18694 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

******* 10 NAICS codes 488510 (excluding the exception), 531210, 541810, 561510, 561520 and 561920—As measured by total revenues, but excluding funds received in trust for an unaffiliated third party, such as bookings or sales subject to commissions. The commissions received are 

included as revenue. 

* * * * * * * 

Isabella Casillas Guzman, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2022–06611 Filed 3–30–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8026–03–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0024; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00994–R; Amendment 

39–21999; AD 2022–07–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding 

Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021–17– 

18, which applied to all Leonardo S.p.a. 

Model A109C, A109K2, A109E, A109S, 

and AW109SP helicopters. AD 2021– 

17–18 required an inspection of certain 

tail rotor (TR) sleeve assemblies for 

discrepancies, an inspection of certain 

TR shaft assemblies for discrepancies, a 

repetitive measurement of the position 

of the bushing of the TR sleeve assembly 

in relation to the pitch change slider 

assembly, and corrective actions if 

necessary. This AD retains the 

requirements of AD 2021–17–18, and 

also requires repetitive inspections of 

the TR sleeve assemblies, and corrective 

actions if necessary, as specified in a 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD, which is incorporated by 

reference. This AD was prompted by a 

determination that additional actions 

are required to address the unsafe 

condition. This AD was also prompted 

by a report of a crack on the TR mast. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective May 5, 2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of September 7, 2021 (86 FR 46766, 

August 20, 2021). 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the 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 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 on the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0024. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0024; 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, 

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, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 

11590; phone: (516) 228–7330; email: 

andrea.jimenez@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2021–0144, dated June 17, 2021 (EASA 

AD 2021–0144). (also referred to as the 

Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness 

Information, or the MCAI), to correct an 

unsafe condition for all Leonardo S.p.a. 

(formerly Finmeccanica S.p.A, 

AgustaWestland S.p.A., Agusta S.p.A.) 

Model A109C, A109K2, A109E, A109S, 

and AW109SP helicopters. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to supersede AD 2021–17–18, 

Amendment 39–21701 (86 FR 46766, 

August 20, 2021) (AD 2021–17–18). AD 

2021–17–18 applied to all Leonardo 

S.p.a. Model A109C, A109K2, A109E, 

A109S, and AW109SP helicopters. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on February 3, 2022 (87 FR 

6091). The NPRM was prompted by a 

determination that additional actions 

are required to address the unsafe 

condition. The NPRM was also 

prompted by a report of a crack on the 

TR mast. The NPRM proposed to 

continue to require an inspection of 

certain TR sleeve assemblies for 

discrepancies, an inspection of certain 

TR shaft assemblies for discrepancies, a 

repetitive measurement of the position 

of the bushing of the TR sleeve assembly 

in relation to the pitch change slider 

assembly, and corrective actions if 

necessary, as specified in an EASA AD. 

The NPRM also proposed to require 

repetitive inspections of the TR sleeve 

assemblies, and corrective actions if 

necessary, as specified in an EASA AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

cracking on the TR mast, which could 

lead to failure of the TR mast, with 

consequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. See the MCAI for additional 

background information. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The FAA received no 

comments on the NPRM or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

This AD requires EASA AD 2021– 

0144, which the Director of the Federal 

Register approved for incorporation by 

reference as of September 7, 2021 (86 FR 

46766, August 20, 2021). 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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 18695 

Differences Between this AD and the 

MCAI 

Paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2021–0144 

specifies the inspection must be done 

within 25 flight hours or 3 months, 

whichever occurs first. However, this 

AD requires the inspection to be done 

within 25 hours time-in-service after 

September 7, 2021 (the effective date of 

AD 2021–17–18). 

Interim Action 

The FAA considers this AD interim 

action. The inspection reports that are 

required by this AD will enable the 

manufacturer to obtain better insight 

into the nature, cause, and extent of the 

cracking, and eventually to develop 

final action to address the unsafe 

condition. Once final action has been 

identified, the FAA might consider 

further rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 133 helicopters of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product Cost on U.S. operators 

Retained Inspections/from AD 

2021–17–18.

Up to 6 work-hours × $85 per 

hour = $510 per inspection/ 

measurement cycle.

$0 Up to $510 per inspection/ 

measurement cycle.

Up to $67,830 per inspection/ 

measurement cycle. 

New Repetitive Inspections .... Up to 1 work-hour × $85 per 

hour = $85 per inspection 

cycle.

0 Up to $85 per inspection 

cycle.

Up to $11,305 per inspection 

cycle. 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary on-condition 

actions (replacements, repairs, and 

reporting) that would be required based 

on the results of any required actions. 

The FAA has no way of determining the 

number of helicopters that might need 

these on-condition actions: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS * 

Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product 

Retained Replacements .......................... 19 work-hours × $85 per hour = $1,615 $88,760 Up to $90,375. 

Retained Reporting .................................. 1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 .......... $0 $85. 

* The FAA has received no definitive data on which to base the cost estimates for the on-condition repairs specified in this proposed AD. 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. The FAA does not control 

warranty coverage for affected operators. 

As a result, the FAA has included all 

known costs in the cost estimate. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to penalty for failure to comply with a 

collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a current valid 

OMB control number. The control 

number for the collection of information 

required by this AD is 2120–0056. The 

paperwork cost associated with this AD 

has been detailed in the Costs of 

Compliance section of this document 

and includes time for reviewing 

instructions, as well as completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

Therefore, all reporting associated with 

this AD is mandatory. Comments 

concerning the accuracy of this burden 

and suggestions for reducing the burden 

should be directed to Information 

Collection Clearance Officer, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177– 

1524. 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

Title 49 of the United States Code 

specifies the FAA’s authority to issue 

rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, 

section 106, describes the authority of 

the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII: 

Aviation Programs, describes in more 

detail the scope of the Agency’s 

authority. 

The FAA is issuing this rulemaking 

under the authority described in 

Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 

44701: General requirements. Under 

that section, Congress charges the FAA 

with promoting safe flight of civil 

aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 

regulations for practices, methods, and 

procedures the Administrator finds 

necessary for safety in air commerce. 

This regulation is within the scope of 

that authority because it addresses an 

unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 

develop on products identified in this 

rulemaking action. 

Regulatory Findings 

This AD will not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. This AD will not have a 

substantial direct effect on the States, on 

the relationship between the national 

government and the States, or on the 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(3) Will not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

The Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as 

follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

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


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18696 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 62 / Thursday, March 31, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) 2021–17–18, Amendment 39– 

21701 (86 FR 46766, August 20, 2021); 

and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

2022–07–11 Leonardo S.p.a.: Amendment 

39–21999; Docket No. FAA–2022–0024; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2021–00994–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective May 5, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2021–17–18, 

Amendment 39–21701 (86 FR 46766, August 

20, 2021) (AD 2021–17–18). 

(c) Applicability 

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

Model A109C, A109K2, A109E, A109S, and 

AW109SP helicopters, certificated in any 

category. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6400, Tail Rotor System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of a 

crack on the tail rotor (TR) mast. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address cracking on the 

TR mast, which could lead to failure of the 

TR mast, with consequent 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 2021–0144, dated 

June 17, 2021 (EASA AD 2021–0144). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0144 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0144 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using 

September 7, 2021 (the effective date of AD 

2021–17–18). 

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

2021–0144 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where EASA AD 2021–0144 refers to 

flight hours (FH), this AD requires using 

hours time-in-service. 

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

0144 specifies a compliance time of 25 FH or 

3 months, whichever occurs first, this AD 

requires compliance within 25 hours time-inservice after September 7, 2021 (the effective 

date of AD 2021–17–18). 

(5) Where Note 1 of EASA AD 2021–0144 

specifies a tolerance of 30 FH, this AD does 

not allow a tolerance. 

(6) The initial compliance time for the 

inspection specified in paragraph (5) of 

EASA AD 2021–0144 is at the compliance 

time specified in paragraph (5) of EASA AD 

2021–0144, or within 30 days after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later. 

(7) Where paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2021– 

0144 states the term ‘‘discrepancies,’’ for the 

purposes of this AD discrepancies include 

dents, corrosion, elongation, scratches, wear, 

excessive wear (web visible), fretting, or 

stepping. 

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

0144 states the term ‘‘discrepancies,’’ for the 

purposes of this AD discrepancies include 

abnormal wear condition, corrosion, fretting, 

crack, or damage (including dents, 

elongation, scratches, or stepping). 

(9) Where EASA AD 2021–0144 defines 

‘‘serviceable part,’’ and that definition 

specifies instructions that are ‘‘approved 

under Leonardo Design Organization 

Approval (DOA) or by EASA,’’ for this AD, 

the repair must be accomplished using a 

method approved by the Manager, General 

Aviation and Rotorcraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Leonardo S.p.a.’s EASA DOA. If 

approved by the DOA, the approval must 

include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(10) Where Note 2 and paragraph (7) of 

EASA AD 2021–0144 specify instructions 

that are ‘‘approved under Leonardo DOA or 

by EASA,’’ for this AD, the repair must be 

accomplished using a method approved by 

the Manager, General Aviation and Rotorcraft 

Section, International Validation Branch, 

FAA; or EASA; or Leonardo S.p.a.’s EASA 

DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval 

must include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(11) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0144 specifies 

to contact the manufacturer for corrective 

action, this AD requires the repair to be done 

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.’s EASA 

DOA. If approved by the DOA, the approval 

must include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(12) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0144 specifies 

to discard a certain part, this AD requires 

removing that part from service. 

(i) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits may be issued in 

accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199 

to operate the helicopter to a location where 

the actions of this AD can be performed, 

provided no passengers are onboard. 

(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 Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 

11590; phone: (516) 228–7330; email: 

andrea.jimenez@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. 

(3) The following service information was 

approved for IBR on September 7, 2021 (86 

FR 46766, August 20, 2021). 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2021–0144, dated June 17, 2021. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(4) For EASA AD 2021–0144, contact the 

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 this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(5) 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–2022–0024. 

(6) 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 March 24, 2022. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–06620 Filed 3–30–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY 

Internal Revenue Service 

26 CFR Part 1 

Income Taxes 

CFR Correction 

This rule is being published by the 

Office of the Federal Register to correct 

an editorial or technical error that 

appeared in the most recent annual 


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