Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 119 / Thursday, June 24, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 33097 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0432; Project 

Identifier 2013–SW–074–AD; Amendment 

39–21587; AD 2021–11–25] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Eurocopter France) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate 

previously held by Eurocopter France) 

Model AS350B3 and EC130T2 

helicopters. This AD was prompted by 

a report of failure of an engine digital 

electronic control unit (DECU). This AD 

requires revising the existing Rotorcraft 

Flight Manual (RFM) for your 

helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective July 29, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of certain documents listed in this AD 

as of July 29, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For Airbus Helicopters 

service information identified in this 

final rule, contact Airbus Helicopters, 

2701 N Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 

75052; telephone (972) 641–0000 or 

(800) 232–0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or 

at https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/ 

services/technical-support.html. For 

Safran Turbomeca service information 

identified in this final rule, contact 

Safran Helicopter Engines, S.A., 64511 

Bordes, France; phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 

45 11. You may view the referenced 

service information at the FAA, Office 

of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 

Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 

6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. The 

Airbus Helicopters service information 

is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0432. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2017–0432; 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 Aviation Safety 

Agency (now European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, the EASA 

safety information bulletin (SIB), any 

service information that is incorporated 

by reference, any comments received, 

and other information. The street 

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: Jon 

Jordan, Rotorcraft Flight Test Pilot, 

Southwest Section, Flight Test Branch, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222– 

5110; email jon.jordan@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 Airbus Helicopters (Type 

Certificate previously held by 

Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and 

EC130T2 helicopters with an ARRIEL 

2D engine and THALES full authority 

digital engine control (FADEC) part 

number (P/N) C13165DA00 without 

amendment A or P/N C13165FA00 

without amendment B, installed. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on March 22, 2021 (86 FR 

15140). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed 

to require revising the Emergency 

Procedures of the existing RFM for your 

helicopter by inserting Appendix 4. of 

Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350–01.00.67 or 

ASB No. EC130–04A004, each Revision 

2 and dated February 17, 2014 (ASB 

AS350–01.00.67 and ASB EC130– 

04A004) or a different document with 

information identical to that in 

Appendix 4., as applicable to your 

helicopter model. As an optional 

terminating action for the RFM revision, 

the NPRM proposed to allow installing 

amendment A on FADEC P/N 

C13165DA00 or amendment B on 

FADEC P/N C13165FA00. 

The NPRM was prompted by EASA 

AD 2013–0287, dated December 5, 2013 

(EASA AD 2013–0287), issued by 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent for 

the Member States of the European 

Union, to correct an unsafe condition 

for Eurocopter (formerly Eurocopter 

France, Aerospatiale) Model AS 350 B3 

and EC 130 T2 helicopters with an 

ARRIEL 2D engine and THALES FADEC 

P/N C13165DA00 or P/N C13165FA00 

installed. EASA advises of a report of an 

in-flight event where the pilot noticed 

that the temporary amber governor 

(GOV) light had illuminated, followed 

by the failure of the vehicle engine 

monitoring display (VEMD) screens, and 

no availability of the automatic or 

auxiliary engine back-up control 

ancillary unit (EBCAU). Subsequent 

investigation identified an internal 

failure of the engine DECU, which led 

to loss of fuel flow regulation (frozen 

fuel metering unit). This failure was not 

indicated to the pilot by a red GOV 

warning light as expected, but with 

amber GOV indication and loss of 

VEMD display instead. EASA also 

advises that if this fuel metering unit is 

frozen in the open position, it may lead 

to a rotor overspeed, and if it is frozen 

in the closed position, it may lead to 

unavailability of engine power. EASA 

states that this condition, if not 

addressed, could result in the pilot 

identifying the type of failure condition 

incorrectly, possibly resulting in an 

improper response. 

Accordingly, and pending the 

development of a DECU assembly 

design improvement, the EASA AD 

requires incorporating a new procedure 

into the Emergency Procedures section 

of the RFM and informing all flight 

crews of the RFM change. EASA 

considers its AD an interim action and 

states that further AD action may follow. 

After EASA issued EASA AD 2013– 

0287, EASA issued SIB No. 2013–23, 

dated December 19, 2013, for 

Eurocopter AS 350 B3 and EC 130 T2 

helicopters with a Turbome ́ca ARRIEL 

2D engine installed. The SIB 

recommends modifying certain 

electronic engine control units (EECUs). 

Comments 

The FAA received comments from an 

anonymous commenter. The commenter 

stated that the EECU or DECU is an 

engine component and requested this be 

reflected as an engine AD and not an 

airframe AD. The commenter further 

stated that this AD is unnecessary 

because the flight manual revision is 

required as part of the certification of 

the aircraft and is already regulatory as 

the flight manual is an FAA approved 

manual. The FAA does not agree; EASA, 

as the state of design authority for 

Airbus Helicopters, determined that the 

unsafe condition exists only in the 

Model AS 350 B3 and EC 130 T2 

helicopters. Additionally, one of the 

actions mitigating the unsafe condition 

is modification of the RFM. 

Consequently, EASA issued AD 2013– 

0287 against the airframe. As the 

validating authority, the FAA, in 

accordance with the bilateral agreement 

with the European Union, did not find 

just cause to change the effectivity for 


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33098 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 119 / Thursday, June 24, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

the FAA AD. Per 14 CFR 21.5, an 

approved RFM must be presented to the 

owner upon delivery of the rotorcraft. 

Unless required through an operational 

certificate or operational specification, 

the rotorcraft owner is not required by 

regulation to adopt flight manual 

revisions made after delivery of the 

rotorcraft. To mandate a change to the 

RFM to address the unsafe condition, 

the FAA must issue an AD. 

Conclusion 

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 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 helicopters. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters 

ASB AS350–01.00.67 and ASB EC130– 

04A004. ASB AS350–01.00.67 applies 

to Model AS350B3 helicopters and ASB 

EC130–04A004 applies to Model 

EC130T2 helicopters. This service 

information provides a new RFM 

procedure in the event of illumination 

of the amber GOV followed by the loss 

of the VEMD display. 

This service information 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 Safran 

Turbomeca Mandatory Service Bulletin 

No. 292 73 2852, Revision B, dated 

February 12, 2014. This service 

information specifies replacing certain 

FADEC D EECUs with certain amended 

FADEC D EECUs. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

The EASA AD applies to Model 

AS350B3 and EC130T2 helicopters, 

with an ARRIEL 2D engine and THALES 

FADEC P/N C13165DA00 or P/N 

C13165FA00 installed, whereas this AD 

applies to those helicopters except not 

those with THALES FADEC P/N 

C13165DA00 with amendment A or P/ 

N C13165FA00 with amendment B 

installed. This AD also allows installing 

those amendments on the FADEC as an 

optional terminating action, whereas the 

EASA AD does not. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects up to 628 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 AD. 

Revising the existing RFM for your 

helicopter takes about 0.25 work-hour 

for an estimated cost of $21 per 

helicopter and up to $13,188 for the 

U.S. fleet. 

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 helicopters 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: 

2021–11–25 Airbus Helicopters (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by 

Eurocopter France): Amendment 39– 

21587; Docket No. FAA–2017–0432; 

Project Identifier 2013–SW–074–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective July 29, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

(Type Certificate previously held by 

Eurocopter France) Model AS350B3 and 

EC130T2 helicopters, certificated in any 

category, with an ARRIEL 2D engine and 

THALES full authority digital engine control 

(FADEC) part number (P/N) C13165DA00 

without amendment A or P/N C13165FA00 

without amendment B, installed. 

Note 1 to paragraph (c): Helicopters with 

an AS350B3e designation are Model 

AS350B3 helicopters. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 7321, Engine Fuel Control/Turbine 

Engines. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

failure of an engine digital electronic control 

unit. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 

incorrect indicator illumination, display 

failure, and loss of fuel flow regulation 

(frozen fuel metering unit). The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could result in 

misleading information to the pilot, rotor 

overspeed or unavailability of engine power, 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Within 25 hours time-in-service after 

the effective date of this AD, revise the 

Emergency Procedures of the existing 

Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) for your 

helicopter by inserting Appendix 4. of Airbus 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

AS350–01.00.67 or ASB No. EC130–04A004, 

each Revision 2 and dated February 17, 2014 

(ASB AS350–01.00.67 or ASB EC130– 

04A004), as applicable to your helicopter 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 119 / Thursday, June 24, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 33099 

model. Inserting a different document with 

information identical to that in Appendix 4. 

of ASB AS350–01.00.67 or ASB EC130– 

04A004, as applicable to your helicopter 

model, is acceptable for compliance with the 

requirement of this paragraph. 

(2) As an optional terminating action for 

the requirement of paragraph (g)(1) of this 

AD, install amendment A on FADEC P/N 

C13165DA00 or amendment B on FADEC P/ 

N C13165FA00. 

(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 Jon Jordan, Rotorcraft Flight Test 

Pilot, Southwest Section, Flight Test Branch, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

jon.jordan@faa.gov. 

(2) Safran Turbomeca Mandatory Service 

Bulletin No. 292 73 2852, Revision B, dated 

February 12, 2014, which is not incorporated 

by reference, contains additional information 

about the subject of this AD. Contact Safran 

Helicopter Engines, S.A., 64511 Bordes, 

France; phone: +33 (0) 5 59 74 45 11 for this 

service information. 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. 

(3) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (now 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency) 

(EASA) AD 2013–0287, dated December 5, 

2013. You may view the EASA AD at https:// 

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0432. 

(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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. AS350–01.00.67, Revision 2, 

dated February 17, 2014. 

(ii) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. EC130–04A004, Revision 2, 

dated February 17, 2014. 

(3) For Airbus Helicopters service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N Forum Drive, 

Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 

641–0000 or (800) 232–0323; fax (972) 641– 

3775; or at https://www.airbus.com/ 

helicopters/services/technical-support.html. 

(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 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: fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: 

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on May 24, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–13200 Filed 6–23–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0023; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01407–T; Amendment 

39–21525; AD 2021–09–11] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Saab AB, 

Support and Services (Formerly 

Known as Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics) 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab 

AB, Support and Services Model SAAB 

2000 airplanes. This AD was prompted 

by a report indicating that the left-hand 

main landing gear (MLG) collapsed after 

touchdown, causing severe damage to 

the airplane. This AD requires 

modifying the MLG hydraulic transfer 

valve, 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 July 29, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of July 29, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (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 this IBR material on the EASA 

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

You may view this IBR 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. 

It is also available in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0023. 

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–2021– 

0023; 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: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 

Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 

98198; telephone and fax 206–231– 

3220; email Shahram.Daneshmandi@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–0223, dated October 14, 2020 

(EASA AD 2020–0223) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for all Saab AB, Support and Services 

Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to all Saab AB, Support and 

Services Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on February 24, 2021 (86 FR 

11184). The NPRM was prompted by a 

report indicating that the left-hand MLG 

collapsed after touchdown, causing 

severe damage to the airplane. The 


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