[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 125 (Monday, June 30, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 36629-36631]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-14800]



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  Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 125 / Monday, June 30, 2014 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 36629]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0385; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-079-AD; 
Amendment 39-17879; AD 2014-13-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Boeing Defense & Space Group) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (Columbia) Model 234 helicopters. This AD 
requires visually and tap inspecting each fore and aft rotor blade for 
any defect, damage, or a disbond and, if necessary, repairing or 
replacing the blade. Also, this AD requires dye-penetrant inspecting 
the aft pylon structure for fatigue cracking in certain areas near the 
attachment fittings and, if there is a crack, repairing or replacing 
the aft pylon. This AD is prompted by an accident caused by fatigue 
failure of an aft pylon fitting attach structure combined with aft 
rotor blade damage. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
detect fatigue cracks in the aft pylon attach structure to prevent 
overload of the aft pylon structure and failure of the rotor blade, 
rotor blade vibration, departure of the aft pylon, and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective July 15, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of July 15, 2014.
    We must receive comments on this AD by August 29, 2014.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov 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, any incorporated by reference 
service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The street address for the Docket Operations 
Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Columbia 
Helicopters, Inc., 14452 Arndt Road NE., Aurora OR 97002, telephone 
(503) 678-1222, fax (503) 678-5841, or at http://www.colheli.com/.
    You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 
Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057; 
telephone (425) 917-6426; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, we 
invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to the 
economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit them only one time. We will file in the docket all comments that 
we receive, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    We are adopting a new AD for Columbia Model 234 helicopters. This 
AD requires visually and tap inspecting each rotor blade for any 
defect, damage, or disbond. If there is a defect, damage, or a disbond, 
this AD requires the blade to be repaired or replaced before further 
flight. Also, this AD requires dye-penetrant inspecting the aft pylon 
structure for a crack in the area of the station (STA) 534 and 594 
tension attachment fittings. If there is a crack, this AD requires 
repairing or replacing the aft pylon before further flight. This AD is 
prompted by an accident caused by fatigue failure of the structure 
surrounding the aft pylon following an aft rotor blade failure. Due to 
existing blade damage, a portion of an aft rotor blade separated from 
the aircraft, causing vibration, which accelerated fatigue cracking of 
the aft pylon surrounding structure and overloaded the structure to 
failure. This caused the aft pylon to separate from the aircraft. The 
actions specified in this AD are intended to detect cracks in the aft 
pylon surrounding structure and defects, damage, or disbonds in the 
rotor blades and to prevent separation of a portion of the rotor blade, 
vibration, overload of the aft pylon surrounding structure, departure 
of the aft pylon, and

[[Page 36630]]

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other helicopters of this same type 
design.

Related Service Information

    Columbia issued Service Bulletin No. 234-54-0004, Revision 0, dated 
November 22, 2013 (SB 234-54-0004), specifying an initial and recurring 
dye-penetrant inspection to detect and correct cracking of the aft 
pylon structure at the STA 534 and 594 tension attachment fittings. If 
a crack is found, SB 234-54-0004 specifies contacting the manufacturer 
before further flight.
    Columbia also issued Service Bulletin No. 234-62-0008, Revision 1, 
dated December 6, 2013 (SB 234-62-0008), specifying recurring visual 
inspections of the entire rotor blade for defects, damage and disbonds 
and recurring tap inspections of the rotor blade trailing edge for 
disbonding conditions. If any damage or disbond is detected, SB 234-62-
0008 specifies referring to the maintenance manual for serviceability 
and repair, contacting the manufacturer for repair assistance, or 
replacing the blade before further flight.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires:

 Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    [cir] Cleaning, visually inspecting, and tap inspecting each rotor 
blade for a defect, damage, or disbond.
    [cir] Repairing any defect, damage, or disbond if within acceptable 
limits, and replacing the blade if beyond acceptable limits, before 
further flight.

 Within 50 hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 
100 hours TIS, inspecting the aft pylon at STA 534 and 594 as follows:
    [cir] Dye-penetrant inspecting the aft pylon at the attachment 
fittings and surrounding structure for a crack.
    [cir] If there is a crack, before further flight, repairing or 
replacing the aft pylon.

    This AD prohibits installing an aft pylon or a rotor blade until 
these inspections are accomplished.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    This AD does not require the 500-hour TIS inspection of the rotor 
blade or the 3,000 hour TIS after initial inspection of the pylon 
structure as specified in the service information. We plan to publish a 
notice of proposed rulemaking to give the public an opportunity to 
comment on those long-term requirements. Also, this AD does not require 
contacting the manufacturer.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD to be an interim action. The design approval 
holder is currently developing a terminating action that will address 
the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this terminating 
action is identified, we might consider further rulemaking then.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 4 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We 
estimate that operators may incur the following costs to comply with 
this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per hour. We estimate 1 work 
hour to visually inspect all blades, 6 work hours to dye-penetrant 
inspect the pylon, and 4 work hours to do the tap test inspection. 
Based on these estimates, the total cost is $935 per helicopter and 
$3,740 for the U.S. fleet. To replace a blade, we estimate 4 work hours 
and $250,000 for parts, for a total cost of $250,340 per helicopter.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments before adopting these 
AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions needed to 
correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that the risk 
to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment prior to 
adopting this rule because of the severity of the failure and high rate 
of occurrence for repairs in blades and cracks in the pylon on other 
aircraft. Also, the required corrective actions must be done within 50 
hours TIS, a very short time period based on the average flight-hour 
utilization rate of these helicopters. The repetitive inspections are 
required at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, which can be reached 
within as short a time as 2 weeks.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice an opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest and that good cause exists for making this 
amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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, and 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

    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.
    For the reasons discussed, 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.

[[Page 36631]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2014-13-04 Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (Type Certificate Previously 
Held By Boeing Defense & Space Group) Helicopters: Amendment 39-
17879; Docket No. FAA-2014-0385; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-079-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 234 helicopters, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as fatigue failure of aft 
pylon fitting attach structure combined with aft rotor blade damage. 
This condition could result in failure of a fore or aft rotor blade, 
vibration, overload of the aft pylon structure at the pylon attach 
fittings, departure of the aft pylon, and subsequent loss of control 
of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective July 15, 2014.

(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 50 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (i) Clean and inspect each fore and aft rotor blade for a 
defect, damage, or a disbond in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.A.(1)(b) through 3.A.(2)(b), of Columbia 
Helicopters, Inc., Service Bulletin No. 234-62-0008, Revision 1, 
dated December 6, 2013 (SB 234-62-0008).
    (ii) Using a metallic coin or tap hammer, tap inspect each rotor 
blade trailing edge for defect, damage, or a disbond in accordance 
with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.(1) through 
3.B.(2)(e) and Figures 1 and 2 of SB 234-62-0008.
    (iii) If there is any defect, damage, or a disbond, repair the 
blade before further flight. If the defect, damage, or disbond is 
beyond acceptable limits, replace the blade before further flight.
    (2) Within 50 hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 100 hours TIS, inspect the aft pylon at the station 534 and 
594 tension attachment fittings as follows:
    (i) Dye-penetrant inspect the aft pylon at the attachment 
fitting for a crack as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and by following 
the Detailed Special Inspection-Dye Penetrant Method, paragraph 
2.A.(2) through 2.G.(1), of Columbia Helicopters, Inc. Service 
Bulletin No. 234-54-0004, Revision 0, dated November 22, 2013 (SB 
234-54-0004).
    (ii) If there is a crack, before further flight, repair or 
replace the aft pylon. Figures 2, 3, 4, and 5 of SB 234-54-0004 
contain examples of a crack.
    (3) Do not install an aft pylon or a rotor blade until the 
requirements of paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this AD are 
accomplished.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: [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) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5400 and 6210 
Nacelle/Pylon Structure and Main Rotor Blades.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Columbia Helicopters, Inc., Service Bulletin No. 234-54-
0004, Revision 0, dated November 22, 2013.
    (ii) Columbia Helicopters, Inc., Service Bulletin No. 234-62-
0008, Revision 1, dated December 6, 2013.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Columbia Helicopters, Inc., 14452 Arndt Road NE., Aurora, OR 97002, 
telephone (503) 678-1222, fax (503) 678-5841, or at http://www.colheli.com/.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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 June 16, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-14800 Filed 6-27-14; 8:45 am]
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