[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 200 (Tuesday, October 17, 2006)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 60927-60928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-17186]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-25983; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-11-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model MD900 series helicopters. 
The AD would require modifying the pilot and co-pilot dual-control 
directional pedal assemblies, or the pilot single-control directional 
pedal assembly (directional control pedal assembly). This proposal is 
prompted by an accident which has been attributed to loss of 
directional control due to failure of the welds in the directional 
control pedal assembly. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent fatigue cracking in the welds that connect the 
directional control pedal to the pedal shaft, resulting in loss of 
directional control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 18, 2006.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically;
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590;
     Fax: 202-493-2251; or
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from MD Helicopters, Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. 
McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, Arizona 85215-9734, telephone 1-
800-388-3378, fax 480-346-6813, or on the Web at http://www.mdhelicopters.com.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Durbin, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe 
Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712, telephone 
(562) 627-5233, fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
25983, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-11-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation Nassif Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for MDHI Model MD900 
series helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 900-00008 through 900-00111, 
900-00113, and 900-00114. The AD would require modifying the 
directional control pedal assembly by removing the existing pedals, 
removing the welded pedal support plate from the pedal shafts, 
installing a new pedal mount on each pedal shaft using rivets, 
reinstalling the pedals on the new pedal mounts, and marking the 
modified directional control pedal assembly with a part number. This 
proposal is prompted by an accident which has been attributed to loss 
of directional control due to failure of the welds in the directional 
control pedal assembly. The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent fatigue cracking in the welds that connect the 
directional control pedal to the pedal shaft, resulting in loss of 
directional control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    We have reviewed MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB900-100, dated 
April 5, 2006, which describes procedures for modifying the directional 
control pedal assembly.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would 
require modifying the directional control pedal assembly, part number 
(P/N) 900C1012007-107, -109, -111, -113, or 900C6012007-111 (pilot dual 
control); or P/N 900C1012207-105, -107, -109, -111, or -113 (co-pilot 
dual control); or P/N 900C1010007-107, -109, -111, -113, or 
900C6010007-111 (pilot single control), by removing the existing 
pedals, removing the welded pedal support plate from the pedal shafts, 
and installing a directional control pedal modification kit, P/N SBK-
010. Also, this AD would require ink stamping the P/N, 90005340111-101, 
on the pedal shaft of each modified directional

[[Page 60928]]

control pedal assembly using permanent ink. The actions would be 
required to be accomplished by following specified portions of the 
service bulletin described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 30 helicopters of 
U.S. registry, and modifying the directional control pedal assembly 
would take approximately 8 work hours for helicopters with single pilot 
controls installed, or 16 work hours for helicopters with dual pilot 
and co-pilot controls installed, at an average labor rate of $80 per 
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $775 for helicopters 
with dual pilot and co-pilot controls installed. The manufacturer has 
stated in its service bulletin that pedal kits may be provided at no 
cost, and up to 8 work hours of labor for each set of directional 
control pedals may be provided at authorized MDHI service centers (two 
sets of directional control pedals are required for helicopters with 
dual pilot and co-pilot controls installed). Based on these figures, 
the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators would be 
$61,650 per helicopter, assuming that dual pilot and co-pilot controls 
are installed.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed 
AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

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.

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. FAA-2006-25983; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-SW-11-AD.

    Applicability: Model MD900 series helicopters, serial numbers 
(S/N) 900-00008 through 900-00111, 900-00113, and 900-00114, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within 90 days after the effective date of 
this AD, unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent fatigue cracking in the welds which connect the pilot 
and co-pilot dual-control, or pilot single-control directional 
control pedal (directional control pedal) to the pedal shaft, 
resulting in loss of directional control and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify each directional control pedal assembly, part number 
(P/N) 900C1012007-107, -109, -111, -113, or 900C6012007-111 (pilot 
dual control); or P/N 900C1012207-105, -107, -109, -111, or -113 
(co-pilot dual control); or P/N 900C1010007-107, -109, -111, -113, 
or 900C6010007-111 (pilot single control), by removing the existing 
pedals, removing the welded pedal support plate from the pedal 
shafts, and installing a directional control pedal modification kit, 
P/N SBK-010, in accordance with part 2, Accomplishment Instructions, 
in MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB900-100, dated April 5, 2006. 
One modification kit is required to be installed on helicopters with 
single controls and two modification kits are required to be 
installed on helicopters with dual controls.
    (b) Using a permanent ink, ink stamp the P/N, 90005340111-101, 
on the pedal shaft of each modified directional control pedal 
assembly.
    (c) 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 Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Attn: Roger Durbin, Airframe Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, 
California 90712, telephone (562) 627-5233, fax (562) 627-5210, for 
information about previously approved alternative methods of 
compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 28, 2006.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E6-17186 Filed 10-16-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P