Airworthiness directives: MD Helicopters, Inc.,
[Federal Register: August 10, 2004 (Volume 69, Number 153)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Page 48361-48363]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr10au04-2]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
[Docket No. 2004-SW-10-AD; Amendment 39-13764; AD 2004-16-08]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters Inc. Model MD900 Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. Model MD900 helicopters. This action requires installing a fan input force limiting control rod assembly fail-safe device (fail-safe device). This AD also requires, after installing a fail-safe device, before the first flight of each day, checking the fail-safe device for bent clips, taut lanyards, and piston rod movement. If any of these conditions are found, this AD requires replacing the control rod assembly with an airworthy control rod assembly before further flight. This amendment is prompted by an accident report of fatigue failure of the piston rod in the spring capsule on a control rod assembly. The actions specified in this AD are intended to provide a temporary backup support system in the event of a piston rod failure and to prevent subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Effective August 25, 2004.
The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of August 25, 2004.
Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before October 12, 2004.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2004-SW-10-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically to the Rules Docket at the following address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov.
The service information referenced in this AD may be obtained from MD Helicopters Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615-GO48, Mesa, Arizona 85215-9734, telephone 1-800- 388-3378, fax 480-891-6782, or on the Web at http://www.mdhelicopters.com. This information may be examined at the FAA,
Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html .
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger T. Durbin, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-5233, fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment adopts a new AD for MD Helicopters, Inc. Model MD900 helicopters. This action requires installing a fail-safe device; and, thereafter, before the first flight of each day, checking for bent clips, taut lanyards, or piston rod movement. If any of these conditions are found, this AD requires replacing the control rod assembly with airworthy parts before further flight. This amendment is prompted by an accident report of
[[Page 48362]]
fatigue failure of the piston rod in the spring capsule of the control rod assembly. This condition, if not corrected, could result in failure of the piston rod and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The FAA has reviewed MD Helicopters, Inc. Service Bulletin SB900- 094, dated March 17, 2004 (SB), which describes procedures for installing a fail-safe device to prevent separation of the piston rod from the spring capsule if a fracture occurs. The SB also describes a daily pilot check of the piston rod and fail-safe device after installing it.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, this AD is being issued to prevent fatigue failure of the piston rod and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD requires:
Installing a fail-safe device on or before September 17, 2004, or based on specified hours time-in-service (TIS) of the control rod assembly, whichever occurs first.
Before the first flight of each day, after installing a fail-safe device, unzipping the ceiling panel in the baggage compartment and checking for bent clips on the outer bell-crank assembly, taut lanyards connected to clips, and movement of the piston rod. An owner/operator (pilot), holding at least a private pilot certificate, may perform these checks. Pilots may perform these checks because they require no tools and can be done equally well by a pilot or a mechanic. However, the pilot must enter compliance with these requirements into the helicopter maintenance records by following 14 CFR 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v).
If the bellcrank assembly has taut lanyards, bent clips, or the piston rod moves in any direction, replacing the control rod assembly with an airworthy control rod assembly before further flight.
Mechanics perform the actions following the SB described previously. The short compliance time involved is required because the previously described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the controllability or structural integrity of the helicopter. Therefore, installing a fail-safe device is required before further flight for those helicopters that have a control rod assembly with 790 or more hours TIS, and this AD must be issued immediately.
Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 29 helicopters and take about 0.5 work hour to install a fail-safe device at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour. The daily check requires only a minimal amount of time and, therefore, the costs are negligible. Required parts will cost about $322 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators to be $10,280.50.
Comments Invited
Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.
Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self- addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments to Docket No. 2004-SW-10-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.
The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.
The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft, and that it is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.
Adoption of the Amendment
0 Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to read as follows:
2004-16-08 MD Helicopters, Inc.: Amendment 39-13764. Docket No. 2004-SW-10-AD.
Applicability: Model MD900 helicopters, with Fan Input Force Limiting Control Rod Assembly (control rod assembly), part number (P/N) 900C6010239-105 or 900C2010239-107, installed, certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated.
To provide a temporary back-up support system in the event of piston rod failure and to prevent subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
(a) Unless accomplished previously, install a control rod assembly fail-safe device (fail-safe device) by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph A., of MD Helicopters, Inc. Service Bulletin SB900-094, dated March 17, 2004 (SB). Install the fail-safe device on or before September 17, 2004, or as indicated in the following table based on the hours time-in-service (TIS) of the control rod assembly, whichever occurs first.
[[Page 48363]]
If the control rod assembly Install a fail-safe device
has
(1) Before reaching 200 hours TIS......... Less than 200 hours TIS. (2) Within 10 hours TIS................... 200 or more but less than 790 hours TIS. (3) Before further flight................. 790 or more hours TIS.
(b) Before the first flight of each day after installing a fail- safe device required by paragraph (a) of this AD, check the control rod assembly as follows:
(1) Unzip the ceiling panel of the baggage compartment;
(2) Examine the outer bell-crank assembly for any bent clip and any lanyard connected to a clip that is taut; and
(3) Check the piston rod for any movement.
(4) An owner/operator, holding at least a private pilot certificate, may perform these visual checks and must enter compliance into the helicopter maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR sections 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v)).
(c) Before further flight, replace the control rod assembly with an airworthy control rod assembly if a bent clip, a taut lanyard, or any movement of the piston rod is found.
(d) 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 Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (LAACO), FAA, for information about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
(e) Install the fail-safe device following MD Helicopter, Inc. Service Bulletin SB900-094, dated March 17, 2004. This incorporation by reference was approved by the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from MD Helicopters Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615-GO48, Mesa, Arizona 85215-9734, telephone 1-800-388-3378, fax 480-891-6782, or on the web at http://www.mdhelicopters.com. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Office of
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_ of--federal--regulations/
ibr--locations.html.
(f) This amendment becomes effective on August 25, 2004.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 28, 2004. David A. Downey, Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-17793 Filed 8-9-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
