Airworthiness Directives; Various Restricted Category Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 220 (Friday, November 14, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68108-68111]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-26829]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0337; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-029-AD; 
Amendment 39-18008; AD 2014-22-03]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Various Restricted Category Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-14-11 for 
Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (AFE), Rotorcraft Development

[[Page 68109]]

Corporation (RDC), and San Joaquin Helicopters (SJH) Model OH-58A, OH-
58A+, and OH-58C helicopters. AD 2012-14-11 required inspecting the 
main rotor mast (mast) for a crack. This new AD expands the mast 
inspection area, changes the inspection to a repetitive inspection, and 
removes the reporting requirement. The actions in this AD are intended 
to prevent failure of the mast and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: For Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. service information 
identified in this AD, contact Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc., 2081 South 
Wildcat Way, Porterville, CA 93257; telephone (559) 781-8604; fax (559) 
781-9271; email [email protected].
    For Rotorcraft Development Corporation service information, contact 
Rotorcraft Development Corporation, PO Box 430, 1004 Eastside Highway, 
Corvallis, MT 59828; telephone (406) 961-4100; fax (406) 961-4101; or 
at http://www.rotorcraftdevelopment.com.
    For United States Army service information, contact Commander, U. 
S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN: AMSAM-MMA-NP, Redstone 
Arsenal, AL 35898-5000, telephone (256) 876-4044; or at https://www.logsa.army.mil/etmpdf/files/030000/035016.pdf.
    You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2014-0337; or in person at the 
Docket Management Facility 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 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Cecil, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone 
(562) 627-5228; email [email protected]; or Roger Caldwell, Aerospace 
Engineer, Denver Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 26805 East 68th 
Ave., Room 214, Denver, CO 80249; telephone (303) 342-1086; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to remove AD 2012-14-11, Amendment 39-17125 (77 FR 42971, July 
23, 2012) and add a new AD. AD 2012-14-11 applied to AFE, RDC, and SJH 
Model OH-58A, OH-58A+, and OH-58C helicopters and required overhauling 
the mast and performing magnetic particle, fluorescent penetrant, and 
visual inspections for a crack, pitting, or corrosion in the threaded 
area of the mast and associated parts. AD 2012-14-11 also required 
replacing the mast and reporting the results of the inspections if any 
crack, pitting, or corrosion was found. AD 2012-14-11 was prompted by 
two mast failures caused by fatigue cracking and was intended to 
prevent failure of the mast and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2014 (79 FR 
31233) and proposed retaining the mast inspection and overhaul 
requirements of AD 2012-14-11, while changing the compliance time for 
the inspection from within 30 days to within 90 days, repeating the 
inspection every 1,200 hours TIS or 3 years, expanding the inspection 
area, and removing the reporting requirement.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (79 FR 31233, 
June 2, 2014).

FAA's Determination

    We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an 
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

    AFE issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB): 2012-58-01, Revision 1, 
dated February 20, 2012 (ASB 2012-58-01), which specifies overhauling 
and inspecting the mast for any cracks, pitting, or corrosion by 
following the procedures in the United States Army Aviation Unit and 
Intermediate Maintenance Manual TM55-1520-228-23. ASB 2012-58-01 
further specifies replacing any mast with a crack, pitting, or 
corrosion beyond surface rust that is removed with a wire brush or 
steel wool in the threaded portion of the mast.
    RDC has issued ASB No. OH-58-13-01, dated January 30, 2013, which 
describes additional procedures for inspecting the mast and establishes 
an overhaul interval of 1,200 hours TIS or 3 years, whichever occurs 
first.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The service information does not apply to SJH helicopters. Those 
helicopters are included in this AD because they have the same mast 
design and are operated similarly to the AFE and RDC fleets.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 80 helicopters of U.S. Registry 
and that operators will incur the following costs in order to comply 
with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, inspecting the 
mast requires about 20 work hours, for a total cost of $1,700 per 
helicopter, and a total cost to the U.S. operator fleet of $136,000. 
Replacing a cracked main rotor mast requires about 20 work hours, and 
required parts cost $11,891, for a total cost per helicopter of 
$13,591.

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 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.

[[Page 68110]]

    For the reasons discussed above, 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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2012-14-11, Amendment 39-17125 (77 FR 42971, July 23, 2012), and adding 
the following new AD:

2014-22-03 Various Restricted Category Helicopters: Amendment 39-
18008; Docket No. FAA-2014-0337; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-029-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (AFE), 
Rotorcraft Development Corporation (RDC) (formerly Garlick 
Helicopter Corporation, and Garlick Helicopter, Inc.), and San 
Joaquin Helicopters (SJH) Model OH-58A, OH-58A+, and OH-58C 
helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in the main 
rotor mast, which could result in failure of the mast and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Affected AD

    This AD supersedes AD 2012-14-11, Amendment 39-17125 (77 FR 
42971, July 23, 2012).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 19, 2014.

(e) 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.

(f) Required Actions

    (1) Within 90 days, unless accomplished previously within the 
last 12 months, and thereafter at intervals not exceeding 1,200 
hours time-in-service or 3 years, whichever occurs earlier:
    (i) Remove any surface rust with a wire brush or steel wool and, 
using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass, inspect the areas of 
the mast as shown in area E and area J of Figure 1 to Paragraph (f) 
of this AD for pitting, corrosion, or a crack.
    (ii) Overhaul the main rotor mast assembly and magnetic particle 
inspect the mast; mast bearing nut; plate, mast and seal; and 
bearing liner for a crack.
    (iii) Fluorescent penetrant inspect the locking plate for a 
crack.
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TR14NO14.000

    (2) If there is a crack, pitting, or corrosion, before further 
flight, replace the mast with an airworthy mast.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) For AFE and SJH helicopters, the Manager, Los Angeles 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. 
Send your proposal to: John Cecil, Aviation Safety Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 
telephone (562) 627-5228; email [email protected].
    (2) For RDC helicopters, the Manager, Denver Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your 
proposal to: Roger Caldwell, Aerospace Engineer, Denver Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, 26805 East 68th Ave., Room 214, Denver, 
CO 80249; telephone (303) 342-1086; email [email protected].
    (3) 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

[[Page 68111]]

operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(h) Additional Information

    (1) Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc., Alert Service Bulletin: 2012-
58-01, Revision 1, dated February 20, 2012, which is not 
incorporated by reference, contains more information about the 
subject of this AD. For Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. service 
information identified in this AD, contact Arrow Falcon Exporters, 
Inc., 2081 South Wildcat Way, Porterville, CA 93257; telephone (559) 
781-8604; fax (559) 781-9271; email [email protected].
    (2) Rotorcraft Development Corporation Alert Service Bulletin 
No. OH58-13-01, dated January 30, 2013, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains more information about the subject of this AD. 
For Rotorcraft Development Corporation service information, contact 
Rotorcraft Development Corporation, PO Box 430, 1004 Eastside 
Highway, Corvallis, MT 59828; telephone (406) 961-4100; fax (406) 
961-4101; or at http://www.rotorcraftdevelopment.com.
    (3) United States Army Technical Manual Aviation Unit and 
Intermediate Maintenance Manual Army Model OH-58A and OH-58C 
Helicopters, TM 55-1520-228-23-1, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains more information about the subject of this AD. 
For United States Army service information, contact Commander, U.S. 
Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN: AMSAM-MMA-NP, Redstone 
Arsenal, AL 35898-5000, telephone (256) 876-4044; or at https://www.logsa.army.mil/etmpdf/files/030000/035016.pdf.
    (4) You may review the service information at the FAA, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300: Main Rotor 
Drive.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 24, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-26829 Filed 11-13-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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