Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / Proposed Rules 40967 

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0606; Project Identifier 2019–SW–070– 

AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by September 

13, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

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

A109E, A109S, and AW109SP helicopters, 

certificated in any category, with an affected 

assembly as identified in European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019– 

0182, dated July 26, 2019 (EASA AD 2019– 

0182) installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 3213, Main Landing Gear Strut/Axle/ 

Truck. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of main 

landing gear (MLG) wheel assembly failure. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address stress 

corrosion and hydrogen embrittlement on the 

threaded end of the MLG strut in the MLG 

wheel assembly. This condition, if not 

addressed, could lead to cracks on the 

affected MLG assembly, resulting in damage 

or failure of the MLG and consequent damage 

to the helicopter and injury to occupants. 

(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 2019–0182. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2019–0182 

(1) Where EASA AD 2019–0182 refers to 

flight hours (FH), this AD requires using 

hours time-in-service. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2019–0182 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2019–0182 specifies 

to return a certain part, this AD does not 

include that requirement. 

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

2019–0182 does not apply to this AD. 

(5) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2019–0182 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing those parts from service. 

(6) Where Annex A of the service 

information referenced in EASA AD 2019– 

0182 specifies to contact the manufacturer if 

there is any indication of cracking due to 

‘‘some burr’’; and Annex B of the service 

information specifies to contact the 

manufacturer if there are signs of arcing or 

burning on a part; before further flight, the 

instructions or corrective actions (including 

part replacement if necessary) must be 

accomplished using a method approved by 

the Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Leonardo S.p.A.’s 

EASA Design Organization Approval (DOA). 

If approved by the DOA, the approval must 

include the DOA-authorized signature. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2019–0182 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 2019–0182, 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 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–2021–0606. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart 

Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone (516) 228–7323; email 

Darren.Gassetto@faa.gov. 

Issued on July 21, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16169 Filed 7–29–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0610; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00126–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Brantly 

Helicopters Industries U.S.A. Co., Ltd., 

and Brantly International, Inc., 

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 Brantly Helicopters Industries 

U.S.A. Co., Ltd., Model 305 helicopters 

and Brantly International, Inc., Model 

B–2, B–2A, and B–2B helicopters. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a report 

of a crack in the tail rotor (T/R) hub. 

This proposed AD would require 

repetitive inspections of the T/R hub 

and depending on the results, removing 

the T/R hub from service. 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 September 13, 

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 service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Brantly 

International, Inc., Bill Ross, 621 S 

Royal Lane, Suite 100, Coppell, TX 

75019; phone: (972) 829–4699; email: 

bross@superiorairparts.com. 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. 


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40968 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0610; 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: 

Marc Belhumeur, Senior Project 

Engineer, Certification Section, Fort 

Worth ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5177; email 9- 

ASW-FWACO@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–2021–0610; Project Identifier AD– 

2021–00126–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 Marc Belhumeur, 

Senior Project Engineer, Certification 

Section, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222– 

5177; email 9-ASW-FWACO@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 

The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD 

for Brantly Helicopters Industries U.S.A. 

Co., Ltd., Model 305 helicopters and 

Brantly International, Inc., Model B–2, 

B–2A, and B–2B helicopters with T/R 

hub part number (P/N) 161–1 or 2951 

installed. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of a crack in T/ 

R hub P/N 2951. The crack is 

considered fatigue cracking caused by 

corrosion pitting. T/R hub P/N 161–1 is 

also affected by this unsafe condition 

due to design similarity. This condition, 

if not addressed, could result in loss of 

T/R control and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after 

determining that the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information 

The FAA reviewed Brantly Helicopter 

Service Letter No. 102, dated July 11, 

1974 (SL 102). SL 102 specifies 

repetitively cleaning and inspecting the 

areas where each T/R blade attaching 

arm extends from the T/R hub for a 

crack. SL 102 also specifies repetitively 

cleaning and dye penetrant inspecting 

the radius at the shoulder of each T/R 

hub spindle for a crack. If there is a 

crack, SL 102 specifies replacing the 

part and reporting any cracks to Brantly 

Operators, Inc. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

repetitively cleaning, and using a 10X or 

higher power magnifying glass, 

inspecting the areas where each T/R 

blade attaching arm extends from the T/ 

R hub for a crack, corrosion, and pitting, 

and depending on the results, removing 

the T/R hub from service. This proposed 

AD would also require repetitively 

cleaning and dye penetrant inspecting 

the radius at the shoulder of each T/R 

hub spindle for a crack and pitting, and 

depending on the results, removing the 

T/R hub from service. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

SL 102 applies to all Brantly 

helicopters, whereas this proposed AD 

would apply to helicopters with T/R 

hub P/N 2591 or 161–1 installed. This 

proposed AD would require using a 10X 

or higher power magnifying glass when 

inspecting the area where the T/R blade 

attaching arm extends from the T/R hub 

for a crack, corrosion, and pitting, 

whereas SL 102 does not specify using 

a magnifying glass and only specifies 

inspecting for a crack in that area. This 

proposed AD would require dye 

penetrant inspecting the radius at the 

shoulder of each T/R spindle for a crack 

and pitting, whereas SL 102 only 

specifies dye penetrant inspecting for a 

crack in those areas. SL102 specifies 

reporting any cracks to Brantly 

Operators, Inc., whereas this proposed 

AD would not require reporting any 

information. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 57 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. Based on these numbers, the 

FAA estimates that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this proposed AD. 

Cleaning and inspecting the T/R hub 

with a magnifying glass would take 

about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost 

of $85 per helicopter and $4,845 for the 

U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle. Cleaning 

and dye penetrant inspecting the T/R 

hub would take about 2 work-hours for 

an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter 

and $9,690 for the U.S. fleet, per 

inspection cycle. If required, replacing a 

T/R hub would take about 0.5 workhour and parts would cost about $500 

for an estimated cost of $543 per 

replacement. 

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 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 144 / Friday, July 30, 2021 / Proposed Rules 40969 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

Brantly Helicopters Industries U.S.A. Co., 

Ltd., and Brantly International, Inc.: 

Docket No. FAA–2021–0610; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00126–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by September 

13, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Brantly Helicopters 

Industries U.S.A. Co., Ltd., Model 305 

helicopters and Brantly International, Inc., 

Model B–2, B–2A, and B–2B helicopters, 

certificated in any category, with a tail rotor 

(T/R) hub part number 161–1 or 2951, 

installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6420, Tail Rotor Head. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of crack 

in the T/R hub. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address cracking of the T/R hub. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 

result in loss of T/R control 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 

Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 

at the next annual inspection after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 

100 hours TIS and at each annual inspection: 

(1) Clean, and using a 10X or higher power 

magnifying glass, inspect the areas where 

each T/R blade attaching arm extends from 

the T/R hub for a crack, corrosion, and 

pitting. If there is a crack, corrosion, or 

pitting, before further flight, remove the T/R 

hub from service. 

(2) Clean and dye penetrant inspect the 

radius at the shoulder of each T/R hub 

spindle for a crack and pitting. If there is a 

crack or pitting, before further flight, remove 

the T/R hub from service. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Fort Worth ACO 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 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (i) of this 

AD. 

(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 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Marc Belhumeur, Senior Project 

Engineer, Certification Section, Fort Worth 

ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222–5177; 

email 9-ASW-FWACO@faa.gov. 

Issued on July 26, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16219 Filed 7–29–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0596; Airspace 

Docket No. 20–AGL–15] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Proposed Amendment of V–6, V–10, 

V–30, V–100, and V–233 in the Vicinity 

of Litchfield, MI 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

amend VHF Omnidirectional Range 

(VOR) Federal airways V–6, V–10, V–30, 

V–100, and V–233 in the vicinity of 

Litchfield, MI. The air traffic service 

(ATS) route modifications are necessary 

due to the planned decommissioning of 

the VOR portion of the Litchfield, MI, 

VOR/Distance Measuring Equipment 

(VOR/DME) navigational aid (NAVAID). 

The Litchfield VOR/DME NAVAID 

provides navigational guidance for 

portions of the affected VOR Federal 

airways listed above and is planned to 

be decommissioned as part of the FAA’s 

VOR Minimum Operational Network 

(MON) program. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before September 13, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 

Washington, DC 20590; telephone: (800) 

647–5527, or (202) 366–9826. You must 

identify FAA Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0596; Airspace Docket No. 20–AGL–15 

at the beginning of your comments. You 

may also submit comments through the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov. 

FAA Order 7400.11E, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at https://www.faa.gov/air_

traffic/publications/. For further 

information, you can contact the Rules 

and Regulations Group, Federal 

Aviation Administration, 800 

Independence Avenue SW, Washington, 

DC 20591; telephone: (202) 267–8783. 

The Order is also available for 

inspection at the National Archives and 

Records Administration (NARA). For 

information on the availability of FAA 

Order 7400.11E at NARA, email: 

fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https://

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

ibr-locations.html. 


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