This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

41263 

Vol. 87, No. 132 

Tuesday, July 12, 2022 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0818; Project 

Identifier AD–2022–00299–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo 

S.p.a. 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 Leonardo S.p.a. Model A109, 

A109A, A109A II, A109C, A109K2, 

A109E, A109S, and AW109SP 

helicopters modified by Supplemental 

Type Certificate (STC) SR01812LA. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a report 

of certain floats not deploying due to a 

faulty plunger assembly. This proposed 

AD would require repairing or replacing 

certain float assemblies. 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 August 26, 

2022. 

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 service information identified 

in this NPRM, contact Apical Industries, 

Inc., Jason Gardiner, 3030 Enterprise Ct., 

Vista, CA 92081, United States; phone: 

(760) 542–2096; email: jgardiner@

dartaero.com; website: https://

www.dartaerospace.com/. 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. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0818; 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. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Johann S. Magana, Aerospace Engineer, 

Cabin Safety & Environmental Systems 

Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, 

CA 90712; telephone (562) 627–5322; 

email johann.magana@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–2022–0818; Project Identifier AD– 

2022–00299–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 Johann S. Magana, 

Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety & 

Environmental Systems Section, Los 

Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 3960 

Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5322; email 

johann.magana@faa.gov. Any 

commentary that the FAA receives 

which is not specifically designated as 

CBI will be placed in the public docket 

for this rulemaking. 

Background 

The FAA received a report of two 

forward floats not deploying after an 

inadvertent activation. It was discovered 

that the plunger assembly caused the 

forward floats to not deploy. Further 

investigation revealed that a design 

change in 2009 of the plunger assembly 

inadvertently changed the position of 

the bushing from a press fit to a 

threaded fit. The dimensions for the 

threaded fit were preventing the 

bushing from fully clearing the ball 

bearings when bottom out on the 

solenoid on the valve assemblies. The 

plunger assembly is contained within 

the float assembly and reservoir 

assembly. An emergency float kit 

consists of float assemblies, reservoir 

assemblies, and additional components. 

These emergency float kits (634.4100 Kit 

Series) are installed on Leonardo S.p.a. 

Model A109, A109A, A109A II, A109C, 

A109K2, A109E, A109S, and AW109SP 

helicopters modified by STC 

SR01812LA; this STC is held by Apical 

Industries, Inc., d/b/a DART Aerospace 

(DART). This condition, if not 


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41264 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 132 / Tuesday, July 12, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

addressed, could result in the helicopter 

either rolling to one side or capsizing in 

an event of an emergency landing on 

water. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after 

determining that the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type designs. 

Related Service Information 

The FAA reviewed DART Service 

Bulletin SB2021–05, dated December 6, 

2021. This service bulletin specifies 

replacing certain serial-numbered float 

assemblies or, if the serial number is not 

included as part of the service bulletin, 

contacting DART to validate effectivity. 

The service bulletin also provides 

procedures for removing the float 

assemblies from the helicopter, 

discharging the reservoirs, shipping the 

float assemblies, and re-installing the 

float assemblies. 

The FAA also reviewed DART’s 

Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness ICA109–1, Rev. U, dated 

October 27, 2020. This service 

information provides description, 

operation, disassembly, inspection, 

assembly, repair, and testing 

instructions as well as an illustrated 

parts list for emergency float kits and 

emergency float with life raft kits. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

repairing or replacing each float 

assembly part number 644.0501, 

644.0502, 644.0503, 644.0504, 644.0505, 

or 644.0506 in certain emergency float 

kits with a method approved by the 

Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

FAA. These actions would be required 

within 300 hours time-in-service or 6 

months after the effective date of the 

final rule of this proposed AD, 

whichever occurs first. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 25 

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. 

Replacing each float assembly would 

take about 4 work-hours for an 

estimated cost of $340 per helicopter 

and up to $8,500 for the U.S. fleet. The 

FAA has received no definitive data that 

would enable the FAA to provide parts 

cost estimates for the proposed actions; 

however, 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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA–2022– 

0818; Project Identifier AD–2022–00299– 

R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by August 26, 

2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

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

A109, A109A, A109A II, A109C, A109K2, 

A109E, A109S, and AW109SP helicopters, 

certificated in any category, modified by 

Supplemental Type Certificate SR01812LA 

with A109 Float (with/without Liferafts 

System) DART Aerospace 634.4100 Kit Series 

part number (P/N) 634.4101, 634.4102, 

634.4103, 634.4104, 634.4106, or 634.4107 

with float assembly P/N 644.0501, 644.0502, 

644.0503, 644.0504, 644.0505, or 644.0506 

installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 2560, Emergency Equipment. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of two 

forward floats not deploying after an 

inadvertent activation. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to ensure the affected floats work as 

intended. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in the helicopter 

either rolling to one side or capsizing in an 

event of an emergency landing on water. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

Within 300 hours time-in-service or within 

6 months after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs first, remove each float 

assembly identified in paragraph (c) of this 

AD and repair or replace it in accordance 

with a method approved by the Manager, Los 

Angeles ACO Branch, FAA. For a repair or 

replacement method to be approved by the 

Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, as 

required by this paragraph, the Manager’s 

approval letter must specifically refer to this 

AD. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 132 / Tuesday, July 12, 2022 / Proposed Rules 41265 

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 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (i) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMLAACO-AMOC-Requests@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. 

(i) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Johann S. Magana, Aerospace 

Engineer, Cabin Safety & Environmental 

Systems Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5322; email 

johann.magana@faa.gov. 

Issued on July 5, 2022. 

Christina Underwood, 

Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–14696 Filed 7–11–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0817; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–00369–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus SAS 

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 Airbus SAS Model Airbus 

A350–941 and A350–1041 airplanes. 

This proposed AD was prompted by a 

determination that, in the event of rapid 

decompression at a specific location of 

the airplane, possible deflections of the 

passenger floor cross beams may result 

in wiring damages, leading to potential 

system losses. This proposed AD would 

require amending the existing airplane 

flight manual (AFM) to update the 

landing performance database, as 

specified in a European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is 

proposed for incorporation by reference. 

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 August 26, 

2022. 

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 material that will be incorporated 

by reference (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 material on the EASA website 

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

It is also available in the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0817. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0817; 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 mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI), any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dan 

Rodina, Aerospace Engineer, Large 

Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone 206–231–3225; email 

dan.rodina@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–2022–0817; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2022–00369–T’’ 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 Dan Rodina, 

Aerospace Engineer, Large Aircraft 

Section, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th Street, 

Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

206–231–3225; email dan.rodina@

faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA 

receives which 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 2022–0054, 

dated March 23, 2022 (EASA AD 2022– 

0054) (also referred to as the MCAI), to 

correct an unsafe condition for certain 

Airbus A350–941 and A350–1041 

airplanes. EASA AD 2022–0054 

supersedes EASA AD 2022–0045, dated 

March 16, 2022 (EASA AD 2022–0045), 

which was issued to correct the unsafe 

condition. However, the revision of the 

AFM referenced in EASA AD 2022– 

0045 did not include the required 

amendments. 


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