[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 170 (Wednesday, September 2, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 53030-53032]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-21686]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3658; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-039-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 
369E, 369F, 369FF, and 500N helicopters. This proposed AD would require 
inspecting the auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wire routing in the 
left-hand fuel cell and corrective action, if necessary. This proposed 
AD would also require installing a warning decal on the left-hand fuel 
cell access cover. This proposed AD is prompted by accidents resulting 
from incorrectly positioned fuel pump wiring within the fuel tank 
interfering with the operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which 
caused an erroneous fuel quantity

[[Page 53031]]

indication in the cockpit. The proposed actions are intended to detect 
and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent interference 
with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel quantity 
indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency 
landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 2, 
2015.

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 proposed AD, 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 proposed 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 
627-5247; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    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 might 
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 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 proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we 
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for 
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has 
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. 
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

    We propose to adopt a new AD for certain MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-
6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, and 500N 
helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting the routing of 
the fuel pump wiring to determine whether the fuel pump wire is 
properly wrapped around the fuel inlet hose and correcting the routing 
of the wiring if it is not. This proposed AD would also require 
installing a decal regarding correct installation of the fuel pump 
wiring. This proposed AD is prompted by two accidents and one incident 
that occurred on Model 369D helicopters resulting from an incorrectly 
positioned fuel pump wire within the fuel tank interfering with the 
operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which caused an erroneous 
fuel quantity reading in the cockpit. Because the fuel pump is 
installed on all the affected model helicopters, we are including them 
in the applicability. According to MDHI, because maintenance personnel 
caused the incorrect wire routing by failing to follow procedures for 
installing the fuel pump, it is also necessary to install a decal on 
the left-hand fuel cell access cover to refer maintenance personnel to 
the appropriate manual procedures. The proposed actions are intended to 
detect and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent 
interference with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel 
quantity indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and 
emergency landing.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant 
information and determined that an unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other products of these same type 
designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    MDHI issued one Service Bulletin on April 30, 2014, with five 
different numbers: SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, and 
SB369F-098. The service bulletin specifies a one-time inspection of the 
routing of the fuel pump wire in the left-hand fuel cell and corrective 
action, if necessary. The service bulletin also specifies installing a 
warning decal on the left-hand fuel cell access cover that refers 
personnel to the procedures for routing the fuel pump wire that is 
contained in the appropriate maintenance manual. The service bulletin 
states that recent field incidents have occurred where maintenance 
personnel have not followed the procedures for installation of the fuel 
pump. Also, the service bulletin states that an incorrectly installed 
fuel pump wire can interfere with the fuel quantity sensor float, which 
can result in erroneous fuel quantity indications. To prevent this 
situation, the service information states that the fuel pump wire must 
be wrapped around the fuel inlet hose as shown in the applicable 
maintenance manual. This service information is reasonably available 
because the interested parties have access to it through their normal 
course of business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section 
of this NPRM.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 100 hours time-in-service:
     Removing the fuel quantity sensor and, using a mirror and 
light, inspecting to determine whether the fuel pump wire is wrapped 
around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose assembly a minimum of 
one revolution.
    [cir] If the fuel pump wire is correctly wrapped around the left-
hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose, installing the fuel quantity sensor and 
performing a fuel quantity sensor functional test for proper fuel float 
arm function.
    [cir] If the fuel pump wire is not correctly wrapped around the 
left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose, reinstalling the fuel quantity 
sensor, routing the fuel pump wire around the left-hand fuel cell fuel 
inlet hose, and performing a

[[Page 53032]]

fuel quantity sensor functional test for proper fuel float arm 
function.
     Installing a warning decal referencing the fuel pump 
installation procedures.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 833 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per hour. 
Inspecting the fuel pump wire routing and installing a decal would take 
3 hours, and parts would cost $20 for a total cost of $275 per 
helicopter and $229,075 for the U.S. fleet. If required, rerouting the 
wiring would require 1 work-hour for a total cost of $85 per 
helicopter.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. 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, I certify 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);
    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 proposed 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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 airworthiness 
directive (AD):

MD Helicopters Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2015-3658; Directorate 
Identifier 2014-SW-039-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following helicopters, certificated in 
any category: (1) Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 
369HS, and 369D;
    (2) Model 369E with a serial number (S/N) 0001E through 0620E;
    (3) Model 369F and 369FF with a S/N 0001FF through 0212FF, 
0600FF, 0601FF, 0602FF, and 0700FF through 0711FF) and with an 
auxiliary fuel pump part number (P/N) 369A8143-3 installed; and
    (4) Model 500N (S/N LN001 through LN0111).

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect routing of the 
auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wiring. This condition could result 
in an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit and 
subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency landing.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 2, 2015.

(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

    Within 100 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Remove the fuel quantity sensor by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B., of MD Helicopters 
Service Bulletin SB369H-255/SB369E111/SB500N-049/SB369D-213/SB369F-
098, dated April 30, 2014 (SB). Using a mirror and light, inspect 
the routing of the fuel pump wire in the area depicted in Figure 2 
of the SB and determine whether the fuel pump wire is wrapped around 
the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose assembly a minimum of one 
revolution.
    (i) If the fuel pump wire is wrapped around the left-hand fuel 
cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the fuel 
quantity sensor and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional test 
for proper fuel float arm function.
    (ii) If the fuel pump wire is not wrapped around the left-hand 
fuel cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the 
fuel quantity sensor, route the fuel pump wire around the left-hand 
fuel cell fuel inlet hose by following paragraphs 2.E.(1) through 
2.E.(8) of the SB, and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional 
test for proper fuel float arm function.
    (2) Install start pump warning decal, P/N MHS5861-66 or 
equivalent, on the left-hand fuel cell cover by following paragraph 
2.G. of the SB.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Danny Nguyen, 
Aerospace Engineer Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-
5247; 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: 2840 Fuel Quantity 
Indicating System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 21, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-21686 Filed 9-1-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P