[Federal Register: October 19, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 202)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 59227-59229]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr19oc07-19]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2007-29342; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-08-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc. Model 600N
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness
directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 600N helicopters.
That AD currently requires interim initial and repetitive inspections
of tailboom parts, installing six inspection holes in the aft fuselage
skin panels, installing tailboom attachment bolt washers, modifying
both access covers, and replacing broken attachment bolts. The current
AD also provides for modifying the fuselage aft section as an optional
terminating action. This proposal would mandate modifying the fuselage
aft section within the next 24 months to strengthen the tailboom
attachment fittings and upper longerons. The actions specified by the
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the tailboom attachment
fittings, separation of the tailboom from the helicopter, and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 18, 2007.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD
from MD Helicopters Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E.
McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, Arizona 85215-9734, telephone 1-
800-388-3378, fax 480-346-6813, or on the web at http://www.mdhelicopters.com.
You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jon Mowery, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712, telephone (562) 627-5322,
fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2007-
29342, Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-08-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of
[[Page 59228]]
the proposed AD. We will consider all comments received by the closing
date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the
search function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the
comments to any of our dockets, including the name of the individual
who sent or signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11,
2000 (65 FR 19477-78) or you may visit http://www.regulations.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations
Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
Discussion
On April 20, 2006, we issued AD 2006-08-12, Amendment 39-14569 (71
FR 24808, April 27, 2006), which superseded AD 2001-24-51, Amendment
39-12706 (67 FR 17934, April 12, 2002). AD 2001-24-51 required
inspecting both the upper tailboom attachment fittings, nut plates, and
both angles for a crack or thread damage, and repairing or replacing
any cracked or damaged part. That AD also required replacing the upper
right tailboom attachment bolt with a new bolt. That AD required if the
attachment bolt was broken replacing the three remaining attachment
bolts with airworthy attachment bolts. Adding a washer to each bolt and
modifying both access covers was also required. Thereafter, inspecting
the upper tailboom attachments at intervals not to exceed 25 hours
time-in-service and repairing or replacing any cracked part was
required. Superseding AD 2006-08-12 requires installing six inspection
holes in the aft fuselage skin panels, inspecting the tailboom
attachment fittings and parts, and replacing or modifying certain parts
as necessary. That action was prompted by an accident involving a Model
600N helicopter. The requirements of that AD are intended to prevent
failure of the tailboom and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
On January 12, 2004, MDHI issued Technical Bulletin (TB) TB600N-007
specifying procedures, tooling, replacement parts, and supplies needed
for modifying the fuselage aft section and tailboom. TB600N-007R1,
dated April 13, 2006, superseded TB600N-007 to correct some tooling,
replacement parts, and supplies. TB600N-007R2, dated October 5, 2006,
superseded TB600N-007R1 to correct tooling part numbers and re-sequence
some assembly steps. These TBs specify that any aircraft complying with
any of these revisions meets the intent of the other TBs.
In AD 2006-08-12, we incorporated by reference TB600N-007R1, dated
April 13, 2006. Since issuing that AD, MDHI has issued TB600N-007R2,
dated October 5, 2006 (TB), which updates previous issues by further
specifying procedures for modifying the fuselage aft section to
strengthen the tailboom attachment fittings and upper longerons. This
latest revision continues to caution that a high level of sheet metal
expertise and experience is required to perform this modification.
This previously described unsafe condition is likely to exist or
develop on other helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the
proposed AD would supersede AD 2006-08-12 to require within the next 24
months, modifying the fuselage aft section to strengthen tailboom
attach fittings and upper longerons, which would constitute terminating
action for this unsafe condition.
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 18 helicopters of
U.S. registry, and the proposed actions would take about 322 work hours
to modify each helicopter at an average labor rate of $80 per work
hour. Required parts would cost about $14,960 per helicopter. The
manufacturer states in its TB that those complying with the TB within 3
years of the issue date are eligible for special pricing and technical
assistance. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact
of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $732,960, assuming no
special pricing from the manufacturer.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, 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 that the 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); 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.
We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic
evaluation.
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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-14569, AD
2006-08-12, (71 FR 24808, April 27,
[[Page 59229]]
2006), and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD), to read as
follows:
MD Helicopter, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2007-29342, Directorate
Identifier 2007-SW-08-AD. Supersedes AD 2006-08-12, Amendment 39-
14569, Docket No. FAA-2006-24518, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-10-
AD.
Applicability: Model 600N helicopters, serial numbers with a
prefix ``RN'' and 003 through 058, that have not been modified in
the fuselage aft section to strengthen the tailboom attachments and
longerons per MD Helicopters (MDHI) Technical Bulletin (TB) TB600N-
007, dated January 12, 2004; TB600N-007R1, dated April 13, 2006, or
TB600N-007R2, dated October 5, 2006, certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required within the next 24 months, unless
accomplished previously.
To prevent failure of the tailboom attachment fittings,
separation of the tailboom from the helicopter, and subsequent loss
of control of the helicopter, do the following:
(a) Modify the fuselage aft section to strengthen the tailboom
attach fittings and upper longerons by following paragraph 2,
Accomplishment Instructions, of MDHI TB600N-007R2, dated October 5,
2006, except you are not required to contact the manufacturer. This
modification to the fuselage aft section is terminating action for
the requirements of this AD.
(b) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Contact the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA,
ATTN: Jon Mowery, Aviation Safety Engineer, Airframe Branch, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712, telephone (562) 627-
5322, fax (562) 627-5210, for information about previously approved
alternative methods of compliance.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 10, 2007.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-20680 Filed 10-18-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P