[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 66 (Friday, April 7, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 16895-16897]
[FR Doc No: 2017-06706]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-3257; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-072-AD;
Amendment 39-18846; AD 2017-07-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus
Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB-BK 117 D-2
helicopters. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the engine mount
bushings. This AD was prompted by reports of delaminated and worn
bushings. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 12, 2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER> or<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax<PHONE_NUMBER>;
or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub.
    You may review a copy of the referenced 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 http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
3257; 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, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone:<PHONE_NUMBER>)
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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>; email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On November 21, 2016, at 81 FR 83182, 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 Airbus
Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters with a bushing part number
105-60386 installed. The NPRM proposed to require repetitively
inspecting the bushings of the inner and outer forward trusses of both
engines and repairing or replacing the bushings, depending on the
outcome of the inspections. The proposed requirements were intended to
detect delaminated engine mount bushings, which can lead to excessive
vibration, cracking, failure of the engine mount front support pins,
and loss of helicopter control.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. 2015-0198, dated September 30,
2015, issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member
States of the European Union. EASA advises of delaminated engine mount
bushings. According to EASA, this condition could lead to cracks and
eventually failure of the engine mount front support pins, possibly
resulting in loss of helicopter control.
    The EASA AD consequently requires repetitive inspections of the
engine mount bushings and depending of the findings, repairing or
replacing the bushings.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received one comment. However, the comment addressed
neither the proposed actions nor the determination of the cost to the
public. Therefore, we have made no changes to this AD.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Germany and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant
to our bilateral agreement with Germany, 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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD allows for a 10 hour time-in-service, non-cumulative
tolerance for its required compliance times. This AD does not.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) MBB-
BK117 D-2-71A-002, Revision 0, dated September 28, 2015, for Model MBB-
BK 117 D-2 helicopters. The ASB introduces repetitive visual
inspections of the engine mount bushings for defects, deformation,
separation of the rubber, and missing rubber after reports of
delaminated engine mount bushings and bushings with damage to the metal
inner sleeve. If there is any deformation or separation of the rubber,
the ASB specifies performing a detailed inspection of the bushing in
accordance with the aircraft maintenance manual.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 5 helicopters of U.S. Registry and
that labor costs average $85 per work hour. Based on these estimates,
we expect the following costs:
     Inspecting the bushings requires 1 work hour. No parts are
needed, for a total cost of $85 per helicopter and $425 for the U.S.
fleet.
     Replacing a bushing requires 1 work hour and $373 for
parts, for a total cost of $458 per bushing.

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.

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):

2017-07-08 Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH: Amendment 39-18846;
Docket No. FAA-2016-3257; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-072-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model
MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters with a bushing part number 105-60386
installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a delaminated engine
mount bushing. This condition could result in excessive vibration,
which could lead to cracking and failure of the engine mount front
support pins, and loss of helicopter control.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 12, 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

    Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS:
    (1) Visually inspect each engine mount bushing (bushing) for
separation of the rubber from the metal or missing rubber.
    (2) If any rubber has separated from the metal or if there is
missing rubber, inspect the bushing for deformation, corrosion, and
mechanical damage.
    (i) Replace the bushing with an airworthy bushing if there is
any deformation, separation of the rubber from the metal, corrosion,
or mechanical damage, or repair the bushing if the deformation,
separation of the rubber, corrosion, or mechanical damage is within
the maximum repair damage limitations.
    (ii) If the inner and outer parts of the bushing are separated
with missing rubber, replace the bushing with an airworthy bushing.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation
Safety Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate,
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817)
222-5110; email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    (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

    (1) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin ASB MBB-BK117 D-2-
71A-002, Revision 0, dated September 28, 2015, which is not
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the
subject of this AD. For service information identified in AD,
contact Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX
75052; telephone<PHONE_NUMBER> or<PHONE_NUMBER>; fax (972) 641-
3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation
Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2015-0198, dated September 30, 2015. You
may view the EASA AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
in Docket No. FAA-2016-3257.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7200, Engine
(Turbine, Turboprop).

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 29, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-06706 Filed 4-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P