Document ID: FAA-2017-0068-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex) Torso Restraint Systems
Posted Date: 2017-08-18T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 159 (Friday, August 18, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39355-39357]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-16438]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0068; Product Identifier 2014-SW-076-AD; Amendment 

39-18981; AD 2017-16-04]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex) 

Torso Restraint Systems

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Romtex 

torso restraint systems (restraint systems) installed on but not 

limited to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, 

and AS355NP helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain restraint 

system buckles. This AD was prompted by a report of several restraint 

system buckle knobs breaking. The actions of this AD are intended to 

correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective September 22, 2017.

    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 

reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of September 22, 

2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 

contact Romtex Anjou Aeronautique, Strada Livezii nr. 98, 550042, 

Sibiu, Romania; telephone +40 269 243 918; email 

seatbelts@anjouaero.com. 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. It is 

also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0068.

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-

0068; 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 AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, any 

incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation, 

any comments received, and other information. The street address for 

the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department 

of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground 

Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5116; 

email david.hatfield@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On February 17, 2017, at 82 FR 10971, the Federal Register 

published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to 

amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Romtex 

restraint systems with a rotary buckle sub-assembly (buckle assembly) 

with a part number and serial number listed in Romtex Service Bulletin 

No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 1, dated December 12, 2014. These restraint 

systems are installed on, but not limited to, Airbus Helicopters Model 

AS350B2, AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, and AS355NP helicopters. The NPRM 

proposed to require inspecting the buckle assembly to determine whether 

the straps release, marking the seat as inoperative if the buckle fails 

to release the straps, and replacing the buckle assembly within 180 

hours time-in-service (TIS). The NPRM also proposed to prohibit 

installing the affected buckle assemblies on any helicopter. The 

proposed requirements were intended to prevent a restraint system strap 

from failing to release from the buckle, preventing occupants from 

exiting the helicopter during an emergency.

    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2014-0279, dated December 19, 2014, 

issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of 

the European Union, to correct an unsafe condition for Romtex Model 358 

torso restraint systems installed on Airbus Helicopters Model EC130T2, 

AS350B2, and AS350B3 helicopters. EASA advises that ruptures have 

occurred on the upper side (knob) of several rotary buckles installed 

on these restraint systems. EASA states the material used in two 

batches of the buckle assembly were altered by a supplier, resulting in 

a specification different from the approved design data. The EASA AD 

states that this condition could prevent the release of the restraint 

system straps as intended after an emergency landing. To address this 

unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires inspecting the buckle

[[Page 39356]]

assembly for proper operation, replacing or marking as inoperative any 

buckle assembly that fails to release the straps before further flight, 

and replacing all buckle assemblies within 6 months. The EASA AD also 

prohibits installing these buckle assemblies on any aircraft.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 

this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    These products have been approved by the aviation authority of 

Romania and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 

to our bilateral agreement with Romania, EASA, its technical 

representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 

the EASA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all 

information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe condition exists 

and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same 

type designs and that air safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as proposed except we are correcting the 

name in the related service bulletin from Romtex to Anjou Aero. This 

change is consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM and 

will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 

scope of this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD requires compliance within 30 days for the buckle 

inspection and 6 months for replacement; this AD requires the 

inspection within 30 hours TIS and replacement within 180 hours TIS. 

The EASA AD does not apply to Model EC130B4 and AS355NP helicopters, 

and this AD does.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 

1, dated December 12, 2014 (SB 358SB-14-101), which specifies removing 

from service certain part-numbered and serial-numbered buckle 

assemblies, consisting of the rotary buckle, belt, and attachment.

    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.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 893 helicopters of U.S. Registry.

    We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in order 

to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 

inspecting the buckle assembly requires about .5 work-hour, for a cost 

per helicopter of $43 and a total cost of $38,399 for the fleet. 

Replacing each buckle assembly requires about .5 work-hour, and 

required parts will cost $42,000, for a cost per helicopter of $42,043 

and a total cost to U.S. operators of $37,544,399.

    According to the Anjou Aero service information, some of the costs 

of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 

impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by 

Anjou Aero. Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost 

estimate.

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 helicopters 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 that this AD:

    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 

Order 12866;

    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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.

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

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 (AD):

2017-16-04 Romtex Anjou Aeronautique (Romtex) Torso Restraint 

Systems: Amendment 39-18981; Docket No. FAA-2017-0068; Product 

Identifier 2014-SW-076-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Romtex torso restraint systems (restraint 

systems) with a rotary buckle sub-assembly (buckle assembly) with a 

part number and serial number as listed in the Effectivity, 

paragraph 1.2, of Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, 

Revision 1, dated December 12, 2014. These restraint systems are 

installed on, but not limited to, Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B2, 

AS350B3, EC130B4, EC130T2, and AS355NP helicopters, certificated in 

any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a broken buckle knob. 

This condition could result in a restraint system strap failing to 

release from the buckle, preventing occupants from exiting the 

helicopter during an emergency.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective September 22, 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) Within 30 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect each 

restraint system for correct operation.

    (i) If the straps do not release from the buckle assembly, 

placard the seat as inoperative. Within 180 hours TIS, replace

[[Page 39357]]

the buckle assembly with a buckle assembly not identified in 

paragraph (a) of this AD.

    (ii) If the straps release, within 180 hours TIS, replace the 

buckle assembly with a buckle assembly not identified in paragraph 

(a) of this AD.

    (2) Do not install a restraint system with a buckle assembly 

identified in paragraph (a) of this AD on any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: David Hatfield, Aviation 

Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 

Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 

(817) 222-5116; 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.

(g) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) AD No. 2014-0279, dated December 19, 2014. You may 

view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in 

Docket No. FAA-2017-0068.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2500 Cabin 

Equipment/Furnishings.

(i) 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) Anjou Aero Service Bulletin No. 358SB-14-101, Revision 1, 

dated December 12, 2014.

    (ii) Reserved.

    (3) For Anjou Aero service information identified in this AD, 

contact Romtex Anjou Aeronautique, Strada Livezii nr. 98, 550042, 

Sibiu, Romania; telephone +40 269 243 918; email 

seatbelts@anjouaero.com.

    (4) You may view this service information at 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, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 27, 2017.

Scott A. Horn,

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 2017-16438 Filed 8-17-17; 8:45 am]

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