Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Proposed Rules 44363 

Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 

1979), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(4) 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. 

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 AD: 

Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 

Segelflugzeugbau: Docket No. FAA– 

2017–0911; Product Identifier 2017–CE– 

025–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

6, 2017. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Alexander Schleicher 

GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau Models ASH 

25M and ASH 26E gliders, all serial numbers, 

that: 

(1) Have an exhaust silencer, part number 

(P/N) 800.65.0001, installed; and 

(2) are certificated in any category. 

(d) Subject 

Air Transport Association of America 

(ATA) Code 78: Engine Exhaust. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by mandatory 

continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) 

originated by an aviation authority of another 

country to identify and correct an unsafe 

condition on an aviation product. The MCAI 

describes the unsafe condition as fatigue 

cracks found on the exhaust silencer. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent heat damage in the 

engine compartment and to the engine 

installation, which could result in reduced 

control. 

(f) Actions and Compliance 

Unless already done, do the following 

actions: 

(1) Before exceeding 150 hours time-inservice (TIS) on the exhaust silencer, (P/N) 

800.65.0001, since new, or within the next 5 

hours TIS after the effective date of this AD, 

whichever occurs later, replace P/N 

800.65.0001 with an improved exhaust 

silencer, P/N 800.65.9010. Do the 

replacement as specified in Alexander 

Schleicher GmbH & Co. Segelflugzeugbau 

ASK 21 Mi Technical Note No. 11, ASW 22 

BLE 50 R Technical Note No. 16, ASH 25 M/ 

Mi Technical Note No. 32, ASH 26 E 

Technical Note No. 19 (single document), 

dated January 8, 2016. 

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do 

not install a P/N 800.65.0001 exhaust 

silencer. 

(g) Other FAA AD Provisions 

The following provisions also apply to this 

AD: 

(1) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs): The Manager, Small Airplane 

Standards Branch, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Send information to ATTN: Jim Rutherford, 

Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Small Airplane 

Standards Branch, 901 Locust, Room 301, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106; telephone: 

(816) 329–4165; fax: (816) 329–4090; email: 

jim.rutherford@faa.gov. Before using any 

approved AMOC on any glider to which the 

AMOC applies, notify your appropriate 

principal inspector (PI) in the FAA Flight 

Standards District Office (FSDO), or lacking 

a PI, your local FSDO. 

(2) Contacting the Manufacturer: For any 

requirement in this AD to obtain corrective 

actions from a manufacturer, the action must 

be accomplished using a method approved 

by the Manager, Small Airplane Standards 

Branch, FAA; or the European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA). 

(h) Related Information 

Refer to MCAI EASA AD 2017–0136, dated 

July 31, 2017, for related information. You 

may examine the MCAI on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017–0911. 

For service information related to this AD, 

contact Alexander Schleicher GmbH & Co. 

Segelflugzeugbau, Alexander-Schleicher-Str. 

1, D–36163 Poppenhausen, Germany; phone: 

+49 (0) 06658 89–0; fax: +49 (0) 06658 89– 

40; Internet: http://www.alexanderschleicher.de/; email: info@alexanderschleicher.de. You may review this 

referenced service information at the FAA, 

Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, 

Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call (816) 329–4148. 

Issued in Kansas City, Missouri, on 

September 14, 2017. 

Pat Mullen, 

Acting Deputy Director, Policy & Innovation 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–20052 Filed 9–21–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0103; Product 

Identifier 2016–SW–086–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta 

S.p.A. Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta 

S.p.A. Model AB139 and Model AW139 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require inspecting the thickness of the 

tail gearbox (TGB) central housing 

(housing). This proposed AD is 

prompted by reports that the housing 

thickness does not conform to its type 

design. The actions of this proposed AD 

are intended to detect and correct an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by November 21, 

2017. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: Send comments to the U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, 

DC 20590–0001. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to the 

‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0103; or in person at the Docket 

Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD, the economic evaluation, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The street address for the 

Docket Operations Office (telephone 

800–647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after receipt. 

44364 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Proposed Rules 

For service information identified in 

this proposed rule, contact Leonardo 

S.p.A., Matteo Ragazzi, Head of 

Airworthiness, Viale G.Agusta 520, 

21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; 

telephone +39–0331–711756; fax +39– 

0331–229046; or at http://www.leonardo

company.com/-/bulletins. You may 

review the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt 

Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft 

Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

matthew.fuller@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to participate in this 

rulemaking by submitting written 

comments, data, or views. We also 

invite comments relating to the 

economic, environmental, energy, or 

federalism impacts that might result 

from adopting the proposals in this 

document. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. To ensure the docket 

does not contain duplicate comments, 

commenters should send only one copy 

of written comments, or if comments are 

filed electronically, commenters should 

submit only one time. 

We will file in the docket all 

comments that we receive, as well as a 

report summarizing each substantive 

public contact with FAA personnel 

concerning this proposed rulemaking. 

Before acting on this proposal, we will 

consider all comments we receive on or 

before the closing date for comments. 

We will consider comments filed after 

the comment period has closed if it is 

possible to do so without incurring 

expense or delay. We may change this 

proposal in light of the comments we 

receive. 

Discussion 

EASA, which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2016– 

0246, dated December 13, 2016, to 

correct an unsafe condition for 

Leonardo S.p.A. (formerly Finmeccanica 

S.p.A. and Agusta S.p.A.) Model AB139 

and Model AW139 helicopters. 

EASA advises that the thickness of 

some sections of the housing do not 

conform to the type design. According 

to EASA, this condition, if not detected 

and corrected, could lead to premature 

cracks in the housing, resulting in 

failure of the tail gear rotor transmission 

and reduced control of the helicopter. 

The EASA AD consequently requires a 

one-time inspection to determine the 

thickness of the housing wall, and 

depending on the findings, replacing the 

housing or TGB assembly with an 

airworthy part. 

The FAA is in the process of updating 

Agusta S.p.A.’s name change to 

Leonardo S.p.A. on its FAA type 

certificate. Because this name change is 

not yet effective, this AD specifies 

Agusta S.p.A. as the type certificate 

holder. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Italy and are 

approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Italy, EASA, its 

technical representative, has notified us 

of the unsafe condition described in its 

AD. We are proposing this AD because 

we evaluated all known relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Leonardo Bollettino 

Tecnico No. 139–274, dated September 

14, 2016 (BT 139–274), which specifies 

procedures for a dimensional check of 

the housing or TGB to determine the 

thickness of the housing wall. For 

housings with fewer than 7,500 flight 

hours, BT 139–274 specifies compliance 

with the dimensional check by 

measurement during the next repair or 

overhaul, and replacing the housing if it 

does not meet its thickness requirement. 

For housings with 7,500 or more flight 

hours, BT 139–274 specifies compliance 

with the dimensional check by 

ultrasonic inspection within 300 flight 

hours, and replacing the TGB if it does 

not meet its thickness requirement. BT 

139–274 excludes certain serialnumbered housings from the 

applicability because they were 

inspected before delivery to customers. 

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 

This proposed AD would require the 

following: 

• If a housing has fewer than 7,500 

hours time-in-service (TIS), before 

reaching 7,500 hours TIS, inspecting the 

housing wall to determine the thickness 

and replacing the housing if the 

thickness is less than 2.65 mm (0.104 

inch). 

• If a housing has 7,500 or more 

hours TIS, within 300 hours TIS, 

ultrasonic inspecting the TGB to 

determine the thickness and replacing 

the TGB if the thickness is less than 2.65 

mm (0.104 inch). 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the EASA AD 

If a housing has fewer than 7,500 

hours TIS, the EASA AD requires a 

dimensional inspection of the housing 

wall at a helicopter’s first return to a 

shop or service station for a TGB 

overhaul or repair after the EASA AD’s 

effective date but no later than 7,500 

hours TIS. This proposed AD would 

require such an inspection only before 

reaching 7,500 hours TIS. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 103 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs average $85 

per work-hour. Based on these 

estimates, we expect the following costs: 

• Measuring the thickness of the 

housing would require .5 work-hour and 

no parts would be needed for a cost of 

$43 per helicopter. 

• Ultrasonic inspecting the thickness 

of the housing would require 2 workhours and no parts would be needed for 

a cost of $170 per helicopter. 

• Replacing the TGB housing would 

require 5 work-hours, and parts would 

cost $11,185 for a cost of $11,610 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. 

We are 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. 

Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 183 / Friday, September 22, 2017 / Proposed Rules 44365 

Regulatory Findings 

We 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. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures 

(44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 

3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in 

Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction; and 

4. 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. 

We prepared an economic evaluation 

of the estimated costs to comply with 

this proposed AD and placed it in the 

AD docket. 

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): 

Agusta S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0103; Product Identifier 2016–SW–086–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Agusta S.p.A. Model 

AB139 and Model AW139 helicopters, 

certificated in any category, with a tail 

gearbox (TGB) assembly part number (P/N) 

3T6522A00239, 3T6522A00242, 

3T6522A00243, or 3T6522A00246 that has a 

central housing P/N 3T6522A05144 or 

3T6522A05146, all serial numbers except 

those listed in Table 1 of Leonardo 

Helicopters Bollettino Technico No. 139–274, 

dated September 14, 2016. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

nonconforming thickness in a section of a 

TGB central housing, which can lead to a 

crack in the TGB central housing. This 

condition could result in the failure of the 

tail gear rotor transmission and loss of 

helicopter control. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by November 

21, 2017. 

(d) Compliance 

You are responsible for performing each 

action required by this AD within the 

specified compliance time unless it has 

already been accomplished prior to that time. 

(e) Required Actions 

(1) For helicopters with a TGB central 

housing with less than 7,500 hours time-inservice (TIS), before accumulating 7500 

hours TIS, measure the thickness of the 

central housing in accordance with the 

Compliance Instructions, Part I paragraphs 1 

and 2, of Bollettino Tecnico No. 139–274, 

dated September 14, 2016 (BT 139–274). If 

the thickness is less than 2.65 mm (0.104 

inch), replace the TGB central housing before 

further flight. 

(2) For helicopters with a TGB central 

housing with 7500 or more hours TIS, within 

300 hours TIS, ultrasonic inspect the TGB in 

accordance with the Compliance 

Instructions, Part II paragraphs 4 through 4.5 

of BT 139–274. If the thickness is less than 

2.65 mm (0.104 inch), replace the TGB before 

further flight. 

(3) After the effective date of this AD, do 

not install a central housing P/N 

3T6522A05144 or 3T6522A05146, all serial 

numbers except those listed in Table 1 of BT 

139–274, on any helicopter unless it has 

passed inspection in accordance with 

paragraph (e)(1) of this AD. 

(f) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Section, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, 

Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety 

Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 

Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort 

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

email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 

CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 

14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that 

you notify your principal inspector, or 

lacking a principal inspector, the manager of 

the local flight standards district office or 

certificate holding district office before 

operating any aircraft complying with this 

AD through an AMOC. 

(h) Additional Information 

The subject of this AD is addressed in 

European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 

No. 2016–0246, dated December 13, 2016. 

You may view the EASA AD on the Internet 

at http://www.regulations.gov in the AD 

Docket. 

(i) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6720, Tail Rotor Control System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 

11, 2017. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–19943 Filed 9–21–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0740; Airspace 

Docket No. 17–AGL–18] 

Proposed Amendment of Class E 

Airspace; Milwaukee, WI 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This action proposes to 

modify the Class E airspace extending 

upward from 700 feet above the surface 

at Batten International Airport, Racine, 

WI, contained within the Milwaukee, 

WI, airspace description. The FAA is 

proposing this action due to the 

decommissioning of the Horlick VHF 

omnidirectional range (VOR), which 

provided navigation guidance for the 

instrument procedures to this airport. 

The VOR is being decommissioned as 

part of the VOR Minimum Operational 

Network (MON) Program. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before November 6, 2017. 

ADDRESSES: Send comments on this 

proposal to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590; telephone (202) 

366–9826, or (800) 647–5527. You must 

identify FAA Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0740; Airspace Docket No. 17–AGL–15, 

at the beginning of your comments. You 

may also submit comments through the 

Internet at http://www.regulations.gov. 

You may review the public docket 

containing the proposal, any comments 

received, and any final disposition in 

person in the Dockets Office between 

9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except federal holidays. 

FAA Order 7400.11B, Airspace 

Designations and Reporting Points, and 

subsequent amendments can be viewed 

online at http://www.faa.gov/air_traffic/ 

publications/. For further information, 

you can contact the Airspace Policy