Document ID: FAA-2013-0380-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson)
Posted Date: 2013-10-01T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 1, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 60185-60186]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-23094]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0380; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-067-AD; 
Amendment 39-17588; AD 2013-19-06]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Robinson Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters 
with certain fuel shut-off valves installed. This AD requires replacing 
the fuel shut-off valve with a newer design fuel shut-off valve. This 
AD is prompted by three accidents that occurred because the fuel shut-
off valve was inadvertently moved to the ``off'' position. These 
actions are intended to prevent inadvertent closing of the fuel valve, 
which could result in engine power loss from which a safe landing may 
not be possible.

DATES: This AD is effective November 5, 2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; 
telephone (310) 539-0508; fax (310) 539-5198; or at http://www.robinsonheli.com/servelib.htm. You may review a copy of the 
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the economic evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for the 
Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground 
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Los 
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, 
FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 
627-5247; email danny.nguyen@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On April 25, 2013, at 78 FR 24371, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Robinson Model R22, R22 
Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters, serial number 0002 
through 4271, with a fuel shut-off valve part-number (P/N) A670-1 
revision A through H installed. The NPRM proposed to require, within 3 
years, removing the fuel shut-off valve, P/N A670-1 revision A through 
H, and replacing the valve with a newly designed fuel shut-off valve. 
Three accidents have occurred with R22 helicopters because the lever-
handle fuel valve was inadvertently moved to the ``off'' position 
before takeoff. Closing this valve will result in loss of power from 
the engine and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Robinson 
subsequently redesigned the fuel valve with a smaller actuating handle 
and with the valve spring loaded to the ``on'' position, to prevent 
inadvertent fuel shut-off. The proposed requirements were intended to 
prevent inadvertent closing of the fuel valve, which could result in 
engine power loss.

Comments

    After our NPRM (78 FR 24371, April 25, 2013) was published, we 
received comments from one commenter.

Request

    Robinson noted that the Summary and Discussion sections of the NPRM 
contained language stating that closing of the fuel valve could result 
in engine power loss and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 
Robinson commented that loss of engine power does not result in loss of 
control of the helicopter.
    We agree, and have redefined the unsafe condition in the SUMMARY 
and SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION Discussion sections of the preamble of 
this final rule to state that inadvertent closing of the fuel valve 
could result in engine power loss from which a safe landing may not be 
possible.

FAA's Determination

    We have reviewed the relevant information, considered the comment 
received, and determined that an unsafe condition exists and is likely 
to exist or develop on other products of these same type designs and 
that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD 
requirements as proposed with the change described previously. This 
change is consistent with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM and 
will not increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 
scope of this AD.

Related Service Information

    Robinson has issued R22 Service Bulletin SB-105, dated September 7, 
2011 (SB-105), which specifies procedures to replace the lever handle 
fuel shut-off valve part number (P/N) A670-1 revision A through H with 
a fuel shut-off valve P/N A670-1 revision I or later.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    SB-105 specifies compliance within 500 flight-hours or by August 
31, 2012. This AD requires compliance within 3 years.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 1,282 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Replacing the fuel shut-off valve 
requires about 2 work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
and required parts will cost about $260, for a cost per helicopter of 
$430, and a total cost to U.S. operators of $551,260.

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.

[[Page 60186]]

Regulatory Findings

    This AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 
13132. This AD will 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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
    (4) 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 AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2013-19-06 Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson): Amendment 39-
17588; Docket No. FAA-2013-0380; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-067-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 
Mariner helicopters, serial number 0002 through 4271, with a fuel 
shut-off valve part-number (P/N) A670-1 revision A through H 
installed, certificated in any category.

 (b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as inadvertent closing of 
the fuel shut-off valve, which could result in loss of fuel to the 
engine and loss of engine power from which a safe landing may not be 
possible.

 (c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 5, 2013.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    (1) Within 3 years, remove the fuel shut-off valve and replace 
with an airworthy fuel shut-off valve that has a P/N other than a P/
N listed in paragraph (a) this AD.
    (2) Do not install a fuel shut-off valve, P/N A670-1 revision A 
through H, on any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Danny Nguyen, 
Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, 
Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, 
California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5247; email 
danny.nguyen@faa.gov.
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(g) Additional Information

    Robinson R22 Service Bulletin SB-105, dated September 7, 2011, 
which is not incorporated by reference, contains additional 
information about the subject of this AD. For service information 
identified in this AD, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 
Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; telephone (310) 539-0508; fax 
(310) 539-5198; or at http://www.robinsonheli.com/servelib.htm. You 
may review a copy of information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2823: Fuel 
Selector/Shut-Off Valve.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 13, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-23094 Filed 9-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P