50242 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

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

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA 2021–0607. 

(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 fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on July 21, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–19248 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–2021–0380; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01683–R; Amendment 

39–21672; AD 2021–16–10] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, 

EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, 

EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. 

This AD was prompted by a report that 

geometrical non-conformities were 

found in the root section of the tail rotor 

blade (TRB). This AD requires a onetime inspection (dimensional check) of 

the TRB for conformity and, depending 

on the findings, replacement of certain 

affected parts, as specified in a 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD, which is incorporated by 

reference. This AD also prohibits 

rework, repair, or modification of 

affected parts in the affected area of the 

TRB assembly root. 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 

IBR 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. 

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– 

0380. 

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– 

0380; 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: 

Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance 

& Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 

Stewart Ave., Mail Stop: Room 410, 

Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 516– 

228–7330; email andrea.jimenez@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2020–0282, dated December 17, 2020 

(EASA AD 2020–0282) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH Model EC135 P1, EC135 P2, 

EC135 P2+, EC135 P3, EC135 T1, EC135 

T2, EC135 T2+, EC135 T3, EC635 P2+, 

EC635 P3, EC635 T1, EC635 T2+, and 

EC635 T3 helicopters, all variants, all 

serial numbers. Model EC635 P2+, 

EC635 P3, EC635 T1, EC635 T2+, and 

EC635 T3 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 AD, therefore, does not include 

Model EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, EC635 T1, 

EC635 T2+, and EC635 T3 helicopters in 

the applicability. 

Furthermore, although EASA AD 

2020–0282 applies to all Model EC135 

P1, EC135 P2, EC135 P2+, EC135 P3, 

EC135 T1, EC135 T2, EC135 T2+, and 

EC135 T3 helicopters, this AD applies to 

helicopters with an affected part 

installed instead. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, 

EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, 

EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and 

EC135T3 helicopters. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

June 1, 2021 (86 FR 29216). The NPRM 

was prompted by a report that during an 

investigation related to an accident on 

an Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 

helicopter, geometrical nonconformities were observed in the TRB 

root section. EASA issued AD 2020– 

0187, dated August 21, 2020, to address 

this issue on Model EC130B4 and 

EC130T2 helicopters and the FAA 

issued corresponding AD 2021–10–25, 

Amendment 39–21558 (86 FR 29176, 

June 1, 2021). The Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, 

EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, 

EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and 

EC135T3 helicopters have a similar 

design and production requirements to 

the affected Model EC130B4 helicopter, 

and an inspection of the affected parts 

detected geometrical non-conformities 

in some instances. The NPRM proposed 

to require a one-time inspection 

(dimensional check) of the TRB for 

conformity and, depending on the 

findings, replacement of certain affected 

parts, as specified in EASA AD 2020– 

0282. The NPRM also proposed to 

prohibit rework, repair, or modification 

of affected parts in the affected area of 

the TRB assembly root. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

geometrical non-conformities in the 

TRB root section, which could lead to 

crack initiation and consequent blade 

failure, resulting in loss of control of the 

helicopter. See the MCAI for additional 

background information. 

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. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 50243 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2020–0282 requires a onetime inspection (dimensional check) to 

verify TRB conformity, and, depending 

on findings, replacement of each 

affected part classified as Category B 

(non-compliant TRB assembly). EASA 

AD 2020–0282 also prohibits rework, 

repair, or modification of affected parts 

in the critical section (affected area of 

the TRB assembly root). 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 341 helicopters of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

4 work-hours × $85 per hour = $340 .......................................................................................... $0 $340 $115,940 

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 helicopters that might need 

these on-condition actions: 

ESTIMATED COSTS OF ON-CONDITION ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

product 

10 work-hours × $85 per hour = $850 .................................................................................................................... $4,400 $5,250 

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. 

Adoption of 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: 

2021–16–10 Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39– 

21672; Docket No. FAA–2021–0380; 

Project Identifier MCAI–2020–01683–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 13, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, 

EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, 

EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 

helicopters, certificated in any category, with 

any of the tail rotor blade (TRB) part numbers 

specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (5) of 

this AD installed. 

(1) Part number (P/N) L642A2002101. 

(2) P/N L642A2002103. 

(3) P/N L642A2002104. 

(4) P/N L642A2002111. 

(5) P/N L642A2002112. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6410, Tail Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report that 

during an investigation related to an accident 

on an Airbus Helicopters Model EC130B4 

helicopter, geometrical non-conformities 

were observed in the TRB root section. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address 

geometrical non-conformities in the TRB root 

section, which could lead to crack initiation 


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50244 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

and consequent blade failure, resulting in 

loss of 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, European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2020–0282, dated 

December 17, 2020 (EASA AD 2020–0282). 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020–0282 

(1) Where EASA AD 2020–0282 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

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

2020–0282 does not apply to this AD. 

(3) Where the service information referred 

to in EASA AD 2020–0282 specifies to 

discard a certain part, this AD requires 

removing that part from service. 

(4) Where EASA AD 2020–0282 refers to 

flight hours (FH), this AD requires using 

hours time-in-service. 

(5) Where the service information referred 

to in EASA AD 2020–0282 specifies to 

measure using the Smartphone application or 

the PowerPoint method, those methods of 

measurement are not required by this AD. 

(6) Where the service information referred 

to in EASA AD 2020–0282 specifies to 

contact Airbus Helicopters if the 

measurement results cannot be confirmed, 

this AD requires determining the specified 

measurements but does not require 

contacting Airbus Helicopters for 

confirmation. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information referred 

to in EASA AD 2020–0282 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) 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 Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

COS Program Management Section, 

Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1600 Stewart 

Ave., Mail Stop: Room 410, Westbury, NY 

11590; telephone 516–228–7330; email 

andrea.jimenez@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 Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0282, dated December 17, 

2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2020–0282, 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 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–2021–0380. 

(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 fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on July 27, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–19250 Filed 9–7–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0161; Airspace 

Docket No. 21–ASW–5] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Amendment of Class E Airspace; 

Yoakum, TX 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action amends the Class 

E airspace extending upward from 700 

feet above the surface at Yoakum 

Municipal Airport, Yoakum, TX. The 

FAA is proposing this action as the 

result of an airspace review caused by 

the decommissioning of the Yoakum 

non-directional beacon (NDB). 

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, December 2, 

2021. The Director of the Federal 

Register approves this incorporation by 

reference action under 1 CFR part 51, 

subject to the annual revision of FAA 

Order 7400.11 and publication of 

conforming amendments. 

ADDRESSES: 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 Airspace Policy 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 

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

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

ibr-locations.html. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Rebecca Shelby, Federal Aviation 

Administration, Operations Support 

Group, Central Service Center, 10101 

Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5857. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Authority for This Rulemaking 

The FAA’s authority to issue rules 

regarding aviation safety is found in 

Title 49 of the United States Code. 

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. This rulemaking is 

promulgated under the authority 

described in Subtitle VII, Part A, 

Subpart I, Section 40103. Under that 

section, the FAA is charged with 

prescribing regulations to assign the use 

of airspace necessary to ensure the 

safety of aircraft and the efficient use of 

airspace. This regulation is within the 

scope of that authority as it amends the 

Class E airspace extending upward from 

700 feet above the surface at Yoakum 

Municipal Airport, Yoakum, TX, to 

support instrument flight rule 

operations at this airport. 

History 

The FAA published a notice of 

proposed rulemaking in the Federal 

Register (86 FR 14026; March 12, 2021) 

for Docket No. FAA–2021–0161 to 

amend the Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface 

at Yoakum Municipal Airport, Yoakum, 

TX. Interested parties were invited to 

participate in this rulemaking effort by 

submitting written comments on the 


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