Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 50235 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0383; Project 

Identifier 2018–SW–005–AD; Amendment 

39–21671; AD 2021–16–09] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 

helicopters. This AD was prompted by 

corrosion on the inlet check valve banjo 

fitting of emergency flotation system 

(EFS) float assemblies. This AD requires 

visually inspecting each banjo fitting 

installed on an affected EFS float 

assembly, and depending on the results, 

removing the banjo fitting from service. 

This AD also requires applying 

corrosion inhibiting compound and 

prohibits installing an affected EFS float 

assembly unless certain requirements 

have been accomplished as specified in 

a European Aviation Safety Agency 

(now 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 October 13, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of October 13, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, 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 

material on the EASA website at https:// 

ad.easa.europa.eu. For Aero Sekur and 

Leonardo Helicopters service 

information identified in this final rule, 

contact Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, 

Emanuele Bufano, Head of 

Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 

21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; 

telephone +39–0331–225074; fax +39– 

0331–229046; or at https://

customerportal.leonardocompany.com/ 

en-US/. 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 at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0383. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0383; 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: 

Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, COS 

Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance 

& Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

kristin.bradley@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued a series of ADs, the 

most recent being EASA AD 2018–0006, 

dated January 10, 2018 (EASA AD 

2018–0006), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Leonardo S.p.A. 

Helicopters (formerly Finmeccanica 

S.p.A., AgustaWestland S.p.A.) Model 

AW189 helicopters with certain partnumbered and serial-numbered Aero 

Sekur EFS float assemblies installed, 

except those float assemblies marked 

with SB–189–25–004. EASA initially 

issued EASA AD 2017–0256, dated 

December 22, 2017 (EASA AD 2017– 

0256), to address the unsafe condition. 

EASA issued EASA AD 2018–0006 to 

supersede EASA AD 2017–0256 to 

revise the compliance time based on the 

EFS float assembly condition. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model 

AW189 helicopters. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 28, 2021 (86 FR 28714). The NPRM 

was prompted by corrosion on the inlet 

check valve banjo fitting of EFS float 

assemblies. The NPRM proposed to 

require visually inspecting each banjo 

fitting installed on an affected EFS float 

assembly, and depending on the results, 

removing the banjo fitting from service. 

The NPRM also proposed to require 

applying corrosion inhibiting 

compound to each banjo fitting installed 

on an affected EFS float assembly and 

prohibit installing an affected EFS float 

assembly unless the banjo fitting 

inspection, banjo fitting replacement, 

and corrosion inhibiting compound 

application requirements have been 

accomplished, as specified in an EASA 

AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 

reduced inflation of an EFS float. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, 

could affect the helicopter’s buoyancy 

during an emergency landing on water. 

See EASA AD 2018–0006 for additional 

background information. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The FAA received no 

comments on the NPRM or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2018–0006 requires 

visually inspecting the banjo fittings 

installed on an affected EFS float 

assembly. If there is corrosion on a 

banjo fitting, EASA AD 2018–0006 

requires replacing the banjo fitting. 

EASA AD 2018–0006 also requires 

applying corrosion inhibiting 

compound to each banjo fitting installed 

on an affected EFS float assembly. 

EASA AD 2018–0006 prohibits 

installing an affected EFS float assembly 

unless the banjo fitting inspection, banjo 

fitting replacement, and corrosion 

inhibiting compound application 

requirements have been accomplished. 

EASA AD 2018–0006 also allows credit 

for actions accomplished previously 

with a prior revision of the Leonardo 

Helicopters service information. 

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 

The FAA reviewed Leonardo 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

189–174, original issue, dated December 

22, 2017 (ASB 189–174 original issue), 

and Revision A, dated January 5, 2018 

(ASB 189–174 Rev A). The FAA also 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
50236 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

reviewed Aero Sekur Service Bulletin 

SB–189–25–004, original issue, dated 

November 22, 2017 (SB–189–25–004), 

which is attached as Annex A to ASB 

189–174 original issue and ASB 189– 

174 Rev A. 

ASB 189–174 Rev A and ASB 189– 

174 original issue specify the same 

procedures, except the compliance time 

specified by ASB 189–174 Rev A has 

been revised by adding affected EFS 

float assemblies that have been 

inspected using procedures in the 

maintenance manual within the 

previous 12 months. ASB 189–174 

original issue and ASB 189–174 Rev A 

specify accomplishing the Visual 

Inspection and Corrosion Prevention, 

and Record Instruction procedures 

specified in SB–189–25–004. ASB 189– 

174 original issue and ASB 189–174 Rev 

A also specify emailing photographical 

evidence of each corroded banjo fitting 

to Leonardo Helicopters PSE Division 

and returning replaced banjo fittings to 

Leonardo Helicopters Customer Support 

Division. 

SB–189–25–004 specifies procedures 

for cleaning and visually inspecting 

each banjo fitting for evidence of 

corrosion. If there is corrosion, SB–189– 

25–004 specifies procedures for 

discarding the banjo fitting and its Orings, and installing a new banjo fitting. 

SB–189–25–004 also specifies 

procedures for applying corrosion 

inhibiting compound (JC5A or Mastinox 

6856) on all banjo fittings. When SB– 

189–25–004 is accomplished, SB–189– 

25–004 specifies procedures for marking 

the identification label of the EFS float 

assembly. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

EASA AD 2018–0006 requires 

returning and discarding certain parts, 

whereas this AD requires removing 

those parts from service instead. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 4 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. 

Inspecting the banjo fittings takes 

about 8.5 work-hours for an estimated 

cost of $723 per helicopter and $2,892 

for the U.S. fleet. Applying corrosion 

inhibiting compound takes about 1.5 

work-hours for an estimated cost of 

$128 per helicopter and $512 for the 

U.S. fleet. If required, replacing a banjo 

fitting takes a minimal additional 

amount of time after inspecting it and 

parts cost about $550 for an estimated 

cost of $550 per helicopter. 

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 

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: 

2021–16–09 Leonardo S.p.a.: Amendment 

39–21671; Docket No. FAA–2021–0383; 

Project Identifier 2018–SW–005–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 13, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

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

AW189 helicopters, certificated in any 

category, as identified in European Aviation 

Safety Agency (now European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 2018– 

0006, dated January 10, 2018 (EASA AD 

2018–0006). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 3212, Emergency Flotation Section. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by corrosion on the 

inlet check valve banjo fitting of emergency 

flotation system (EFS) float assemblies. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to prevent reduced 

inflation of an EFS float. The unsafe 

condition, if not addressed, could affect the 

helicopter’s buoyancy during an emergency 

landing on water. 

(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 2018–0006. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2018–0006 

(1) Where EASA AD 2018–0006 refers to 

December 29, 2017 (the effective date of 

EASA AD 2017–0256, dated December 22, 

2017), this AD requires using the effective 

date of this AD. 

(2) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2018–0006 specifies 

to return a certain part, this AD requires 

removing that part from service. 

(3) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2018–0006 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing those parts from service. 

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

2018–0006 does not apply to this AD. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2018–0006 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 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 50237 

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) 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 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Kristi Bradley, Program Manager, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

kristin.bradley@faa.gov. 

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) 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 this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2018–0006, dated January 10, 

2018. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2018–0006, 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. 

(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. 

This material may be found in the AD docket 

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

for and locating Docket No. FAA–2021–0383. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email 

fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to https://

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

Issued on July 26, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–19249 Filed 9–7–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0377; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00380–R; Amendment 

39–21674; AD 2021–16–12] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron 

Canada Limited Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 

helicopters. This AD was prompted by 

three occurrences of metallic debris in 

the engine oil lubrication system 

causing the 12 volts direct current 

(VDC) reference voltage to be shorted to 

ground and loss of important flight 

information to the pilot. This AD 

requires replacing a certain partnumbered relay panel assembly. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 13, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of October 13, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact Bell 

Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de 

l’Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4, 

Canada; telephone (450) 437–2862 or 

(800) 363–8023; fax (450) 433–0272; 

email productsupport@bellflight.com; or 

at https://www.bellflight.com/support/ 

contact-support. 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. It is also available 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0377. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0377; 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 Transport Canada AD, 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: Hal 

Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational 

Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 950 

L’Enfant Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 

20024; telephone (202) 267–9167; email 

hal.jensen@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 Bell Textron Canada Limited 

Model 505 helicopters, with serial 

numbers 65011 through 65023 

inclusive, 65025 through 65028 

inclusive, 65030 through 65032 

inclusive, 65034, and 65036 with relay 

panel assembly part number (P/N) SLS– 

075–002–107 installed. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

May 25, 2021 (86 FR 28038). In the 

NPRM, the FAA proposed to require 

replacing relay panel assembly part 

number P/N SLS–075–002–107 with 

relay panel assembly P/N SLS–075– 

002–109. The NPRM also proposed to 

prohibit installing relay panel assembly 

P/N SLS–075–002–107 on any 

helicopter. The NPRM was prompted by 

Canadian AD CF–2017–36, dated 

December 15, 2017 (Canadian AD CF– 

2017–36), issued by Transport Canada, 

which is the aviation authority for 

Canada, to correct an unsafe condition 

for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 

Limited (BHTCL) (now Bell Textron 

Canada Limited) Model 505 helicopters 

serial numbers 65011 through 65023, 

65025 through 65028, 65030 through 

65032, 65034, and 65036. Transport 

Canada advises of three occurrences of 

metallic debris in the engine oil 

lubrication system of the Model 505 

helicopter causing the Garmin Engine 

Airframe (GEA) 12 VDC reference 

voltage to be shorted to ground. This 

short to ground results in loss of display 

of important flight information 

including the main rotor rotations per 

minute (Nr), fuel quantity, and 

transmission oil pressure and 

temperature, and the generator voltage 

and ammeter parameters are marked 

invalid with a red ‘‘X’’ on the primary 

flight display (PFD) and the multifunction display (MFD). This condition, 

if not addressed, could result in loss of 

caution, advisory, and system 

performance indications for multiple 

helicopter systems, particularly when 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with RULES