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

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 13, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8959-8961]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-04528]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0991; Product Identifier 2017-SW-050-AD; Amendment 
39-19586; AD 2019-05-04]
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 MDHI 
Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 
600N helicopters. This AD requires inspecting each main rotor blade 
(MRB) for a crack. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked MRBs. The 
actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these 
helicopters.

DATES: This AD is effective April 17, 2019.

ADDRESSES: For Helicopter Technology Company, LLC, service information 
identified in this final rule, contact Helicopter Technology Company, 
LLC, 12902 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061; telephone (310) 523-
2750; or at www.helicoptertech.com. 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. 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.

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-2018-
0991; or in person at Docket Operations 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 Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is 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: Galib Abumeri, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone (562) 627-
5374; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On November 26, 2018, at 83 FR 60376, 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 MDHI Model 
369A, 369D, 369E, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N 
helicopters with a Helicopter Technology Company, LLC (HTC), MRB part 
number 369A1100, 369D21100, 369D21102, 369D21120, 369D21121, 369D21123, 
500P2100, or 500P2300 installed. The NPRM was prompted by reports of 
two operators finding cracks on an HTC-manufactured MRB and proposed to 
require repetitively inspecting each MRB trim tab for a crack. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of an MRB and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    In the ``Costs of Compliance'' section, the NPRM stated an 
incorrect number of U.S.-registered helicopters affected by this AD and 
subsequently, an incorrect estimated cost of the inspection for the 
U.S. fleet. We have corrected the cost information in this Final rule.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

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

Related Service Information

    We reviewed HTC Mandatory Service Bulletin Notice No. 2100-9, dated 
May 25, 2017 (SB 2100-9), which contains

[[Page 8960]]

procedures for inspecting each MRB for a crack in an area adjacent to 
the inboard edge of the MRB trim tab.
    We also reviewed MD Helicopters Service Bulletin No. SB369D-221, 
SB369E-119, SB369F-106, SB369H-257, SB500N-057, and SB600N-069, each 
dated April 2, 2018. This service information specifies inspecting the 
MRBs for cracks near the trim tab by following the instructions in SB 
2100-9.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The service information specifies procedures for inspecting each 
MRB for nicks, gouges, and scratches. This AD does not, as the unsafe 
condition concerns a crack in the MRB.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 730 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 one MRB requires about 0.1 work-hour, for an estimated 
cost per helicopter of $43 for the 705 MDHI Model 369-series and 500N 
helicopters (5 MRBs), $51 for the 25 MDHI Model 600N helicopters (6 
MRBs), and a total estimated cost of $31,590 for the U.S. fleet per 
inspection cycle.
    If required, replacing one MRB requires about 3 work-hours and 
parts cost about $13,000 for a total estimated cost of $13,255 per MRB.

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, 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):

2019-05-04 MD Helicopters, Inc.: Amendment 39-19586; Docket No. FAA-
2018-0991; Product Identifier 2017-SW-050-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to MD Helicopters, Inc., Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 
369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 500N, and 600N helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with a main rotor blade (MRB) part 
number 369A1100, 369D21100, 369D21102, 369D21120, 369D21121, 
369D21123, 500P2100, or 500P2300, all dash numbers, installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in an MRB. This 
condition could result in failure of the MRB and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 17, 2019.

(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 25 hours time-in-service, and thereafter at each 100-hour 
inspection or annual inspection, whichever occurs first:
    (1) Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass and a light, 
inspect each MRB trim tab end at the trailing edge corner where the 
trim tab and MRB meet for a crack. If there is a crack, before 
further flight, replace the MRB.
    (2) Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass and a light, 
inspect the top and bottom surface of each MRB adjacent to the 
inboard trim tab corner for a crack, from the trailing edge towards 
the leading edge. If there is a crack, before further flight, 
replace the MRB.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Galib Abumeri, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone 
(562) 627-5374; 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) Additional Information

    (1) Helicopter Technology Company, LLC, Mandatory Service 
Bulletin Notice No. 2100-9, dated May 25, 2017, which is not 
incorporated by reference, contains additional information about the 
subject of this AD. For Helicopter Technology Company, LLC, service 
information identified in this AD, contact Helicopter Technology 
Company, LLC, 12902 South Broadway, Los Angeles, CA 90061; telephone 
(310) 523-2750; or at www.helicoptertech.com.
    (2) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin No. SB369D-221, SB369E-119, 
SB369F-106, SB369H-257, SB500N-057, and SB600N-069, each dated April 
2, 2018, which are not incorporated by reference, contain additional 
information about the subject of this AD. For MD Helicopters service 
information identified in this AD, 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.
    (3) You may review a copy of this service information at the 
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

[[Page 8961]]

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6210, Main Rotor 
Blade.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 28, 2019.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-04528 Filed 3-12-19; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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