Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Vertol (Type Certificate Currently Held by Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (CHI)) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Limited Helicopters (Kawasaki)

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 141 (Monday, July 23, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 42954-42956]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17278]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0730; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-048-AD; 
Amendment 39-17124; AD 2012-14-10]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Vertol (Type Certificate 
Currently Held by Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (CHI)) and Kawasaki Heavy 
Industries, Limited Helicopters (Kawasaki)

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

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for CHI 
Model 107-II and Kawasaki Model KV107-II and KV107-IIA helicopters. 
This AD requires, before further flight, replacing certain upper 
collective pitch control yoke bolts. This AD is prompted by three 
failures of the affected bolts. These actions are intended to prevent 
failure of an upper collective pitch control yoke bolt (bolt), 
excessive vibration, migration of the shafts, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 7, 2012.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 21, 2012.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket 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 AD docket contains this AD, the economic evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for

[[Page 42955]]

the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.
    For service information identified in this AD, contact Columbia 
Helicopters, Inc.; 14452 Arndt Road NE., Aurora, OR 97002; telephone 
(503) 678-1222; email [email protected]; or at 
www.ColHeli.com. You may review the referenced service information at 
the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, Washington 98057; 
telephone (425) 917-6426; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, we 
invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to the 
economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit them only one time. We will file in the docket all comments that 
we receive, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    We are adopting a new AD for CHI Model 107-II and Kawasaki Model 
KV107-II and KV107-IIA helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain 
part-numbered bolts. The bolts are located in the forward and aft rotor 
upper collective pitch control assemblies. Upon failure, the yoke bolt 
head shears off, allowing shafts around the bolt to migrate out of 
place. If the shaft migrates fully out of place, the rotor pitch cannot 
be controlled. This AD is prompted by multiple failures of the affected 
bolts at low flight hours. These actions are intended to prevent 
failure of a bolt, excessive vibration, migration of the shafts, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other helicopters of the same type 
designs.

Related Service Information

    CHI issued Service Bulletin No. 107-27-0005 (SB), Revision 0, dated 
April 26, 2012. The SB specifies replacing all bolts, part number (P/N) 
107C2733-1 and P/N 107C2733-2, with bolts, P/N C07C2700-1. The SB also 
specifies modifying spare assemblies, daily inspections of the yoke 
bolt retaining nut, and recurring 35-hour inspections of the bolt.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, before further flight, replacing all affected 
bolts with airworthy bolts, P/N C07C2700-1, and torquing the nut to 
450-500 in-lbs. This AD also prohibits installing washer P/N A02C3112-
13 with bolt P/N C07C2700-1, and installing bolt P/N 107C2733-1 and P/N 
107C2733-2 on any helicopter.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The CHI SB requires a repetitive daily inspection of the yoke bolt 
retaining nut, and a repetitive 35-hour inspection of the bolts after 
replacement. This AD does not require those inspections. The SB also 
specifies modifying spare assemblies. This AD does not address parts 
that are not installed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 12 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD: Replacing the bolts will take 4 hours at 
an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Required parts will cost 
$2,000. The total cost per helicopter is $2,340 and the total cost for 
the entire U.S. fleet is $28,080.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments before adopting these 
AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions needed to 
correct a previously described known critical unsafe condition, which 
can adversely affect the structural integrity and controllability of 
the helicopter. Therefore, we find that the risk to the flying public 
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to the adoption of this rule 
because the required corrective actions must be accomplished before 
further flight.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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, I certify that this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that 
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
    4. 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.

[[Page 42956]]

    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

2012-14-10 Boeing Vertol (Type Certificate Currently Held by 
Columbia Helicopters, Inc.) and Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Limited 
Helicopters: Amendment 39-17124; Docket No. FAA-2012-0730; 
Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-048-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Boeing Vertol (type certificate currently 
held by Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (CHI)) Model 107-II and Kawasaki 
Heavy Industries, Limited Model KV107-II and KV107-IIA helicopters 
with an upper collective pitch control assembly, part number (P/N) 
107CK003-2 or 107CK002-2, installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of an upper 
collective pitch control yoke bolt (bolt). This condition could 
result in excessive vibration, migration of the shafts, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 7, 2012.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    Before further flight, replace bolts, P/N 107C2733-1 and P/N 
107C2733-2, with airworthy bolts, P/N C07C2700-1. Torque each nut to 
450-500 in-lbs. Do not install a washer, P/N A02C3112-13 with a 
bolt, P/N C07C2700-1. Do not install bolts, P/N 107C2733-1 and P/N 
107C2733-2, on any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Kathleen 
Arrigotti, Aviation Safety Engineer, Seattle Aircraft Certification 
Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 
Renton, Washington 98057; telephone (425) 917-6426; email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office, before operating any aircraft 
complying with this EAD through an AMOC.

(g) Additional Information

    CHI Service Bulletin No. 107-27-0005 (SB), Revision 0, dated 
April 26, 2012, which is not incorporated by reference, contains 
additional information about the subject of this AD. For service 
information identified in this AD, contact Columbia Helicopters, 
Inc.; 14452 Arndt Road NE., Aurora, OR 97002; telephone (503) 678-
1222; email [email protected]; or at www.ColHeli.com. 
You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6230 Main Rotor 
Mast/Swashplate.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 5, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-17278 Filed 7-20-12; 8:45 am]
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