Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 114 / Wednesday, June 16, 2021 / Proposed Rules 31995 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0496; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–00393–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters and Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD) 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 

Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, 

AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS350B, 

AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, 

AS350B3, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, 

AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, 

AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC120B, 

EC130B4, EC130T2, EC 155B, EC155B1, 

SA–365N, and SA–365N1 helicopters; 

and Airbus Helicopters Deutschland 

GmbH (AHD) Model EC135P1, 

EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, 

EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, 

EC135T3, MBB–BK117 C–2, and MBB– 

BK117 D–2 helicopters. This proposed 

AD was prompted by failure of an 

Emergency Flotation System (EFS) float 

compartment to inflate during 

maintenance of the EFS. This proposed 

AD would require inspecting certain 

EFSs and depending on the results, 

marking certain parts or removing 

certain parts from service, 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 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 above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For material that is proposed for IBR 

in this AD, contact EASA, KonradAdenauer-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, 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 in the AD docket on the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0496. 

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– 

0496; 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. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, 

New York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart 

Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 

11590; telephone 516–228–7330; fax 

516–794–5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@

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–2021–0496; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–00393–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 proposal. 

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, Airframe and 

Propulsion Section, FAA, New York 

ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 

telephone 516–228–7330; fax 516–794– 

5531; email 9-avs-nyaco-cos@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. 

Discussion 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD 2020–0064, 

dated March 19, 2020 (EASA AD 2020– 

0064), to correct an unsafe condition for 

Airbus Helicopters (AH), formerly 

Eurocopter, Eurocopter France, 

Aerospatiale Model EC 120 B, EC 175 B, 

AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, AS 332 

L1, AS 350 B, AS 350 B1, AS 350 B2, 

AS 350 BA, AS 350 BB, AS 350 B3, AS 

350 D, EC 130 B4, EC 130 T2, AS 355 

E, AS 355 F, AS 355 F1, AS 355 F2, AS 

355 N, AS 355 NP, SA 365 N, SA 365 

N1, AS 365 N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155 B, 

and EC 155 B1 helicopters. EASA AD 

2020–0064 also corrects an unsafe 

condition for Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD), formerly 

Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH; and 

Airbus Helicopters Inc., formerly 

American Eurocopter LLC, Eurocopter 

Espan ̃ a S.A. Model MBB–BK117 C–2, 

MBB–BK117 D–2, EC 135 P1, EC 135 

P2, EC 135 P2+, EC 135 P3, EC 135 T1, 

EC 135 T2, EC 135 T2+, EC 135 T3, EC 

635 P2+, EC 635 P3, EC 635 T1, EC 635 

T2+, and EC 635 T3 helicopters. 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 


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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 

failure of an EFS float compartment to 

inflate during maintenance of the EFS. 

The FAA is proposing this AD to 

address a blocked float supply hose. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, 

could result in partial inflation of an 

EFS float during an emergency landing 

on water and subsequently preventing a 

timely egress from the helicopter, which 

could result in injury to helicopter 

occupants. See EASA AD 2020–0064 for 

additional background information. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR part 51 

EASA AD 2020–0064 specifies 

inspecting certain EFSs and depending 

on the results, marking a float supply 

hose with a green dot with indelible ink 

if the float supply hose passes an 

inspection, replacing the float supply 

hose with a serviceable float supply 

hose, or replacing an affected EFS with 

a serviceable EFS. EASA AD 2020–0064 

also prohibits installing a float supply 

hose unless it passes the inspection and 

is marked. 

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 and Requirements 

of This Proposed AD 

These products have been approved 

by the aviation authority of another 

country, and are approved for operation 

in the United States. Pursuant to the 

bilateral agreement with the State of 

Design Authority, the FAA has been 

notified of the unsafe condition 

described in EASA AD 2020–0064. The 

FAA is proposing this AD after 

evaluating all the relevant information 

and determining the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of these same 

type designs. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

accomplishing the actions specified in 

EASA AD 2020–0064, described 

previously, as incorporated by 

reference, except for any differences 

identified as exceptions in the 

regulatory text of this proposed AD and 

except as discussed under ‘‘Differences 

Between this Proposed AD and the 

EASA AD.’’ 

Explanation of Required Compliance 

Information 

In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to 

improve the efficiency of the AD 

process, the FAA initially worked with 

Airbus and EASA to develop a process 

to use certain EASA ADs as the primary 

source of information for compliance 

with requirements for corresponding 

FAA ADs. The FAA has since 

coordinated with other manufacturers 

and civil aviation authorities (CAAs) to 

use this process. As a result, EASA AD 

2020–0064 will be incorporated by 

reference in the FAA final rule. This 

proposed AD would, therefore, require 

compliance with EASA AD 2020–0064 

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 

the EASA AD 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 the EASA AD. Service 

information specified in EASA AD 

2020–0064 that is required for 

compliance with EASA AD 2020–0064 

will be available on the internet at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0496 after the FAA final 

rule is published. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

EASA AD 2020–0064 applies to 

Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B, 

EC175B, AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, 

AS332L1, AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, 

AS350BA, AS350BB, AS350B3, 

AS350D, EC130B4, EC130T2, AS355E, 

AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, 

AS355NP, SA–365N, SA–365N1, AS– 

365N2, AS 365 N3, EC155 B, and 

EC155B1 helicopters and Airbus 

Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model 

MBB–BK 117 C–2, MBB–BK 117 D–2, 

EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, 

EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, 

EC135T2+, EC135T3, EC635 P2+, 

EC635P3, EC635T1, EC635T2+, and 

EC635T3 helicopters, whereas this 

proposed AD would not include Model 

AS350BB, EC175B, EC635P2+, 

EC635P3, EC635T1, EC635T2+, and 

EC635T3 helicopters because these 

models are not FAA type-certificated. 

Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0064 

requires certain compliance times 

depending on whether the helicopter is 

operated over water, this proposed AD 

would require compliance within 100 

hours time-in-service (TIS) instead. 

Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0064 

specifies ‘‘work must be performed on 

the helicopter by the operator,’’ this 

proposed AD would require that the 

work be accomplished by a mechanic 

that meets the requirements of 14 CFR 

part 65 subpart D. Where some of the 

service information referenced in EASA 

AD 2020–0064 specifies replacing or 

removing an affected hose that fails the 

inspection, this proposed AD would 

require removing the hose from service 

instead. Where some of the service 

information referenced in EASA AD 

2020–0064 specifies to discard certain 

parts, this proposed AD would require 

removing those parts from service 

instead. Where some of the service 

information referenced in EASA AD 

2020–0064 specifies to return the EFS to 

the Safran Aerosystems network or 

clogged hoses to Safran Aerosystems 

Services, this proposed AD would not 

include those requirements. Where the 

service information referenced in EASA 

AD 2020–0064 specifies to submit 

certain information to the manufacturer, 

this proposed AD does not include that 

requirement. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this proposed 

AD affects 1,900 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 proposed 

AD. 

Inspecting the EFS would take up to 

about 8 work-hours for an estimated 

cost of up to $680 per helicopter and 

$1,292,000 for the U.S. fleet. 

Replacing an EFS hose would take 

about 1 work-hour and parts cost 

between $500 and $2,000 per hose, and 

up to $11,000 for a set of float supply 

hoses, for an estimated cost of up to 

$11,085 per helicopter. 

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 


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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 and Airbus Helicopters 

Deutschland GmbH (AHD): Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0496; Project Identifier 

MCAI–2020–00393–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments by 

August 2, 2021. 

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (ADs) 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the following 

helicopters, certificated in any category, with 

an affected part as defined in European 

Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

2020–0064, dated March 19, 2020 (EASA AD 

2020–0064), installed: 

(1) Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, 

AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, AS350B, 

AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, 

AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, 

AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, AS–365N2, 

AS 365 N3, EC120B, EC130B4, EC130T2, EC 

155B, EC155B1, SA–365N, and SA–365N1 

helicopters, and 

Note 1 to paragraph (c)(1): Helicopters 

with an AS350B3e designation are Model 

AS350B3 helicopters. 

(2) Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH 

(AHD) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, 

EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, 

EC135T3, MBB–BK117 C–2, and MBB– 

BK117 D–2 helicopters. 

Note 2 to paragraph (c)(2): Helicopters 

with an EC135P3H designation are Model 

EC135P3 helicopters. Helicopters with an 

EC135T3H designation are Model EC135T3 

helicopters. Helicopters with an MBB–BK117 

C–2e designation are Model MBB–BK117 C– 

2 helicopters. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 2500, Cabin Equipment/Furnishings. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by failure of an 

Emergency Flotation System (EFS) float 

compartment to inflate during maintenance 

of the EFS. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address a blocked float supply hose. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 

result in partial inflation of an EFS float 

during an emergency landing on water and 

subsequently preventing a timely egress from 

the helicopter, which could result in injury 

to helicopter occupants. 

(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 2020–0064. 

(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2020–0064 

(1) Where EASA AD 2020–0064 refers to its 

effective date, this AD requires using the 

effective date of this AD. 

(2) Where paragraph (1) of the EASA AD 

requires inspecting each affected part within 

the compliance time defined in section 1.E of 

the applicable ASB, this AD requires 

inspecting each affected part within 100 

hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 

date of this AD. 

(3) Where the service information 

referenced in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 

2020–0064 specifies that ‘‘the work must be 

performed on the helicopter by the operator,’’ 

this AD requires that the work be 

accomplished by a mechanic that meets the 

requirements of 14 CFR part 65 subpart D. 

(4) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0064 specifies 

replacing or removing an affected hose that 

fails the inspection, this AD requires 

removing the hose from service. 

(5) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0064 specifies 

to discard certain parts, this AD requires 

removing those parts from service. 

(6) Where the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0064 specifies 

returning the EFS to the Safran Aerosystems 

network for compliance or returning clogged 

hoses to Safran Aerosystems Services, this 

AD does not include those requirements. 

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

2020–0064 does not apply to this AD. 

(i) No Reporting Requirement 

Although the service information 

referenced in EASA AD 2020–0064 specifies 

to submit certain information to the 

manufacturer, this AD does not include that 

requirement. 

(j) 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 Manager, International 

Validation Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 

(817) 222–5110; email 9-AVS-AIR-730- 

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. 

(k) Related Information 

(1) For EASA AD 2020–0064, 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 

EASA AD 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. 

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–2021–0496. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Andrea Jimenez, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe and Propulsion Section, FAA, New 

York ACO Branch, 1600 Stewart Avenue, 

Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone 

516–228–7330; fax 516–794–5531; email 9- 

avs-nyaco-cos@faa.gov. 

Issued on June 9, 2021. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–12517 Filed 6–15–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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