Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 7, 2021 / Proposed Rules 35695 

Southwest Section, Flight Test Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

mitch.soth@faa.gov. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada Emergency AD CF–2019– 

16, dated May 6, 2019. You may view the 

Transport Canada AD on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0497. 

Issued on June 10, 2021. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–14400 Filed 7–6–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–500; Project 

Identifier 2017–SW–069–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 Model EC130B4 and 

EC130T2 helicopters. This proposed AD 

was prompted by a report of a jammed 

pilot collective pitch lever (collective). 

This proposed AD would require 

inspecting the collective for proper 

engagement of the locking pin. 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 August 23, 

2021. 

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 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Airbus Helicopters, 

2701 North 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. 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. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–500; 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 European Aviation Safety 

Agency (now European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Anthony Kenward, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222– 

5152; email anthony.kenward@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–2021–500; Project Identifier 2017– 

SW–069–AD’’ 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 Anthony Kenward, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth 

ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5152; email 

anthony.kenward@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. 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2017–0062, 

dated April 11, 2017 (EASA AD 2017– 

0062), to correct an unsafe condition for 

Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 and 

EC130T2 helicopters. EASA states that 

during an autorotation test conducted 

during an acceptance flight, the pilot 

felt a jamming sensation when pushing 

the collective to the low pitch position, 

and he subsequently was able to free the 

collective by pulling on it. According to 

EASA, an analysis determined that the 

locking tab hook (hook) and the low 

pitch locking pin (pin) were extremely 

close, and that a fold in the control lever 

boot may have become caught between 

the two components. EASA states that 

this condition, if not detected and 

corrected, could result in an untimely 

locking of the collective and subsequent 

reduced control of the helicopter. 

Accordingly, EASA AD 2017–0062 

requires inspecting and adjusting, if 

necessary, the clearance between the 

hook and the pin while in the low pitch 

position. 

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 


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35696 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 7, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

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. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters 

Alert Service Bulletin ASB No. EC130– 

67A019, Revision 0, dated February 23, 

2016, which specifies inspecting and 

adjusting the clearance between the 

hook and pin. 

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. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 90 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

after the effective date of the AD, or 

before the next autorotation training 

flight, whichever occurs first, removing 

the protective boot along the collective 

and measuring the clearance between 

the hook and pin. If the clearance is less 

than 5 mm (0.196 in), adjusting the 

clearance between the hook and the pin 

to prevent interference would be 

required. This proposed AD would then 

require re-installing the protective boot 

in accordance with the manufacturer’s 

service information. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

The EASA AD requires compliance 

within 165 hours TIS or 3 months, 

whichever occurs first. Since the unsafe 

condition occurred at a collective 

position commanded during an 

autorotation, this proposed AD would 

require compliance within 90 hours TIS 

after the effective date of this AD or 

before the next autorotation training 

flight, whichever occurs first. Based on 

the average fleet usage, 90 hours TIS 

would correspond with the 3-month 

compliance requirement of the EASA 

AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD would affect 214 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. At an average labor rate of $85 

per work-hour, the FAA estimates that 

operators may incur the following costs 

in order to comply with this proposed 

AD. Removing the protective boot 

would require about 2 work-hours for a 

cost of $170 per helicopter and a cost of 

$36,380 for the U.S. fleet. Determining 

the clearance between the hook and pin 

would require about 0.5 work-hour, for 

a cost of $43 per helicopter and a cost 

of $9,202 for the U.S. fleet. If required, 

adjusting the clearance would take 

about 2 work-hours for a cost of $170 

per helicopter. Re-installing the 

protective boot would require about 2 

work-hours, for a cost of $170 per 

helicopter and a cost of $36,380 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 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, 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: Docket No. FAA–2021– 

500; Project Identifier 2017–SW–069– 

AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by August 23, 

2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model EC130B4 and Model EC130T2 

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 a report of a 

jammed pilot collective pitch lever 

(collective). The FAA is issuing this AD to 

prevent an untimely locking of the collective 

and subsequent reduced control of the 

helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Within 90 hours time-in-service after the 

effective date of this AD or before the next 

autorotation training flight, whichever occurs 

first: 

(1) For each collective, remove the 

protective boot along the collective and 

measure the clearance between the edge of 

the collective tab hook (a) and the edge of the 

low pitch locking pin (b) as shown in Figure 

1 of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin 

ASB No. EC130–67A019, Revision 0, dated 

February 23, 2016 (ASB EC130–67A019). If 

the clearance is less than 5 mm (0.196 in), 

before further flight: 

(i) Adjust the clearance by following the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 

3.B.3., of ASB EC130–67A019. 

(ii) Test the collective for proper 

engagement of the low pitch locking pin by 

following the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 3.B.4., of ASB EC130–67A019. 

(2) Re-install the protective boot on the 

collective, ensuring that no boot folds have 

entered the space between the collective tab 

hook and the low pitch locking pin, by 

following the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 3.B.5., of ASB EC130–67A019. 

(h) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 127 / Wednesday, July 7, 2021 / Proposed Rules 35697 

(i) 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 (j)(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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Anthony Kenward, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5152; email 

anthony.kenward@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 

North 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. You may view this 

referenced 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 2017–0062, dated April 11, 2017. 

You may view the EASA AD at http://

www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket FAA– 

2021–500. 

Issued on June 10, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–14399 Filed 7–6–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0548; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00046–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; ATR–GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional 

Airplanes 

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 

ATR–GIE Avions de Transport Re ́gional 

Model ATR42–500 and ATR72–212A 

airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports indicating that 

certain Thales global positioning system 

(GPS) satellite based augmentation 

system (SBAS) receivers provided, 

under certain conditions, erroneous 

outputs on aircraft positions. This 

proposed AD would require replacing 

affected GPS SBAS receivers with new, 

improved receivers, as specified in a 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD, which is proposed for 

incorporation by reference. 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 August 23, 

2021. 

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 will be 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– 

0548. 

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– 

0548; 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, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shahram Daneshmandi, Aerospace 

Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA, 

2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 

98198; phone and fax: 206–231–3220; 

email: shahram.daneshmandi@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–2021–0548; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2021–00046–T’’ 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 the 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 proposed 

AD. 

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 Shahram 

Daneshmandi, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS