This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

41627 

Vol. 87, No. 133 

Wednesday, July 13, 2022 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0872; Project 

Identifier AD–2022–00431–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Robinson 

Helicopter Company Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2021–19–08, which applies to certain 

Robinson Helicopter Company 

(Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II 

helicopters. AD 2021–19–08 requires 

checking each tail rotor blade (blade) for 

any crack and removing any cracked 

blade from service. AD 2021–19–08 also 

requires removing all affected blades 

from service and prohibits installing any 

affected blade on any helicopter. Since 

the FAA issued AD 2021–19–08, it was 

determined that an additional model 

helicopter and additional blades are 

affected by the unsafe condition. This 

proposed AD would require the same 

actions as AD 2021–19–08 and would 

add certain Robinson Model R66 

helicopters to the applicability and add 

additional part-numbered and serialnumbered blades to the applicability. 

The FAA is proposing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by August 29, 

2022. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Robinson Helicopter 

Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, 

CA 90505, United States; phone: (310) 

539–0508; email: ts1@robinsonheli.com; 

website: https://robinsonheli.com/. You 

may view this service information at the 

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 

76177. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (817) 222–5110. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0872; or in person at Docket 

Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

NPRM, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

James Guo, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., 

Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone (562) 

627–5357; email james.guo@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0872; Project Identifier AD– 

2022–00431–R’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. The FAA will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend the proposal 

because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this proposed 

AD. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this NPRM 

contain commercial or financial 

information that is customarily treated 

as private, that you actually treat as 

private, and that is relevant or 

responsive to this NPRM, it is important 

that you clearly designate the submitted 

comments as CBI. Please mark each 

page of your submission containing CBI 

as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA will treat such 

marked submissions as confidential 

under the FOIA, and they will not be 

placed in the public docket of this 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to James Guo, Aerospace 

Engineer, Airframe Section, Los Angeles 

ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 3960 

Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5357; email 

james.guo@faa.gov. Any commentary 

that the FAA receives which is not 

specifically designated as CBI will be 

placed in the public docket for this 

rulemaking. 

Background 

The FAA issued AD 2021–19–08, 

Amendment 39–21726 (86 FR 49915, 

September 7, 2021) (AD 2021–19–08), 

for Robinson Model R44 and R44 II 

helicopters with a blade part number (P/ 

N) C029–3 with serial number (S/N) 

9410 through 9909 inclusive, installed. 

AD 2021–19–08 was prompted by 

reports of spanwise cracks found along 

the leading edge of P/N C029–3 blades, 

S/N 9410 through 9909. These affected 

blades were factory-installed or shipped 

as spares between March and December 

2019. The cracks were found at different 

inspection intervals ranging from 

preflight inspections to 100-hour 

inspections. In one instance, a cracked 

blade was suspected when the pilot felt 


jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
41628 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 13, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

abnormal vibrations during flight; 

subsequent investigation determined 

that the blade was cracked. The cause of 

the cracks was determined to be a 

manufacturing defect in the properties 

of the blade skin that makes the blades 

prone to stress corrosion cracking. This 

condition, if not addressed, could result 

in reduced controllability and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. AD 2021–19–08 requires 

checking each blade for any crack and 

removing any cracked blade from 

service. AD 2021–19–08 also requires 

removing all affected blades from 

service and prohibits installing any 

affected blade on any helicopter. The 

agency issued AD 2021–19–08 to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

Actions Since AD 2021–19–08 Was 

Issued 

Since the FAA issued AD 2021–19– 

08, two additional cracked blades were 

discovered; these blades also exhibited 

stress corrosion cracking, however they 

were not part of the lot of affected 

blades that are included in AD 2021– 

19–08. These new affected blades are 

from a batch of blades manufactured 

from a separate lot of material, and 

testing determined that they are also 

susceptible to stress corrosion cracking 

and can be installed on Robinson Model 

R44, R44 II, and R66 helicopters. 

Additionally, while AD 2021–19–08 

was issued as a Final rule; request for 

comments, the FAA has determined 

that, because the risk model predictions 

for the additional helicopter model and 

blades are lower, providing notice and 

opportunity for public comment is 

appropriate. 

Since the issuance of 2021–19–08, the 

FAA received one comment from 

Robinson requesting that the FAA 

correct an inaccurate statement in the 

background section of the preamble text. 

Discovery of the incident was 

incorrectly described as a pilot feeling 

abnormal vibrations during flight. The 

incident was actually discovered when 

the ground crew noticed an abnormal 

noise during a shipboard landing. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after 

determining that the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type designs. 

Related Service Information 

The FAA reviewed Robinson R44 

Service Bulletin SB–108, dated June 30, 

2021. This service bulletin specifies 

removing P/N C029–3 blades with S/N 

9410 through 9909 from service. For 

continued operation until the affected 

blades are replaced, the service bulletin 

specifies a preflight inspection to be 

performed by the pilot. 

The FAA also reviewed Robinson R44 

Service Bulletin SB–110, which 

specifies removing P/N C029–3 blades 

with S/N 9910 through 10659 from 

service and Robinson R66 Service 

Bulletin SB–40, which specifies 

removing P/N F029–1 blades with S/N 

2410 through 2589 from service. Both of 

these service bulletins are dated January 

6, 2022 and specify that a preflight 

inspection is to be performed by the 

pilot for continued operation until the 

affected blades are replaced. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would continue to 

require, before further flight and 

thereafter before each flight, checking 

each affected blade for any crack along 

the leading edge of the blade. An owner/ 

operator (pilot) holding at least a private 

pilot certificate may perform this 

proposed check and would have to enter 

compliance with the applicable 

paragraph of this proposed AD in the 

helicopter maintenance records in 

accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a) and 

91.417(a)(2)(v). A pilot may perform this 

check because it involves visually 

checking each blade for a crack. This 

action could be performed equally well 

by a pilot or a mechanic. This check is 

an exception to the FAA’s standard 

maintenance regulations. This proposed 

AD would also continue to require, 

before further flight, removing from 

service any cracked blade and would 

prohibit installing the affected blades on 

any helicopter. This proposed AD 

would also require, within three months 

after the effective date of AD 2021–19– 

08 or within six months after the 

effective date of this AD, as applicable, 

removing all affected blades from 

service. Finally, this proposed AD 

would revise the applicability by adding 

blades with P/N C029–3 with S/N 9910 

through 10659 inclusive to the 

applicability for Robinson Model R44 

and R44 II helicopters and would also 

expand the applicability by adding 

Robinson Model R66 helicopters with 

blade P/N F–029–1 with S/N 2410 

through 2589 inclusive installed. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 432 

helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD. Labor costs are 

estimated at $85 per work-hour. 

Checking a blade for any crack would 

take about 0.25 work-hour for an 

estimated cost of up to $44 per 

helicopter (up to two affected blades per 

helicopter) and up to $19,008 for the 

U.S. fleet per check. Replacing a blade 

would take about 3.5 work-hours and 

parts would cost about $3,320 for an 

estimated cost of $3,618 per blade and 

up to $3,125,952 for the U.S. fleet. 

The FAA has included all known 

costs in its cost estimate. According to 

the manufacturer, however, some of the 

costs of this proposed AD may be 

covered under warranty, thereby 

reducing the cost impact on affected 

operators. 

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. 

The FAA is 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. 

Regulatory Findings 

The FAA determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. 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) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 133 / Wednesday, July 13, 2022 / Proposed Rules 41629 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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: 

■ a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 

AD 2021–19–08, Amendment 39–21726 

(86 FR 49915, September 7, 2021); and 

■ b. Adding the following new 

airworthiness directive: 

Robinson Helicopter Company: Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0872; Project Identifier AD– 

2022–00431–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) action by 

August 29, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD replaces AD 2021–19–08, 

Amendment 39–21726 (86 FR 49915, 

September 7, 2021) (AD 2021–19–08). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the following Robinson 

Helicopter Company (Robinson) helicopters, 

certificated in any category: 

(1) Robinson Model R44 and R44 II 

helicopters with a tail rotor blade (blade) part 

number (P/N) C029–3 with serial number (S/ 

N) 9410 through 9909 inclusive, installed; 

(2) Robinson Model R44 and R44 II 

helicopters with a blade P/N C029–3 with S/ 

N 9910 through 10659 inclusive, installed; 

and 

(3) Robinson Model R66 helicopters with a 

blade P/N F029–1 with S/N 2410 through 

2589 inclusive, installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 6410, Tail Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

cracked blades. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to detect and prevent cracks in the affected 

blades. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in reduced 

controllability and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Before further flight after the effective 

date of this AD and thereafter before each 

flight, check each blade at the leading edge 

for a crack. This action may be performed by 

the owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a 

private pilot certificate and must be entered 

into the aircraft records showing compliance 

with this AD in accordance with 14 

CFR 43.9(a) and 14 CFR 91.417(a)(2)(v). The 

record must be maintained as required by 14 

CFR 91.417, 121.380, or 135.439. 

(2) If there is any crack, before further 

flight, remove the blade from service. 

(3) For helicopters identified in paragraph 

(c)(1) of this AD, within 3 months after 

September 22, 2021 (the effective date of AD 

2021–19–08) remove from service any blade 

identified in paragraph (c)(1) of this AD. 

(4) For helicopters identified in paragraphs 

(c)(2) and (3) of this AD, within 6 months 

after the effective date of this AD, remove 

from service any blade identified in 

paragraph (c)(2) or (3) of this AD, as 

applicable to your model helicopter. 

(5) For helicopters identified in paragraph 

(c)(1) of this AD, as of September 22, 2021 

(the effective date of AD 2021–19–08), do not 

install a blade identified in paragraph (c)(1) 

of this AD on any helicopter. 

(6) For helicopters identified in paragraphs 

(c)(2) and (3) of this AD, as of the effective 

date of this AD, do not install a blade 

identified in paragraph (c)(2) or (3) of this 

AD, as applicable to your model helicopter, 

on any helicopter. 

(h) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs 

for this AD, if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 

14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 

principal inspector or local Flight Standards 

District Office, as appropriate. If sending 

information directly to the manager of the 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (j) of this 

AD. Information may be emailed to: 9-ANMLAACO-AMOC-REQUESTS@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(3) AMOCs approved previously for AD 

2021–19–08 are approved as AMOCs for the 

corresponding requirements in paragraph (g) 

of this AD. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact James Guo, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5357; email james.guo@

faa.gov. 

Issued on July 7, 2022. 

Christina Underwood, 

Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–14830 Filed 7–12–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0873; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2022–00060–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Embraer S.A. 

Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

certain Embraer S.A. Model EMB–545 

and EMB–550 airplanes. This proposed 

AD was prompted by a report that there 

is a possibility of the shoulder belt 

getting stuck during flight due to a step 

between the divan shroud chamfer and 

the sideledge panel. This proposed AD 

would require installing, on the rightand left-hand side divan, a protective 

fairing covering on the divan shroud 

and the sideledge panel, as specified in 

an Ageˆncia Nacional de Aviac ̧a ̃o Civil 

(ANAC) AD, which is proposed for 

incorporation by reference. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by August 29, 

2022. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

https://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: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For material that will be incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC), 

Aeronautical Products Certification 

Branch (GGCP), Rua Dr. Orlando 

Feirabend Filho, 230—Centro 

Empresarial Aquarius—Torre B— 

Andares 14 a 18, Parque Residencial 

Aquarius, CEP 12.246–190—Sa ̃o Jose ́

dos Campos—SP, Brazil; telephone 55 

(12) 3203–6600; email pac@anac.gov.br; 

internet www.anac.gov.br/en/. You may 

find this material on the ANAC website 


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