Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2001 / Proposed Rules 33653

To prevent accidental opening of a

passenger compartment (door) during flight,

accomplish the following:

(a) Modify each passenger compartment

sliding door by installing locking mechanism

kits, part number (P/N) 109–0823–03–101

and –102, in accordance with the

Compliance Instruction of Agusta Bollettino

Tecnico No. 109EP–16, dated December 21,

2000 (BT).

(b) 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, Regulations

Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA.

Operators shall submit their requests through

an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector,

who may concur or comment and then send

it to the Manager, Regulations Group.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Regulations Group.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with 14 CFR 21.197 and 21.199

to operate the helicopter to a location where

the requirements of this AD can be

accomplished.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed

in Ente Nazionale per l’Aviazione Civile

(Italy) AD 2001–019, dated January 5, 2001.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 12,

2001.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–15796 Filed 6–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–SW–67–AD]

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Robinson

Helicopter Company Model R44

Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes

adopting a new airworthiness directive

(AD) for Robinson Helicopter Company

(RHC) Model R44 helicopters. This

proposal would require establishing a

life limit of 2200 hours time-in-service

(TIS) for affected horizontal stabilizers.

This proposal is prompted by

engineering analysis, which indicates

that certain vertical-to-horizontal

stabilizer attach channels (channels)

will crack sooner than the original life

limit of the horizontal stabilizer. The

actions specified by the proposed AD

are intended to prevent a crack through

a channel, separation of the stabilizers,

and subsequent loss of directional

control of the helicopter.

DATES: The FAA must receive any

comments on this proposal by August

24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Office of the

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–SW–

67–AD, Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort

Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send

comments electronically to the Rules

Docket at the following address: 9-aswadcomments@faa.gov. Comments may

be inspected at the Office of the

Regional Counsel between 9 a.m. and 3

p.m., Monday through Friday, except

Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Fred

Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA,

Los Angeles Aircraft Certification

Office, Airframe Branch, 3960

Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California

90712, telephone (562) 627–5232, 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 will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this document 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 mailed

comments submitted in response to this

proposal must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the

following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Docket No. 2000–SW–

67–AD.’’ The postcard will be date

stamped and returned to the

commenter.

Discussion

This document proposes adopting a

new AD for RHC Model R44 helicopters

to require establishing a life limit of

2200 hours TIS for affected horizontal

stabilizers and removing, inspecting,

and replacing certain channels with

airworthy channels. This proposal is

prompted by engineering analysis

which indicates that a fatigue crack may

develop through the inboard attachment

hole for the nutplate, part number (P/N)

NAS697A4, on channels, P/N D283–1

and –2, sooner than the original life

limit of 4,000 hours TIS. This condition,

if not corrected, could result in a fatigue

crack on the channels, P/N D283–1 and

–2, that attach the vertical and

horizontal stabilizers, separation of the

vertical and horizontal stabilizers after

2200 hours TIS, and subsequent loss of

directional control of the helicopter.

The FAA has reviewed RHC Service

Bulletin No. SB–39, dated September

12, 2000 (SB), which specifies replacing

affected channels during overhaul at

2200 hours TIS. The FAA agrees that

channels, P/N D283, with nutplate, P/N

NAS697A4, are considered unairworthy

after 2200 hours TIS.

We have identified an unsafe

condition that is likely to exist or

develop on other RHC Model R44

helicopters of these same type designs.

The proposed AD would require the

following before 2200 hours TIS:

• Removing the vertical stabilizer to

inspect the nutplate on channels, P/N

D283–1 and –2.

• Replacing channels installed with

nutplate, P/N NAS697A4, with

channels, P/N D296–1 and –2.

This proposal would revise the

Limitations section of the maintenance

manual by establishing a life limit of

2200 hours TIS for stabilizer, P/N

CO44–1, with channels, P/N D283–1 or

–2, installed.

Regulatory Impact

We estimate that 3 helicopters of U.S.

registry would be affected by this

proposed AD and that it would take

approximately 1⁄2 work hour per

helicopter to inspect the horizontal

stabilizer and replace channels. The

average labor rate is $60 per work hour.

The manufacturer states in the SB that

there will be no charge for the parts.

Based on these figures, the total cost

impact of the proposed AD on U.S.

operators is estimated to be $90.

The regulations proposed herein

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

33654 Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 122 / Monday, June 25, 2001 / Proposed Rules

various levels of government. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that this 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) 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. You can get a copy of

the draft regulatory evaluation prepared

for this action from the Rules Docket. A

copy of it may be obtained by contacting

the Rules Docket at the mailing address

listed under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under 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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding

the following new airworthiness

directive:

Robinson Helicopter Company: Docket No.

2000–SW–67–AD.

Applicability: Model R44 helicopters, with

horizontal stabilizer assembly (assembly),

part number (P/N) C044–1; horizontal

stabilizer serial number (S/N) 0009 through

0224, except S/N 0018, 0090, 0094, 0111,

0129, 0144, 0161, 0178, 0201, and 0223,

installed, certificated in any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise 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 request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (c) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless

accomplished previously.

To prevent a crack through a vertical-tohorizontal stabilizer attach channel

(channel), which can cause separation of the

stabilizers and subsequent loss of control of

the helicopter, accomplish the following:

(a) Before accumulating 2200 hours timein-service (TIS) on the assembly:

(1) Remove the vertical stabilizer to inspect

the nutplate on channels, P/N D283–1 and

–2.

(2) If the nutplates are P/N MS21086L4, no

further action is required by this AD.

(3) If the nutplates are P/N NAS697A4,

replace the channels with airworthy

channels, P/N D296–1 or –2.

Note 2: Robinson Helicopter Company

Service Bulletin SB–39, dated September 12,

2000, pertains to the subject of this AD.

(b) This AD revises the Limitations section

of the maintenance manual by establishing a

retirement life of 2200 hours TIS for

assembly, P/N CO44–1, with channels, P/N

D283–1 or –2, with nutplates, P/N

NAS697A4, installed.

(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

(LAACO), FAA. Operators shall submit their

requests through an FAA Principal

Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or

comment and then send it to the Manager,

LAACO.

Note 3: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the LAACO.

(d) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with 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 June 12,

2001.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 01–15795 Filed 6–22–01; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

Bureau of Indian Affairs

25 CFR Part 70

RIN 1076–AD98

Certificate of Degree of Indian or

Alaska Native Blood

AGENCY: Bureau or Indian Affairs,

Interior.

ACTION: Proposed rule; reopening of

comment period and additional public

meetings.

SUMMARY: In keeping with Executive

Order 13175, ‘‘Government-toGovernment Consultation with Indian

Tribes,’’ the Bureau of Indian Affairs

(BIA) is scheduling several additional

regional public sessions for

representatives of Indian tribes to

provide us with their comments and

suggestions (dates, times and locations

to be announced). The topic of

discussion will be the proposed

Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaska

Native Blood (CDIB) rules as published

in the Federal Register on April 18,

2000. In order to provide sufficient time

for submission of written comments, we

are extending the comment period.

DATES: The comment period is extended

from December 20, 2000, to the close of

business on December 31, 2001, Central

Standard Time.

ADDRESSES: You may mail your

comments to Karen Ketcher, Branch of

Tribal Operations, Eastern Oklahoma

Region, Bureau of Indian Affairs, 101

North 5th Street, Muskogee, Oklahoma

74401.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Karen Ketcher, Branch of Tribal

Operations, Eastern Oklahoma,

Department of the Interior, Bureau of

Indian Affairs, 215 State Street,

Muskogee, Oklahoma 74401. You may

also hand-deliver comments to us at this

address in Room 408. For information

about filing comments electronically,

see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

section in the April 18, 2000, Federal

Register notice.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On April

18, 2000, the BIA published a proposed

rule, 25 CFR part 70 (65 FR 20775)

which is to establish documentation

requirements and standards for filing,

processing, and issuing a CDIB. The

purpose of this notice is to reopen the

comment period and to provide

additional public meetings. This

reopening is in response to requests

from Indian tribes and participants at

our earlier public sessions. The previous

December 20, 2000, deadline for receipt

of comments was announced in the

Federal Register notice of October 30,

2000 (65 FR 64643). The new deadline

is close of business, Central Standard

Time, on December 31, 2001. Each BIA

regional office will notify the tribes

within its respective jurisdiction of the

dates, times, and locations of the public

sessions, will publish notice of these

public sessions in at least one

newspaper of general circulation, and

will post notices in appropriate public

locations.