AD 2011-22-05 R1

AD Final Rules - 2011-22-05 R1.pdf
Copy URL
Document Versions
 Feedback
DetailsAttachments/Public Comments
AD Number:
2011-22-05 R1
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2011-1158
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held By Eurocopter France)...Show more
Subject:
Tail rotor control system
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 79, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)
Citation Publish Date:
03/13/2014
Effective Date:
04/17/2014
Make:
Airbus Helicopters
Model:
AS355E | AS355F | AS355F1 | AS355F2 | AS355N | AS355NP | AS350B | AS350B1 ...Show more
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Large Airplane
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
2011-22-05
Affected By:
2026-10-16 | 2022-11-08 | 2022-19-13
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
AIR-700: Compliance & Airworthiness Division
Office of Primary Responsibility:
AIR-730: International Validation Branch
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
Automatic Zoom
Actual Size
Page Fit
Page Width
⁨50⁩%
⁨75⁩%
⁨100⁩%
⁨125⁩%
⁨150⁩%
⁨200⁩%
⁨300⁩%
⁨400⁩%
125%
of ⁨9⁩
1


[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 49 (Thursday, March 13, 2014)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 14169-14174]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2014-04282]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2011-1158; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-018-AD; Amendment 39-17765;


AD 2011-22-05 R1]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held By Eurocopter


France) (Airbus Helicopters)


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-22-05 for Eurocopter France


(Eurocopter) Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, C, D, D1, AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP helicopters


with certain tail rotor (T/R) pitch control rods (control rods) installed. AD 2011-22-05 required


checking the control rod for play before the first flight of each day. This new AD requires checking


the control rod for play within 30 hours time-in-service (TIS) and, if no bearing play is detected,


thereafter at intervals not to exceed 30 hours TIS. The actions in this AD are intended to prevent


failure of a T/R control rod, loss of T/R control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective April 17, 2014.


ADDRESSES:
 
For service information identified in this AD, contact Airbus Helicopters, Inc., 2701


N. Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; telephone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 232-0323; fax (972)


641-3775; or at http://www.airbushelicopters.com/techpub. You may view this referenced service


information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd.,


Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.


Examining the AD Docket


You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No.


FAA-2011-1158 or in person at the Docket Management Facility 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, any incorporated-by-reference information, the economic evaluation,


any comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-


5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
2


30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC


20590.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Robert Grant, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety


Management Group, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-


5110; email robert.grant@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to revise AD


2011-22-05, Amendment 39-16847 (76 FR 70046, November 10, 2011). AD 2011-22-05 applied to


Eurocopter Model AS350B, B1, B2, B3, BA, C, D, D1; and Model AS355E, F, F1, F2, N, and NP


helicopters with T/R control rod, part number (P/N) 350A33-2100-00, -01, -02, -03, -04; P/N


350A33-2121-00, -01, -02; P/N 350A33-2143-00; or P/N 350A33-2145-00 or -01, installed. AD


2011-22-05 required checking the control rod for play before the first flight of each day. The NPRM,


published in the Federal Register on September 26, 2013 (78 FR 59298), proposed to extend the


required time to check control rod play to within 30 hours TIS and, if no bearing play is detected,


thereafter at intervals not to exceed 30 hours TIS.


The NPRM was based on our determination that we can safely extend the compliance time for


the initial bearing play check and the interval for recurring checks. We also clarified the requirements


of that check and removed a previous requirement that if the Teflon cloth is coming out of its normal


position within the bearing, or if there is discoloration or scoring on the bearing, that the control rod


be replaced with an airworthy rod before further flight. These actions are intended to prevent failure


of a control rod, loss of T/R control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


Since we issued the NPRM, Eurocopter France has changed its name to Airbus Helicopters. This


AD reflects that change and updates the contact information to obtain service documentation.


Comments


We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we received no


comments on the NPRM (78 FR 59298, September 26, 2013).


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 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 except for the minor


change previously described. This change is consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM


(78 FR 59298, September 26, 2013) and will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor


increase the scope of the AD.


Related Service Information


Eurocopter issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 05.00.60 for the Model AS350 series


helicopters, and ASB No. 05.00.56 for the Model AS355 series helicopters, both Revision 0, and both


dated December 9, 2009. These ASBs specify performing an initial and recurring check for play in


the pitch-change links. If axial play in the ball-joint is detectable, the ASBs specify removing the