Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules 27011

(2) S/N of engines found with arc burns

and approximate size of the arc burn.

(3) S/N of engines repaired in accordance

with paragraph (a) of this AD.

(4) Hours and CIS since last shop visit and

total hours and CIS of disks inspected in

accordance with paragraph (a) of this AD.

(5) Report to the Manager of the Engine

Certification Office, within two business days

of finding one of the following conditions as

a result of inspecting a disk in accordance

with paragraph (a) of this AD:

(i) A crack depth of more than 5 mils.

(ii) More than 2 tie rod holes with cracks.

(iii) Arc burn depth beyond 9 mils.

(e) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Engine

Certification Office. Operators shall submit

their request through an appropriate FAA

Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may

add comments and then send it to the

Manager, Engine Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this airworthiness directive,

if any, may be obtained from the Engine

Certification Office.

(f) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the aircraft to

a location where the inspection requirements

of this AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on

May 7, 1998.

Thomas A. Boudreau,

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–12918 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 97–SW–61–AD]

Airworthiness Directives; McDonnell

Douglas Helicopter Systems Model

369D, 369E, 369FF, 369H, MD500N, and

MD600N Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes the

adoption of a new airworthiness

directive (AD) that is applicable to

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems

(MDHS) Model 369D, 369E, 369FF,

369H, MD500N, and MD600N

helicopters. This proposal would

require a one-time visual inspection of

certain input shaft coupling assemblies

for pitting. This proposal is prompted

by three operators’ reports of

discovering pitting on the internal

spline teeth. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to

prevent failure of the spline teeth in the

input shaft coupling assembly, loss of

drive to the main rotor system, and

subsequent loss of control of the

helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received by

July 14, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Office of the

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 97–SW–61–

AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,

Fort Worth, Texas 76137. Comments

may be inspected at this location

between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.,

Monday through Friday, except Federal

holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.

Bruce Conze, Aerospace Engineer, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office,

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood,

California, 90712, telephone (562) 627–

5261, 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, specified

above, will be considered before taking

action on the proposed rule. The

proposals contained in this notice 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 comments

submitted in response to this notice

must submit a self-addressed, stamped

postcard on which the following

statement is made: ‘‘Comments to

Docket No. 97–SW–61–AD.’’ The

postcard will be date stamped and

returned to the commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Southwest Region, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 97–SW–61–AD, 2601

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,

Texas 76137.

Discussion

This document proposes the adoption

of a new airworthiness directive (AD)

that is applicable to MDHS Model 369D,

369E, 369FF, 369H, MD500N, and

MD600N helicopters. This proposal

would require a one-time visual

inspection of certain input shaft

coupling assemblies for pitting below

the solid film lubricant layer in the

spline area. This proposal is prompted

by three operators’ reports of

discovering pitting on the internal

spline teeth. The actions specified by

the proposed AD are intended to

prevent failure of the spline teeth in the

input shaft coupling assembly, loss of

drive to the main rotor system, and

subsequent loss of control of the

helicopter.

Since an unsafe condition has been

identified that is likely to exist or

develop on other MDHS Model 369D,

369E, 369FF, 369H, MD500N, and

MD600N helicopters of the same type

design, the proposed AD would require

a one-time visual inspection of affected

input shaft coupling assemblies for

pitting below the solid film lubricant

layer in the spline area.

The FAA estimates that 82 helicopters

of U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 3 work hours per

helicopter to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would cost approximately $638 per

coupling assembly. Based on these

figures, the total cost impact of the

proposed AD on U.S. operators is

estimated to be $67,076 if the coupling

assembly is replaced in all 82

helicopters.

The regulations proposed herein

would not have substantial direct effects

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,

in accordance with Executive Order

12612, it is determined that this

proposal would not have sufficient

federalism implications to warrant the

preparation of a Federalism Assessment.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this proposed regulation (1)

is not a ‘‘significant regulatory action’’
27012 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 94 / Friday, May 15, 1998 / Proposed Rules

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.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive to

read as follows:

McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems:

Docket No. 97–SW–61–AD.

Applicability: Model 369D, 369E, 369FF,

369H, MD500N, and MD600N helicopters,

with input shaft coupling assemblies, part

number (P/N) 369F5133–1, serial number (S/

N) 030829–0126 through 030829–0207,

installed on main transmission, P/N

369F5100–503, and on overrunning clutch,

P/N 369F5450, certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

modified, altered, or repaired in the area

subject to the requirements of this AD. For

helicopters that have been modified, altered,

or repaired so that the performance of the

requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must use the authority

provided in paragraph (c) to request approval

from the FAA. This approval may address

either no action, if the current configuration

eliminates the unsafe condition, or different

actions necessary to address the unsafe

condition described in this AD. Such a

request should include an assessment of the

effect of the changed configuration on the

unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no

case does the presence of any modification,

alteration, or repair remove any helicopter

from the applicability of this AD.

Compliance: Required within 100 hours

time-in-service after the effective date of this

AD, unless accomplished previously.

To prevent failure of the spline teeth in

each input shaft coupling assembly (coupling

assembly), loss of drive to the main rotor

system, and subsequent loss of control of the

helicopter, accomplish the following:

(a) Visually inspect the coupling

assemblies, P/N 369F5133–1, installed on

main transmission, P/N 369F5100–503, and

on overrunning clutch, P/N 369F5450, for

pitting under the solid film lubricant in the

spline area of the coupling.

(b) If there is pitting in the splines, replace

the coupling assembly with an airworthy

coupling assembly, P/N 369F5133–1, that has

been inspected as required by paragraph (a)

of this AD.

Note 2: Boeing Service Bulletin SB369H–

240, SB369E–085, SB500N–013, SB369D–

192, SB369F–072, SB600N–003, dated

September 26, 1997, pertains to this AD.

(c) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Los

Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA.

Operators shall submit their requests through

an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,

who may concur or comment and then send

it to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Los Angeles Aircraft

Certification Office.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 7,

1998.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 98–12936 Filed 5–14–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 71

[Airspace Docket No. 98–ANM–05]

Proposed Establishment of Class E

Airspace, Moses Lake, WA

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This proposal would establish

a Class E surface area at Grant County

Airport, Moses Lake, WA. The intended

effect of this action is to provide

controlled airspace between the surface

and the en route phase of flight when

the air traffic control tower is closed.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before June 29, 1998.

ADDRESSES: Send comments on the

proposal in triplicate to: Manager,

Airspace Branch, ANM–520, Federal

Aviation Administration, Docket No.

98–ANM–05, 1601 Lind Avenue SW,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056.

The official docket may be examined

in the office of the Assistant Chief

Counsel for the Northwest Mountain

Region at the same address.

An informal docket may also be

examined during normal business hours

in the office of the Manager, Air Traffic

Division, Airspace Branch, at the

address listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Dennis Ripley, ANM–520.6, Federal

Aviation Administration, Docket No.

98–ANM–05, 1601 Lind Avenue SW,

Renton, Washington 98055–4056;

telephone number: (425) 227–2527.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

Interested parties are invited to

participate in this proposed rulemaking

by submitting such written data, views,

or arguments as they may desire.

Comments that provide the factual basis

supporting the views and suggestions

presented are particularly helpful in

developing reasoned regulatory

decisions on the proposal. Comments

are specifically invited on the overall

regulatory, aeronautical, economic,

environmental, and energy related

aspects of the proposal.

Communications should identify the

airspace docket number and be

submitted in triplicate to the address

listed above. Commenters wishing the

FAA to acknowledge receipt of their

comments on this notice must submit,

with those comments, a self-addressed

stamped postcard on which the

following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Airspace Docket No. 98–

ANM–05.’’ The postcard will be date/

time stamped and returned to the

commenter. All communications

received on or before the specified

closing date for comments will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposal contained

in this notice may be changed in the

light of comments received. All

comments submitted will be available

for examination at the address listed

above, both before and after the closing

date, for comments. A report

summarizing each substantive public

contact with FAA personnel concerned

with this rulemaking will be filed in the

docket.