81 FR 3319 - Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters Inc.

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration

Federal Register Volume 81, Issue 13 (January 21, 2016)

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) Model 500N and 600N helicopters with certain rotating cone assemblies installed. This AD requires establishing a life limit of 10,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on these rotating cone assemblies. This AD was prompted by the determination that MDHI created rotating cone assemblies with new dash numbers but incorrectly failed to identify them as life-limited parts. The actions are intended to prevent operation of rotating cone assemblies past their life limits, failure of the rotating cone assemblies, loss of directional control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 13 (Thursday, January 21, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 3319-3320]
From the Federal Register Online  [www.thefederalregister.org]
[FR Doc No: 2016-00945]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-1998; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-035-AD; 
Amendment 39-18379; AD 2016-01-19]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters Inc.

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 500N and 600N helicopters with certain 
rotating cone assemblies installed. This AD requires establishing a 
life limit of 10,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) on these rotating cone 
assemblies. This AD was prompted by the determination that MDHI created 
rotating cone assemblies with new dash numbers but incorrectly failed 
to identify them as life-limited parts. The actions are intended to 
prevent operation of rotating cone assemblies past their life limits, 
failure of the rotating cone assemblies, loss of directional control, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective February 25, 2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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 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-2015-
1998; 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: Galib Abumeri, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712, telephone 562-
627-5324; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On June 9, 2015, at 80 FR 32508, 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 MDHI Model 500N helicopters 
with a rotating cone assembly part number (P/N) 500N3740-81 installed, 
and Model 600N helicopters with a rotating cone assembly P/N 500N3740-
71 installed. The NPRM proposed to require establishing a life limit of 
10,000 hours TIS on these rotating cone assemblies. Although these 
parts have a life limit of 10,000 hours TIS, they were incorrectly 
omitted from the Airworthiness Limitation Section of the Rotorcraft 
Maintenance Manual. Some of the affected parts were sold as spares, 
while others were installed on new helicopters in production. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent operation of rotating 
cone assemblies past their life limits, failure of the rotating cone 
assemblies, loss of directional control, and subsequent loss of control 
of the helicopter.
    Since the NPRM was issued, the FAA Southwest Regional Office has 
relocated. This AD includes the current physical address of the FAA 
Southwest Regional Office.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (80 FR 32508, June 9, 
2015).

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 issued Service Bulletin SB500N-046 and SB600N-054 (SB) as a 
single bulletin on July 9, 2012. The SB calls for a one-time inspection 
within 100 flight hours to determine the rotating cone assembly's part 
number on MDHI Model 500N and 600N helicopters. The SB then states the 
need to correct the component record for certain rotating cone 
assemblies.
    The SB also specifies determining the rotating cone assembly's 
total service time since new and recording this on the component 
record. MDHI reports that failure to comply with the SB may result in 
an aircraft exceeding the life limit of the rotating cone assembly and 
that this could lead to component failure and loss of directional 
control of the helicopter.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The SB calls for inspecting the rotating cone assembly to determine 
its P/N. We make no requirement about how to determine the P/N. The 
compliance time for the SB is within 100 flight hours, while this AD 
requires compliance within 1 year or by the next annual inspection, 
whichever comes later.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 8 helicopters of U.S. Registry and 
that labor costs average $85 a work hour. We estimate that creating a 
component history card and revising the appropriate records takes 1 
work-hour. No parts are needed for a total cost of $85 per helicopter 
and $680 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

[[Page 3320]]

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):

2016-01-19 MD Helicopters Inc.: Amendment 39-18379; Docket No. FAA-
2015-1998; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-035-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) Model 500N with a 
rotating cone assembly part number (P/N) 500N3740-81 installed, and 
Model 600N helicopters with a rotating cone assembly P/N 500N3740-71 
installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a rotating cone assembly 
remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. This condition could 
result in failure of the rotating cone assembly and loss of control 
of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective February 25, 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

    (1) Within 1 year or at the next annual inspection, whichever 
comes later:
    (i) Create a component history card or equivalent record for 
each rotating cone assembly, P/N 500N3740-81 and P/N 500N3740-71, 
and record a life limit of 10,000 hours time-in-service (TIS).
    (ii) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 
applicable maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by establishing a new retirement life of 10,000 hours 
TIS for each rotating cone assembly, P/N 500N3740-81 and P/N 
500N3740-71, by making pen-and-ink changes or by inserting a copy of 
this AD into the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 
maintenance manual or the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness.
    (iii) Remove from service any rotating cone assembly, P/N 
500N3740-81 and P/N 500N3740-71, that has 10,000 or more hours TIS.
    (2) Do not install a rotating cone assembly, P/N 500N3740-81 or 
P/N 500N3740-71, on any helicopter unless you have complied with the 
requirements of this AD.

(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: Galib Abumeri, 
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, 
California 90712, telephone 562-627-5324; 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) Additional Information

    MD Helicopters Inc. Service Bulletin SB500N-046/SB600N-054, 
dated July 9, 2012, which is not incorporated by reference, contains 
additional information about the subject of this AD. For service 
information identified in this 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 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.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5302, Rotorcraft 
Tail Boom.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 8, 2016.
Lance T. Gant,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-00945 Filed 1-20-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P