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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 205 (Tuesday, October 23, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 64709-64711]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-25387]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0342; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-028-AD; 
Amendment 39-17216; AD 2012-21-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; MD Helicopters, Inc.

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to 
supersede an existing airworthiness directive for MD Helicopters, Inc. 
(MDHI), Model MD900 helicopters. The existing AD requires a visual 
inspection, and if necessary, an eddy current inspection of the main 
rotor lower hub assembly (lower hub) for a crack. If a crack exists, 
the AD requires replacing the lower hub with an airworthy lower hub 
before further flight. Because that AD was immediately effective, we 
declined to require certain long-term actions prior to public comment. 
This superseding AD will require the same inspections as the existing 
AD but will also require long-term recurring inspections and replacing 
the lower hub with an airworthy lower hub. We are issuing this AD to 
detect a crack in the lower hub and prevent failure of the lower hub 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective November 27, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of November 27, 
2012.

ADDRESSES: For 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. You may review a copy 
of the 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 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: Eric Schrieber, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane 
Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone 
(562) 627-5348; email eric.schrieber@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On March 29, 2012, at 77 FR 18963, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to MDHI Model MD900 
helicopters. That NPRM proposed to supersede an existing AD to require 
the same inspections as the existing AD but also require recurring 
inspections and replacing the lower hub with an airworthy lower hub. 
The proposed requirements were intended to detect a crack in the lower 
hub and prevent failure of the lower hub and subsequent loss of control 
of the helicopter.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no 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 MDHI Service Bulletin SB900-117, dated January 14, 2011 
(SB). The SB specifies an initial 100-hour and recurring 300-hour 
visual and eddy current inspections of the lower hub for a crack and, 
if a crack exists, replacement of the lower hub with an airworthy lower 
hub. The SB requires the inspections at the stated intervals or during 
the next annual inspection, whichever occurs first. The SB also 
specifies replacing the lower hub within three years.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 12 helicopters of U.S. 
registry.
    We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:
     Visually inspecting the hub. We estimate that will take 
one work-hour at $85 an hour, for a total cost per helicopter of $85 
and a total cost of $1,020 for the fleet.
     Eddy current inspecting the lower hub. We estimate that 
will take one work-hour at $85 an hour, for a total cost per helicopter 
of $85 and a total cost of $1,020 for the fleet.
     Replacing the lower hub. We estimate that will take 11 
work-hours at $85 an hour for a total labor cost of $935, and that 
parts will cost $12,480 per hub, for a total cost of $13,415 per

[[Page 64710]]

helicopter and a total cost of $160,980 for the fleet.
     The costs for U.S. operators will total $163,020, assuming 
that the lower hubs for the entire fleet get replaced.

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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2011-14-05, Amendment 39-16740 (76 FR 41662, July 15, 2011), and adding 
the following new AD:

2012-21-01 MD HELICOPTERS, Inc. (MDHI): Amendment 39-17216; Docket 
No. FAA-2012-0342; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-028-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to MDHI Model MD900 helicopters with main rotor 
lower hub assembly (lower hub) part number 900R2101008-107, with 
serial numbers beginning with 5009, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in the main 
rotor lower hub assembly (lower hub). This condition could result in 
failure of the lower hub and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Other Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2011-14-05, amendment 39-16740 (76 FR 
41662, July 15, 2011).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 27, 2012.

(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 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) or during the next 
annual inspection, whichever occurs first, unless done within the 
last 200 hours TIS, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 300 
hours TIS or during the next annual inspection, whichever occurs 
first:
    (i) Visually inspect the sides and bottom of the area between 
the arms for the centering bearing and the areas adjacent to the 
bushings of the lower hub assembly for a crack. If there is a crack, 
before further flight, replace the lower hub with an airworthy lower 
hub.
    (ii) If the lower hub is not replaced as a result of the visual 
inspection required by paragraph (f)(1)(i) of this AD, eddy current 
inspect the lower hub for a crack by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraphs 2.A(2) through 2.A.(10)., of MD Helicopters 
Inc. Service Bulletin SB900-117, dated January 14, 2011. If there is 
a crack, before further flight, replace the lower hub with an 
airworthy hub.
    (2) The eddy current inspection required by paragraph (f)(1)(ii) 
of this AD must be done by a Level II technician with ASNT-TC-1A, 
CEN EN 4179, MIL-STD-410, NAS410, or equivalent certification in 
eddy current inspections. The technician must have done an eddy 
current inspection in the last 12 months.
    (3) Within 3 years, replace the lower hub with an airworthy 
lower hub not included in the Applicability section of this AD. This 
replacement is terminating action for the requirements of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office 
(LAACO), FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 
Eric Schrieber, Aviation Safety Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft 
Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone (562) 627-5348; email 
eric.schrieber@faa.gov.
    (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.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2597, Equipment/
furnishing system wiring.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 Inc. Service Bulletin SB900-117, dated 
January 14, 2011.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For 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.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. 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.

[[Page 64711]]

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 5, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-25387 Filed 10-22-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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