Document ID: FAA-2020-0463-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Airbus Helicopters
Posted Date: 2020-06-12T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 114 (Friday, June 12, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35814-35816]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12029]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0463; Product Identifier 2013-SW-041-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to remove Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-
17-01, which applies to certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, 
AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, 
AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters. AD 2015-17-
01 requires certain inspections of each tail rotor pitch horn assembly 
(pitch horn) for a crack, replacement of a cracked pitch horn, and a 
repetitive visual inspection of certain pitch horns. AD 2015-17-01 is 
no longer necessary because the cause of the unsafe condition has been 
removed from all affected helicopter models. Accordingly, the FAA 
proposes to remove AD 2015-17-01.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 27, 
2020.

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.
    You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,

[[Page 35815]]

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

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-2020-
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 proposal, 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: 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

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0463; 
Product Identifier 2013-SW-041-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The FAA issued AD 2015-17-01, Amendment 39-18234 (80 FR 50554, 
August 20, 2015) (``AD 2015-17-01''), for certain Airbus Helicopters 
Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, 
AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP 
helicopters. AD 2015-17-01 requires certain inspections of each pitch 
horn for a crack, repetitive visual inspections of certain pitch horns 
for a crack, replacing a cracked pitch horn before further flight, and 
before installing any pitch horn having part number 350A121368 with 
more than 0 hours time-in-service, dye-penetrant inspecting it for a 
crack. AD 2015-17-01 was prompted by a report of a crack in the yoke of 
a pitch horn and is intended to detect a crack in the pitch horn to 
prevent failure of the pitch horn, loss of the anti-torque function, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The FAA issued AD 
2015-17-01 to detect a crack in the pitch horn to prevent failure of 
the pitch horn, loss of the anti-torque function, and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.

Actions Since AD 2015-17-01 Was Issued

    Since issuing AD 2015-17-01, the FAA has determined that the chin 
weights installed per Airbus Modification 07 5601 (that caused the 
pitch horn to crack) can only be installed on Model AS350B3 
helicopters. The FAA had previously issued AD 2014-05-10, Amendment 39-
17783 (79 FR 17408, March 28, 2014), which requires Model AS350B3 
helicopters to remove the chin weights. The FAA has determined that 
with the chin weights removed, the unsafe condition no longer exists on 
Model AS350 and AS355 helicopters.

FAA's Conclusions

    Upon further consideration, the FAA has determined that AD 2015-17-
01 is no longer necessary. Accordingly, this proposed AD would remove 
AD 2015-17-01. Removal of AD 2015-17-01 would not preclude the FAA from 
issuing another related action or commit the FAA to any course of 
action in the future.

Related Costs of Compliance

    This proposed AD would add no cost. This proposed AD would remove 
AD 2015-17-01 from 14 CFR part 39; therefore, operators would no longer 
be required to show compliance with that AD.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA has 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 that the proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2015-17-01, Amendment 39-18234 (80 FR 50554, August 20, 2015), and 
adding the following new AD:

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2020-0463; Product Identifier 
2013-SW-041-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this AD action by July 27, 
2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2015-17-01, Amendment 39-18234 (80 FR 50554, 
August 20, 2015).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, 
AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350C, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, 
AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, and AS355NP helicopters with tail rotor 
hub pitch horn (pitch horn) assembly, part number (P/N) 
350A121368.01,

[[Page 35816]]

350A121368.02, 350A121368.03, or 350A121368.04, with a pitch horn, 
P/N 350A121368.XX, where XX stands for a two-digit dash number, 
installed, certificated in any category. The pitch horn may be 
marked with either the pitch horn assembly P/N or pitch horn P/N.

(d) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, 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.

    Issued on May 29, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12029 Filed 6-11-20; 8:45 am]
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