Airworthiness Directives; Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated Model S-64F Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 208 (Thursday, October 27, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66617-66618]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27775]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0909; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-026-AD; 
Amendment 39-16835; AD 2011-21-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated Model 
S-64F Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
Erickson Air-Crane (Erickson Air-Crane) Model S-64F helicopters. The 
amendment requires, at specified intervals, certain inspections of the 
rotating swashplate assembly (swashplate) for a crack. If a crack is 
found, this AD also requires, before further flight, replacing the 
swashplate with an airworthy swashplate. This AD is prompted by a 
report from the manufacturer of a swashplate cracking during fatigue 
testing. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of a swashplate due to 
a fatigue crack, loss of control of the main rotor system, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective December 1, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of December 1, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated, 3100 Willow Springs Road, P.O. Box 
3247, Central Point, OR 97502, telephone (541) 664-5544, fax (541) 664-
2312.
    Examining the AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket, any 
comments, and other information 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 
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, ASW-170, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification 
Office, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5170, fax (817) 
222-5783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Erickson Air-Crane Model 
S-64F helicopters on September 3, 2010. That NPRM was published in the 
Federal Register on September 16, 2010 (75 FR 56487). That NPRM 
proposed to require, at specified intervals, certain visual inspections 
of the swashplate for a crack. Also, the AD proposed, at specified 
intervals a fluorescent-penetrant inspection (FPI) of the swashplate 
for a crack. If a crack is found, that NPRM proposed, before further 
flight, replacing the swashplate with an airworthy swashplate.

Comments

    We gave the public an opportunity to participate in developing this 
AD. We received no comment on the NPRM or on our determination of the 
cost to the public. Therefore, based on our review and evaluation of 
the available data, we have determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 7 helicopters of U.S. registry 
and will take about:
    <bullet> .5 hour for the visual inspection;
    <bullet> 1 hour for the 10-power or higher magnifying glass 
inspection;
    <bullet> 35 hours for the 1,000-hour FPI; and
    <bullet> 32 hours to replace a swashplate at an average labor rate 
of $85 per work hour.
    Required parts will cost about $25,000 per helicopter. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators is 
$229,145, assuming 40 15-hour visual inspections; 4 150-hour 10-power 
magnifying glass inspections; 1 1000-hour FPI and 1 swashplate 
replacement for each helicopter for the entire fleet of S-64F 
helicopters for each year.

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

[[Page 66618]]

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

    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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2011-21-12 Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated: Amendment 39-16835; 
Docket No. FAA-2010-0909; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-026-AD.

    Applicability: Model S-64F helicopters, with rotating swashplate 
assembly (swashplate), part number (P/N) 65104-11001-051, installed, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated.
    To prevent loss of a swashplate due to a fatigue crack, loss of 
control of the main rotor system, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter, do the following:
    (a) Within 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), unless accomplished 
previously, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 15 hours TIS, 
clean and visually inspect the swashplate for a crack in areas A 
through F as depicted in Figure 1 of Erickson Air-Crane Service 
Bulletin 64B10-10, Revision 2, dated April 1, 2008 (SB).
    (b) Within 150 hours TIS, unless accomplished previously, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150 hours TIS, clean the 
swashplate and, using a 10-power or higher magnifying glass, 
visually inspect for a crack in areas A through F as depicted in 
Figure 1 of the SB.
    (c) Within 1,000 hours TIS since the last fluorescent-penetrant 
inspection (FPI) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,000 
hours TIS, remove the swashplate from the rotor head, disassemble 
and remove the paint from the swashplate, and FPI the swashplate for 
a crack in accordance with ATSM E1417, Type I, Methods A or C.
    (d) If a crack is found in the swashplate, before further 
flight, replace the swashplate with an airworthy swashplate.
    (e) 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, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, ATTN: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Michael Kohner, ASW-
170, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone 
(817) 222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783, for information about previously 
approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (f) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 6230: 
Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate.
    (g) The inspections shall be done in accordance with the 
specified portions of Erickson Air-Crane Service Bulletin 64B10-10, 
Revision 2, dated April 1, 2008. The Director of the Federal 
Register approved this incorporation by reference in accordance with 
5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from 
Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated, 3100 Willow Springs Road, P. O. Box 
3247, Central Point, OR 97502, telephone (541) 664-5544, fax (541) 
664-2312. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas, or at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.
    (h) This amendment becomes effective on December 1, 2011.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 29, 2011.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27775 Filed 10-26-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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