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 Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2021-0671; Project Identifier 2019-SW-036-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
 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 Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of damage (burns) on the tail rotor blades (TRBs). This proposed AD would require an inspection of each TRB for the general condition and any evidence of burns and replacement if necessary, 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 October 4, 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 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 the EASA material on the EASA website at 
                        *https://ad.easa.europa.eu.*
                         You may view this material at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. This EASA material is also available at 
                        *https://www.regulations.gov*
                         by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0671. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket at 
                    *https://www.regulations.gov*
                     by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0671; 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 EASA AD, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Fitch, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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-2021-0671; Project Identifier 2019-SW-036-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 Jacob Fitch, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, 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 
                    ( print page 46163)
                    be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking. Background The EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0073, dated March 28, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0073), to correct an unsafe condition for Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of damage (burns) on the TRBs. The FAA is proposing this AD to address damage (burns) on the TRBs, which could result in the loss of a TRB, and possible reduced control of the helicopter. See EASA AD 2019-0073 for additional background information. Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51 EASA AD 2019-0073 requires an inspection of each TRB for the general condition and any evidence of burns and replacement if necessary. 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. 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 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. Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA AD 2019-0073, 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 developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result, the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2019-0073 by reference in the FAA final rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2019-0073 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 EASA AD 2019-0073 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 EASA AD 2019-0073. Service information required by EASA AD 2019-0073 for compliance will be available at 
                    *https://www.regulations.gov*
                     by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0671 after the FAA final rule is published. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 138 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 proposed AD. Estimated Costs for Required Actions
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per
                             product
Cost on U.S. operators3 work-hours × $85 per hour = $255 (4 blades)
$0
$255
$35,190
 The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-condition actions that would be required based on the results of any required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of aircraft that might need these on-condition actions: Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
Labor cost
Parts cost
Cost per product2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170 per blade
$57,500 per blade
$57,670 per blade.
 The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected operators. 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.
                    ( print page 46164) 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
 2.The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: **Leonardo S.p.a.:**
                         Docket No. FAA-2021-0671; Project Identifier 2019-SW-036-AD. (a) Comments Due Date The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by October 4, 2021. (b) Affected ADs None. (c) Applicability This AD applies to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters, certificated in any category, as identified in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0073, dated March 28, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0073). (d) Subject Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Codes: 3097, Ice/Rain Protection System Wiring; 6410, Tail Rotor Blades. (e) Unsafe Condition This AD was prompted by a report of damage (burns) on the tail rotor blades (TRBs). The FAA is issuing this AD to address damage (burns) on the TRBs. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of a TRB, possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter. (f) Compliance Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. (g) Requirements Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all required actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with, EASA AD 2019-0073. (h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2019-0073 (1) Where EASA AD 2019-0073 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD requires using hours time-in-service. (2) Where EASA AD 2019-0073 refers to its effective date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD. (3) Where the service information required by EASA AD 2019-0073 specifies returning a part to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. (4) This AD does not require the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2019-0073. (5) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2019-0073 specifies to replace if there are burn signs or other damage, for this AD, other damage is defined as being consistent with wire overheat (
                        *e.g.,*
                         possible melted or exposed wires). (i) No Reporting Requirement Although the service information referenced in EASA AD 2019-0073 specifies to submit certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not include that requirement. (j) Special Flight Permit Special flight permits, as described in 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199, are not allowed. (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)(2) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: 
                        *9-AVS-AIR-730-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 2019-0073, contact 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 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-2021-0671. (2) For more information about this AD, contact Jacob Fitch, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-4130; email: 
                        *jacob.fitch@faa.gov.* Issued on August 11, 2021. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.


[FR Doc. 2021-17608 Filed 8-17-21; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910-13-P