Airworthiness Directives; Schweizer Aircraft Corporation (Schweizer) Model 269D Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 150 (Thursday, August 5, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 47197-47198]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-19114]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0758; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-004-AD; 
Amendment 39-16385; AD 2010-16-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Schweizer Aircraft Corporation 
(Schweizer) Model 269D Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
the Schweizer Model 269D helicopters. This action requires installing a 
Scroll Housing Blade Containment Shielding Kit on each helicopter. This 
amendment is prompted by 21 reports of the blades of the oil cooler 
impeller separating, one of which punctured the engine and transmission 
oil cooler resulting in loss of engine oil pressure. The actions 
specified in this AD are intended to protect the oil cooler from 
uncontained oil cooler impeller blades that could damage the oil cooler 
and result in loss of engine and transmission oil pressure, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective August 20, 2010.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 4, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this AD:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this AD from 
Schweizer Aircraft Corporation, Elmira/Corning Regional Airport, 1250 
Schweizer Road, Horseheads, NY 14845, telephone (607) 739-3821, fax: 
(607) 796-2488, e-mail address [email protected], or at http://www.sacusa.com/support.
    Examining the Docket: You may examine the docket that contains the 
AD, any comments, and other information on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Richard P. Fiesel, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe and 
Propulsion Branch, 1600 Stewart Ave., suite 410, Westbury, New York 
11590, telephone (516) 228-7304, fax (516) 794-5531.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This amendment adopts a new AD for the 
Schweizer Model 269D helicopters. This action requires installing a 
certain Scroll Housing Blade Containment Shielding Kit on each 
helicopter. This amendment is prompted by 21 reports of the blades of 
the oil cooler impeller separating and damaging the oil cooler. One 
failure resulted in an emergency landing when the crew experienced 
vibration and loss of oil pressure. Further investigation revealed that 
a portion of a fan impeller blade damaged the oil cooler resulting in a 
loss of oil. This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of 
engine and transmission oil pressure and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.
    We have reviewed Schweizer Service Bulletin No. DB-031, dated 
September 1, 2009 (SB), which specifies installing a Scroll Housing 
Blade Containment Shielding Kit, part number (P/N) SA-269DK-048 on each 
Model 269D helicopter. The manufacturer developed the containment kit 
after a recent incident in which separation of a blade due to fatigue 
cracks at the root of the blade resulted in damage to the oil cooler 
and loss of engine oil pressure. The SB states that the containment kit 
will prevent the escape of any separated impeller blades from the 
scroll assembly and relieve the operator of daily and 25-hour time-in-
service (TIS) inspections. The SB also states that future inspections 
of the cooling impeller will be done at 100-hour TIS intervals per the 
maintenance manual.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, this AD is being issued 
to prevent failure of the oil cooler, loss of engine and transmission

[[Page 47198]]

oil pressure, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD 
requires installing a Scroll Housing Blade Containment Shielding Kit, 
P/N SA-269DK-048, on each helicopter.
    The short compliance time involved is required because the 
previously described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the 
controllability and structural integrity of the helicopter. Therefore, 
installing an SA-269DK-048 Scroll Housing Blade Containment Shielding 
Kit on each helicopter is required within 25 hours TIS, and this AD 
must be issued immediately.
    Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of 
this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior 
public comment hereon are impracticable and that good cause exists for 
making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.
    We estimate that this AD will affect 21 helicopters, and removing 
the scroll assembly and installing the containment kit will take about 
3 work hours at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Required 
parts will cost about $288 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators to be 
$11,403.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any written data, 
views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0758; Directorate 
Identifier 2010-SW-004-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. 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 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).

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 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 an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD. See the AD docket to examine the 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:

2010-16-08 Schweizer Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-16385. 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0758; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-004-AD.
    Applicability: Model 269D helicopters, certificated in any 
category.
    Compliance: Within 25 hours time-in-service, unless done 
previously.
    To prevent the blades of the oil cooler impeller from separating 
and damaging the oil cooler, leading to loss of engine and 
transmission oil pressure and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter, do the following:
    (a) Install a Scroll Housing Blade Containment Shielding Kit, 
part number (P/N) SA-269DK-048, on each helicopter.

    Note:  The Schweizer Model 269D Configuration ``A'' Basic 
Helicopter Maintenance Manual (HMI), revised April 17, 2009, 
contains guidance that pertains to the subject of this AD.

    (b) 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 Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, Attn: 
Richard P. Fiesel, Aerospace Engineer, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, New York Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe and Propulsion 
Branch, 1600 Stewart Ave., suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590, 
telephone (516) 228-7304, fax (516) 794-5531, for information about 
previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (c) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 6322: 
Rotorcraft Cooling Fan System.
    (d) This amendment becomes effective on August 20, 2010.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 26, 2010.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-19114 Filed 8-4-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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