[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 228 (Tuesday, November 25, 2008)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71526-71527]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-27611]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0834; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-78-AD; 
Amendment 39-15746; AD 2008-24-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. Model A109A and A109A II 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the specified Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) model helicopters. This 
AD results from a revised mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority to identify and 
correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The aviation 
authority of Italy, with which we have a bilateral agreement, reports 
that the previous MCAI should not apply to newly redesigned and 
improved tail rotor blades. This AD requires the same inspections as 
the current AD but limits the applicability to only three part-numbered 
tail rotor blades. This AD requires actions that are intended to 
prevent fatigue failure of a tail rotor blade (blade), loss of a tail 
rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 30, 2008.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications is approved 
by the Director of the Federal Register as of December 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations office, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 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 AD from 
Agusta, Via Giovanni Agusta, 520 21017 Cascina Costa di Samarate (VA), 
Italy, telephone 39 0331-229111, fax 39 0331-229605/222595, or at 
http://customersupport.agusta.com/technical_advice.php.
    Examining the AD Docket: The AD docket contains the notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the economic evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address and operating hours 
for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) are in the 
ADDRESSES section of this AD. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after they are received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 222-
5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued an NPRM on July 27, 2008 to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 
include a superseding AD that would apply to the specified Agusta model 
helicopters. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on August 
6, 2008 (73 FR 45644) and proposed the same inspection requirements as 
the current AD. It also proposed to limit the applicability to only 
three part-numbered tail rotor blades.
    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI and any 
related service information in the AD docket.

Comments

    By publishing the NPRM, we gave the public an opportunity to 
participate in developing this AD. However, we received no comment on 
the NPRM or on our determination of the cost to the public. Therefore, 
based on our review and evaluation of the available data, we have 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed.

Relevant Service Information

    Agusta has issued Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-110, Revision A, dated 
December 12, 2005 (BT). The actions described in the MCAI are intended 
to correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the service 
information.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    The MCAI states to comply with the manufacturer's BT. This AD 
differs from the incorporated portions of the BT as follows:
    (1) We refer to the compliance time as hours time-in-service rather 
than flight hours.
    (2) We do not require you to contact the manufacturer.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 40 helicopters of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take about 2.5

[[Page 71527]]

work-hours to inspect the affected blades of each helicopter at an 
average labor rate of $80 per work-hour. The cost of performing the 
daily magnifying glass visual inspection is negligible. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be 
$48,000, assuming 6 dye-penetrant inspections a year, negligible costs 
for the magnifying glass inspection, and no cracked blades are found.

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 product(s) identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that 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.
    Therefore, I certify this AD:
    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 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

0
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 AD:

2008-24-06 Agusta S.p.A. Amendment 39-15746; Docket No. FAA-2008-
0834; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-78-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective on 
December 30, 2008.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 99-27-12, Amendment 39-11493, Docket 
No. 99-SW-91-AD (65 FR 346, January 5, 2000).

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model A109A and A109A II helicopters, 
with a tail rotor blade (blade), part number (P/N) 109-0132-02-11, -
15, and -121, with 400 or more hours time-in-service (TIS), 
installed, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) Based on the Italian mandatory continued airworthiness 
information (MCAI) AD, this action contains the same requirement as 
superseded AD 99-27-12 but narrows the applicability from blade, P/N 
``109-0132-02-all dash numbers,'' to specific P/Ns ``109-0132-02-11, 
-15, and -121.'' Thus, this action does not apply to blades with any 
other P/N, including newly designated blade, P/N 109-0132-02-125. 
The actions specified by this AD are intended to continue the 
requirements to prevent fatigue failure of a blade, loss of a tail 
rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Required as indicated; unless already done, do the following 
actions:
    (1) Before further flight, dye-penetrant inspect each blade for 
a crack by following the Compliance Instructions, Part I, of Agusta 
S.p.A. Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-110, Revision A, dated December 
12, 2005 (BT). Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, 
dye-penetrant inspect each blade for a crack by following the 
Compliance Instructions, Part III, of the BT. If you find a crack, 
replace the cracked blade with an airworthy blade before further 
flight.
    (2) Before the first flight each day, visually inspect each 
blade for a crack using a 3 to 5 power magnifying glass by following 
the Compliance Instructions, Part II, of the BT. If you find a 
crack, replace the cracked blade with an airworthy blade before 
further flight.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI

    (f) The MCAI states to comply with the manufacturer's BT. This 
AD differs from the incorporated portions of the BT as follows:
    (1) We refer to the compliance time as hours TIS rather than 
flight hours.
    (2) We do not require you to contact the manufacturer.

Other Information

    (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. Send information to ATTN: Sharon 
Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations and Guidance Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 
222-5961.

Related Information

    (h) Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) ENAC 
AD No. 2006-001, Revision 1, dated January 3, 2006, contains related 
information.

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Tracking Code

    (i) Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Code 6410: Main 
Rotor Blades.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) You must use the specified portions of Agusta S.p.A. 
Bollettino Tecnico No. 109-110, Revision A, dated December 12, 2005, 
to do the actions required.
    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of this service information under 5 
U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Agusta, Via Giovanni Agusta, 520 21017 Cascina Costa di Samarate 
(VA), Italy, telephone 39 0331-229111, fax 39 0331-229605/222595, or 
at http://customersupport.agusta.com/technical_advice.php.
    (3) You may review copies at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas, or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 7, 2008.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-27611 Filed 11-24-08; 8:45 am]
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