[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 58 (Tuesday, March 26, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18226-18227]
[FR Doc No: 2013-06746]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0890; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-019-AD;
Amendment 39-17388; AD 2013-05-16]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Hughes Helicopters, Inc., and McDonnell
Douglas Helicopter Systems (Type Certificate Is Currently Held by MD
Helicopters, Inc.) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD
Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369D, 369E, 369F, and 369FF helicopters
with certain serial-numbered tailboom assemblies. This AD requires
measuring the distance between aft longeron rivets and the outboard
edge of frame rings. If the distance is too short to ensure a safe
flight, the AD requires installing a doubler. This AD was prompted by
the discovery of short-edge margin conditions on two tailboom
assemblies. The actions are intended to detect a short-edge margin
condition, prevent failure of the tailboom and loss of control of the
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective April 30, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of April 30, 2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact MD
Helicopters Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. McDowell
Road, Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 85215-9734, telephone 1-800-388-3378,
fax<PHONE_NUMBER>, or at http://www.mdhelicopters.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:<PHONE_NUMBER>) 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: John Cecil, Aerospace Engineer, FAA,
Los Angeles Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 3960 Paramount
Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, fax
(562) 627-5210, email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 29, 2012, at 77 FR 52264, 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 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. That NPRM proposed to require that
within 6 months or 100 hours time-in-service, whichever occurs first,
measuring the distance from the aft face of the station 209.78 frame
ring to the center of the 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 station 209.78 frame ring, before further flight, the
AD proposed to modify that location by fabricating and installing a
doubler over the location. The proposed requirements were intended to
prevent failure of the tailboom and loss of control of the helicopter.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 52264, August
29, 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

    MDHI has issued one Service Bulletin (SB), dated July 20, 2010,
with three 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 369FF 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 degrees apart around
the frame ring. If the short-edge margin condition exists, the SB
specifies modifying the tailboom by installing a repair doubler at each
affected location.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 109 helicopters of U.S.
Registry and that operators will spend $340 for 4 work-hours at an
average labor cost of $85 per work hour to access and measure for a
short-edge margin condition for a cost of $37,060 for the U.S. 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. If they do, about 8 work-hours in labor and
$19 in parts are required for a total cost of $699.

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):

2013-05-16 Hughes Helicopters, Inc., and McDonnell Douglas
Helicopter Systems (Type Certificate currently held by MD
Helicopters, Inc., (MDHI): Amendment 39-17388; 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 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) 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

    (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 Model 369D helicopters; SB369E-102
applies to Model 369E helicopters; and SB369F-087 applies to Model
369F and FF helicopters.
    (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.

(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: John Cecil,
Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Certification Office, Airframe
Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137,
telephone<PHONE_NUMBER>, fax<PHONE_NUMBER>, email
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>    (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 5302: Rotorcraft
Tailboom.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) MD Helicopters, Inc., Service Bulletin (SB) No. SB369D-207,
dated July 20, 2010.
    (ii) MD Helicopters, Inc., SB No. SB369E-102, dated July 20,
2010.
    (iii) MD Helicopters, Inc., SB No. SB369F-087, dated July 20,
2010.

     Note 1 to paragraph (h)(2) of this AD:  MD Helicopters, Inc.,
issued one service bulletin with three numbers, SB369D-207, SB369E-
102, and SB369F-087, all dated July 20, 2010.

    (3) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>.
    (4) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at
NARA, call<PHONE_NUMBER>, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-06746 Filed 3-25-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P