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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 53 / Monday, March 22, 2021 / Proposed Rules
assemblies are installed, replacing the planet gear assemblies. Finally, the EASA AD prohibits installing an MGB
with a Type X or Type Y planet gear assembly on any helicopter.
Actions Since Previous NPRM Was Issued Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA
discovered that the proposed applicability was limited to helicopters with at least one affected assembly installed on the MGB, whereas all Airbus Helicopters Model AS365N2, AS 365 N3, SA365N, and SA365N1
helicopters, regardless of the assembly, are subject to the unsafe condition and require repetitive inspections of the MGB magnetic plugs for particles.
Therefore, this SNPRM corrects the applicability to include all helicopter models. The FAA also determined that any special flight permits would be limited to flights with no passengers on board.
Comments The FAA gave the public the opportunity to comment on the original NPRM 85 FR 47925, August 7, 2020.
The FAA received no comments on that NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.
FAAs Determination The FAA is proposing this SNPRM
after evaluating all known relevant information and determining that an unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs. Certain changes described above expand the scope of the original NPRM. As a result, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the comment period to provide additional opportunity for the public to comment on this SNPRM.

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Related Service Information Under 1
CFR Part 51
Airbus Helicopters has issued ASB
AS36505.00.78 for Model SA365N, SA365N1, AS365N2, and AS 365 N3
helicopters. This service information specifies performing periodic inspections of the MGB magnetic plugs for particles. This service information also specifies identifying the type of gear assembly installed in the MGB and replacing any Type X assembly within 50 hours time-in-service TIS. For Type Y gear assemblies, the service information requires replacing the assembly within 50 hours TIS or within 300 hours TIS, depending on the time since new. The service information specifies Type Z gear assemblies should be left as is.

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Airbus Helicopters has also issued Service Bulletin No. AS36563.00.21, Revision 3, dated July 26, 2018, for Model AS365 helicopters. This service information contains procedures for replacing the MGB epicyclic reduction gear as an option to replacing the MGB.
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 the ADDRESSES section.
Proposed Requirements of the SNPRM
This SNPRM would maintain the proposed corrective actions from the NPRM as follows, but would no longer limit the applicability to only certain helicopters:
Before further flight, for helicopters with a Type X planet gear assembly with a certain S/N installed, replacing the MGB.
For helicopters with no Type X
planet gear assembly installed but at least one Type Y planet gear assembly with a certain S/N installed, replacing the MGB within 300 hours TIS or before any planet gear assembly accumulates 1,300 hours TIS since new, whichever occurs first.
As an alternative to replacing the MGB, this SNPRM would allow replacing the epicyclic reduction gear module in the affected MGB.
This proposed AD would also:
Prohibit installing a MGB with Type Y or Type X planet gear assembly installed on any helicopter.
Require, within 10 hours TIS and thereafter before the first flight of the day or at intervals not to exceed 10
hours TIS, whichever occurs first, inspecting the lower MGB magnetic plugs for particles and, if there are particles, replacing the MGB, depending on the type and the size of those particles.
Differences Between This SNPRM and the EASA AD
The EASA AD requires a 50-hour or 300-hour TIS compliance time or by June 30, 2019, whichever occurs first, to determine the type of planet gear installed in the MGB, and depending on the outcome, to replace the MGB. This proposed AD would set compliance deadlines based only on hours TIS or before further flight. The EASA AD
allows a pilot to inspect the MGB
magnetic plugs for particles, while this proposed AD would not.
Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 34 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on these
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numbers, the FAA estimates that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this proposed AD.
Inspecting the magnetic plugs and oil filter for particle deposits would take about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per inspection cycle.
Replacing an MGB would take about 42 work-hours for cost of $3,570 and parts cost about $295,000 overhauled for a total cost of $298,570 per helicopter.
Replacing the epicyclic reduction gear would take about 56 work-hours for an estimated cost of $4,760 and parts cost about $11,404 for a total cost of $16,164
per helicopter.
Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAAs 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 Agencys 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.
Regulatory Findings The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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, I certify this proposed regulation:
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.

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