[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 11 (Wednesday, January 16, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 2145-2146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-1058]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
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 

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 11 / Wednesday, January 16, 2002 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 2145]]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-25-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc., Model MD900 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for certain serial numbered MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 
MD900 helicopters. The AD would require, for the lateral-mixer 
bellcrank assembly (bellcrank), establishing a life limit, creating a 
component history card or equivalent record, determining the hours 
time-in-service (TIS), and applying a serial number (S/N). This 
proposal is prompted by additional testing, which revealed that the 
original load test to establish the life limits of the bellcrank did 
not accurately represent the actual loading. The actions specified by 
the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of the 
bellcrank and subsequent loss of lateral control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 18, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-SW-25-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically 
to the Rules Docket at the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments may be inspected at the Office of the Regional Counsel between 
9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed 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 above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals 
contained in this document may be changed in light of the comments 
received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed 
comments submitted in response to this proposal must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 2001-SW-25-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-SW-25-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    This amendment proposes adopting a new AD for certain serial 
numbered MDHI Model MD900 helicopters with a bellcrank, P/N 
900C2010203-105, installed that currently has an unlimited life. 
Additional testing has revealed that the original load test to 
establish the life limits of the part did not accurately represent the 
actual loading. Thus, we have determined that the bellcrank should have 
a serviceable life of 13,300 hours TIS. This creates an unsafe 
condition. This condition, if not corrected, could result in fatigue 
failure of the bellcrank and subsequent loss of lateral control of the 
helicopter.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on certain 
other helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD 
would require, before further flight, the following for the bellcrank 
on an affected helicopter:
     Create a component history card or equivalent record.
     Determine the hours TIS of the bellcrank.
     Apply a S/N.
     Remove any affected bellcrank that exceeds the life limit.

This AD would revise the Limitations section of the maintenance manual 
by establishing a life limit of 13,300 hours TIS for the bellcrank, P/N 
900C2010203-105.
    The FAA estimates that 30 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately \1/2\ 
work hour per helicopter to accomplish the required actions for the 
bellcrank, and that the average labor rate is $60 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost approximately $10,120 per helicopter. Based 
on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $304,500 assuming replacement of the 
bellcranks in all 30 helicopters.
    The regulations proposed herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this 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) if promulgated, will not have a significant economic impact, 
positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities

[[Page 2146]]

under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. A copy of the 
draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in 
the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules 
Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

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 adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

MD Helicopters, Inc.: Docket No. 2001-SW-25-AD.

    Applicability: Model MD900 helicopters, Serial Number (S/N) 900-
00008, 900-00010 through 900-00098, and 900-00100, with a lateral-
mixer bellcrank assembly (bellcrank), part number (P/N) 900C2010203-
105, installed, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (e) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Before further flight, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent fatigue failure of the bellcrank and subsequent loss 
of lateral control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Create a component history card or equivalent record for 
each bellcrank and record the hours time-in-service (TIS) of the 
bellcrank. If the hours TIS of the bellcrank cannot be determined, 
use the helicopter's total hours TIS as the hours TIS for the 
bellcrank.
    (b) Apply a S/N to the bellcrank in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph (1)(a) and (1)(b), of MD 
Helicopters, Inc. Service Bulletin SB 900-084, dated December 3, 
2001.
    (c) Remove any bellcrank that has exceeded 13,300 hours TIS.
    (d) This AD revises the Limitations section of the maintenance 
manual by establishing a life limit of 13,300 hours TIS for 
bellcrank, P/N 900C2010203-105.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification 
Office (LAACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through 
an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment 
and then send it to the Manager, LAACO.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the LAACO.

    (f) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 4, 2002.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-1058 Filed 1-15-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P