Document ID: FAA-2020-0468-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters
Posted Date: 2020-06-11T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 113 (Thursday, June 11, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35602-35604]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12586]

 ========================================================================
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 113 / Thursday, June 11, 2020 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 35602]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0468; Product Identifier 2018-SW-046-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Leonardo S.p.A. 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 all Leonardo S.p.A. Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports that certain fuel control units 
(FCU) may not have been calibrated to specification during overhaul. 
This proposed AD would require revising the rotorcraft flight manual 
(RFM) for your helicopter and installing a placard to prohibit 
intentional entry into autorotation. This proposed AD would also allow 
replacement of an affected FCU as an optional terminating action for 
the RFM revision and placard installation. 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 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.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Leonardo 
S.p.A. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, Viale 
G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone +39-0331-
225074; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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.

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-
0468; 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 Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union 
Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, 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: Clark Davenport, Flight Test Analyst, 
Flight Test Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone (817) 222-5151; email clark.davenport@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-2020-0468; 
Product Identifier 2018-SW-046-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

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, issued EASA AD 2018-0124, dated June 5, 2018 (referred 
to after this as the Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information, or 
``the MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for all Leonardo S.p.A. 
Model A119 and AW119 MKII helicopters. EASA advises that certain FCUs 
may not have been calibrated to specification during overhaul, and that 
this condition, if not corrected, can lead to N1 fluctuations, hung 
engine starts, and the inability to recover power during autorotation 
training, possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter. To 
address this unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires amendment of the 
applicable RFM and installation of a placard to prohibit intentional 
entry into autorotation. The EASA AD also allows removal of the RFM 
limitation and placard after replacement of an affected FCU.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket on the internet at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2020-0468.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Leonardo S.p.A. has issued Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert 
Service Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018. This service 
information describes procedures for revising the RFM and installing a 
placard in the cockpit.
    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.

FAA's Determination

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of another 
country, and is approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant 
to the FAA's bilateral agreement with the State of Design Authority, 
the FAA has been notified of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI 
and service information referenced above. 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 on 
other products of the same type design.

[[Page 35603]]

Proposed Requirements of This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information described previously.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this proposed AD interim action. If final action 
is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 64 helicopters of 
U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with 
this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
                          Labor cost                              Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 work-hours x $85 per hour = $170...........................             $50             $220          $14,080
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA has received no definitive data that would enable it to 
provide cost estimates for the optional terminating action specified in 
this proposed 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 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) 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Leonardo S.p.A.: Docket No. FAA-2020-0468; Product Identifier 2018-
SW-046-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 27, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Leonardo S.p.A. Model A119 and AW119 MKII 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code 1100, Placards and 
markings.

(e) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports that certain fuel control units 
(FCU) may not have been calibrated to specification during overhaul. 
The FAA is issuing this AD to address certain FCUs that may not have 
been calibrated to specification during overhaul. This condition, if 
not corrected, can lead to N1 fluctuations, hung engine starts, and 
the inability to recover power during autorotation training, 
possibly resulting in reduced control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Definitions

    For the purposes of this AD, the definitions in paragraphs 
(g)(1) through (3) of this AD apply.
    (1) An affected FCU is one that is identified in section 1.A., 
``Effectivity,'' of Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018.
    (2) Group 1 helicopters are those that have an affected FCU 
installed.
    (3) Group 2 helicopters are those that do not have an affected 
FCU installed.

(h) Required Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) Amendment

    For Group 1 helicopters: Before further flight involving 
intentional autorotation, or within 30 days after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first, revise the Limitations Section 
of the RFM for your helicopter in accordance with paragraph 4. of 
the Accomplishment Instructions of Leonardo Helicopters Emergency 
Alert Service Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018.

(i) Required Placard Installation

    For Group 1 helicopters: Concurrently with the RFM amendment 
required by paragraph (h) of this AD, install a placard in the 
cockpit in accordance with paragraph 3. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Leonardo Helicopters Emergency Alert Service 
Bulletin 119-089, Revision A, dated June 5, 2018.

(j) Optional Terminating Action

    For Group 1 helicopters: Replacing the affected FCU with a non-
affected FCU allows the amendment to be removed from the RFM for 
your helicopter and the placard to be removed from the helicopter.

(k) Parts Installation Prohibition

    (1) For Group 1 helicopters: Do not install an affected FCU on 
any helicopter after replacement with a non-affected FCU.
    (2) For Group 2 helicopters: Do not install an affected FCU on 
any helicopter after the effective date of this AD.

(l) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, may approve 
AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Clark Davenport,

[[Page 35604]]

Flight Test Analyst, Flight Test Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5151; 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, 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.

(m) Related Information

    (1) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation 
Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD 
2018-0124, dated June 5, 2018. This EASA AD may be found in the AD 
docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-0468.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Leonardo S.p.A. Helicopters, Emanuele Bufano, Head of Airworthiness, 
Viale G.Agusta 520, 21017 C.Costa di Samarate (Va) Italy; telephone 
+39-0331-225074; fax +39-0331-229046; or at https://www.leonardocompany.com/en/home. 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.

    Issued on June 5, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12586 Filed 6-10-20; 8:45 am]
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