AD 2015-12-09 R1

AD Final Rules - 2015-12-09 R1.pdf
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AD Number:
2015-12-09 R1
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2014-0577
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Previously Eurocopter Deutschland Gmb...Show more
Subject:
Flight Controller
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)
Citation Publish Date:
01/21/2016
Effective Date:
02/25/2016
Make:
Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH
Model:
MBB-BK 117 C-2 | EC135P1 | EC135P2 | EC135P2+ | EC135T1 | EC135T2 | EC135T2+/EC635T2+
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
2015-12-09
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
AIR-700: Compliance & Airworthiness Division
Office of Primary Responsibility:
AIR-730: International Validation Branch
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 3310-3313]


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


[FR Doc No: 2016-00664]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2014-0577; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-042-AD; Amendment 39-18375;


AD 2015-12-09 R1]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Previously Eurocopter


Deutschland GmbH) (Airbus Helicopters)


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are revising airworthiness directive (AD) 2015-12-09 for Airbus Helicopters


Model EC135P1, EC135T1, EC135P2, EC135T2, EC135P2+, EC135T2+, and MBB-BK 117 C-2


helicopters. AD 2015-12-09 required inspecting certain washers for movement and making the


appropriate repairs if the washers move. As published, AD 2015-12-09 referenced an incorrect date


for the service information in the Credit for Previous Actions section. This AD corrects the error


while retaining the requirements of AD 2015-12-09. These actions are intended to prevent loss of


concerned control axis and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective February 25, 2016.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain


documents listed in this AD as of July 23, 2015 (80 FR 34831, June 18, 2015).


ADDRESSES:
 
For service information identified in this final rule, 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 review the referenced


service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Room 6N-321,


10101 Hillwood Pkwy, 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-2014-0577; 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
2


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-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New


Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety Engineer,


Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 Hillwood


Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email matt.wilbanks@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


On July 24, 2015, we issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39


to revise AD 2015-12-09, Amendment 39-18184 (80 FR 34831, June 18, 2015), which applied to


Airbus Helicopters Model EC135P1, EC135T1, EC135P2, EC135T2, EC135P2+, EC135T2+, and


MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 3, 2015 (80


FR 45900). The NPRM was prompted by the discovery of an incorrectly dated Alert Service Bulletin


(ASB) in the Credit for Previous Actions section of AD 2015-12-09. The NPRM proposed to retain


the actions required by AD 2015-12-09 and correct the ASB date and revise other information


throughout the AD.


AD 2015-12-09 was prompted by AD No. 2013-0176, dated August 7, 2013, issued by EASA,


which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, to correct an unsafe


condition for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model EC 135 P1 (CDS), EC 135 P1 (CPDS), EC 135


P2+, EC 135 P2 (CPDS), EC 135 T1 (CDS), EC 135 T1 (CPDS), EC 135 T2+, EC 135 T2 (CPDS),


EC 635 P2+, EC 635 T1 (CPDS), EC 635 T2+, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. EASA advises


that during installation work on a helicopter, it was discovered that it was not possible to install


attachment hardware on a threaded blind borehole between the Smart Electro Mechanical Actuator


(SEMA) and the control rod without play. EASA advises that this condition, if not detected and


corrected, could lead to loss of the concerned control axis, possibly resulting in loss of helicopter


control. For these reasons, EASA AD No. 2013-0176 requires a one-time inspection of the affected


SEMA attachment hardware to detect improper connection and play and, depending on the findings,


replacement of the affected hardware. After the issuance of EASA AD No. 2013-0176, Eurocopter


Deutschland GmbH changed its name to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH.


When AD 2015-12-09 was published, an incorrect reference to the date of Eurocopter ASB


EC135-22A-015, Revision 0, dated May 13, 2008, appeared in the text of the rule. Specifically, AD


2015-12-09 includes the following under paragraph (f), Credit for Previous Actions: ''If you


performed the actions in Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin EC135-22A-015, Revision 0, dated May


13, 2018, or Eurocopter Alert Service Bulletin MBB BK117 C-2-22A-009, Revision 0, May 13,


2008, before the effective date of this AD, you met the requirements of this AD.'' As published, the


reference to May 13, 2018, is incorrect. The correct date for Eurocopter ASB EC135-22A-015,


Revision 0, is May 13, 2008.


Accordingly, we are revising AD 2015-12-09 to correct the date for Eurocopter ASB EC135-


22A-015, Revision 0. Further, we updated the physical address of the FAA Southwest Regional


Office throughout this AD and the email address for requesting an Alternative Method of Compliance


(AMOC). We did not change any other part of the preamble or regulatory information. The final rule


is reprinted in its entirety for the convenience of affected operators.


Comments


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


comments on the NPRM (80 FR 45900, August 3, 2015).