2020-23-07: Emergency Equipment, Life Raft

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: \n\n2020-23-07 Leonardo S.p.a.: Amendment 39-21323; Docket No. FAA-2020- 0987; Project Identifier MCAI-2020-01205-R. \n\n(a) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis airworthiness directive (AD) applies to Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters, certificated in any category, with emergency flotation kit part number (P/N) 4G9560F00111 (15 passengers) or 4G9560F00211 (18 passengers). \n\n(b) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD defines the unsafe condition as inadvertent activation and deployment of the emergency life raft (raft). This condition could result in the deployment of the raft during flight, separation of the raft with possible impact on the rotors, and subsequent reduced control of the helicopter. \n\n(c) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis AD becomes effective December 4, 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\t(1) For helicopters with a right-hand (RH) or left-hand (LH) life raft reservoir (reservoir) P/N 3G2560V01951 or P/N 3G2560V01251 and with a serial number (S/N) listed in Table 1 of the Leonardo Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 139-648, dated August 10, 2020 (ASB 139-648), within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), remove each affected reservoir from service. \n\t(2) For helicopters with a RH or LH reservoir P/N 3G2560V01951 or P/N 3G2560V01251 and with an S/N not listed in Table 1 of ASB 139-648 installed, within 25 hours TIS or before the reservoir accumulates 55 total hours TIS since first installation on a helicopter, whichever occurs later, inspect the valve pull rod of each reservoir by following paragraphs 3. through 5.1, of the Accomplishment Instructions, part II, of ASB 139-648. If the measurement of the raft actuator cable (actuator cable) between the face of the pull rod and the back of the valve cap exceeds 68.5 mm, before further flight, replace the reservoir. \n\t(3) For helicopters with a RH or LH reservoir P/N 3G2560V01951 or P/N 3G2560V01251 and with an S/N not listed in Table 1 of ASB 139-648 installed, within 25 hours TIS, inspect the actuator cable of each reservoir by following paragraphs 3. through 5.1, of the Accomplishment Instructions, part III, of ASB 139-648. If the clearance between the sphere at the end of the actuator cable and the activation system exceeds 5.0 +0.00/-2.0 mm, before further flight, adjust the life raft actuator cable by following Annex A of ASB 139-648. \n\t(4) As of the effective date of thisAD, do not install reservoir P/N 3G2560V01951 or P/N 3G2560V01251 with an S/N listed in Table 1 of ASB 139-648 on any helicopter. \n\t(5) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a reservoir P/N 3G2560V01951 or P/N 3G2560V01251 with an S/N other than an S/N listed in Table 1 of ASB 139-648 on any helicopter unless you have complied with the requirements in paragraph (e)(3) of this AD. \n\n(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Daniel E. Moore, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations & Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards 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 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. \n\n(g) Additional Information \n\n\n\tThe subject of this AD is addressed in European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2020-0185, dated August 19, 2020. You may view the EASA AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2020-0987. \n\n(h) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2560, Emergency Equipment, and 2564, Life Raft. \n\n(i) 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) Leonardo Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin No. 139-648, dated August 10,2020. \n\t(ii) (Reserved) \n\t(3) 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. \n\t(4) 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. 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 November 10, 2020. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. (FR Doc. 2020-25470 Filed 11-18-20; 8:45 am) BILLING CODE 4910-13-P