[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 168 (Wednesday, August 29, 2012)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52264-52265]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-21277]
========================================================================
Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
========================================================================
Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 168 / Wednesday, August 29, 2012 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 52264]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-0890; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-019-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Hughes Helicopters, Inc., and McDonnell
Douglas Helicopter Systems (Type Certificate Currently Held by MD
Helicopters, Inc.) Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD
Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369D, 369E, 369F, and 369FF helicopters
with certain serial-numbered tailboom assemblies. This proposed AD is
prompted by the discovery of short-edge margin conditions on two
tailboom assemblies. The proposed actions are intended to detect a
short-edge margin condition, to modify the tailboom by adding a
longeron doubler over the area with the short-edge distance, and to
prevent failure of the tailboom and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 29,
2012.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Examining the AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket
Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
street address for the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD
docket shortly after receipt.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact MD
Helicopters Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. McDowell
Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 85215-9734, telephone 1-800-388-3378, fax
480-346-6813, or at http://www.mdhelicopters.com. You may review
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Boulevard, Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Cecil, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-
5228, fax (562) 627-5210, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.
Discussion
We are proposing to adopt a new AD for the specified MDHI
helicopters with certain serial-numbered tailboom assemblies installed.
Customers returned two tailboom assemblies to the manufacturer that
contained an improperly installed frame ring at station 209.78. The
frame rings were installed with too short a distance between an aft
longeron rivet and the outboard edge of the frame ring. This is known
as a short-edge margin condition.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant
information and determined that an unsafe condition exists and is
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type
designs.
Related Service Information
MDHI has issued one Service Bulletin (SB), dated July 20, 2010,
with 3 different numbers: SB No. SB369D-207 for the Model 369D
helicopters, SB No. SB369E-102 for the Model 369E helicopters, and SB
No. SB369F-087 for the Model 369F and FF helicopters. The MDHI SB
describes procedures for measuring the distance from the aft face of
the station 209.78 canted frame ring to the center of the No. 1 and No.
2 aft rivet locations on each of the four longerons spaced 90[deg]
apart around the frame ring. If a short-edge margin condition exists,
the SB specifies modifying the tailboom by installing a repair doubler
at each affected location.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require measuring the distance from the aft
face of the station 209.78 frame ring to the center of rivet No. 1 and
rivet No. 2 at the four locations where the frame ring attaches to the
tailboom longeron. If either the No. 1 or No. 2 aft rivet at a frame-
ring-to-tailboom longeron location is more than 0.50 inches (12.7
millimeters) from the aft face of the
[[Page 52265]]
station 209.78 frame ring, before further flight, the proposed AD would
require modifying that location by fabricating and installing a doubler
over the location in accordance with the previously-described service
information.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 109 helicopters of
U.S. registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs
in order to comply with this AD. $340 for 4 work hours to access and
measure for a short-edge margin condition at $85 per hour for a total
of $37,060 for the fleet.
The on-condition costs for installing the doubler are not included
in our cost estimate because we have no way of determining the number
of aircraft that might need a doubler, which would require about 8 work
hours at $85 per hour for a total of $699 additional labor for each
helicopter and $19 for required parts.
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.
We are 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
We 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. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
4. 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.
We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply
with this proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
Airworthiness Directive (AD):
Hughes Helicopters Inc., and McDonnel Douglas Helicopter Systems
(Type Certificate currently held by MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI)):
Docket No. FAA-2012-0890; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-019-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model 369D, E, F, and FF helicopters with
tailboom assembly, part number (P/N) 369D23500-505, -507, -511, or -
513 with a serial number prefix of ``7604'' and -0001 through -0003,
-0006 through -0047, -0049 through -0082, or -0084 through -0113,
installed, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as too short an edge
distance from an aft longeron rivet to the edge of a tailboom frame
ring, which could result in failure of the tailboom and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Compliance
You are responsible for performing each action required by this
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been
accomplished prior to that time.
(d) Required Actions
(1) Within 6 months or 100 hours time-in-service, whichever
occurs first, measure the distance from the aft face of the station
209.78 frame ring to the center of rivet No. 1 and rivet No. 2 at
the four locations where the frame ring attaches to the tailboom
longeron as depicted in Figure 2 of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin
(SB) No. SB369D-207, SB369E-102, and SB369F-087, dated July 20,
2010. SB369D-207 applies to the Model 369D helicopters; SB369E-102
applies to the Model 369E helicopters; and SB369F-087 applies to
Model 369F and FF helicopters.
Note to paragraph (d)(1) of this AD: The one MD Helicopters SB,
dated July 20, 2010, contains three different numbers: SB369D-207;
SB369E-102; and SB369F-087.
(2) If either the No. 1 or No. 2 aft rivet at a frame-ring-to-
tailboom-longeron location is more than 0.50 inches (12.7
millimeters) from the aft face of the station 209.78 frame ring,
before further flight, modify that location by fabricating and
installing a doubler over the location as depicted in Figures 3 and
4 and by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.C.,
of the SB for your model helicopter.
(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)
(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to John Cecil,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
Airframe Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-
4137, telephone (562) 627-5228, fax (562) 627-5210, email
[email protected].
(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector,
the manager of the local flight standards district office or
certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft
complying with this AD through an AMOC.
(f) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 5302: Rotorcraft
Tailboom.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 16, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-21277 Filed 8-28-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P