[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53030-53032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21686]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2015-3658; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-039-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D,
369E, 369F, 369FF, and 500N helicopters. This proposed AD would require
inspecting the auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wire routing in the
left-hand fuel cell and corrective action, if necessary. This proposed
AD would also require installing a warning decal on the left-hand fuel
cell access cover. This proposed AD is prompted by accidents resulting
from incorrectly positioned fuel pump wiring within the fuel tank
interfering with the operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which
caused an erroneous fuel quantity
[[Page 53031]]
indication in the cockpit. The proposed actions are intended to detect
and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent interference
with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel quantity
indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency
landing.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 2,
2015.
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 the
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort
Worth, Texas 76177.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate,
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562)
627-5247; 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 propose to adopt a new AD for certain MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-
6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, and 500N
helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the routing of
the fuel pump wiring to determine whether the fuel pump wire is
properly wrapped around the fuel inlet hose and correcting the routing
of the wiring if it is not. This proposed AD would also require
installing a decal regarding correct installation of the fuel pump
wiring. This proposed AD is prompted by two accidents and one incident
that occurred on Model 369D helicopters resulting from an incorrectly
positioned fuel pump wire within the fuel tank interfering with the
operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which caused an erroneous
fuel quantity reading in the cockpit. Because the fuel pump is
installed on all the affected model helicopters, we are including them
in the applicability. According to MDHI, because maintenance personnel
caused the incorrect wire routing by failing to follow procedures for
installing the fuel pump, it is also necessary to install a decal on
the left-hand fuel cell access cover to refer maintenance personnel to
the appropriate manual procedures. The proposed actions are intended to
detect and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent
interference with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel
quantity indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and
emergency landing.
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 products of these same type
designs.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
MDHI issued one Service Bulletin on April 30, 2014, with five
different numbers: SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, and
SB369F-098. The service bulletin specifies a one-time inspection of the
routing of the fuel pump wire in the left-hand fuel cell and corrective
action, if necessary. The service bulletin also specifies installing a
warning decal on the left-hand fuel cell access cover that refers
personnel to the procedures for routing the fuel pump wire that is
contained in the appropriate maintenance manual. The service bulletin
states that recent field incidents have occurred where maintenance
personnel have not followed the procedures for installation of the fuel
pump. Also, the service bulletin states that an incorrectly installed
fuel pump wire can interfere with the fuel quantity sensor float, which
can result in erroneous fuel quantity indications. To prevent this
situation, the service information states that the fuel pump wire must
be wrapped around the fuel inlet hose as shown in the applicable
maintenance manual. 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
of this NPRM.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require, within 100 hours time-in-service:
Removing the fuel quantity sensor and, using a mirror and
light, inspecting to determine whether the fuel pump wire is wrapped
around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose assembly a minimum of
one revolution.
[cir] If the fuel pump wire is correctly wrapped around the left-
hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose, installing the fuel quantity sensor and
performing a fuel quantity sensor functional test for proper fuel float
arm function.
[cir] If the fuel pump wire is not correctly wrapped around the
left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose, reinstalling the fuel quantity
sensor, routing the fuel pump wire around the left-hand fuel cell fuel
inlet hose, and performing a
[[Page 53032]]
fuel quantity sensor functional test for proper fuel float arm
function.
Installing a warning decal referencing the fuel pump
installation procedures.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 833 helicopters of
U.S. Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per hour.
Inspecting the fuel pump wire routing and installing a decal would take
3 hours, and parts would cost $20 for a total cost of $275 per
helicopter and $229,075 for the U.S. fleet. If required, rerouting the
wiring would require 1 work-hour for a total cost of $85 per
helicopter.
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
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):
MD Helicopters Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2015-3658; Directorate
Identifier 2014-SW-039-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to the following helicopters, certificated in
any category: (1) Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM,
369HS, and 369D;
(2) Model 369E with a serial number (S/N) 0001E through 0620E;
(3) Model 369F and 369FF with a S/N 0001FF through 0212FF,
0600FF, 0601FF, 0602FF, and 0700FF through 0711FF) and with an
auxiliary fuel pump part number (P/N) 369A8143-3 installed; and
(4) Model 500N (S/N LN001 through LN0111).
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect routing of the
auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wiring. This condition could result
in an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit and
subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency landing.
(c) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by November 2, 2015.
(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 100 hours time-in-service:
(1) Remove the fuel quantity sensor by following the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B., of MD Helicopters
Service Bulletin SB369H-255/SB369E111/SB500N-049/SB369D-213/SB369F-
098, dated April 30, 2014 (SB). Using a mirror and light, inspect
the routing of the fuel pump wire in the area depicted in Figure 2
of the SB and determine whether the fuel pump wire is wrapped around
the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose assembly a minimum of one
revolution.
(i) If the fuel pump wire is wrapped around the left-hand fuel
cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the fuel
quantity sensor and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional test
for proper fuel float arm function.
(ii) If the fuel pump wire is not wrapped around the left-hand
fuel cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the
fuel quantity sensor, route the fuel pump wire around the left-hand
fuel cell fuel inlet hose by following paragraphs 2.E.(1) through
2.E.(8) of the SB, and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional
test for proper fuel float arm function.
(2) Install start pump warning decal, P/N MHS5861-66 or
equivalent, on the left-hand fuel cell cover by following paragraph
2.G. of the SB.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)
(1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Danny Nguyen,
Aerospace Engineer Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-
5247; 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) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2840 Fuel Quantity
Indicating System.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 21, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21686 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]
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