2020-22-20: Main Rotor Gearbox

Adoption of the Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD): \n\n2020-22-20 Airbus Helicopters: Amendment 39-21316; Docket No. FAA- 2020-0378; Product Identifier 2018-SW-060-AD. \n\n(a) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350B3, AS350BA, AS350D, AS350D1, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, AS355N, AS355NP, EC130B4, and EC130T2 helicopters, all serial numbers, certificated in any category. \n\n(b) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD defines the unsafe condition as a missing main rotor gearbox (MGB) suspension bar attachment bracket bolt head. This condition could result in fatigue failure of the other MGB suspension bar attachment bracket bolts of the same MGB bracket, which could result in loss of the MGB suspension bar and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. \n\n(c) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD becomes effective December 14, 2020. \n\n(d) Compliance \n\n\n\tYou 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. \n\n(e) Required Actions \n\n\n\tFor helicopters with less than 1035 hours time-in-service (TIS), before reaching 1200 hours TIS, and for helicopters with 1035 or more hours TIS, within 165 hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs first, visually inspect each MGB suspension bar attachment bracket bolt for missing bolt heads by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2.a. of Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350-05.00.92, Airbus Helicopters ASB No. AS355- 05.00.79, or Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC130-05A028, all Revision 0 and dated July 16, 2018 (ASB AS350-05.00.92, ASB AS355-05.00.79, or ASB EC130-05A028), as applicable to your model helicopter. If any bolt heads are missing, do the following: \n\t(1) If one bolt head is missing, do the actions under the section ''If only one screw head (a) is missing'' in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.2.b of ASB AS350- 05.00.92, ASB AS355-05.00.79, or ASB EC130-05A028, as applicable to your model helicopter, except you are not required to return removed parts to Airbus Helicopters. You must do the repair before further flight, and you must submit the photographs and reply form to Airbus Helicopters within 30 days of completing the inspection. \n\t(2) If two or more bolt heads are missing, before further flight, repair using a method approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch. For a repair method to be approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, as required by this paragraph, the Manager's approval letter must specifically refer to this AD. \n\n\n\tNote 1 to paragraph (e): Airbus Helicopters refers to the bolts as screws. \n\n(f) Special Flight Permits \n\n\n\tSpecial Flight permits are prohibited. \n\n(g) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement \n\n\n\tA federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. All responses to this collection of information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524. \n\n(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Kristi Bradley, Aerospace Engineer, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Section, International Validation Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5110; email [email protected]. \n\t(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, the FAA suggests 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. \n\n(i) Additional Information \n\n\n\t(1) Airbus Standard Practices Manual (MTC) 20-02-05-404, Assembly by screws and nuts Joining, dated May 23, 2017, which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the subject of \n\n((Page 71238)) \n\nthis AD. For service information identified in this AD, 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 https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. You may view the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. \n\t(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD No. 2018-0152, dated July 18, 2018. You may view the EASA AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2020-0378.(j) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6320, Main Rotor Gearbox. \n\n(k) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(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. \n\t(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. \n\t(i) Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS350- 05.00.92, Revision 0, dated July 16, 2018. \n\t(ii) Airbus Helicopters ASB No. AS355-05.00.79, Revision 0, dated July 16, 2018. \n\t(iii) Airbus Helicopters ASB No. EC130-05A028, Revision 0, dated July 16, 2018. \n\t(3) For service information identified in this AD, 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 https://www.airbus.com/helicopters/services/technical-support.html. \n\t(4) Youmay view this service information at the 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. \n\t(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, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. \n\n\n\tIssued on October 23, 2020. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. (FR Doc. 2020-24675 Filed 11-6-20; 8:45 am) BILLING CODE 4910-13-P