81 FR 24012 - Airworthiness Directives; Kaman Aerospace Corporation

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 79 (April 25, 2016)

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Kaman Aerospace Corporation (Kaman) Model K-1200 helicopters. This AD requires revising the ``Flight Limitations--NO LOAD'' and ``Flight Limitations-- LOAD'' sections of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by a report of certain flight maneuvers that may lead to main rotor (M/R) blade to opposing hub contact. These actions are intended to prevent damage to the M/R flight controls and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 79 (Monday, April 25, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 24012-24014]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-09434]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-0183; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-016-
AD;Amendment 39-18498; AD 2016-08-21]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Kaman Aerospace Corporation

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Kaman 
Aerospace Corporation (Kaman) Model K-1200 helicopters. This AD 
requires revising the ``Flight Limitations--NO LOAD'' and ``Flight 
Limitations--

[[Page 24013]]

LOAD'' sections of the rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was 
prompted by a report of certain flight maneuvers that may lead to main 
rotor (M/R) blade to opposing hub contact. These actions are intended 
to prevent damage to the M/R flight controls and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective May 31, 2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Kaman Aerospace Corporation, Old Windsor Rd., P.O. Box 2, 
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002-0002; telephone (860) 242-4461; fax (860) 
243-7047; or at http://www.kamanaero.com. You may review a copy of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
0183; 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, 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: Kirk Gustafson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 
01803; telephone (781) 238-7190; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On January 21, 2016, at 81 FR 3344, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Kaman Model K-1200 
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require revising the ``Flight 
Limitations-NO LOAD'' and ``Flight Limitations-LOAD'' sections of the 
RFM by inserting a warning and limitations about rearward to forward 
flight, establishing maximum rearward and sideward flight speeds, and 
prohibiting weather-vanning takeoffs and departures to turn the 
helicopter. The NPRM was prompted by a report of a Model K-1200 
helicopter turning suddenly and causing blade contact with the hub. The 
report suggests that a rapid aircraft yaw rate and subsequent yaw 
arresting maneuver may cause low clearance of the M/R blades with the 
opposing M/R hub. This condition could cause an M/R blade to strike the 
opposing rotor's flight controls. The proposed requirements were 
intended to prevent damage to the M/R flight controls and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.
    The NPRM published with the previous mailing address for the Boston 
Aircraft Certification Office. We have revised this contact information 
in this final rule to reflect the new mailing address.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (81 FR 3344, 
January 21, 2016).

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 the same type design and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

    Kaman has issued Kaman K-1200 RFM, Revision 5, dated April 14, 
2015. This revision of the limitations section of the RFM inserts, for 
both load operations and no load operations, a warning and limitations 
about departing from rearward to forward flight, a maximum rearward 
flight speed of 25 knots, a maximum sideward flight speed of 17 knots, 
and a prohibition on weather-vanning takeoffs and departures as a 
method to turn aircraft.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 16 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per work-
hour, we expect revising the RFM will require 0.5 work-hour, for cost 
of about $43 per helicopter, or $688 for the U.S. fleet.

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):

2016-08-21 Kaman Aerospace Corporation (Kaman): Amendment 39-18498; 
Docket

[[Page 24014]]

No. FAA-2016-0183; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-016-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model K-1200 helicopters, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a main rotor (M/R) blade 
striking the opposing rotor's flight controls. This condition could 
result in damage to the M/R flight controls and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 31, 2016.

(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 10 hours time-in-service, revise Section 2 Limitations of 
the Kaman K-1200 Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) by inserting a copy 
of this AD into the RFM or by making pen-and-ink changes, as 
follows:
    (1) In the ``Flight Limitations--NO LOAD'' and ``Flight 
Limitations--WITH LOAD'' sections, add the information in Figure 1 
to paragraph (e)(1) of this AD.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR25AP16.011

    (2) In the ``Flight Limitations--NO LOAD'' and ``Flight 
Limitations--WITH LOAD'' sections, add the following: Maximum 
rearward flight speed: 25 knots. Maximum sideward flight speed: 17 
knots. Weather-vanning takeoffs/departures as a method to turn 
aircraft: Prohibited.

(f) Credit for Actions Previously Completed

    Incorporating the changes contained in Kaman K-1200 RFM, 
Revision 5, dated April 14, 2015, before the effective date of this 
AD is considered acceptable for compliance with the corresponding 
actions specified in paragraph (e) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Kirk Gustafson, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7190; 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.

(h) Additional Information

    Kaman K-1200 RFM, Revision 5, dated April 14, 2015, which is not 
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the 
subject of this final rule. For service information identified in 
this final rule, contact Kaman Aerospace Corporation, Old Windsor 
Rd., P.O. Box 2, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002-0002; telephone (860) 
242-4461; fax (860) 243-7047; or at http://www.kamanaero.com. You 
may review a copy of this service information at the FAA, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 
6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6710, Main Rotor 
Control.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 15, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-09434 Filed 4-22-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P