Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22 Series Helicopters, 37059-37060 [05-12688]

Agencies

• Federal Aviation Administration
• DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37059-37060]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12688]


========================================================================
Proposed Rules
                                                Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________

This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.

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Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 123 / Tuesday, June 28, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules

[[Page 37059]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21679; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-33-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22 
Series Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R22 series 
helicopters. The AD would require replacing each main rotor blade 
(blade) droop and teeter stop (stop) and teeter stop bracket (bracket) 
and associated hardware with redesigned and improved airworthy parts. 
This proposal is prompted by an in-flight break up of a helicopter on 
which both brackets failed. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent failure of the stops and brackets, blade 
contact with the airframe, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web site: Go to https://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
     Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to https://
www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically;
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590;
     Fax: 202-493-2251; or
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, 
California 90505, telephone (310) 539-0508, fax (310) 539-5198.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at https://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712, telephone (562) 627-5232, 
fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
21679, Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-33-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to https://
dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-78), or you may visit https://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation NASSIF Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for the RHC Model R22 
series helicopters. The AD would require replacing the stops and 
brackets with redesigned, airworthy parts. This proposal is prompted by 
an accident that involved an in-flight breakup of a helicopter. The 
helicopter was found to have old part-numbered stops and brackets. 
While the probable cause of the in-flight breakup has not been 
determined, we believe the failure of the stops or brackets may have 
been a contributing factor. Thus, continued flight beyond 3 months with 
the older part-numbered stops and bracket constitutes an unsafe 
condition. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent failure of the stops and brackets, blade contact with the 
airframe, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    We have reviewed RHC Service Bulletins SB-78, dated April 26, 1995 
(SB-78), and SB-78A, dated May 27, 2004 (SB-78A). The service bulletins 
describe procedures for replacing the stops and brackets. SB-78A was 
issued following an accident investigation that revealed the accident 
helicopter did not have the strengthened stops and brackets installed 
as specified in SB-78. Failure of the brackets could allow excessive 
teetering of the main rotor.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would 
require, within 3 months, replacing the stops and brackets with 
redesigned, airworthy stops and brackets. The actions would be required 
to be done by following the service bulletin described previously.
    There are approximately 2517 helicopters of the affected design in 
the worldwide fleet. We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 900 
helicopters of U.S. registry and would take about 1 work hour per 
helicopter to

[[Page 37060]]

replace the stops and brackets at an average labor rate of $65 per work 
hour. Required parts would cost about $130 per helicopter. Based on 
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators would be $87,750, assuming one-half of the U.S. helicopters 
have the older part-numbered stops and brackets installed and would 
need to replace them.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, 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 that the 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); 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.
    We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Robinson Helicopter Company: Docket No. FAA-2005-21679; Directorate 
Identifier 2004-SW-33-AD.

    Applicability: Model R22 series helicopters, serial numbers (S/
N) 0002 through 2519, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of the main rotor blade (blade) droop and 
teeter stop (stop) and teeter stop bracket (bracket), blade contact 
with the airframe, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 3 months, replace the stops, brackets, and washers 
with redesigned, airworthy teeter stops, part number (P/N) B151-3, 
droop stops, P/N A150-1, Revision F, brackets, P/N B 226-2, and 
washers by following the Compliance Procedure, paragraphs 2, 3, 5, 
and 6, of Robinson Helicopter Company Service Bulletin SB-78A, dated 
May 27, 2004.
    (b) Replacing the stops, brackets, and washers with redesigned, 
airworthy stops, brackets, and washers constitutes terminating 
action for the requirements of this AD.
    (c) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (LAACO), FAA, 
for information about previously approved alternative methods of 
compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 20, 2005.
S. Frances Cox,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12688 Filed 6-27-05; 8:45 am]
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