Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 182 / Thursday, September 23, 2021 / Proposed Rules 52851 

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

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0827. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact, Dan Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3225; email dan.rodina@

faa.gov. 

Issued on September 16, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20405 Filed 9–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0826; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00300–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 adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH Model EC135P2+, EC135P3, 

EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports that certain aft and forward 

fitting assemblies, which are not 

approved for installation on certain 

helicopters, were installed on those 

helicopters as part of the outboard load 

system. Operators of those helicopters 

might not be aware of the applicable 

overhaul or life limits for those fitting 

assemblies. This proposed AD would 

require inspecting the aft and forward 

fitting assemblies of the outboard load 

system to determine the part number, 

re-identifying the part if necessary, 

inspecting each affected part for damage 

(which may be indicated by signs of 

corrosion, mechanical damage, loose 

rivets, or cracks) and, depending on the 

findings, corrective actions, 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 November 8, 

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; 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. The EASA material 

is also available at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0826. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0826; 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: 

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. 

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–2021–0826; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2021–00300–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 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. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives that 

is not specifically designated as CBI will 

be placed in the public docket for this 

rulemaking. 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2021–0066, 

dated March 8, 2021 (EASA AD 2021– 

0066), to correct an unsafe condition for 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(formerly Eurocopter Deutschland 

GmbH and Eurocopter Espan ̃ a S.A.) 

Model EC135 P2+, EC135 P3, EC135 

T2+, EC135 T3, EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, 

EC635 T1, EC635 T2+, and EC635 T3 

helicopters, serial numbers (S/Ns) 0866 

to 1166 inclusive, except S/Ns 1007, 

1102, and 1145, and except helicopters 

on which Airbus Helicopters Service 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
52852 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 182 / Thursday, September 23, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

Bulletin EC135–85–063 has been 

embodied in service. 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 proposed AD, therefore, does not 

include Model EC635 P2+, EC635 P3, 

EC635 T1, EC635 T2+, and EC635 T3 

helicopters in the applicability. 

This proposed AD was prompted by 

reports that aft and forward fitting 

assemblies, having part number 

L851M2810103, were installed as part of 

the outboard load system on helicopters 

having S/Ns 0886 and up. The affected 

fitting assemblies are not approved for 

installation on helicopters having those 

serial numbers. Operators of those 

helicopters might not be aware of the 

applicable overhaul or life limits for 

those fitting assemblies. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address failure of 

affected aft and forward fitting 

assemblies and consequent loss of 

external cargo, resulting in personal 

injury or injury to persons on the 

ground. See EASA AD 2021–0066 for 

additional background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2021–0066 requires a onetime inspection of each aft and forward 

fitting assembly of the outboard load 

system to identify the part number, reidentifying the part number if necessary, 

a one-time inspection of an affected 

fitting assembly for damage, and 

corrective action. The corrective action 

includes replacing any damaged fitting. 

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 the same 

type design. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2021–0066, 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 2021–0066 by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2021–0066 

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 2021–0066 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 2021–0066. 

Service information required by EASA 

AD 2021–0066 for compliance will be 

available at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0826 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 69 

helicopters of U.S. Registry. The FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD. 

ESTIMATED COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts 

cost 

Cost per 

product 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

Inspection to determine fitting assembly part 

number.

0.50 work-hour × $85 per hour = $42.50 ......... $0 $42.50 $2,932.50 

The FAA estimates the following 

costs to do any necessary actions that 

would be required based on the results 

of the proposed inspection. The agency 

has no way of determining the number 

of aircraft that might need these actions: 

ON-CONDITION COSTS

Action Labor cost Parts 

cost 

Cost per 

product 

Re-identification of affected fitting assembly with part 

number.

0.25 work-hour × $85 per hour = $21.25 ....................... $0 $21.25 

Detailed inspection of affected fitting assembly ............. 1.75 work-hours × $85 per hour = $148.75 ................... 0 148.75 

Replacement of damaged affected fitting assembly ...... 1.50 work-hours × $85 per hour = $127.50 ................... 1,363 1,490.50 

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 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 182 / Thursday, September 23, 2021 / Proposed Rules 52853 

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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: 

Docket No. FAA–2021–0826; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00300–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by November 8, 

2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P2+, 

EC135P3, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 

helicopters, certificated in any category, as 

identified in European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) AD 2021–0066, dated March 

8, 2021 (EASA AD 2021–0066). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2550, Cargo Compartments. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports that 

certain aft and forward fitting assemblies, 

which are not approved for installation on 

certain helicopters, were installed on those 

helicopters as part of the outboard load 

system. Operators of those helicopters might 

not be aware of the applicable overhaul or 

life limits for those fitting assemblies. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address failure of 

affected aft and forward fitting assemblies 

and consequent loss of external cargo, 

resulting in personal injury or injury to 

persons on the ground. 

(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 2021–0066. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2021–0066 

(1) Where EASA AD 2021–0066 requires 

compliance in terms of flight hours, this AD 

requires using hours time-in-service. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2021–0066 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(3) Where paragraph (4) of, and the service 

information referenced in, EASA AD 2021– 

0066, specify contacting Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH for applicable 

instructions if any damage (which may be 

indicated by signs of corrosion, mechanical 

damage, loose rivets, or cracks) is found, the 

corrective action must be accomplished using 

a method approved by the Manager, General 

Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0066 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing the parts from service instead. 

(5) This AD does not require the 

‘‘Remarks’’ section of EASA AD 2021–0066. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2021–0066 specifies 

to submit certain information to the 

manufacturer, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

(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 helicopter can be inspected (if the 

operator elects to do so), provided the 

outboard load system is not used until the 

applicable corrective actions required by 

paragraph (4) of EASA AD 2021–0066 are 

completed. 

(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-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 2021–0066, contact 

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–2021–0826. 

(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 September 15, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20413 Filed 9–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0796; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2021–00098–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 


lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1