30162 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 107 / Monday, June 7, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

(n) 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 certification office, 

send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (o)(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. 

(o) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Anthony Kenward, Aerospace 

Engineer, AIR–7F1, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, 

TX 78101; telephone (817) 222–5152; email 

Anthony.Kenward@faa.gov. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (now 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency) 

(EASA) AD 2017–0164, dated September 4, 

2017. You may view the EASA AD on the 

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

AD Docket. 

(p) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) Leonardo Helicopters Alert Service 

Bulletin 169–023, Revision B, dated April 16, 

2018. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For service information identified in 

this AD, 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:// 

www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 

(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. 

(5) You may view this service information 

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 May 19, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–11806 Filed 6–4–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0196; Project 

Identifier 2018–SW–021–AD; Amendment 

39–21571; AD 2021–11–09] 

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 Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model 

MBB–BK 117 A–1, MBB–BK 117 A–3, 

MBB–BK 117 A–4, MBB–BK 117 B–1, 

MBB–BK 117 B–2, and MBB–BK 117 C– 

1 helicopters. This AD was prompted by 

an analysis of the main rotor (M/R) 

blade loop area. This AD requires 

repetitive inspections of certain M/R 

blade thimble areas and corrective 

actions if necessary, as specified in a 

European Aviation Safety Agency (now 

European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency) (EASA) AD, which is 

incorporated by reference (IBR). The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective July 12, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of July 12, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For EASA material in this 

AD, contact EASA, Konrad-AdenauerUfer 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, 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 on the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0196. 

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– 

0196; 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 EASA AD, 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: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 

216th St., Des Moines, WA; telephone 

(206) 231–3218; email 

kathleen.arrigotti@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Community, has issued EASA AD 2018– 

0061, dated March 20, 2018 (EASA AD 

2018–0061), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD) (formerly 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH, 

Eurocopter Hubschrauber GmbH, 

Messerschmitt-Bo ̈lkow-Blohm GmbH), 

Airbus Helicopters Inc. (formerly 

American Eurocopter LLC) Model MBB– 

BK117 A–1, MBB–BK117 A–3, MBB– 

BK117 A–4, MBB–BK117 B–1, MBB– 

BK117 B–2, and MBB–BK117 C–1 

helicopters, all serial numbers. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model MBB–BK 117 

A–1, MBB–BK 117 A–3, MBB–BK 117 

A–4, MBB–BK 117 B–1, MBB–BK 117 

B–2, and MBB–BK 117 C–1 helicopters 

with an ‘‘affected ‘angle 0’ parts’’ or 

‘‘affected ‘angle 1’ parts’’ installed, as 

identified in EASA AD 2018–0061. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on March 26, 2021 (86 FR 

16121). The NPRM was prompted by 

new test results from an analysis of the 

M/R blade loop area, which revealed 

that certain M/R blade thimbles require 

reduced inspection intervals. The 

NPRM proposed to require repetitive 

inspections of certain M/R blade 

thimble areas and corrective actions if 

necessary, as specified in EASA AD 

2018–0061. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address composite failure of the M/ 

R blades, resulting in loss of control of 


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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 107 / Monday, June 7, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 30163 

the helicopter. See EASA AD 2018–0061 

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. 

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 2018–0061 specifies 

compliance intervals to repetitively 

inspect certain M/R blades, with a blade 

sweep angle of 1 degree, for cracks and 

resin chippings in the area of the greater 

thimble radius and corrective actions, if 

there is a crack or anomaly. EASA AD 

2018–0061 also specifies compliance 

intervals to repetitively inspect certain 

M/R blades, with a blade sweep angle of 

0 degrees, for cracks and bulging in the 

teflon foil in the area of the greater 

thimble radius and corrective actions, if 

there is a crack or bulge. Corrective 

actions include dispatching the M/R 

blades to an authorized repair station, as 

required. 

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. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

EASA AD 

EASA AD 2018–0061 applies to 

Model MBB–BK117 A–1, MBB–BK117 

A–3, MBB–BK117 A–4, MBB–BK117 B– 

1, MBB–BK117 B–2 and MBB–BK117 

C–1 helicopters, whereas this AD 

applies to Model MBB–BK 117 A–1, 

MBB–BK 117 A–3, MBB–BK 117 A–4, 

MBB–BK 117 B–1, MBB–BK 117 B–2, 

and MBB–BK 117 C–1 helicopters with 

certain M/R blades installed instead. 

The service information required by 

EASA AD 2018–0061 requires 

accomplishment of certain corrective 

action by ‘‘ECD’’ or an authorized 

service or repair station, whereas this 

AD requires performing the corrective 

action in accordance with FAAapproved procedures instead. EASA AD 

2018–0061 requires revising the Aircraft 

Maintenance Program (AMP), whereas 

this AD does not. EASA AD 2018–0061 

allows a tolerance to compliance times, 

whereas this AD does not. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 216 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 

Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. Based on these numbers, the 

FAA estimates that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. 

Inspecting an M/R blade thimble area 

takes about 1 work-hour for an 

estimated cost of about $85 per M/R 

blade thimble, per inspection cycle. 

Repairing or replacing an M/R blade 

takes up to about 20 work-hours and 

parts cost up to about $23,100 for an 

estimated cost of up to $24,800 per 

blade. 

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 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: 

2021–11–09 Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39– 

21571; Docket No. FAA–2021–0196; 

Project Identifier 2018–SW–021–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective July 12, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs None 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH Model MBB–BK 117 A– 

1, MBB–BK 117 A–3, MBB–BK 117 A–4, 

MBB–BK 117 B–1, MBB–BK 117 B–2, and 

MBB–BK 117 C–1 helicopters, certificated in 

any category, with an ‘‘affected ‘angle 0’ 

parts’’ or ‘‘affected ‘angle 1’ parts’’ installed, 

as identified in European Aviation Safety 

Agency (now European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 2018–0061, dated 

March 20, 2018 (EASA AD 2018–0061). 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 6200, Main Rotor System. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by new test results 

from a composite analysis of the main rotor 

(M/R) blade loop area, which revealed that 

certain M/R blade thimbles require reduced 

inspection intervals. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address composite failure of an M/R 

blade, which if not addressed could result in 

subsequent 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, EASA AD 2018–0061. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2018–0061 

(1) Where EASA AD 2018–0061 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Where EASA AD 2018–0061 refers to 

flight hours, this AD requires using hours 

time-in-service (TIS). 

(3) Where Table 1, Table 2, and Note 2 of 

EASA AD 2018–0061 specify inspection 


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30164 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 107 / Monday, June 7, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

thresholds, intervals, and a non-cumulative 

compliance time tolerance of 10% for certain 

required compliance times, this AD requires 

accomplishing those requirements, as 

follows: 

(i) For helicopters with an ‘‘affected ‘angle 

0’ parts,’’ the compliance time is before 

accumulating 660 total hours TIS on the 

affected part or within 100 hours TIS after 

the effective date of this AD, whichever 

occurs later, and without accumulating 1,600 

total hours TIS on the affected part. 

Thereafter, the compliance time is at 

intervals not to exceed 330 hours TIS. 

(ii) For helicopters with an ‘‘affected ‘angle 

1’ parts,’’ the compliance time is before 

accumulating 110 total hours TIS on the 

affected part or within 50 hours TIS after the 

effective date of this AD, whichever occurs 

later, and without accumulating 950 total 

hours TIS on the affected part. Thereafter, the 

compliance time is at intervals not to exceed 

110 hours TIS. 

(iii) For helicopters specified in paragraph 

(c) of this AD, Note 1 of EASA AD 2018–0061 

specifies accumulated FH as, ‘‘Unless 

otherwise specified, the FH specified in 

Table 2 of this AD are those accumulated 

since the previous M/R blade thimble 

inspection.’’ This AD requires intervals 

thereafter to be accumulated since 

accomplishment of paragraph (g) of this AD. 

(4) While paragraph (5) and Note 3 of 

EASA AD 2018–0061 specify revising the 

Aircraft Maintenance Program (AMP), this 

AD does not require this action. 

(5) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2018–0061 specifies 

accomplishment of certain corrective action 

by ‘‘ECD’’ or an authorized service or repair 

station, this AD requires the corrective 

actions to be performed by a qualified 

mechanic. 

(6) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2018–0061 specifies 

contacting ‘‘ECD’’ or an authorized service or 

repair station, this AD requires performing 

the corrective action in accordance with 

FAA-approved procedures. 

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

2018–0061 does not apply to 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) 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 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Kathleen Arrigotti, Aerospace 

Engineer, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 

South 216th St., Des Moines, WA; telephone 

(206) 231–3218; email kathleen.arrigotti@

faa.gov. 

(k) 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 the AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2018–0061, dated March 20, 

2018. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2018–0061, 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. 

(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. 

(5) You may view this service information 

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 May 15, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–11810 Filed 6–4–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0047; Airspace 

Docket No. 20–AWP–31] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Establishment of Class E Airspace; 

Shafter, CA 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action establishes Class 

E airspace extending upward from 700 

feet above the surface at Shafter-Minter 

Field Airport, Shafter, CA. The airspace 

is designed to support instrument flight 

rules (IFR) operations at the airport. 

DATES: Effective 0901 UTC, August 12, 

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 

fedreg.legal@nara.gov or go to https://

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

ibr-locations.html. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Matthew Van Der Wal, Federal Aviation 

Administration, Western Service Center, 

Operations Support Group, 2200 S 

216th Street, Des Moines, WA 98198; 

telephone (206) 231–3695. 

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 establishes 

Class E airspace at Shafter-Minter Field 

Airport, Shafter, CA, to ensure the safety 

and management of IFR operations at 

the airport. 

History 

The FAA published a notice of 

proposed rulemaking in the Federal 

Register (86 FR 13247; March 8, 2021) 

for Docket No. FAA–2021–0047 to 

establish Class E airspace at ShafterMinter Field Airport, Shafter, CA. 

Interested parties were invited to 

participate in this rulemaking effort by 

submitting written comments on the 

proposal to the FAA. No comments 

were received. 

Class E5 airspace designations are 

published in paragraph 6005 of FAA 


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