[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 94 (Thursday, May 14, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 28895-28896]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-10246]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0483; Product Identifier 2016-SW-066-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: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI), Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369FF, 
369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters. This proposed AD 
would require tap inspecting each main rotor (MR) blade leading edge 
abrasion strip and is prompted by reports of abrasion strips departing 
the MR blade in-flight. The proposed actions are intended to prevent an 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 13, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to https://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 https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0483; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this proposed AD, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
    For service information identified in this proposed rule, contact 
Helicopter Technology Company, LLC, address 12902 South Broadway, Los 
Angeles, CA 90061; telephone (310) 523-2750; email 
[email protected]; or at http://www.helicoptertech.com. You 
may view the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Payman Soltani, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, 
California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5313; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. The FAA also invites 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.
    The FAA will file in the docket all comments received, as well as a 
report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, 
the FAA will consider all comments received on or before the closing 
date for comments. The FAA will consider comments filed after the 
comment period has closed if it is possible to do so without incurring 
expense or delay. The FAA may change this proposal in light of the 
comments received.

Discussion

    The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD for MDHI Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 
369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters with an MR 
blade part number (P/N) 500P2100-105, P/N 500P2100-305, P/N 500P2300-
505, P/N 369D21120-505, P/N 369D21121-505, or P/N 369D21123-505, with a 
1.25-inch chord length nickel abrasion strip (abrasion strip) 
manufactured or installed by Helicopter Technology Company (HTC) or 
where the manufacturer of the abrasion strip is unknown. This proposed 
AD would require tap inspecting the abrasion strip within 10 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter before the first flight of each 
day until the abrasion strip has accumulated 700 hours TIS since 
installation.
    This proposed AD is prompted by reports that leading edge abrasion 
strips manufactured by HTC are departing the MR blades during flight. 
An investigation determined that the abrasion strips were manufactured 
from electroformed nickel, have a chord length of 1.25 inch, and are 
delaminating from the MR blade before departing from the helicopter. 
HTC has determined that a repetitive tap inspection of the abrasion 
strips should be performed on all blades with abrasion strips that have 
less than 700 hours TIS to detect any voids, including blistering, 
bubbling, or lifting of the abrasion strip. Identical looking 
electroformed nickel abrasion strips with a chord length of 1.25 inch 
manufactured by other repair stations have not departed in flight and 
therefore are not the subject of this proposed AD. If the manufacturer 
of the installed abrasion strip is unknown, this proposed AD would 
apply to the strip.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because the agency evaluated all known 
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition exists and 
is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type 
designs.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed HTC Mandatory Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100-
8R4, dated June 1, 2017, which specifies a daily tap inspection of the 
MR blade abrasion strip to detect voids. If there are any voids, the SB 
specifies repairing or replacing the MR blade, depending on the size, 
quantity, and location of any damage.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties

[[Page 28896]]

have access to it through their normal course of business or by the 
means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within 10 hours TIS and thereafter 
before the first flight of each day until the abrasion strip reaches 
700 hours TIS, tap inspecting the leading edge abrasion strip for a 
void. If there is a void within 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) of the edge of the 
abrasion strip, the proposed AD would require replacing the blade with 
an airworthy blade before further flight. If there is a void that is 
not within 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) from the edge of the abrasion strip and 
is larger than 0.5 square inch (322.6 square mm) or if there is more 
than one void of any size, the proposed AD would require replacing the 
blade with an airworthy blade before further flight.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 50 helicopters 
of U.S. Registry.
    The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
tap-testing the MR blades will require about 0.25 work-hour, for a cost 
per helicopter of $22 per inspection cycle.
    If required, replacing an MR blade would require 1 work-hour, and 
required parts would cost up to $24,130, for a cost per helicopter of 
$24,215.
    According to HTC's service information some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty 
coverage by HTC. Accordingly, the FAA has included all costs in our 
cost estimate.

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.
    The FAA is 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

    The FAA 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. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that 
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; 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.

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. (MDHI): Docket No. FAA-2020-0483; Product 
Identifier 2016-SW-066-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to MD Helicopters Inc. (MDHI), Model 369A, 369D, 
369E, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with a main rotor (MR) blade part 
number (P/N) 500P2100-105, P/N 500P2100-305, P/N 500P2300-505, P/N 
369D21120-505, P/N 369D21121-505, or P/N 369D21123-505 with a 1.25 
inch chord length nickel abrasion strip (abrasion strip) 
manufactured or installed by Helicopter Technology Company (HTC) or 
where the manufacturer of the abrasion strip is unknown. This AD 
does not apply if the abrasion strip has accumulated 700 or more 
hours time-in-service (TIS).

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of the bond 
between the leading edge abrasion strip and an MR blade. This 
condition could result in the abrasion strip departing the MR blade 
in-flight, subsequent imbalance of the rotor system, and loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 13, 2020.

(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 10 hours TIS and thereafter before the first flight of 
each day, tap inspect each MR blade leading edge abrasion strip for 
a void in accordance with Part 1--Inspection, paragraphs 2 through 
4, of HTC Mandatory Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100-8R4, dated June 
1, 2017.
    (1) If there is a void within 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) of the edge of 
the abrasion strip, before further flight, replace the MR blade.
    (2) If there is a void larger than 0.5 square inch (322.6 square 
mm) or if there is more than one void of any size, before further 
flight, replace the MR blade.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Payman Soltani, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., 
Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5313; email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, the FAA suggests 
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: 6210, Main Rotor 
Blade.

    Issued on May 8, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-10246 Filed 5-13-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P