AD 2023-15-03

This AD is effective September 7, 2023.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September 7, 2023.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1043; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• For service information identified in this final rule, contact EASA, Konrad-denauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne, Germany; phone: +49 221 8999 000; email: ADs@easa.europa.eu. You may find this material on the EASA website at ad.easa.europa.eu.

• You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1043.

Kevin Clark, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (781) 238-7088; email: kevin.m.clark@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Safran Model Arrius 2B2 engines. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 15, 2023 (88 FR 30911). The NPRM was prompted by EASA AD 2022-0203, dated September 30, 2022 (EASA AD 2022-0203), issued by EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union (also referred to as the MCAI). The MCAI states that the manufacturer published a revised ALS introducing new and more restrictive tasks and limitations for certain life-limited parts. The more restrictive tasks and limitations include replacing life-limited parts before exceeding the applicable life limit, performing applicable maintenance tasks, and revising the approved aircraft maintenance program.

In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI described previously. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1043.

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs.

These products have been approved by the aviation authority of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

The FAA reviewed EASA AD 2022-0203, which specifies instructions for accomplishing the actions specified in the applicable ALS, including replacing life-limited parts, performing maintenance tasks, and revising the existing approved aircraft maintenance program by incorporating the limitations, tasks, and associated thresholds and intervals described in the ALS.

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 ADDRESSES.

Paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-0203 requires replacing each component before exceeding the applicable life limit and, within the thresholds and intervals, accomplishing all applicable maintenance tasks after its effective date, this AD requires revising the ALS of the existing EMM or ICA and the existing approved maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, by incorporating the actions specified in paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2022-0203, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD. This AD does not require compliance with paragraphs (2) through (5) of EASA AD 2022-0203.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 185 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

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.

The FAA is 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.

This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 above, I certify that this AD:

(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: