Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 105 / Thursday, June 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 29705 

Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency 

and Renewable Energy, pursuant to 

delegated authority from the Secretary 

of Energy. That document with the 

original signature and date is 

maintained by DOE. For administrative 

purposes only, and in compliance with 

requirements of the Office of the Federal 

Register, the undersigned DOE Federal 

Register Liaison Officer has been 

authorized to sign and submit the 

document in electronic format for 

publication, as an official document of 

the Department of Energy. This 

administrative process in no way alters 

the legal effect of this document upon 

publication in the Federal Register. 

Signed in Washington, DC, on May 27, 

2021. 

Treena V. Garrett, 

Federal Register Liaison Officer, U.S. 

Department of Energy. 

[FR Doc. 2021–11561 Filed 6–2–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 6450–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0449; Project 

Identifier 2018–SW–001–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

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 Model 

AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350D; and 

Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, 

AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP 

helicopters. This proposed AD was 

prompted by reports that the lanyards 

(bead chain tethers), which hold the 

quick release pins to the forward bracket 

assembly of certain litter kits, can loop 

around the directional control pedal 

stubs, limiting the movement of the 

pedals. This proposed AD would 

require modification of the lanyard 

attachment location for certain litter kit 

installations. 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 July 19, 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 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Airbus Helicopters, 

2701 North Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, 

TX 75052; telephone (972) 641–0000 or 

(800) 232–0323; fax (972) 641–3775; or 

at https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/ 

services/technical-support.html. 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–2021–0449; 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 Transport Canada AD, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

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: 

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–2021–0449; Project Identifier 

2018–SW–001–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 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. Any commentary that the FAA 

receives which is not specifically 

designated as CBI will be placed in the 

public docket for this rulemaking. 

Background 

Transport Canada, which is the 

aviation authority for Canada, has 

issued Canadian AD CF–2017–37, dated 

December 19, 2017 (Canadian AD CF– 

2017–37), to correct an unsafe condition 

for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 350 B, 

AS 350 BA, AS 350 B1, AS 350 B2, AS 

350 B3, AS 350 D, AS 355 E, AS 355 F, 

AS 355 F1, AS 355 F2, AS 355 N, and 

AS 355 NP helicopters. Transport 

Canada advises that there have been 

reports that the lanyards, which hold 

the quick release pins to the forward 

bracket assembly of certain litter kits, 

can loop around the directional control 

pedal stubs, limiting the movement of 

the pedals, which affects the control of 

the flight. If this condition exists and is 

not corrected during installation, this 

limitation may not be apparent until the 

pedal input is required in flight. This 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
29706 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 105 / Thursday, June 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

condition, if not addressed, could result 

in difficulty controlling the helicopter. 

Accordingly, Canadian AD CF–2017– 

37 requires modification of the lanyard 

attachment location for certain litter kit 

installations. Canadian AD CF–2017–37 

also specifies that installation of an 

affected part number litter kit is 

prohibited unless the installation 

conforms to the requirements of Airbus 

Helicopters Service Bulletin SB–AHCA– 

128, Revision 0, dated March 24, 2017. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Canada and 

are approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to the FAA’s bilateral 

agreement with Canada, Transport 

Canada, its technical representative, has 

notified the FAA of 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. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters 

Service Bulletin SB–AHCA–128, 

Revision 0, dated March 24, 2017. This 

service information specifies procedures 

for modifying the bead chain tether 

attachment locations for litter kits with 

certain part numbers. The modification 

includes relocating the bead chain 

tethers by removing the screws and 

washers for the pip pins on the forward 

bracket assembly; filling the empty 

holes with rivets; determining the new 

locations of and drilling new holes; and 

securing the bead chain tethers on the 

top side of the forward bracket assembly 

in the new hole locations. 

This service information 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. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

the service information already 

described, except as discussed under 

‘‘Differences Between this Proposed AD 

and the Transport Canada AD.’’ 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Transport Canada AD 

This proposed AD would require a 

pre-flight check prior to each flight to 

determine if there is interference 

between the lanyards that hold the 

quick release pins to the forward bracket 

assembly of the litter kit and the flight 

controls. This pre-flight check 

requirement would be terminated upon 

completion of the modification of the 

litter kit installation. Canadian AD CF– 

2017–37 does not include a requirement 

for the pre-flight check prior to each 

flight to determine if there is 

interference between the lanyards and 

the flight controls. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 967 

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 

Pre-flight check for lanyard interference.0.5 work-hour × $85 per hour = 

$42.50 per inspection cycle.

$0 $42.50 per inspection 

cycle.

$41,097.50 per inspection cycle. 

Modification of lanyard attachment location.1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85 .... 0 $85 ............................. $82,195. 

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, 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 (AD): 

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0449; Project Identifier 2018–SW–001– 

AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by July 19, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, 

AS350B2, AS350B3, and AS350D 

helicopters; and Model AS355E, AS355F, 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 105 / Thursday, June 3, 2021 / Proposed Rules 29707 

AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP 

helicopters, certificated in any category, with 

litter kits installed having any part number 

specified in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of 

this AD: 

(1) Part number (P/N) 350–200034 (lefthand litter kit). 

(2) P/N 350–200194 (left-hand litter kit). 

(3) P/N 350–200144 (right-hand litter kit). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6700, Rotorcraft Flight Control. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports that the 

lanyards (bead chain tethers), which hold the 

quick release pins to the forward bracket 

assembly of certain litter kits, can loop 

around the directional control pedal stubs, 

limiting the movement of the pedals, which 

affect the control of the flight. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address interference 

between the litter kit lanyards and the flight 

controls. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in limited flight 

control movement and difficulty controlling 

the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) For litter kits having any part specified 

in paragraphs (c)(1) through (3) of this AD: 

Prior to each flight until the modification 

required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD is 

accomplished, do a pre-flight check to 

determine if there is interference (e.g., 

limited movement of the pedals due to the 

lanyards that hold the quick release pins to 

the forward bracket assembly being looped 

around the directional control pedal stubs) 

between the lanyards that hold the quick 

release pins to the forward bracket assembly 

and the pedals. If interference is found, 

before further flight, do the modification 

required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD for 

the affected litter kit. The pre-flight check 

may be performed by the owner/operator 

(pilot) holding at least a private pilot 

certificate and must be entered into the 

aircraft records showing compliance with 

this AD in accordance with § 43.9(a)(1) 

through (4) and § 91.417(a)(2)(v). The record 

must be maintained as required by § 91.417, 

§ 121.380, or § 135.439. 

(2) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) 

after the effective date of this AD, modify the 

attachment location of the lanyard for litter 

kits having any part specified in paragraphs 

(c)(1) through (3) of this AD. Do the 

modification in accordance with paragraph 

3.B.2., ‘‘Procedure,’’ of the Accomplishment 

Instructions of Airbus Helicopters Service 

Bulletin SB–AHCA–128, Revision 0, dated 

March 24, 2017. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g): Litter kits, P/N 

350–200034 and P/N 350–200194, may have 

been installed under STC SR00406NY (for 

Model AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, 

AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters) or STC 

SR00407NY (for Model AS350B, AS350BA, 

AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, and AS350D 

helicopters). Litter kit P/N 350–200144 may 

have been installed under STC SR00458NY 

(for Model AS350BA, AS350B2, and 

AS350B3 helicopters). 

(h) Parts Installation Limitation 

As of the effective date of this AD, no 

person may install a litter kit having a part 

number identified in paragraphs (c)(1) 

through (3) of this AD, on any helicopter, 

unless the installation is modified as 

required by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD. 

(i) 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 (j)(1) 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. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) 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. 

(2) For information about AMOCs, contact 

the Manager, International Validation 

Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222–5110; 

email 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 

North Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 

telephone (972) 641–0000 or (800) 232–0323; 

fax (972) 641–3775; or at https://

www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/ 

technical-support.html. You may view this 

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. 

(4) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada AD CF–2017–37 dated 

December 19, 2017. You may view the 

Transport Canada AD on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0449. 

Issued on May 27, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–11615 Filed 6–2–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0447; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00131–E] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & 

Whitney Turbofan Engines 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for all 

Pratt & Whitney (PW) PW1500G and 

PW1900G series turbofan engines. This 

proposed AD was prompted by reports 

of cracks in the high-pressure 

compressor (HPC) rotor shaft that 

resulted in in-flight shutdowns (IFSDs) 

and unscheduled engine removals 

(UERs). This proposed AD would 

require removal and replacement of the 

HPC front hub and HPC rotor shaft. 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 July 19, 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 service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Pratt & Whitney, 

400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT 

06118; phone: (800) 565–0140; fax: (860) 

565–5442; email: help24@pw.utc.com; 

website: https://fleetcare.pw.utc.com. 

You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Airworthiness Products 

Section, Operational Safety Branch, 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 

01803. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (781) 238–7759. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 


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