Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 Helicopters

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC) Model R44 helicopters. The AD would require inspecting the pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the pitch control bearings (bearings) by hand-rotating the pitch control bearing housing (housing). If the housing does not rotate freely, the proposed AD would require replacing the unairworthy pitch control assembly with an airworthy unit. This proposal is prompted by reports of failure of the tail rotor assembly due to improperly lubricated bearings on the RHC Model R22 and R44 helicopters. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect corrosion of the bearings and prevent bearing failure, breakup of the tail rotor assembly, tail rotor contact with the tailboom, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before November 12, 2002.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-SW-45-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically to the Rules Docket at the following address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov. Comments may be inspected at the Office of the Regional Counsel between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Fred Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712, telephone (562) 627-5232, fax (562) 627-5210.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals contained in this document may be changed in light of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed comments submitted in response to this proposal must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket No. 2001-SW-45-AD.” The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

Discussion

This document proposes adopting an AD for RHC Model R44 helicopters. The AD would require inspecting the pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the bearings by hand-rotating the housing. If the housing does not rotate freely, this AD would require replacing each unairworthy pitch control assembly with an airworthy unit. This proposal is prompted by reports of failure of the tail rotor assembly due to improperly lubricated bearings. This condition, if not corrected, could result in bearing failure, breakup of the tail rotor assembly, tail rotor contact with the tailboom, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA has reviewed RHC Service Bulletin SB-43A, Revision A, dated June 10, 2002, which describes procedures for inspecting the pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the bearings by hand-rotating the housing. If the housing does not rotate freely, this service bulletin specifies replacing each unairworthy pitch control assembly, part number (P/N) C031-1, with an airworthy unit in accordance with the maintenance manual.

This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other RHC Model R44 helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within a certain time and at specified intervals, inspecting the pitch control assembly for roughness or binding of the bearings by hand rotating the housing. If the housing does not rotate freely, this AD would require, before further flight, replacing any unairworthy pitch control assembly with an airworthy unit. The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin described previously.

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 440 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that it would take approximately 2.3 work hours per helicopter to inspect and replace a pitch control assembly at an average labor rate of $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $1145 per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $564,520, assuming the pitch control assembly is replaced in the entire fleet.

The regulations proposed herein would 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. Therefore, it is determined that this proposal would not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 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) if promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.