Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 48 (Friday, March 11, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12802-12804]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-04982]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3658; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-039-AD; 
Amendment 39-18427; AD 2016-05-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 
MDHI Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 369E, 
369F, 369FF, and 500N helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the 
auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wire routing in the left-hand fuel cell 
and corrective action, if necessary. This AD also requires installing a 
warning decal on the left-hand fuel cell access cover. This AD was 
prompted by accidents resulting from incorrectly positioned fuel pump 
wiring within the fuel tank interfering with the operation of the fuel 
quantity sensor float, which caused an erroneous fuel quantity 
indication in the cockpit. The actions are intended to detect and 
correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to prevent interference with 
the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous fuel quantity indication 
in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency landing.

DATES: This AD is effective April 15, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of April 15, 2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact MD Helicopters, Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. 
McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 85215-9734; telephone 1-800-388-
3378; fax 480-346-6813; or at http://www.mdhelicopters.com. You may 
review a copy of the referenced service information at the FAA, Office 
of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 
6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. It is also available on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2015-3658.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-
3658; 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, any incorporated-by-reference service information, 
the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, 
M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 
627-5247; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On September 2, 2015, at 80 FR 53030, the Federal Register 
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to 
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain MDHI 
Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369D, 369E, 369F, 
369FF, and 500N helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting 
the routing of the fuel pump wiring to determine whether the fuel pump 
wire is properly wrapped around the fuel inlet hose and correcting the 
routing of the wiring if it is not. The NPRM also proposed to require 
installing a decal regarding correct installation of the fuel pump 
wiring. The NPRM was prompted by two accidents and one incident that 
occurred on Model 369D helicopters resulting from an incorrectly 
positioned fuel pump wire within the fuel tank interfering with the 
operation of the fuel quantity sensor float, which caused an erroneous 
fuel quantity reading in the cockpit. Because the fuel pump is 
installed on all the affected model helicopters, we are including them 
in the applicability. According to MDHI, because maintenance personnel 
caused the incorrect wire routing by failing to follow procedures for 
installing the fuel pump, it is also necessary to install a decal on 
the left-hand fuel cell access cover to refer maintenance personnel to 
the appropriate manual procedures. The proposed requirements were 
intended to detect and correct routing of the fuel pump wiring to 
prevent interference with the fuel quantity sensor float, an erroneous 
fuel quantity indication in the cockpit, and subsequent fuel exhaustion 
and emergency landing.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (80 FR 53030, 
September 2, 2015).

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 
products of the same type designs and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    MD Helicopters issued one service bulletin on April 30, 2014, with 
five different numbers: SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, 
and SB369F-098. The service bulletin specifies a one-time inspection of 
the routing of the fuel pump wire in the left-hand fuel cell and 
corrective action, if necessary. The service bulletin also specifies 
installing a warning decal on the left-hand fuel cell access cover that 
refers personnel to the procedures for routing the fuel pump wire that 
is contained in the appropriate maintenance manual. The service 
bulletin states that recent field incidents have occurred where 
maintenance personnel have not followed the procedures for installation 
of the fuel pump. Also, the service bulletin states that an incorrectly 
installed fuel pump wire can interfere with the fuel quantity sensor 
float, which can result in erroneous fuel quantity indications. To 
prevent this situation, the service information states that the fuel 
pump wire must be wrapped around the fuel inlet hose as shown in the 
applicable maintenance manual.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 12803]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 833 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per 
work-hour. Inspecting the fuel pump wire routing and installing a decal 
will take 3 work-hours, and parts will cost $20 for a total cost of 
$275 per helicopter and $229,075 for the U.S. fleet. If required, 
rerouting the wiring will require 1 work-hour for a total cost of $85 
per helicopter.

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

    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 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.
    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):

2016-05-09 MD Helicopters, Inc.: Amendment 39-18427; Docket No. FAA-
2015-3658; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-039-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to the following helicopters, certificated in 
any category:
    (1) Model 369A (Army OH-6A), 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, and 
369D;
    (2) Model 369E with a serial number (S/N) 0001E through 0620E;
    (3) Model 369F and 369FF with a S/N 0001FF through 0212FF, 
0600FF, 0601FF, 0602FF, and 0700FF through 0711FF and with an 
auxiliary fuel pump part number (P/N) 369A8143-3 installed; and
    (4) Model 500N with a S/N LN001 through LN0111.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as incorrect routing of the 
auxiliary fuel pump (fuel pump) wiring. This condition could result 
in an erroneous fuel quantity indication in the cockpit and 
subsequent fuel exhaustion and emergency landing.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 15, 2016.

(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

    Within 100 hours time-in-service:
    (1) Remove the fuel quantity sensor by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2.B., of MD Helicopters 
Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or 
SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014, as applicable to your model 
helicopter. Using a mirror and light, inspect the routing of the 
fuel pump wire in the area depicted in Figure 2 of MD Helicopters 
Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or 
SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014, as applicable to your model 
helicopter, and determine whether the fuel pump wire is wrapped 
around the left-hand fuel cell fuel inlet hose assembly a minimum of 
one revolution.
    (i) If the fuel pump wire is wrapped around the left-hand fuel 
cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the fuel 
quantity sensor and perform a fuel quantity sensor functional test 
for proper fuel float arm function.
    (ii) If the fuel pump wire is not wrapped around the left-hand 
fuel cell fuel inlet hose a minimum of one revolution, install the 
fuel quantity sensor, route the fuel pump wire around the left-hand 
fuel cell fuel inlet hose by following paragraphs 2.E.(1) through 
2.E.(8) of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, 
SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014 as 
applicable to your model helicopter, and perform a fuel quantity 
sensor functional test for proper fuel float arm function.
    (2) Install start pump warning decal, P/N MHS5861-66 or 
equivalent, on the left-hand fuel cell cover by following paragraph 
2.G. of MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, SB369E-111, 
SB500N-049, SB369D-213, or SB369F-098, dated April 30, 2014 as 
applicable to your model helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Danny Nguyen, 
Aerospace Engineer Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-
5247; 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 AD through an AMOC.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2840 Fuel Quantity 
Indicating System.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369D-213, dated April 30, 
2014.
    (ii) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369E-111, dated April 30, 
2014.
    (iii) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369F-098, dated April 
30, 2014.
    (iv) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-255, dated April 30, 
2014.
    (v) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB500N-049, dated April 30, 
2014.
    Note 1 to paragraph (h)(2): MD Helicopters Service Bulletin 
SB369D-213, SB369E-111, SB369F-098, SB369H-255, and SB500N-

[[Page 12804]]

049, dated April 30, 2014, are co-published as one document.
    (3) For MD Helicopters service information identified in this 
final rule, contact MD Helicopters, Inc., Attn: Customer Support 
Division, 4555 E. McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 85215-9734; 
telephone 1-800-388-3378; fax 480-346-6813; or at http://www.mdhelicopters.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 1, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-04982 Filed 3-10-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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