[4910-13-P]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2024-1686; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00595-R]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all
Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L, AS332L1, and SA330J
helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the installation of unapproved main
gearbox (MGB) forward and rear suspension bar attachment plates. This proposed AD
would require inspecting or measuring the MGB forward and rear suspension bar
attachment plates and, depending on the results, taking corrective action, as specified in a
European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for
incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by [INSERT DATE 45
DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER].
ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 11.43
and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for
submitting comments.
• Fax: (202) 493-2251.
• Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.
• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA2024-1686; 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 NPRM, the EASA
AD, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
• For EASA material, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne,
Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; Internet
easa.europa.eu. You may find the EASA material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu.
• You may view this material 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. The
EASA material is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1686.
Other Related Material: For Airbus Helicopters material, contact Airbus Helicopters,
2701 North Forum Drive, Grand Prairie, TX 75052; phone (972) 641-0000 or (800) 2320323; fax (972) 641-3775; or at airbus.com/en/products-services/helicopters/hcareservices/airbusworld.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hye Yoon Jang, Aviation Safety
Engineer, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone (817) 222-5584;
email hye.yoon.jang@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about
this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES. Include
“Docket No. FAA-2024-1686; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00595-R” at the beginning
of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the
proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data.
The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following
paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all
comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal
information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually
treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C.
552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM
contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is
important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each
page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked
submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Hye Yoon Jang,
Aviation Safety Engineer, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone
(817) 222-5584; email hye.yoon.jang@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives
that is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this
rulemaking.
Background
EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European
Union, has issued a series of ADs, the most recent being EASA AD 2023-0076, dated
April 11, 2023 (EASA AD 2023-0076), to correct an unsafe condition on Airbus
Helicopters Model SA 330 J, AS 332 C, AS 332 C1, AS 332 L, and AS 332 L1
helicopters.
This proposed AD was prompted by the installation of unapproved MGB forward
and left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) rear suspension bar attachment plates. The FAA
is proposing this AD to ensure installation of approved parts. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in damage to the MGB suspension bar attachment plates and

surrounding fuselage structure, and subsequent failure of load carrying structural
elements. See EASA AD 2023-0076 for additional background information.
Related Material Under 1 CFR Part 51
EASA AD 2023-0076 requires measuring the thickness of the MGB forward
suspension bar attachment plate and inspecting the LH and RH MGB rear suspension bar
attachment plates. Depending on the results, EASA AD 2023-0076 requires contacting
AH [Airbus Helicopters] for approved corrective action instructions and accomplishing
those instructions accordingly.
This material 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.
Other Related Material
The FAA reviewed Airbus Helicopters Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AS33253.02.15, Revision 0, dated March 6, 2023, and ASB No. SA330-53.56, Revision 0,
dated April 3, 2023. This material specifies procedures for measuring the thickness of the
MGB front suspension bar attachment plate and visually checking the LH and RH MGB
rear suspension bar attachment plate versions. Depending on the results, this material
specifies procedures for contacting Airbus Helicopter to get an approved repair.
FAA’s Determination
These helicopters have been approved by EASA and are approved for operation in
the United States. Pursuant to the FAA’s bilateral agreement with the European Union,
EASA has notified the FAA about the unsafe condition described in its AD. The FAA is
issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs.
Proposed AD Requirements in this NPRM
This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified in EASA
AD 2023-0076, described previously, as incorporated by reference, except for any
differences identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD and except
as discussed under “Differences Between this Proposed AD and the EASA AD.”

Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA’s ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD process, the
FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation authority (CAA) ADs as the primary
source of information for compliance with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs.
The FAA has been coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result,
the FAA proposes to incorporate EASA AD 2023-0076 by reference in the FAA final
rule. This proposed AD would, therefore, require compliance with EASA AD 2023-0076
in its entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences identified as
exceptions in the regulatory text of this proposed AD. Using common terms that are the
same as the heading of a particular section in EASA AD 2023-0076 does not mean that
operators need comply only with that section. For example, where the AD requirement
refers to “all required actions and compliance times,” compliance with this AD
requirement is not limited to the section titled “Required Action(s) and Compliance
Time(s)” in EASA AD 2023-0076. Material referenced in EASA AD 2023-0076 for
compliance will be available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1686 after
the FAA final rule is published.
Differences Between this Proposed AD and the EASA AD
If, during the inspection or measurement, any discrepancy is detected, EASA AD
2023-0076 specifies contacting AH [Airbus Helicopters] to obtain approved corrective
action instructions and accomplishing those instructions, and the material referenced in
EASA AD 2023-0076 specifies contacting Airbus Helicopters to get an approved repair,
whereas this proposed AD would require accomplishing the corrective action before
further flight in accordance with a method approved by the FAA, EASA, or Airbus
Helicopters’ EASA Design Organization Approval.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 38
helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD.
Measuring the thickness of the MGB forward suspension bar attachment plate and
inspecting the LH and RH MGB rear suspension bar attachment plates would take

approximately 2 work-hours for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and $6,460 for
the U.S. fleet.
The corrective action that may be needed as a result of the inspection or
measurement could vary significantly from helicopter to helicopter. The FAA has no data
to determine the costs to accomplish the corrective action or the number of helicopters
that may require corrective action.
Authority for this Rulemaking
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.
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 above, I certify this proposed regulation:
(1) Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866,
(2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a
substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA
proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39 - AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§ 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive:
Airbus Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2024-1686; Project Identifier MCAI-2023-00595R.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by
[INSERT DATE 45 DAYS AFTER DATE OF PUBLICATION IN THE FEDERAL
REGISTER].
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Airbus Helicopters Model AS332C, AS332C1, AS332L,
AS332L1, and SA330J helicopters, certificated in any category.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5311, Fuselage Main, Frame.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the installation of unapproved main gearbox (MGB)
forward and left-hand and right-hand rear suspension bar attachment plates. The FAA is
issuing this AD to ensure installation of approved parts. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in damage to the MGB suspension bar attachment plates and

surrounding fuselage structure, and subsequent failure of load carrying structural
elements.
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done.
(g) Requirements
Except as specified in paragraphs (h) and (i) of this AD: Comply with all required
actions and compliance times specified in, and in accordance with European Union
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0076, dated April 11, 2023 (EASA AD 20230076).
(h) Exceptions to EASA AD 2023-0076
(1) Where EASA AD 2023-0076 requires compliance in terms of flight hours, this
AD requires using hours time-in-service.
(2) Where EASA AD 2023-0076 refers to its effective date and March 21, 2023
(the effective date of EASA AD 2023-0049, dated March 7, 2023), this AD requires
using the effective date of this AD.
(3) Where paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023-0076 specifies contacting AH
[Airbus Helicopters] for approved corrective action instructions and within the
compliance time indicated therein, accomplishing those instructions accordingly and,
where the material referenced in paragraph (2) of EASA AD 2023-0076 specifies
contacting Airbus Helicopters to get an approved repair, this AD requires, before further
flight, corrective action done in accordance with a method approved by the Manager,
International Validation Branch, FAA; or EASA; or Airbus Helicopters’ EASA Design
Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by the DOA, the approval must include the
DOA-authorized signature.
(4) This AD does not adopt the “Remarks” section of EASA AD 2023-0049.
(i) No Reporting Requirement
Although the material referenced in EASA AD 2023-0076 specifies to submit
certain information to the manufacturer, this AD does not require that action.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local
Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the
manager of the International Validation Branch, send it to the attention of the person
identified in paragraph (k) of this AD or email to: 9-AVS-AIR-730-AMOC@faa.gov. If
mailing information, also submit information by email.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal
inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards
district office/certificate holding district office.
(k) Additional Information
For more information about this AD, contact Hye Yoon Jang, Aviation Safety
Engineer, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; phone (817) 222-5584;
email hye.yoon.jang@faa.gov.
(l) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference
of the material listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions required by this AD,
unless this AD specifies otherwise.
(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD 2023-0076, dated April
11, 2023.
(ii) [Reserved]
(3) For EASA material, contact EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 Cologne,
Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; Internet
easa.europa.eu. You may find this EASA material on the EASA website at
ad.easa.europa.eu.
(4) You may view this material 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.

(5) You may view this material at the National Archives and Records
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA,
visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email
fr.inspection@nara.gov.
Issued on June 11, 2024.

James D. Foltz,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division,
Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-13222 Filed: 6/17/2024 8:45 am; Publication Date: 6/18/2024]