Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 146 / Tuesday, August 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 41791 

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. 

(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, New York ACO Branch, 

FAA; or TCCA; or Airbus Canada’s TCCA 

Design Approval Organization (DAO). If 

approved by the DAO, the approval must 

include the DAO-authorized signature. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For information about TCCA AD CF– 

2021–03, contact the TCCA, Transport 

Canada National Aircraft Certification, 159 

Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0N5, 

CANADA; telephone 888–663–3639; email 

AD-CN@tc.gc.ca; internet https://

tc.canada.ca/en/aviation. For Airbus service 

information identified in this AD, contact 

Airbus Canada Limited Partnership, 13100 

Henri-Fabre Boulevard, Mirabel, Que ́bec J7N 

3C6, Canada; telephone 450–476–7676; email 

a220_crc@abc.airbus; internet https://

a220world.airbus.com. 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 on 

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

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0615. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Elizabeth Dowling, Aerospace 

Engineer, Mechanical Systems and 

Administrative Services Section, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7300; fax 516–794–5531; email 9- 

avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

Issued on July 28, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16450 Filed 8–2–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0611; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00038–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2019–05–06, which applies to Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus 

Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, 

EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, 

EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 

helicopters. AD 2019–05–06 requires 

replacing the retaining ring, inspecting 

the hoist cable hook assembly, and, if 

necessary, replacing the elastomeric 

energy absorber. Since the FAA issued 

AD 2019–05–06 the design approval 

holder (DAH) has designed an updated 

hook assembly, which, when installed, 

terminates the repetitive inspections 

required by AD 2019–05–06. This 

proposed AD would continue to require 

the actions specified in AD 2019–05–06, 

and would also require a modification 

or replacement of the hoist cable hook 

assembly that would terminate the 

repetitive inspections and retaining ring 

replacements, 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 September 17, 

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 EASA material that is proposed 

for 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 IBR material on the EASA 

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

For Goodrich 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/technicalsupport.html. 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–2021–0611. 

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– 

0611; 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. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Jacob Fitch, Aerospace Engineer, COS 

Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance 

& Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

phone: (817) 222–4130; email: 

jacob.fitch@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–2021–0611; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2021–00038–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 proposal. 

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 


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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 Jacob Fitch, Aerospace 

Engineer, COS Program Management 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222– 

4130; email: jacob.fitch@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 

The FAA issued AD 2019–05–06, 

Amendment 39–19588 (84 FR 8961, 

March 13, 2019) (AD 2019–05–06), 

which applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, 

EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, 

EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. 

AD 2019–05–06 requires replacing the 

retaining ring, inspecting the hoist cable 

hook assembly, and, if necessary, 

replacing the elastomeric energy 

absorber. The FAA issued AD 2019–05– 

06 to address detachment of a hook 

assembly from an external mounted 

hoist cable resulting in in-flight failure 

of the hoist assembly, which could 

result in injury to persons being lifted. 

Actions Since AD 2019–05–06 Was 

Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2019–05– 

06, the DAH has designed an updated 

hook assembly, which, when installed 

terminates the repetitive inspections 

required by AD 2019–05–06. 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2021–0011, dated January 12, 2021 

(EASA AD 2021–0011) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH (AHD) (formerly Eurocopter 

Deutschland GmbH, Eurocopter Espan ̃ a 

S.A.) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, 

EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, 

EC135T2, EC135T2+, EC135T3, 

EC635P2+, EC635P3, EC635T1, 

EC635T2+ and EC635T3 helicopters, all 

serial numbers up to 1276 inclusive. 

Model EC635P2+, EC635P3, EC635T1, 

EC635T2+, and EC635T3 helicopters are 

not certificated by the FAA and are not 

included on the U.S. type certificate 

data sheet except where the U.S. type 

certificate data sheet explains that the 

Model EC635T2+ helicopter having 

serial number 0858 was converted from 

Model EC635T2+ to Model EC135T2+; 

this proposed AD therefore does not 

include those helicopters in the 

applicability. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

a report that a hook detached from the 

hoist cable. The FAA is proposing this 

AD to address detachment of a hook 

from a hoist cable resulting in in-flight 

failure of the hoist, which could result 

in injury to persons being lifted. See the 

MCAI for additional background 

information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2021–0011 specifies 

procedures for replacing the retaining 

ring; inspecting the hoist cable hook 

assembly; replacing the elastomeric 

energy absorber; and modifying the 

hoist cable hook assembly or replacing 

an affected hoist with a serviceable 

hoist, which terminates the repetitive 

inspections and replacements. 

This proposed AD also requires 

Goodrich Service Bulletin No. 44301– 

10–17, Revision 4, dated July 26, 2017, 

which the Director of the Federal 

Register approved for incorporation by 

reference as of April 17, 2019 (84 FR 

8961). 

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. 

Other Related Service Information 

Airbus Helicopters has issued Alert 

Service Bulletin No. ASB EC135–85A– 

069, Revision 0, dated August 2, 2017. 

The service information describes 

procedures for inspecting each affected 

hook assembly, replacing the retaining 

ring, and replacing the elastomeric 

energy absorber. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

These products have been approved 

by the aviation authority of another 

country, and are approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, the FAA has been 

notified of the unsafe condition 

described in the MCAI referenced 

above. The FAA is proposing this AD 

after evaluating all the relevant 

information and determining the unsafe 

condition described previously is likely 

to exist or develop in other products of 

these same type designs. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

replacing the retaining ring, inspecting 

the hoist cable hook assembly, and, if 

necessary, replacing the elastomeric 

energy absorber. This proposed AD 

would also require accomplishing the 

actions specified in EASA AD 2021– 

0011 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 initially worked with 

Airbus and EASA to develop a process 

to use certain EASA ADs as the primary 

source of information for compliance 

with requirements for corresponding 

FAA ADs. The FAA has since 

coordinated with other manufacturers 

and civil aviation authorities (CAAs) to 

use this process. As a result, EASA AD 

2021–0011 will be incorporated by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2021–0011 

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 

the EASA AD 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 the EASA AD. Service 

information specified in EASA AD 

2021–0011 that is required for 

compliance with EASA AD 2021–0011 

will be available on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0611 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD affects 341 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. The FAA estimates the 

following costs to comply with this 

proposed AD: 


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ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

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

Retained inspections and 

replacements of the retaining ring from AD 

2019-05-06.

0.50 work-hour × $85 per 

hour = $42.50.

Minimal .............................. $42.50, per inspection 

cycle.

Up to $14,492.50, per inspection cycle 

New proposed modification 1 work-hour × $85 per 

hour = $85.

Negligible .......................... $85 .................................... $28,985 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary on-condition 

replacement of the elastomeric energy 

absorber that would be required based 

on the results of any required 

inspections. The FAA has no way of 

determining the number of helicopters 

that might need this on-condition 

action: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

0.50 work-hour × $85 per hour = $42.50 ................................................................................................................ $2,152 $2,194.50 

According to the manufacturer, some 

or all of the costs of this proposed 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. 

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 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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

(AD) 2019–05–06, Amendment 39– 

19588 (84 FR 8961, March 13, 2019); 

and 

■ b. Adding the following new AD: 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: 

Docket No. FAA–2021–0611; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00038–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by September 

17, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2019–05–06, 

Amendment 39–19588 (84 FR 8961, March 

13, 2019) (AD 2019–05–06). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, 

EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, 

EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 

helicopters, all serial numbers up to 1276 

inclusive, certificated in any category, with 

an affected hoist as identified in European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

2021–0011, dated January 12, 2021 (EASA 

AD 2021–0011). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 2500, Cabin Equipment/Furnishings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report that a 

hook detached from the hoist cable. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address detachment of 

a hook from a hoist cable resulting in inflight failure of the hoist, which could result 

in injury to persons being lifted. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Retained Requirements of Paragraph (e) 

of AD 2019–05–06 

This paragraph restates the requirements of 

paragraph (e) of AD 2019–05–06 with no 

changes. For Model EC135P1, EC135P2, 

EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, 

EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters: Within 

90 hours time-in-service (TIS) after April 17, 

2019 (the effective date of AD 2019–05–06) 

and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 180 

hours TIS: 

(1) Inspect the hook assembly and 

determine whether the elastomeric energy 

absorber has taken a permanent compression 

set by following the Accomplishment 

Instructions, paragraphs 2.A and 2.B, of 

Goodrich Service Bulletin No. 44301–10–17, 


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Revision 4, dated July 26, 2017 (SB 44301– 

10–17). If the elastomeric energy absorber has 

taken a permanent compression set, replace 

the elastomeric energy absorber before the 

next hoist operation. 

(2) Replace the retaining ring by following 

the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 

2.D through 2.K, of SB 44301–10–17. 

(h) New Requirements 

Except as specified in paragraph (i) of this 

AD: Comply with all required actions and 

compliance times specified in, and in 

accordance with, EASA AD 2021–0011. 

(i) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0011 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0011 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of EASA AD 

2021–0011 do not apply to this AD. The 

equivalent FAA requirements are specified in 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

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

2021–0011 does not apply to this AD. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0011 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing those parts from service. 

(5) Where paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 specifies to modify using ‘‘the 

instructions of the modification ASB,’’ this 

AD requires using ‘‘paragraph 3.B.1 and 3.B.2 

of the Accomplishment Instructions of the 

modification ASB.’’ 

(6) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0011 specifies 

to use tooling, equivalent tooling may be 

used. 

(7) Accomplishing the modification 

specified in paragraph (3) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 or the replacement specified in 

paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2021–0011 

terminates the repetitive actions required by 

paragraph (g) of this AD. 

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

0011 refers to October 25, 2017 (the effective 

date of EASA AD 2017–0199), this AD 

requires using the effective date of this AD; 

and where paragraph (6) of EASA AD 2021– 

0011 specified to do actions ‘‘as required by 

paragraph (1) of this [EASA] AD,’’ for this 

AD, do the actions required by paragraph (g) 

of this AD. 

(9) Paragraph (7) of EASA AD 2021–0011 

does not apply to this AD. For this AD, for 

helicopters that do not have an affected hoist 

identified in paragraph (c) of this AD 

installed: As of the effective date of this AD, 

do not install an affected hoist identified in 

paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter. 

(j) 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 required actions can be done to the 

helicopter (if the operator elects to do so), 

provided the hoist is not used. 

(k) 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 (l)(5) 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. 

(l) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2021–0011, contact the 

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. 

(2) For Goodrich 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. 

(3) 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 on the internet at 

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

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0611. 

(4) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin No. ASB EC135–85A–069, Revision 

0, dated August 2, 2017, which is not 

incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the actions 

specified in paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(5) For more information about this AD, 

contact Jacob Fitch, Aerospace Engineer, COS 

Program Management Section, Operational 

Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222–4130; 

email: jacob.fitch@faa.gov. 

Issued on July 27, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–16467 Filed 8–2–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0613; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01431–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; De Havilland 

Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by 

Bombardier, Inc.) 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 

certain De Havilland Aircraft of Canada 

Limited Model DHC–8–400, –401, and 

–402 airplanes. This proposed AD was 

prompted by a report of cracking found 

on a main landing gear (MLG) drag strut 

assembly. This proposed AD would 

require a records review to determine if 

an affected MLG drag strut assembly is 

installed, repetitive detailed inspections 

for cracking of affected strut assemblies, 

a one-time magnetic particle inspection 

for cracking, and on-condition actions if 

necessary. 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 17, 

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. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0613; 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. 


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