[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 3, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 68002-68004]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21684]


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

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2023-1891; Project Identifier AD-2023-00612-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Centerpointe Aerospace Inc. Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Centerpointe Aerospace Inc. (Centerpointe) Model S-58BT, S-
58DT, S-58ET, S-58FT, S-58HT, and S-58JT helicopters. This proposed AD 
was prompted by an indication of a crack on the angle gearbox mount 
(AGBM). This proposed AD would require repetitively performing a 
fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) and depending on the results, 
removing the AGBM from service. The FAA is proposing this AD to address 
the unsafe condition on these products.

[[Page 68003]]


DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 
17, 2023.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to regulations.gov. Follow 
the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: (202) 493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2023-1891; 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 NPRM, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
     For Centerpointe service information identified in this 
NPRM, contact Centerpointe Aerospace Inc. at 279 Blackland Road, Fate, 
TX 75189; (972) 636-9601; email [email protected]; https://www.californiahelicopter.com.
     You may view this service information at the FAA, 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jacob Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-4130; 
email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2023-1891; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-00612-R'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The 
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Jacob 
Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, 
TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-4130; email: [email protected]. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD for all Centerpointe Model S-
58BT, S-58DT, S-58ET, S-58FT, S-58HT, and S-58JT helicopters. During a 
preflight inspection, fatigue cracking was found on a Model S-58BT 
helicopter in the angle supports and cross-members forming the edges of 
the AGBM. Due to their similarity to the Model S-58BT helicopter, the 
FAA has determined that Centerpointe Model S-58DT, S-58ET, S-58FT, S-
58HT, and S-58JT helicopters are also affected by the same unsafe 
condition. This condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of 
the angle gearbox, resulting in loss of main rotor drive and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Centerpointe Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 58B75, 
dated April 26, 2023. This service information specifies procedures for 
repetitively performing an FPI and reporting the results to the 
manufacturer. 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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require repetitive FPIs of the AGBM for a 
crack, as specified in the service information already described, 
except as discussed under ``Differences Between this Proposed AD and 
the Service Information.'' This proposed AD would also require removing 
any cracked AGBM from service before further flight.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    Where the service information specifies that the initial FPI be 
performed within 120 days after receipt of the service information, 
this proposed AD would require the initial FPI to be performed within 
250 hours time-in-service. The service information specifies reporting 
the results of the FPI to the manufacturer, whereas this proposed AD 
would not.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 14 helicopters of U.S. registry. Labor rates are estimated at 
$85 per work-hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA estimates the 
following costs to comply with this proposed AD.
    Performing an FPI of the AGBM would take about 5 work-hours and 
parts cost $150 for an estimated cost of $575 per helicopter, and 
$8,050 for the U.S. fleet, per inspection.
    If necessary, replacing an AGBM would take about 41 work-hours and 
the parts cost would be $30,000 for an estimated cost of $33,485 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.
    The FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in

[[Page 68004]]

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 above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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:

Centerpointe Aerospace Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2023-1891; Project 
Identifier AD-2023-00612-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by November 17, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Centerpointe Aerospace Inc, Model S-58BT, S-
58DT, S-58ET, S-58FT, S-58HT, and S-58JT helicopters, certificated 
in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6300, Main Rotor 
Drive System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the discovery of a fatigue crack on the 
angle gearbox mount (AGBM). The FAA is issuing this AD to detect 
fatigue cracking of the AGBM. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could lead to loss of the angle gearbox, resulting in 
loss of main rotor drive and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 250 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 250 hours 
TIS, perform a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) to inspect for 
any crack on the AGBM in the eight areas depicted in the 
Accomplishment Instructions, Figures 1A and 1B, of Centerpointe 
Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 58B75, dated April 26, 2023. This FPI 
must be accomplished by a Level II or Level III inspector certified 
in the FAA-acceptable standards for nondestructive inspection 
personnel.
    (2) If there is any crack, before further flight, remove the 
AGBM from service.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Central Certification Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight 
Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the certification office, send it to the 
attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Additional Information

    Jacob Fitch, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; phone: (817) 222-4130; email: 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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) Centerpointe Aerospace Service Bulletin No. 58B75, dated 
April 26, 2023.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Centerpointe service information identified in this 
NPRM, contact Centerpointe Aerospace Inc. at 279 Blackland Road, 
Fate, TX 75189; (972) 636-9601; email [email protected]; 
https://www.californiahelicopter.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the 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, email: [email protected], or go to: www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on September 22, 2023.
Victor Wicklund,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2023-21684 Filed 10-2-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P