and conditions for installation of 

certain other TT-Straps, 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 12, 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; phone: +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. The EASA material 

is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0294. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0294; 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: 

Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, COS 

Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance 

& Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

phone: (817) 222–5110; email: 

kristin.bradley@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–2022–0294; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2021–00550–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 


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17202 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

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 Kristi Bradley, 

Program Manager, COS Program 

Management Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

phone: (817) 222–5110; email: 

kristin.bradley@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 2021–0122, 

dated May 6, 2021 (EASA AD 2021– 

0122), to correct an unsafe condition for 

all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH (AHD) (formerly Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH, Eurocopter 

Hubschrauber GmbH, MesserschmittBo ̈lkow-Blohm GmbH; Airbus 

Helicopters Inc., formerly American 

Eurocopter LLC) Model 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. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

a determination that aging of the 

elastomeric material of certain TTStraps, during the period since 

manufacturing date up to first flight on 

a helicopter, may affect its structural 

characteristics. The FAA is proposing 

this AD to address aging of the 

elastomeric material of certain TTStraps, which could lead to premature 

failure of a TT-Strap, possibly resulting 

in loss of control of the helicopter. See 

EASA AD 2021–0122 for additional 

background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2021–0122 requires the 

replacement of certain TT-straps, 

implementation of storage life limits for 

TT-Straps since cure date, a prohibition 

on installing certain TT-Straps, and 

provides conditions for installation of 

certain other TT-Straps. 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. 

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 2021–0122, described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD. 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA developed a process to 

use some civil aviation authority (CAA) 

ADs as the primary source of 

information for compliance with 

requirements for corresponding FAA 

ADs. The FAA has been coordinating 

this process with manufacturers and 

CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to 

incorporate EASA AD 2021–0122 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2021–0122 

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 2021–0122 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 2021–0122. 

Service information referenced in EASA 

AD 2021–0122 for compliance will be 

available at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0294 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 213 

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. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Replace the TT-Strap ..................................... 5 work-hours × $85 per hour = $425 ............. $4,800 $5,225 $1,112,925 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 59 / Monday, March 28, 2022 / Proposed Rules 17203 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

The FAA determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This proposed AD would not 

have a substantial direct effect on the 

States, on the relationship between the 

national Government and the States, or 

on the distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 

39 as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(AHD): Docket No. FAA–2022–0294; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2021–00550–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by May 12, 

2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to all Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 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, certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6200, Main Rotor System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by the FAA’s 

determination that aging of the elastomeric 

material of certain tension torsion straps (TTStraps), during the period since 

manufacturing date up to first flight on a 

helicopter, may affect its structural 

characteristics. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address aging of the elastomeric material 

of certain TT-Straps. The unsafe condition, if 

not addressed, could result in premature 

failure of a TT-Strap, possibly resulting in 

loss of 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 2021–0122, dated 

May 6, 2021 (EASA AD 2021–0122). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0122 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0122 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2021–0122 specifies 

the ‘‘cure date’’ of a TT-Strap, the cure date 

can be determined using the information 

provided in the service information specified 

in EASA AD 2021–0122, or contacting Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH for 

applicable instructions. If the option of 

contacting Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH for instructions is chosen, those 

instructions must be approved by the 

Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Helicopters’ EASA 

Design Organization Approval (DOA). If 

approved by the DOA, the approval must 

include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) This AD does not mandate compliance 

with the ‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 

2021–0122. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0122 specifies 

scrapping a part, this AD requires removing 

that part from service. 

(5) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021– 

0122 specifies to replace each Lord TT-Strap 

and Bendix TT-Strap ‘‘in accordance with the 

instructions of the applicable ASB,’’ for this 

AD, the replacement must be done using 

FAA-approved procedures. 

(6) Where EASA AD 2021–0122 refers to 

the airworthiness limitations items of the 

airworthiness limitations section of the 

aircraft maintenance manual (AMM) for the 

definition of service life limit (SLL), this AD 

requires using the life limits specified in 

paragraphs (h)(6)(i) through (iii) of this AD, 

as applicable. 

(i) For Bendix TT-Strap P/N 2604067 and 

P/N 117–14110: Before 10 years or 25,000 

flight cycles on the part, whichever occurs 

first. 

(ii) For Lord TT-Strap P/N J17322–1 and P/ 

N 117–14111: Before 12 years or 40,000 flight 

cycles on the part, whichever occurs first. 

(iii) For Lord TT-Strap P/N 

B622M10T1001: Before 12 years or 30,000 

flight cycles on the part, whichever occurs 

first. 

(7) Where table 1 of EASA AD 2021–0122 

specifies a compliance time of ‘‘During the 

next helicopter periodical inspection or 

within 2 months, whichever occurs later after 

the effective date of this AD, but not 

exceeding the SLL,’’ for this AD, the 

compliance time is ‘‘Within 2 months after 

the effective date of this AD but not 

exceeding the applicable SLL specified in 

paragraphs (h)(6)(i) through (iii) of this AD. 

(i) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits, as described in 14 

CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed. 

(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 2021–0122, contact 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; phone: +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–2022–0294. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

phone: (817) 222–5110; email: 

kristin.bradley@faa.gov. 

Issued on March 22, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–06358 Filed 3–25–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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