83 FR 21964 - Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 83, Issue 92 (May 11, 2018)

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters with a lower strobe light installed. This proposed AD would require installing a cable mount, inspecting the lower strobe light wiring harness, and re-routing the wiring harness. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of interference between the lower strobe light wiring harness and the helicopter structure. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 92 (Friday, May 11, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21964-21966]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2018-09982]



[[Page 21964]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0418; Product Identifier 2017-SW-016-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: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters with a 
lower strobe light installed. This proposed AD would require installing 
a cable mount, inspecting the lower strobe light wiring harness, and 
re-routing the wiring harness. This proposed AD is prompted by reports 
of interference between the lower strobe light wiring harness and the 
helicopter structure. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 10, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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-2018-
0418; 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 proposed AD, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, the 
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.
    For service information identified in this proposed rule, contact 
Airbus Helicopters, 2701 N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; 
telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at 
http://www.helicopters.airbus.com/website/en/ref/Technical-Support_73.html. 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: George Schwab, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to 
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might 
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed 
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
    We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as 
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we 
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for 
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has 
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. 
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2016-0258, dated December 16, 
2016, to correct an unsafe condition for Airbus Helicopters Model AS 
365 N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters with certain serial numbers and 
configurations. EASA advises of in-production helicopters with lower 
strobe light wiring harnesses that were interfering with either the 
helicopter structure or the adjacent fuel tank support. EASA further 
states that an investigation determined that the electrical harnesses 
of these lower strobe lights were manufactured with additional length 
to facilitate removal and installation of the lower strobe light 
assembly. However, the additional length of wiring in the harness was 
not properly secured to the helicopter structure. According to EASA, 
this could result in chafing of the harness on the helicopter 
structure, creating an ignition source adjacent to the inboard fuel 
tank vapor space, and result in a fuel tank fire.
    To address this unsafe condition, the EASA AD requires installing a 
cable mount, inspecting the lower strobe light electrical harness for 
damage, and re-routing the electrical harness.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
France and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with France, EASA, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
its AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known 
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
AS365-05.00.73, Revision 1, dated December 12, 2016 (ASB AS365-
05.00.73), which specifies procedures for inspecting the lower strobe 
light electrical harness for interference and chafing with the 
helicopter structure and also specifies procedures for installing a 
cable mount to secure the electrical harness. These procedures 
correspond to Airbus Helicopters modification (MOD) 365P084778.00.
    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.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS), installing a cable mount on the helicopter structure and 
inspecting the lower strobe light electrical harness and the electrical 
harness between the cut-off connector and Frame 2000 for torn spiral 
tape and for any chafing on the harness cables. If the spiral tape is 
torn, the proposed AD would require, before further flight, replacing 
the spiral tape.

[[Page 21965]]

If there is any chafing on the cable the proposed AD would require, 
before further flight, replacing the harness.
    Helicopters in a MOD 365P084778.00 configuration have already 
accomplished the actions required by this proposed AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    The EASA AD limits the applicability to helicopters with a lower 
strobe light installed and with certain serial numbers or that are in a 
configuration based upon a modification, service information, or 
engineering drawings. This proposed AD would apply to all Model AS 365 
N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters with a lower strobe light installed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 30 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, 
installing a cable mount and inspecting the strobe light wiring 
harnesses would require about 1 hour, and required parts would cost 
about $50, for a cost per helicopter of $135 and a total cost of $4,050 
to all U.S. operators.
    If required, replacing torn spiral tape would require about 1 work-
hour, and required parts would cost $45, for a cost per helicopter of 
$130.
    If required, replacing a chafed wiring harness between the cut-off 
connector and Frame 2000 would require about 3 work-hours, and required 
parts would cost $90, for a cost per helicopter of $345.
    If required, replacing a chafed lower strobe light wiring harness 
would require about 3 work-hours, and required parts would cost $154, 
for a cost per helicopter of $409

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

    We 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the 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 proposed 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.

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):

Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2018-0418; Product Identifier 
2017-SW-016-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS-365N2 and AS 365 
N3 helicopters, certificated in any category, with a lower strobe 
light installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as interference between the 
lower strobe light electrical harness wiring and the helicopter 
structure. This condition could result in chafing of an electrical 
harness adjacent to the inboard fuel tank vapor space, a fuel tank 
fire, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 10, 2018.

(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:
    (1) Install cable mount part number (P/N) ASMS-A to the 
helicopter structure as depicted in Figure 1, Detail A and Detail C, 
of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. AS365-05.00.73, 
Revision 1, dated December 12, 2016 (ASB AS365-05.00.73).
    (2) Inspect the lower strobe light harness and the harness 
between the cut-off connector and Frame 2000 for tears in the spiral 
tape and for chafing of the harness wires. If there is a tear in the 
spiral tape, before further flight, replace the spiral tape. If 
there is any chafing, before further flight, replace the chafed 
harness.
    (3) Route the lower strobe light harness and the harness between 
the cut-off connector and Frame 2000 and secure as depicted in 
Figure 1, Detail A and Section B-B, of ASB AS365-05.00.73.

    Note 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD:  Airbus Helicopters 
identifies the actions in ASB AS365-05.00.73 as Modification 
365P084778.00.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 
George Schwab, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, 
Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, 
TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email [email protected].
    (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. 2016-0258, dated December 30, 2016. You may 
view the EASA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in 
the AD Docket.

[[Page 21966]]

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3340 Lights.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 1, 2018.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-09982 Filed 5-10-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P