Federal Aviation Administration October 17, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 47D1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A- 1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A and Coastal Helicopters, Inc. Model OH-13H (Tomcat Mark 5A, 6B, 6C) helicopters that have a certain scissors assembly or weld assembly scissors bracket installed. The AD requires, within 60 days, determining and recording the total hours time-in-service (TIS) for each Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA)-produced scissors assembly and weld assembly scissors bracket and establishes a life limit for each affected part. This amendment is prompted by the need to establish a life limit on scissors assemblies and weld assembly scissors brackets produced under PMA No. PQ808SW or installed per Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SH2772SW. The actions specified by this AD are intended to establish a life limit to prevent using a scissors assembly or weld assembly scissors bracket past it's life limit, which could result in failure of the part and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369A, H, HE, HM, HS, D, and E helicopters with a certain part-numbered main rotor blade (blade) and modified with a Helicopter Technology Company, LLC (HTC), Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SR09172RC, SR09074RC, or SR09184RC. That AD currently requires recording on the component history card or equivalent record (record) each torque event (TE) on each blade, inspecting both surfaces of the blade, and replacing any cracked blade with an airworthy blade. Also, that AD establishes life limits for certain part-numbered blades. This amendment revises the model applicability, adds MDHI part-numbered blades, removes any reference to the life limits of the blades, changes the requirements for inspecting the blades, and revises the STC applicability. This amendment also provides that compliance with portions of certain documents constitutes alternative methods of compliance with portions of this AD, contains editorial changes for clarification, and makes some corrections. This amendment is prompted by additional reports of cracked blades and by the comments received in response to AD 2003-24- 01. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect fatigue cracking of the blade to prevent blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to Pratt & Whitney (PW) JT8D-200 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires installing and periodically inspecting individual or sets of certain part number (P/N) temperature indicators on the No. 4 and 5 bearing compartment scavenge oil tube and performance of any necessary corrective action. This AD requires installing and periodically inspecting two temperature indicators on all PW JT8D-200 series turbofan engines, including those incorporating high pressure turbine (HPT) containment hardware. This AD results from five uncontained HPT shaft failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent oil fires and the resulting fracture of the HPT shaft which can result in uncontained release of engine fragments; engine fire; in-flight engine shutdown; and possible airplane damage.