31992 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

Inspection Thresholds,’’ Row B, of EASA AD 

2018–0289R1. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain instructions 

from a manufacturer, the instructions must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, Large Aircraft Section, 

International Validation Branch, FAA; or 

EASA; or Airbus SAS’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(3) Required for Compliance (RC): For any 

service information referenced in EASA AD 

2018–0289R1 that contains RC procedures 

and tests: Except as required by paragraph 

(i)(2) of this AD, RC procedures and tests 

must be done to comply with this AD; any 

procedures or tests that are not identified as 

RC are recommended. Those procedures and 

tests that are not identified as RC may be 

deviated from using accepted methods in 

accordance with the operator’s maintenance 

or inspection program without obtaining 

approval of an AMOC, provided the 

procedures and tests identified as RC can be 

done and the airplane can be put back in an 

airworthy condition. Any substitutions or 

changes to procedures or tests identified as 

RC require approval of an AMOC. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) For information about EASA AD 2018– 

0289R1, 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 

EASA AD 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. 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–2021–0501. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer, 

Large Aircraft Section, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 2200 South 216th 

St., Des Moines, WA 98198; telephone and 

fax 206–231–3223; email Sanjay.Ralhan@

faa.gov. 

Issued on June 10, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–12603 Filed 6–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0463; Project 

Identifier 2018–SW–050–AD] 

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 

Leonardo S.p.a. (Leonardo) Model 

AB139 and AW139 helicopters with 

certain main rotor blades MRB installed. 

This proposed AD was prompted by a 

report of an in-flight loss of a main rotor 

blade (MRB) tip cap. This proposed AD 

would require inspecting the MRB tip 

cap for disbonding. 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 2, 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 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://

customerportal.leonardocompany.com/ 

en-US/. 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–2021–0463 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 European Aviation Safety 

Agency (now European Union Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Bang Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, 

Certification Section, Fort Worth ACO 

Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 

222–4973; email bang.nguyen@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–2021–0463; Project Identifier 

2018–SW–050–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 


jbell on DSKJLSW7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 / Proposed Rules 31993 

should be sent to Bang Nguyen, 

Aerospace Engineer, Certification 

Section, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222– 

4973; email bang.nguyen@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 

On January 22, 2018, the FAA issued 

AD 2018–03–01, Amendment 39–19174 

(83 FR 4136, January 30, 2018) (AD 

2018–03–01) for Agusta S.p.A. (now 

Leonardo) Model AB139 and AW139 

helicopters with MRB part number (P/ 

N) 3G6210A00131 with a serial number 

(S/N) 3615, 3634, 3667, or 3729 

installed. AD 2018–03–01 requires 

inspecting the MRB tip cap for 

disbonding and was prompted by EASA 

AD 2017–0175–E, dated September 13, 

2017 (EASA AD 2017–0175–E), issued 

by EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union. EASA advised of an in-flight loss 

of an MRB tip cap on an AW139 

helicopter where the pilot was able to 

safely land the helicopter. EASA further 

advised that an investigation 

determined the cause as incorrect 

bonding procedures used during 

production on MRB P/N 

3G6210A00131, S/N 3615, 3634, 3667, 

and 3729. According to EASA, this 

condition could result in loss of an MRB 

tip cap, increased pilot workload, and 

reduced control of the helicopter. To 

address this unsafe condition, EASA AD 

2017–0175–E requires a one-time 

inspection of the affected MRB tip caps 

within 5 hours and replacing the 

affected MRBs within 10 hours if not 

replaced as a result of the inspection. 

EASA AD 2017–0175–E also prohibits 

installing the affected MRBs on a 

helicopter. AD 2018–03–01 requires the 

same corrective actions. 

Actions Since AD 2018–03–01 Was 

Issued 

After the FAA issued AD 2018–03–01, 

EASA issued EASA AD 2018–0130, 

dated June 18, 2018 (EASA AD 2018– 

0130), to correct the same unsafe 

condition for Leonardo AB139 and 

AW139 helicopters with additional 

serial-numbered MRBs installed. EASA 

advises that further investigations after 

EASA AD 2017–0175–E was issued 

determined that another batch of P/N 

3G6210A00131 MRBs may have been 

subject to the incorrect bonding 

procedure, but to a less critical extent. 

EASA AD 2018–0130, which neither 

revises nor supersedes EASA AD 2017– 

0175–E, applies to the following serialnumbered MRBs with less than 1,200 

flight hours: 2709, 3558, 3624, 3707, 

3790, 3486, 3561, 3625, 3717, 3795, 

3488, 3569, 3626, 3720, 3798, 3495, 

3570, 3627, 3725, 3803, 3500, 3574, 

3628, 3726, 3807, 3501, 3575, 3633, 

3734, 3812, 3502, 3582, 3636, 3735, 

3822, 3503, 3583, 3638, 3738, 3824, 

3508, 3586, 3642, 3739, 3825, 3510, 

3590, 3648, 3741, 3827, 3513, 3592, 

3649, 3743, 3831, 3520, 3595, 3650, 

3744, 3832, 3527, 3597, 3651, 3745, 

3838, 3528, 3599, 3657, 3753, 3841, 

3529, 3602, 3665, 3754, 3842, 3531, 

3603, 3672, 3761, 3847, 3536, 3605, 

3682, 3766, 3850, 3539, 3609, 3684, 

3770, 3851, 3544, 3612, 3686, 3771, 

3852, 3549, 3613, 3690, 3777, 3853, 

3551, 3616, 3691, 3783, 3854, 3556, 

3620, 3695, 3788, 3855, 3557, 3622, 

3696, and 3789. 

Accordingly, EASA AD 2018–0130 

requires within 50 flight hours (FH) and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 

FH, tap inspecting the MRB for 

disbonding. If there is disbonding 

within permitted limits, EASA AD 

2018–0130 requires tap inspecting the 

disbonded area within 10 FH and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 

FH. If disbonding that exceeds the 

permitted limits is found during any 

inspection, EASA AD 2018–0130 

requires replacing the part. EASA AD 

2018–0130 also prohibits installing the 

affected part unless it is a serviceable 

part and includes a terminating action 

for the repetitive inspections, which is 

accumulation of 1,200 FH by an affected 

part without findings of disbonded area, 

or findings of disbonded area within the 

limits specified in Annex A of Leonardo 

Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 

139–520, dated April 26, 2018 (ASB 

139–520). 

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 designs. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed ASB 139–520. 

This service information specifies 

procedures for repetitively inspecting 

the tip cap on a certain batch of MRBs 

for disbonding using a tap test and 

replacing the MRB if disbonding is not 

within permitted limits. 

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, for 

helicopters with affected MRBs with 

less than 1,200 total hours time-inservice (TIS) installed, within 50 hours 

TIS, tap inspecting each MRB tip cap for 

disbonding using a tap hammer or 

equivalent. If there is no disbonding, tap 

inspecting the MRB tip cap at intervals 

not to exceed 50 hours TIS would be 

required. If there is any disbonding that 

does not exceed the specified limits in 

ASB 139–520, tap inspecting the MRB 

would be required at intervals not to 

exceed 10 hours TIS. If there is any 

disbonding that exceeds the specified 

limits in ASB 139–520, removing the 

MRB from service would be required 

before further flight. The accumulation 

of 1,200 total hours TIS on the affected 

part without findings of any disbonded 

area or with findings of any disbonded 

area that is within the permitted limits 

in Annex A of ASB 139–520 would 

constitute terminating action for the 

proposed repetitive inspections. This 

proposed AD would also prohibit 

installing any MRB that is identified in 

the applicability section on any 

helicopter. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

EASA AD 2018–0130 allows replacing 

an affected part with a serviceable part, 

which is marked with the letter ‘‘R’’ 

(repaired tip cap) as the last digit of the 

serial number, as a terminating action 

for the repetitive inspections specified 

in that AD, whereas this proposed AD 

would not. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 114 

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. 

Tap inspecting an MRB tip cap would 

require 1 work-hour, for a cost per 

helicopter of $85 per inspection cycle 

for a total U.S. fleet cost of $9,690. 

Replacing 1 MRB, if required, would 

take 4 work-hours, and required parts 

would cost $141,725, for a total cost of 

$142,065 per MRB. 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 


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31994 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 / Proposed Rules 

the manufacturer, however, some of the 

costs of this proposed AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. 

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: 

Leonardo S.p.a.: Docket No. FAA–2021– 

0463; Project Identifier 2018–SW–050– 

AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by August 2, 

2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

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

AB139 and AW139 helicopters, certificated 

in any category, with a main rotor blade 

(MRB) that has less than 1,200 total hours 

time-in-service (TIS) and has part number 

3G6210A00131 with any serial number listed 

in Table 1 of Leonardo Helicopters Alert 

Service Bulletin No. 139–520, dated April 26, 

2018 (ASB 139–520), installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6210, Main Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a report of 

disbonding of an MRB tip cap, which if not 

detected and corrected, could result in loss 

of the MRB tip cap, severe vibrations, and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Within 50 hours TIS after the effective 

date of this AD, using a tap hammer or 

equivalent, tap inspect each MRB tip cap for 

disbonding in the area depicted in Figure 1 

of ASB 139–520. 

(i) If there is no disbonding, tap inspect 

each MRB tip cap as required by paragraph 

(g)(1) of this AD at intervals not to exceed 50 

hours TIS. 

(ii) If there is any disbonding that does not 

exceed the limits specified in Annex A, 

paragraphs 2.3 and 2.4 of ASB 139–520, tap 

inspect the MRB tip cap as required by 

paragraph (g)(1) of this AD at intervals not to 

exceed 10 hours TIS. 

(iii) If there is any disbonding that exceeds 

the limits specified in Annex A, paragraphs 

2.3 and 2.4 of ASB 139–520, remove the MRB 

from service before further flight. 

(2) Accumulation of 1,200 total hours TIS 

on the affected part without findings of any 

disbonded area or with findings of any 

disbonded area that is within the permitted 

limits specified in Annex A, paragraphs 2.3 

and 2.4 of ASB 139–520, constitutes 

terminating action for the repetitive 

inspections required by paragraphs (g)(1)(i) 

and (ii) of this AD. 

(3) As of effective date of this AD, do not 

install any MRB that is identified in 

paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter. 

(h) 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 (i)(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. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Bang Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, 

Certification Section, Fort Worth ACO 

Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222–4973; 

email bang.nguyen@faa.gov. 

(2) 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:// 

customerportal.leonardocompany.com/enUS/. 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. 

(3) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (now 

European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2018–0130, dated June 18, 2018. 

You may view the EASA AD at https://

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA– 

2021–0463. 

Issued on June 9, 2021. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–12515 Filed 6–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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