Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 77 / Thursday, April 22, 2010 / Proposed Rules 20933 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0427; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–72–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Arrow 

Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously Utah 

State University); California 

Department of Forestry; Firefly 

Aviation Helicopter Services 

(previously Erickson Air-Crane Co.); 

Garlick Helicopters, Inc.; Global 

Helicopter Technology, Inc.; Hagglund 

Helicopters, LLC (previously Western 

International Aviation, Inc.); 

International Helicopters, Inc.; 

Precision Helicopters, LLC; Robinson 

Air Crane, Inc.; San Joaquin 

Helicopters (previously Hawkins and 

Powers Aviation, Inc.); S.M.&T. Aircraft 

(previously US Helicopters, Inc., UNC 

Helicopter, Inc., Southern Aero 

Corporation, and Wilco Aviation); 

Smith Helicopters; Southern 

Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida 

Aviation International, Inc. (previously 

Jamie R. Hill and Southwest Florida 

Aviation); Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. 

(previously Ranger Helicopter 

Services, Inc.); US Helicopter, Inc. 

(previously UNC Helicopter, Inc.); West 

Coast Fabrication; and Williams 

Helicopter Corporation (previously 

Scott Paper Co.) Model AH–1G, AH–1S, 

HH–1K, TH–1F, TH–1L, UH–1A, UH–1B, 

UH–1E, UH–1F, UH–1H, UH–1L, and 

UH–1P Helicopters; and Southwest 

Florida Aviation Model UH–1B (SW204 

and SW204HP) and UH–1H (SW205) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This document proposes 

superseding an existing airworthiness 

directive (AD) for Model HH–1K, TH– 

1F, TH–1L, UH–1A, UH–1B, UH–1E, 

UH–1F, UH–1H, UH–1L, and UH–1P 

helicopters; and Southwest Florida 

Aviation Model SW204, SW204HP, 

SW205, and SW205A–1 helicopters, 

manufactured by Bell Helicopter 

Textron, Inc. (BHTI) for the Armed 

Forces of the United States. That AD 

currently requires updating the product 

identification, extending the application 

of the AD to other helicopter models, 

continuing the existing retirement time 

for certain main rotor tension-torsion 

(TT) straps, and adding the TT strap 

part numbers to the applicability. This 

action proposes to require removing 

certain serial-numbered TT straps from 

service, reduce the retirement life for 

other TT straps, and establish a 

retirement life in terms of calendar time 

in addition to hours time-in-service 

(TIS) for certain other affected TT 

straps. This action would also add two 

model helicopters to the applicability of 

the AD. This proposal is prompted by 

fatigue cracking in certain TT straps that 

have stainless steel filament windings 

and a determination that corrosion 

damage, which is related to calendar 

time, necessitates a calendar time 

retirement life for certain TT straps in 

addition to the retirement life based on 

hours TIS. This proposal is also 

prompted by fatigue cracking in other 

TT straps with encased thin stainless 

steel plates. These proposals are based 

on the service history of helicopters that 

are the same or similar in type design 

to the helicopters to which this AD 

would apply. The actions specified by 

the proposed AD are intended to 

prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a 

main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before June 21, 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, 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 examine the comments to 

this proposed AD in the AD docket on 

the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Rotorcraft Certification Office, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76193, 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– 2010–0427, Directorate Identifier 

2008–SW–72–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:// 

www.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 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). 

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 

On July 31, 1980, we issued AD 80– 

17–09, Amendment 39–3876 (45 FR 

54014, August 14, 1980), Docket No. 80– 

ASW–25. That AD required replacing 

certain TT straps on or before attaining 

1,200 hours TIS or 24 months, 

whichever occurs first, for the BHTI 

Model 204B, 205A–1, 212, 214B, 214B– 

1, and the Model UH–1 series military 

surplus helicopters. That action was 

prompted by an offshore accident of a 

BHTI Model 212 helicopter in which a 

TT strap reportedly failed in flight after 

2,140 hours TIS with resulting loss of 

the main rotor blade. The requirements 

of that AD were intended to prevent 

failure of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor 

blade, and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

On September 18, 2002, we issued AD 

2002–20–01, Amendment 39–12895 (67 

FR 61771, October 2, 2002), Docket No. 

2001–SW–41–AD, for the restricted 

category Model HH–1K, SW204, 

SW204HP, SW205, SW205A–1, TH–1F, 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
20934 Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 77 / Thursday, April 22, 2010 / Proposed Rules 

TH–1L, UH–1A, UH–1B, UH–1E, UH– 

1F, UH–1H, UH–1L, and UH–1P 

helicopters to require updating the 

product identification, extending the 

applicability to other helicopter models, 

continuing the existing retirement time 

for certain TT straps, and adding the TT 

strap part numbers to the applicability. 

That action was prompted by the need 

to expand the applicability to additional 

restricted category helicopters and to 

add two part numbers to the 

applicability. The requirements of that 

AD are intended to prevent failure of a 

TT strap, loss of a main rotor blade, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. AD 2002–20–01 contains the 

requirements from AD 80–17–09 for the 

Model UH–1 series military surplus 

helicopters. 

Since issuing AD 2002–20–01, we 

have determined that an unsafe 

condition exists if TT straps, BHTI part 

number (P/N) 204–012–112–5 or Bendix 

Energy Controls Co. (Bendix) P/N 

2601399, with a serial number (S/N) of 

41623 through 54362, or BHTI P/N 204– 

012–112–7 or Bendix P/N 2601400, with 

a S/N of 11415 or higher, are allowed to 

remain in service. These TT straps have 

stainless steel filament windings 

encased in a urethane cover and were 

manufactured using Caytur 21 as the 

urethane-curing accelerator. Caytur 21 

contains chlorides which are retained in 

the urethane cover after cure resulting 

in corrosion problems with the encased 

steel wires. Those part-numbered TT 

straps made outside the affected S/N 

ranges were manufactured using a 

MOCA curing agent and do not pose the 

same aggravated corrosion problem. 

An unsafe condition also exists if TT 

straps, P/N 204–011–113–1 or 204–012– 

112–1, are used beyond a certain 

number of hours TIS due to the 

possibility of fatigue cracks occurring in 

either the encased thin stainless steel 

plates or filament windings, 

respectively. These particular TT straps 

are of older designs and a reduced life 

in hours TIS is needed to preclude a 

fatigue failure. TT straps, P/N 204–011– 

113–1, have the encased stack of thin 

steel stainless plates. TT straps, P/N 

204–012–112–1, have encased filament 

windings with a lower strength, smaller 

diameter wire and a different urethane 

coating which is more susceptible to 

react with the wire material than the 

other TT straps of the same design. 

Service history has shown that the 

retirement life for both TT straps, P/N 

204–011–113–1 or 204–012–112–1, 

needs to be reduced. 

We have also determined that an 

unsafe condition exists if certain other 

TT straps with encased stainless steel 

filament windings are allowed to remain 

in service beyond a specified calendar 

time or beyond a specified number of 

hours TIS. The calendar time retirement 

life is needed to prevent failure caused 

by corrosion. The hours TIS retirement 

life is needed to prevent a fatigue failure 

in the filament windings. In addition, a 

need exists to clarify the TT strap 

manufacturer, acknowledge the current 

Type Certificate owners, and add the 

model AH–1G and AH–1S helicopters to 

the applicability. 

The previously described unsafe 

conditions are likely to exist or develop 

on other helicopters of the same type 

designs. Therefore, the proposed AD 

would supersede AD 2002–20–01 and 

require removing certain serialnumbered TT straps from service, 

replacing certain TT straps at specified 

intervals, revising the Airworthiness 

Limitations section of the maintenance 

manual or the Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness (ICAs) by 

establishing new or maintaining current 

retirement lives for certain TT straps, 

and recording the life limit of the TT 

straps on the component history cards 

or equivalent records. 

These proposed actions are based on 

the service history of certain TT straps 

manufactured with stainless steel 

filament windings or thin stainless steel 

plates encased in a urethane coating. TT 

strap failures have occurred in both 

types of TT straps. Some of the failures 

were attributed to undetected moisture 

penetration through the urethane 

coating which led to corrosion pitting in 

the stainless steel wires and subsequent 

fatigue failure of the TT strap. Other 

failures were attributed to fatigue 

cracking in the stainless steel plates or 

filament windings which led to a fatigue 

failure of the TT strap. A fatigue failure 

of the TT strap during flight will result 

in a loss of main rotor blade and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

We estimate that 716 helicopters of 

U.S. registry would be affected by this 

proposed AD, that it would take 

approximately 8 work hours per 

helicopter to replace a set of TT straps 

(2 TT straps), and that the average labor 

rate is $85 per work hour. Required 

parts would cost approximately $12,500 

for 2 TT straps. Based on these figures, 

the total cost impact of the proposed AD 

on U.S. operators is estimated to be 

$329,500, assuming that 25 TT strap sets 

(50 TT straps) would be replaced. 

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 an 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 

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. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

2. Section 39.13 is amended by 

removing Amendment 39–12895 (67 FR 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 75, No. 77 / Thursday, April 22, 2010 / Proposed Rules 20935 

61771, October 2, 2002), and by adding 

a new airworthiness directive (AD), to 

read as follows: 

Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously 

Utah State University); California 

Department of Forestry; Firefly Aviation 

Helicopter Services (previously Erickson 

Air-Crane Co.); Garlick Helicopters, 

Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; 

Hagglund Helicopters, LLC (previously 

Western International Aviation, Inc.); 

International Helicopters, Inc.; Precision 

Helicopters, LLC; Robinson Air Crane, 

Inc.; San Joaquin Helicopters 

(previously Hawkins and Powers 

Aviation, Inc.); S.M.&T. Aircraft 

(previously US Helicopters, Inc., UNC 

Helicopter, Inc., Southern Aero 

Corporation, and Wilco Aviation); Smith 

Helicopters; Southern Helicopter, Inc.; 

Southwest Florida Aviation 

International, Inc. (previously Jamie R. 

Hill and Southwest Florida Aviation); 

Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. (previously 

Ranger Helicopter Services, Inc.); US 

Helicopter, Inc. (previously UNC 

Helicopter, Inc.); West Coast 

Fabrication; and Williams Helicopter 

Corporation (previously Scott Paper Co.) 

Model AH–1G, AH–1S, HH–1K, TH–1F, 

TH–1L, UH–1A, UH–1B, UH–1E, UH–1F, 

UH–1H, UH–1L, and UH–1P Helicopters; 

and Southwest Florida Aviation Model 

UH–1B (SW204 and SW204HP) and UH– 

1H (SW205) Helicopters: Docket No. 

FAA–2010–0427; Directorate Identifier 

2008–SW–72–AD. Supersedes AD 2002– 

20–01, Amendment 39–12895, Docket 

No. 2001–SW–41–AD. 

Applicability: Model AH–1G, AH–1S, HH– 

1K, TH–1F, TH–1L, UH–1A, UH–1B, UH–1E, 

UH–1F, UH–1H, UH–1L, and UH–1P 

helicopters, with Bell Helicopter Textron, 

Inc. (BHTI) main rotor tension-torsion (TT) 

strap, part number (P/N) 204–011–113–1, 

204–012–112–1. 204–012–112–5, 204–012– 

112–7, 204–012–122–1, 204–012–122–5, 

204–310–101–101, or Bendix Energy Controls 

Co. (Bendix) P/N 2601139, 2601399, 

2601400, or 2606650, installed, certificated 

in any category. 

Compliance: Within 25 hours time-inservice (TIS), or one month, whichever 

occurs first, unless accomplished previously. 

To prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a 

main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter, accomplish the 

following: 

(a) Remove any TT strap, P/N 204–012– 

112–5 or 2601399, with a serial number (S/ 

N) of 41623 through 54362, or P/N 204–012– 

112–7 or 2601400, with a S/N of 11415 or 

higher, and replace it with an airworthy TT 

strap. Any TT strap required to be removed 

in accordance with this paragraph is 

unairworthy and is not eligible for 

reinstallation on any helicopter. 

(b) Remove any TT strap P/N that has been 

in service for the length of time or longer 

than the retirement life listed in Table 1 of 

this AD and replace it with an airworthy TT 

strap. 

TABLE 1 

P/N Retirement life 

204–011–113–1 ........................................................................................ 200 hours TIS. 

204–012–112–1 ........................................................................................ 1,000 hours TIS. 

204–012–112–5 or 2601399, S/N 1 through 41622 ................................ 1,200 hours TIS or 24 months since the initial installation on any helicopter, whichever occurs first. 

204–012–112–5 or 2601399, S/N 54363 and higher 

204–012–112–7 or 2601400, S/N 1 through 11414 

204–012–122–1 

204–012–122–5 

204–310–101–101 

2601139 

2606650 

(c) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations 

section of the maintenance manual or the 

Instructions for Continued Airworthiness 

(ICAs) by establishing or maintaining the 

current retirement life for each TT strap 

listed in Table 1 of this AD by marking pen 

and ink changes or inserting a copy of this 

AD into the maintenance manual or ICAs. 

(d) Record the life limit for each TT strap 

listed in Table 1 of this AD on the component 

history cards or equivalent record. 

(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 

Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 

FAA, ATTN: Michael Kohner, Aviation 

Safety Engineer, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 

Worth, Texas 76193, telephone (817) 222– 

5170, fax (817) 222–5783, for information 

about previously approved alternative 

methods of compliance. 

(f) Special flight permits will not be issued. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 14, 

2010. 

Mark R. Schilling, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2010–9293 Filed 4–21–10; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Highway Administration 

23 CFR Part 655 

[FHWA Docket No. FHWA–2009–0139] 

RIN 2125–AF34 

National Standards for Traffic Control 

Devices; the Manual on Uniform Traffic 

Control Devices for Streets and 

Highways; Maintaining Minimum 

Retroreflectivity of Longitudinal 

Pavement Markings 

AGENCY: Federal Highway 

Administration (FHWA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed amendments 

(NPA). 

SUMMARY: The Manual on Uniform 

Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) is 

incorporated by reference in 23 CFR 

part 655, subpart F, approved by the 

Federal Highway Administration, and 

recognized as the national standard for 

traffic control devices used on all 

streets, highways, bikeways, and private 

roads open to public travel. The FHWA 

proposes to amend the MUTCD to 

include standards, guidance, options, 

and supporting information relating to 

maintaining minimum levels of 

retroreflectivity for pavement markings. 

The proposed revisions would establish 

a uniform minimum level of nighttime 

pavement marking performance based 

on the visibility needs of nighttime 

drivers. The proposed revisions will 

promote safety, enhance traffic 

operations, and facilitate comfort and 

convenience for all drivers, including 

older drivers. The proposed revisions 

described herein would be designated as 

Revision 1 to the 2009 Edition of the 

MUTCD. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before August 20, 2010. 

ADDRESSES: Mail or hand deliver 

comments to the U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Dockets Management 

Facility, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 

Washington, DC 20590, or submit 

electronically at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or fax comments to 

(202) 493–2251. All comments should 

include the docket number that appears 

in the heading of this document. All 


emcdonald on DSK2BSOYB1PROD with PROPOSALS