Document ID: FAA-2021-0498-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Helicopteres Guimbal Helicopters
Posted Date: 2021-07-09T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 129 (Friday, July 9, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36241-36243]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-14495]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 129 / Friday, July 9, 2021 / Proposed 
Rules  

[[Page 36241]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0498; Project Identifier 2019-SW-072-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal 
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 H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters with 
any metal bushing installed on the main rotor (M/R) swashplate guide 
bellcrank. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracks 
discovered on the M/R scissor link during scheduled maintenance on 
several helicopters. This proposed AD would require removing all metal 
bushings from service, visually inspecting the lug bore area and 
depending on the inspection results, removing certain parts from 
service and installing certain part-numbered plastic bushings. This 
proposed AD would also prohibit installing any metal bushing on any 
helicopter. 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 23, 
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 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal, Basile Ginel, 1070, rue du 
Lieutenant Parayre, A[eacute]rodrome d'Aix-en-Provence, 13290 Les 
Milles, France; telephone 33-04-42-39-10-88; email 
basile.ginel@guimbal.com; web https://www.guimbal.com. 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-2021-0498; 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 
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: 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-2021-0498; Project Identifier 
2019-SW-072-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., 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

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0185, dated July 30, 2019 (EASA 
AD 2019-0185), to correct an unsafe condition for 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal Model Cabri G2 helicopters. EASA 
advises that during scheduled maintenance on several helicopters, 
cracks were found on the M/R scissor link due to corrosion. EASA states 
this corrosion was caused by stress induced by the mounting of the 
metal bushing inside the lug hole. EASA further states metal bushings 
are also installed on the M/R swashplate guide bellcrank, where similar 
cracking may occur. This condition, if not addressed,

[[Page 36242]]

could result in failure of the M/R swashplate guide bellcrank and 
reduced control of the helicopter. Accordingly, EASA AD 2019-0185 
requires replacing any part-numbered metal bushing with plastic bushing 
part number (P/N) HG22-1001. EASA AD 2019-0185 also prohibits 
installing any part-numbered metal bushing on the M/R swashplate guide 
bellcrank other than P/N HG22-1001 on any helicopter.

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

    The FAA reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 17-003, Revision D, 
dated August 27, 2019 (SB 17-003 Rev D). This service information 
specifies disconnecting the bellcrank installed on the swashplate guide 
by removing the bolts that connect the bellcrank to the swashplate 
guide, removing any existing bushings, and visually inspecting the lug 
bore area for corrosion or cracks. This service information also 
specifies if there is any corrosion or cracks, reporting the 
information to HG support, installing the new plastic bushings, 
reinstalling the bellcrank, applying a specified torque, and installing 
cotter pins.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA also reviewed Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 17-003, Revision 
C, dated July 12, 2019 (SB 17-003 Rev C). SB 17-003 Rev C specifies the 
same procedures as SB 17-003 Rev D, except SB 17-003 Rev D updates the 
reference to EASA AD 2019-0185.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-service or 
2 months, whichever occurs first after the effective date of this AD, 
disconnecting the bellcrank from the swashplate guide, removing each 
bolt and using a certain tool, removing certain parts from service. 
This proposed AD would also require visually inspecting the lug bore 
area for corrosion and cracks and depending on the inspection results, 
removing certain parts from service, or repairing the area using an 
FAA-approved method, installing certain part-numbered plastic bushings, 
coating the area with a compound, reinstalling certain parts, applying 
a specified torque, and installing cotter pins.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    EASA AD 2019-0185 applies to all Model Cabri G2 helicopters, 
whereas this proposed AD would only apply to Model Cabri G2 helicopters 
with any metal bushings installed and without HG modification 16-009. 
The service information required by the EASA AD requires contacting 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal for corrective actions when 
corrosion or cracks are found in the lug bore area whereas this AD 
requires removing the swashplate guide from service or repairing it 
using an FAA-approved method.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 32 helicopters 
of U.S. Registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the 
following costs in order to comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs 
are estimated at $85 per work-hour.
    Disconnecting the bellcrank, removing each metal bushing and 
visually inspecting for corrosion and cracks would take about 0.5 work-
hours for an estimated cost of $43 per inspection cycle.
    Installing each plastic bushing, coating with compound, re-
installing the bellcrank, and applying torque would take about 0.5 
work-hours and parts would cost about $10 for an estimated cost of $53 
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 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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal: Docket No. FAA-2021-0498; 
Project Identifier 2019-SW-072-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by August 23, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal (HG) Model 
Cabri G2 helicopters, certificated in any category, with any metal 
bushings installed on the main rotor (M/R) swashplate guide 
bellcrank and without plastic bushing part number HG22-1001 or HG 
modification 16-009.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6700, Rotorcraft 
Flight Control.

[[Page 36243]]

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of cracks on the M/R scissor 
link. The FAA is issuing this AD to replace the metal bushings 
installed on the M/R swashplate guide bellcrank with plastic 
bushings. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
failure of the M/R swashplate guide bellcrank and reduced 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 time-in-service (TIS) or 2 months, whichever 
occurs first after the effective date of this AD:
    (i) Disconnect the bellcrank from the swashplate guide by 
removing each bolt and, ensuring that the bellcrank remains attached 
to the flight control rod, remove each metal bushing from service 
using a bushing disassembly tool.
    (ii) Visually inspect the lug bore area for any corrosion and 
any cracks. If there is any corrosion or any cracks, before further 
flight, remove the swashplate guide from service or repair it using 
an FAA-approved method. If there is no corrosion and no cracks, 
install plastic bushing part number HG22-1001, coat plastic bushing 
with isolation compound, re-install the bellcrank, torque each bolt 
to 7.5 Nm-9 Nm (5.5 ft-lbs-6.6 ft-lbs), and install cotter pins.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
metal bushing 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-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.

(i) 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., Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7330; email 
andrea.jimenez@faa.gov.
    (2) Guimbal Service Bulletin SB 17-003, Revision C, dated July 
12, 2019, which is not incorporated by reference, contains 
additional information about the subject of this AD. For service 
information identified in this AD, contact 
H[eacute]licopt[egrave]res Guimbal, Basile Ginel, 1070, rue du 
Lieutenant Parayre, A[eacute]rodrome d'Aix-en-Provence, 13290 Les 
Milles, France; telephone 33-04-42-39-10-88; email 
basile.ginel@guimbal.com; web https://www.guimbal.com. 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 Union 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2019-0185, dated July 30, 2019. You 
may view the EASA AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov 
in Docket No. FAA-2021-0498.

    Issued on June 10, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-14495 Filed 7-8-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P