[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58084-58086]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-15707]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2024-1886; Project Identifier AD-2023-01018-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company 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 Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson Helicopter) Model R22 Beta, 
R22 Mariner, R44, and R44 II helicopters with a certain governor 
controller installed. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of 
engine governor failure, which was a result of water intrusion inside 
of the governor controller. This proposed AD would require removing 
certain governor controllers from service and installing a part 
eligible for installation. This proposed AD would also prohibit 
installing certain governor controllers on any helicopter. The FAA is 
proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 
3, 2024.

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 under 
Docket No. FAA-2024-1886; 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 Robinson Helicopter service information, contact 
Robinson Helicopter Company, Technical Support Department, 2901 Airport 
Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; phone (310) 539-0508; fax (310) 539-5198; 
email robinsonheli.com">ts1@robinsonheli.com; or at robinsonheli.com.
     You may view this service information at the FAA, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 
6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    Other Related Service Information: For Robinson service information 
identified in this NPRM, contact Robinson Helicopter Company at its 
contact information under Material Incorporated by Reference above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Moreland, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: 
(562) 627-5364; 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-2024-1886; Project Identifier 
AD-2023-01018-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 Eric 
Moreland, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, 
Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: (562) 627-5364; 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 has received three reports of governor controller failures 
involving Robinson Helicopter Model R22 Beta and R44 II helicopters. 
These failures resulted in three underspeed or overspeed events, and 
two of these events resulted in hard landings which caused significant 
damage to the helicopters. Each of these separate incidents occurred 
after significant rainfall where the helicopter was exposed to those 
weather conditions. Prior to these governor controller failures, 
several operators notified Robinson Helicopter of a malfunction of the 
governor controller. Subsequent investigation revealed evidence of 
water

[[Page 58085]]

spotting inside of these governor controllers. Testing involving the 
application of water to the electronics of a governor controller 
confirmed that these conditions result in this malfunction. As a result 
of this investigation, it has been determined that the root cause for 
these malfunctions is water intrusion in the circuit board of the 
governor controller. In light of this, Robinson Helicopter issued 
service bulletins which specify exchanging the existing governor 
controller with a governor which provides additional moisture 
protection. Since the affected parts may also be installed on Robinson 
Helicopter Model R22 Mariner and R44 helicopters, those model 
helicopters are also affected by the unsafe condition. The affected 
parts cannot be installed on Robinson Helicopter Model R22 and R22 
Alpha helicopters, so those model helicopters are not affected by the 
unsafe condition. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result 
in loss of engine speed governing such as an engine overspeed or 
underspeed condition, and subsequent unexpected loss of power during 
critical phases of flight and landing.

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 Robinson Helicopter R22 Service Bulletin SB-121 
and Robinson Helicopter R44 Service Bulletin SB-114, each dated June 
28, 2023 (SB-121 and SB-114). This service information specifies 
procedures for removing governor controller part number (P/N) D270-1, 
Revision A thru E, and replacing it with governor controller P/N D270-
1, Revision F (or subsequent).
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA also reviewed Robinson R22 and R44 Engine Monitoring Unit 
(EMU) Technician's PC Software Guide, dated Oct 9, 2020. This service 
information provides information to program the new EMU ID for the 
governor controller.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require removing any governor controller P/N 
D270-1, Revision A thru E inclusive, from service and installing a 
governor controller P/N D270-1, Revision F or later approved revision. 
This proposed AD would also prohibit installing governor controller P/N 
D270-1, Revision A through E inclusive, on any helicopter.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 140 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the 
following costs to comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs are 
estimated at $85 per work-hour.
    Replacing the governor controller would take approximately 2 work-
hours and parts would cost approximately $1,800 for an estimated cost 
of $1,970 per helicopter and $275,800 for the U.S. fleet.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The service information applies to Robinson Helicopter Model R22-
series and R44-series helicopters with a certain P/N D270-1 governor 
controllers installed and also identifies which serial-numbered 
helicopters the affected parts were factory installed on, whereas this 
proposed AD would apply to all Robinson Helicopter Model R22 Beta, R22 
Mariner, R44, and R44 II helicopters with a certain P/N D270-1 governor 
controllers installed. This proposed AD would require accomplishing 
certain actions specified in SB-121 or SB-114, as applicable to your 
helicopter model, except the procedures in paragraph 4. of SB-121 and 
SB-114 must be accomplished by persons authorized under 14 CFR 43.3., 
instead of ``an appropriately rated person.''

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 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:

Robinson Helicopter Company: Docket No. FAA-2024-1886; Project 
Identifier AD-2023-01018-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by September 3, 2024.

 (b) Affected ADs

    None.

 (c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22 
Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, and R44 II helicopters, certificated in any 
category, with a governor controller part number (P/N) D270-1, 
Revision A through E inclusive, installed.

[[Page 58086]]

 (d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 2700, Flight 
Control System.

 (e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of engine governor failures 
caused by water intrusion. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent 
engine governor failures. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, 
could result in loss of engine speed governing such as an engine 
overspeed or underspeed condition, and subsequent unexpected loss of 
power during critical phases of flight and landing.

 (f) Compliance

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

 (g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, remove 
the governor controller from service and install a governor 
controller P/N D270-1, Revision F or later approved revision by 
following the Compliance Procedure, paragraphs 2. though 5., of 
Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service Bulletin SB-121 or R44 
Service Bulletin SB-114, each dated June 28, 2023 (SB-121 or SB-
114), as applicable to your helicopter model, except the procedures 
in paragraph 4. of SB-121 and SB-114 must be accomplished by persons 
authorized under 14 CFR 43.3.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
governor controller P/N D270-1, Revision A through E inclusive, on 
any helicopter.

 (h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, West 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 West Certification Branch, send it to 
the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD. 
Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (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

    For more information about this AD, contact Eric Moreland, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, 
CA 90712; phone: (562) 627-5364; 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) Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service Bulletin SB-121, 
dated June 28, 2023.
    (ii) Robinson Helicopter Company R44 Service Bulletin SB-114, 
dated June 28, 2023.
    (3) For Robinson Helicopter Company service information, contact 
Robinson Helicopter Company, Technical Support Department, 2901 
Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; phone (310) 539-0508; fax (310) 
539-5198; email robinsonheli.com">ts1@robinsonheli.com; or at robinsonheli.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, 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 material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on July 10, 2024.
James D. Foltz,
Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2024-15707 Filed 7-16-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P