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[Federal Register: September 16, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 179)]
[Proposed Rules]               
[Page 56487-56489]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr16se10-12]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0909; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-026-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

 
Airworthiness Directives; Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated Model 
S-64F Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated (Erickson Air-Crane) Model S-
64F helicopters. The AD would require, at specified intervals, certain 
inspections of the rotating swashplate assembly (swashplate) for a 
crack. If a crack is found, this AD would also require, before further 
flight, replacing the swashplate with an airworthy swashplate. This 
proposal is prompted by a report from the manufacturer of a swashplate 
cracking during fatigue testing. The actions specified by the proposed 
AD are intended to prevent loss of a swashplate due to a fatigue crack, 
loss of control of the main rotor system, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before November 15, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,

[[Page 56488]]

Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated, 3100 Willow Springs Road, P.O. 
Box 3247, Central Point, OR 97502, telephone (541) 664-5544, fax (541) 
664-2312.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Michael 
Kohner, ASW-170, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
Rotorcraft Certification Office, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone 
(817) 222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2010-0909, 
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-026-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the 
search function of the docket Web site, you can find and read the 
comments to any of our dockets, including the name of the individual 
who sent or signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for Erickson Air-Crane 
Model S-64F helicopters. The AD would require, at specified intervals, 
certain visual inspections of the swashplate for a crack. Also, the AD 
would require, at specified intervals, a fluorescent-penetrant 
inspection (FPI) of the swashplate for a crack. If a crack is found, 
this AD would also require, before further flight, replacing the 
swashplate with an airworthy swashplate. This proposal is prompted by a 
report from the manufacturer of a swashplate cracking during fatigue 
testing. This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of a 
swashplate due to a fatigue crack, loss of control of the main rotor 
system, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    We have reviewed Erickson Air-Crane Service Bulletin (SB) 64B10-10, 
Revision 2, dated April 1, 2008 (SB 64B10-10) and SB 64F General-3, 
Revision C, dated December 12, 2007 (SB 64F General-3). SB 64F General-
3 summarizes a listing of the Model S-64F helicopter components, their 
part number, and the corresponding service bulletins that the 
manufacturer suggests using when performing the structural inspections 
of the listed components to maintain the continued airworthiness of the 
helicopters. Adherence to some or all of these structural limitations 
may be subsequently required by an AD. SB 64B10-10 listed in SB 64F 
General-3 and the subject of this proposal describes certain repetitive 
inspections of the swashplate for a crack to maintain the continued 
airworthiness of the helicopters.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would 
require the following:
     Within 15 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 15 hours TIS, clean and visually inspect the 
swashplate for a crack.
     Within 150 hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 150 hours TIS, clean the swashplate and, using a 10-power or 
higher magnifying glass, visually inspect the swashplate for a crack.
     Within 1,000 hours TIS since the last FPI and thereafter 
at intervals not to exceed 1,000 hours TIS, removing the swashplate 
from the helicopter and conducting an FPI of the swashplate for a 
crack.
     If a crack is found after any inspection, before further 
flight, replace the swashplate with an airworthy swashplate.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 7 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and would take about:
     .5 hour for the visual inspection;
     1 hour for the 10-power or higher magnifying glass 
inspection;
     35 hours for the 1,000-hour FPI; and
     32 hours to replace a swashplate at an average labor rate 
of $85 per work hour. Required parts would cost about $25,000 per 
helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $229,145, assuming 40 15-hour 
visual inspections; 4 150-hour 10-power magnifying glass inspections; 1 
1000-hour FPI and 1 swashplate replacement for each helicopter for the 
entire fleet of S-64F helicopters for each year.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed 
AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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 a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the AD docket to examine the draft 
economic evaluation.

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

[[Page 56489]]

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated: Docket No. FAA-2010-0909; 
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-026-AD.

Applicability

    Model S-64F helicopters, with rotating swashplate assembly 
(swashplate), part number (P/N) 65104-11001-051, installed, 
certificated in any category.

Compliance

    Required as indicated.
    To prevent loss of a swashplate due to a fatigue crack, loss of 
control of the main rotor system, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter, do the following:
    (a) Within 15 hours time-in-service (TIS), unless accomplished 
previously, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 15 hours TIS, 
clean and visually inspect the swashplate for a crack in areas A 
through F as depicted in Figure 1 of Erickson Air-Crane Incorporated 
Service Bulletin 64B10-10, Revision 2, dated April 1, 2008 (SB).
    (b) Within 150 hours TIS, unless accomplished previously, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150 hours TIS, clean the 
swashplate and, using a 10-power or higher magnifying glass, 
visually inspect for a crack in areas A through F as depicted in 
Figure 1 of the SB.
    (c) Within 1,000 hours TIS since the last fluorescent-penetrant 
inspection (FPI) and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 1,000 
hours TIS, remove the swashplate from the rotor head, disassemble 
and remove the paint from the swashplate, and FPI the swashplate for 
a crack in accordance with ATSM E1417, Type I, Methods A or C.
    (d) If a crack is found in the swashplate, before further 
flight, replace the swashplate with an airworthy swashplate.
    (e) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, ATTN: DOT/FAA Southwest Region, Michael Kohner, ASW-
170, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone 
(817) 222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783, for information about previously 
approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (f) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 6230: 
Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 3, 2010.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-23097 Filed 9-15-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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