[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 160 (Monday, August 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 39523-39525]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-17085]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2017-0270; Product Identifier 2016-SW-032-AD; Amendment
39-18993; AD 2017-17-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc., Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-16-01 for
MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI), Model MD900 helicopters. AD 2014-16-01
required an eddy current inspection of the main rotor upper hub
assembly (upper hub) for a crack. This AD requires additional
inspections and replacing the fillet seal. This AD was prompted by
three additional reports of upper hub cracks. The actions of this AD
are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective September 25, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of September
25, 2017.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
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, TX 76177. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0270.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2017-0270; or in person at the
Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, any
incorporated-by-reference information, the economic evaluation, any
comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC
20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Schrieber, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness
Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712;
telephone (562) 627-5348; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2014-16-01, Amendment 39-17925 (79 FR 45322,
August 5, 2014) and add a new AD. AD 2014-16-01 applied to MDHI Model
MD900 helicopters, serial numbers 900-00008 through 900-00140, with an
upper hub part number (P/N) 900R2101006-105, -107, -109, or -111
installed. AD 2014-16-01 required eddy current inspecting the upper hub
and replacing it if there is a crack. The NPRM published in the Federal
Register on April 3, 2017 (82 FR 16138).
The NPRM was prompted by reports of three additional cracks found
in the MD900 fleet. These cracks were not discovered by the one-time
eddy current inspection required by AD 2014-16-01, but were found
during regular maintenance of the upper hub. The NPRM proposed to
require for MDHI
[[Page 39524]]
MD900 helicopters with an upper hub, regardless of helicopter serial
number, repetitive visual inspections of the fillet seal and the areas
around the flexbeam boltholes for a crack and repetitive visual
inspections of the lead leg shims and bushings for corrosion around the
flexbeam boltholes. The NPRM also proposed repetitive ultrasonic eddy-
current inspections of the areas adjacent to the flexbeam boltholes for
a crack. If during any inspection there is corrosion or a crack, the
NPRM proposed replacing the upper hub before further flight. Finally,
after each inspection, the NPRM proposed installing a fillet seal to
the bushing and upper hub interface.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.
FAA's Determination
We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of the same type design and that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
MDHI has issued Service Bulletin SB900-125, dated February 19,
2016, which describes procedures for repetitive visual and eddy current
inspections of the upper hub upper and lower flexbeam bolthole areas
and for applying a fillet seal on the interface of the bushing and the
flex beam retention bolt hole.
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.
Differences Between This AD and the Service Information
The service information applies to upper hubs with 1,000 or more
hours TIS. This AD applies to all upper hubs regardless of hours TIS.
The service information applies to upper hub P/N 900R2101006-107 and -
109; this AD also applies to upper hub P/N 900R2101006-105 and -111.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 23 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, we estimate that operators
may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD.
Inspecting the fillet seal around the flexbeam boltholes (100 hour
TIS inspection) requires about 1 work-hour, for a cost per helicopter
of $85 and a cost of $1,955 for the fleet, per inspection cycle.
Inspecting the flexbeam area and lead leg shims and bushings (annual
inspection) requires about 2 work-hours, for a cost per helicopter of
$170 and a cost of $3,910 for the fleet, per inspection cycle. Eddy
current inspecting (1,000 hour TIS inspection) the upper hub requires
about 2 work-hours, for a cost per helicopter of $170 and a cost of
$3,910 for the fleet.
If required, replacing the upper hub requires about 11 work-hours,
and required parts would cost about $15,998, for a cost per helicopter
of $16,933. If required, replacing a missing or damaged fillet seal
requires about .5 work-hour, and required parts cost would be minimal,
for a cost per helicopter of $43.
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 have 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 above, 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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
0
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2014-16-01, Amendment 39-17925 (79 FR 45322, August 5, 2014), and
adding the following new AD:
2017-17-03 MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI): Amendment 39-18993; Docket
No. FAA-2017-0270; Product Identifier 2016-SW-032-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model MD900 helicopters 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) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2014-16-01, Amendment 39-17925 (79 FR
45322, August 5, 2014).
(d) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective September 25, 2017.
(e) 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.
(f) Required Actions
(1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), and thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS:
(i) Inspect the fillet seal around each flexbeam bolthole to
determine whether it adheres properly to the hub or bushing or is
missing. Indications of an improperly
[[Page 39525]]
adhered seal include lifting, bubbling, peeling away, drying out, or
cracking. If the fillet seal is not properly adhered or is missing,
before further flight, replace the fillet seal with sealant C232 or
equivalent by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs
2.D.(2) through 2.D.(5) and Figure 1, of MD Helicopters Service
Bulletin SB900-125, dated February 19, 2016 (SB900-125).
(ii) Using a light and a 10X or higher power magnifying glass,
inspect the area outside of the fillet seal around each flexbeam
bolthole on the top of the upper hub assembly for a crack. If there
is a crack, before further flight, replace the upper hub assembly.
(2) Within 12 months, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed
12 months:
(i) Remove the paint and primer from the area around each
flexbeam bolthole on top of the upper hub. Remove the fillet seal
from the mating surface of each bushing and the top of the upper
hub.
(ii) Using a light and a 10X or higher power magnifying glass,
inspect the area around each flexbeam bolthole for a crack. If there
is a crack, before further flight, replace the upper hub assembly.
(iii) Inspect each lead leg shim and bushing for corrosion
around the flexbeam boltholes on the bottom of the upper hub in the
flexbeam pockets. If there is corrosion, before further flight:
(A) Remove the lead leg shim from the flexbeam pocket and clean
the area adjacent to the flexbeam bolthole to remove any corrosion
within maximum repair damage limits. If the corrosion exceeds
maximum repair damage limits, replace the upper hub assembly.
(B) Using a light and a 10X or higher power magnifying glass,
inspect the area around the flexbeam bolthole for a crack. If there
is a crack, before further flight, replace the upper hub assembly.
(iv) Replace the fillet seal as described in paragraph (f)(1)(i)
of this AD.
(3) Within 1,000 hours TIS, and thereafter at intervals not to
exceed 1,000 hours TIS:
(i) Eddy current inspect the areas adjacent to each flexbeam
bolthole, top and bottom, for a crack. This eddy current inspection
must be performed by a Level II or higher technician with the
American Society for Nondestructive Testing ASNT-TC-1A, European
Committee for Standardization CEN EN 4179, Military Standard MIL-
STD-410, National Aerospace Standard NAS410, 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 assembly.
(ii) Replace the fillet seal as described in paragraph (f)(1)(i)
of this AD.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Eric Schrieber, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness
Division, 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.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220, Main Rotor
Head.
(i) 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 SB900-125, dated February
19, 2016.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For MD Helicopters 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 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 August 7, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-17085 Filed 8-18-17; 8:45 am]
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