[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 5 (Tuesday, January 9, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 918-920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 07-26]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2006-26696; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-19-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 
and R44 II 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 robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II 
helicopters that have a certain seat belt buckle (buckle) assembly 
installed. The AD would require removing the buckle assembly and the 
buckle assembly spacer, and replacing them with airworthy parts. This 
proposal is prompted by an accident in which a seat belt failed, and 
also by reports of cracking in the buckle assembly stainless support 
strap (support strap). The actions specified by the proposed AD are 
intended to prevent cracking in the support strap and failure of a seat 
belt.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 12, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov follow the instructions for sending your comments 
electronically;
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590;
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251; or
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 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 Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, 
California 90505, telephone (310) 539-0508, fax (310) 539-5198.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

[[Page 919]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 3960 
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-
5337, fax (562) 627-5210.

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-2006-
26696, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-19-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://dms.dot.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 our 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) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation Nassif Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for Robinson model R44 
helicopters, through serial number (S/N) 1576, and Model R44 II 
helicopters, through S/N 11107, that have a C628-4, revision M or 
prior, buckle assembly installed. The AD would require, within 100 
hours time-in-service, removing the buckle assembly and the A130-52 
buckle assembly spacer, and replacing them with a C628-4, revision N 
buckle assembly and a new A130-52 buckle assembly spacer. The A130-52 
buckle assembly spacers have been redesigned to be slightly longer than 
the previous A130-52 buckle assembly spacers, to reduce friction in the 
joint. This proposal is prompted by an investigation in which a seat 
belt failed during an accident, and also by reports of cracking in the 
buckle assembly support strap. Excessive bending of the buckles can 
damage their stainless support straps. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent cracking in the support strap and 
failure of a seat belt.
    We have reviewed Robinson Service SB-56, dated March 29, 2006, 
which describes procedures for inspecting the buckle assemblies for 
cracks and replacing the buckle assemblies. This proposed AD would not 
require inspecting the buckle assemblies for cracks.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would 
require removing any C628-4, revision M or prior, buckle assembly and 
any A130-52 buckle assembly spacer, and replacing them with a C628-4, 
revision N buckle assembly and a new A130-52 buckle assembly spacer. 
Replacing the buckle assembly and buckle assembly spacer with a C628-4, 
Revision N buckle assembly and a new A130-52 buckle assembly spacer 
would be the terminating action for the requirements of this proposed 
AD. The replacement would be required to be accomplished by following 
specified portions of the service bulletin described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 900 helicopters of 
U.S. registry, and replacing a buckle assembly would take approximately 
0.2 work hour per buckle to accomplish at an average labor rate of $80 
per work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $105 for each 
C628-4, revision N buckle assembly, and $8.25 for each A130-52 buckle 
assembly spacer. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $517 for each helicopter, or 
$465,300 for the entire fleet, assuming that four buckle assemblies and 
buckle assembly spacers are replaced in each helicopter.

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 DMS 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 
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, 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.

[[Page 920]]

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

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

Robinson Helicopter Company: Docket No. FAA-2006-26696; Directorate 
Identifier 2006-SW-19-AD.

    Applicability: Model R44 helicopters, through serial number (S/
N) 1576, and Model R44 II helicopters, through S/N 11107, with a 
seat belt buckle assembly (buckle assembly) part number C628-4, 
revision M or prior, installed, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required within 100 hours time-in-service, unless 
accomplished previously.
    To prevent cracking in the buckle assembly stainless support 
strap and failure of a seat belt, accomplish the following:
    (a) Remove the buckle assembly and any A130-52 buckle assembly 
spacer, and replace them with a C628-4, revision N buckle assembly 
and a new A130-52 buckle assembly spacer, in accordance with the 
Compliance Procedure, paragraph 3, in Robinson Helicopter Company 
Service Bulletin SB-56, dated March 29, 2006. The new A130-52 buckle 
assembly spacers have been redesigned to be slightly longer than the 
previous A130-52 buckle assembly spacers, to reduce friction in the 
joint.

    Note: Inspecting the buckle assembly for cracks is not required 
by this AD.

    (b) Replacing the buckle assembly and buckle assembly spacer 
with a C628-4, Revision N buckle assembly and a new A130-52 buckle 
assembly spacer is a terminating action for the requirements of this 
AD.
    (c) 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, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
ATTN: Venessa Stiger, Aviation Safety Engineer, 3960 Paramount 
Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712-4137, telephone (562) 627-5337, 
fax (562) 627-5210, for information about previously approved 
alternative methods of compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 18, 2006.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 07-26 Filed 1-8-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M