[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18224-18226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06297]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1088; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-005-AD;
Amendment 39-17387; AD 2013-05-15]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II helicopters
equipped with emergency floats. This AD requires replacing the
inflation valve assembly. This AD was prompted by the failure of the
emergency floats to deploy during a factory test because a needle was
binding within the inflation valve assembly. The actions are intended
to prevent the failure of the floats to inflate during an emergency
landing.
DATES: This AD is effective April 30, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505;
telephone (310) 539-0508; fax (310) 539-5198; or at http://www.robinsonheli.com. You may review a copy of the referenced service
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
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 AD, any incorporated-by-reference
service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Venessa Stiger, Aerospace Engineer,
Cabin Safety/Mechanical & Environmental Systems, Los Angeles Aircraft
Certification Office, Transport
[[Page 18225]]
Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712-
4137; telephone (562) 627-5337; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On October 16, 2012, at 77 FR 63260, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Robinson Helicopter
Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with emergency
floats equipped with an inflation valve assembly, part number (P/N)
D757-1, not engraved with ``D758-4'' or modified with modification
B900-8, and containing a housing assembly, P/N D758-1, Revision C or
prior. That NPRM proposed to require replacing the inflation valve
assembly because the emergency floats failed to deploy during a factory
test. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent the failure of
the floats to inflate during an emergency landing.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 63260, October
16, 2012).
FAA's Determination
We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other
products of these same type designs and that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.
Related Service Information
We have reviewed Robinson R44 Service Bulletin SB-80, dated
September 7, 2011 (SB), which describes procedures for upgrading
certain valve assemblies within the next 250 flight hours or by June
30, 2012, whichever occurs first. The SB reports that during a factory
test of pop-out emergency floats the floats failed to inflate because
of a stuck cylinder valve.
Differences Between This AD and the Service Information
This AD requires replacing the inflation valve assembly within 1
year or 500 hours TIS, whichever occurs first. The SB specifies
replacing the assembly within 250 flight hours or by June 30, 2012,
whichever occurs first. We used the Monitor Safety/Analyze Data (MSAD)
process and were able to predict when the next occurrence would likely
occur if no repairs were completed.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 165 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that the labor cost averages $85 per work-hour. Based on these
assumptions, we estimate that replacing the inflation valve assembly
takes 2.5 work-hours for a labor cost of about $213. Parts cost $850 to
$955 for a total cost per helicopter of $1,063 to $1,168.
According to Robinson's service information, some or all of the
costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the
cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty
coverage. Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.
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
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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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.
Adoption of the Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
0
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]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2013-05-15 Robinson Helicopter Company: Amendment 39-17387; Docket
No. FAA-2012-1088; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-005-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model
R44 and R44 II helicopters with emergency floats equipped with an
inflation valve assembly, part number (P/N) D757-1, not engraved
with ``D758-4'' or modified with modification B900-8, and containing
a housing assembly, P/N D758-1, Revision C or prior, certificated in
any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as binding of the needle
within the float inflation valve assembly, which has resulted in the
emergency floats failing to inflate.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective April 30, 2013.
(d) 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.
(e) Required Actions
Within 1 year or 500 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever
occurs first, replace the inflation valve assembly with an airworthy
inflation valve assembly, P/N D757-1R.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Venessa
Stiger, Aerospace Engineer, Cabin Safety/Mechanical & Environmental
Systems, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,
[[Page 18226]]
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood,
CA 90712-4137; telephone (562) 627-5337; 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.
(g) Additional Information
Robinson R44 Service Bulletin SB-80, dated September 7, 2011,
which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional
information about the subject of this AD. For service information
identified in this AD, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901
Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; telephone (310) 539-0508; fax
(310) 539-5198; or at http://www.robinsonheli.com/servelib.htm. You
may review a copy of this service information at the FAA, Office of
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3212, Emergency
Flotation Section.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06297 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
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