[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 150 (Tuesday, August 5, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 45322-45324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-18163]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0514; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-027-AD; 
Amendment 39-17925; AD 2014-16-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc., Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD 
Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI), Model MD900 helicopters. This AD requires an 
eddy current inspection of the main rotor upper hub assembly (upper 
hub) for a crack and replacing the upper hub with an airworthy upper 
hub before further flight if there is a crack. This AD is prompted by a 
report of cracks on an upper hub at the blade attach holes. The actions 
specified by this AD are intended to detect a crack in the upper hub to 
prevent failure of the upper hub and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 20, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of August 20, 
2014.
    We must receive comments on this AD by October 6, 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 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 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: Eric Schrieber, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; 
telephone (562) 627-5348; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

[[Page 45323]]

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 MDHI Model MD900 helicopters. This AD 
requires cleaning the upper hub and performing an eddy current 
inspection of the upper hub for a crack. If there is a crack, this AD 
requires replacing the upper hub with an airworthy upper hub before 
further flight. This AD is prompted by a report that four cracks were 
found at the blade attach holes on a high-time upper hub. This is the 
first time a crack has been reported in an upper hub at this location 
in the MD900 fleet. We are issuing this AD to detect a crack on the 
upper hub, which if not corrected could result in failure of the upper 
hub and 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 the same type 
design.

Related Service Information

    MDHI has issued Service Bulletin SB900-122, dated April 8, 2014. 
The service bulletin specifies a one-time visual inspection of the 
upper hub for a crack and damage. If there is damage, the service 
bulletin specifies replacing the upper hub with an airworthy upper hub. 
If there are no visible cracks or damage, the service bulletin 
specifies performing a one-time eddy current inspection. If there is a 
crack, the service bulletin specifies removing the upper hub, tagging 
it as unairworthy and returning it to MDHI, and replacing it with an 
airworthy upper hub.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 
at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first, cleaning the 
upper hub inspection areas and eddy current inspecting the upper hub 
for a crack. The eddy current inspection must be done by a level II or 
higher technician with the National Aerospace Standard 410 or 
equivalent certification who has performed an eddy current inspection 
in the last 12 months. If there is a crack, before further flight, this 
AD requires replacing the upper hub with an airworthy upper hub.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    This AD does not require you to contact the manufacturer, return a 
cracked upper hub to the manufacturer, or do a visual inspection of the 
upper hub, as does the service information.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD interim action. If final action is later 
identified, we might consider further rulemaking then.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 23 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate $85 for labor costs. We estimate 1 work hour to 
do an eddy current inspection for a cost of $85 per helicopter and a 
total fleet cost of $1,955. We estimate 11 work hours to replace an 
upper hub with a required parts cost of $15,998 for a total cost of 
$16,933 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 before 
adopting this rule because the required corrective actions must be done 
within 25 hours TIS, which will be accumulated in about one month based 
on the average flight-hour utilization rate of these helicopters that 
are mostly used for emergency medical service.
    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, 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:

[[Page 45324]]

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):

2014-16-01 MD Helicopters, Inc.: Amendment 39-17925; Docket No. FAA-
2014-0514; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-027-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model MD900 helicopters, serial numbers 900-
00008 through 900-00140, with main rotor upper hub assembly (upper 
hub) part number 900R2101006-105, -107, -109, or -111 installed, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a cracked upper hub. 
This condition could result in failure of the upper hub and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 20, 2014.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
previously accomplished.

(e) Required Actions

    Within the next 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or at the next 
annual inspection, whichever occurs first:
    (1) Clean each upper hub inspection area as shown in Figure 1 of 
MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB900-122, dated April 8, 2014 
(SB900-122).
    (2) Eddy current inspect the upper hub for a crack by following 
the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 2.A.(3) through 2.A.(11) 
of SB900-122. This eddy current inspection must be performed by a 
Level II or higher technician with the National Aerospace Standard 
410 or equivalent certification who has performed an eddy current 
inspection within the last 12 months. If there is a crack, before 
further flight, replace the upper hub with an airworthy upper hub.

(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: Eric 
Schrieber, Aviation Safety Engineer, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone 
(562) 627-5348; 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) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220 Main Rotor 
Head.

 (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) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB900-122, dated April 8, 
2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For MD Helicopters, Inc. 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.
    (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 July 24, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-18163 Filed 8-4-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P