AD 2014-23-16

AD Final Rules - 2014-23-16.pdf
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AD Number:
2014-23-16
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2013-0159
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters
Subject:
Main Rotor Blades
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 79, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 2014)
Citation Publish Date:
12/05/2014
Effective Date:
01/09/2015
Make:
Robinson Helicopter Company
Model:
R22 | R22 ALPHA | R22 BETA | R22 MARINER | R44 | R44 II
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
2011-12-10
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 2014)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 72132-72135]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2014-28478]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2013-0159; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-010-AD; Amendment 39-18032;


AD 2014-23-16]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-12-10 for Robinson


Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, and R44 II


helicopters with certain main rotor blades (blade) installed. AD 2011-12-10 required inspecting each


blade at the skin-to-spar line for debonding, corrosion, a separation, a gap, or a dent and replacing


any damaged blade with an airworthy blade. This new AD also requires a terminating action for those


inspection requirements. These actions are intended to detect debonding of the blade skin, which


could result in blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, and to correct the unsafe


condition by replacing the main rotor blades with new blades that do not require the AD inspection.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective January 9, 2015.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain


publications listed in this AD as of January 9, 2015.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain other


publications listed in this AD as of July 5, 2011 (76 FR 35330, June 17, 2011); corrected March 5,


2012 (77 FR 12991).


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.
2


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, any incorporated-by-reference service information, 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:
 
Fred Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, Los


Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd.,


Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone (562) 627-5232; email fred.guerin@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


On February 25, 2013, at 78 FR 12648, the Federal Register published our notice of proposed


rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2011-12-10,


Amendment 39-16717 (76 FR 35330, June 17, 2011), corrected March 5, 2012 (77 FR 12991), that


applied to Robinson Model R22, R22 Alpha, R22 Beta, and R22 Mariner helicopters with blade, part


number (P/N) A016-4; and Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with blade, P/N C016-2 or C-016-5,


installed. AD 2011-12-10 required a pilot check of the blade skin-to-spar joint area for any bare metal


before the first flight of each day. AD 2011-12-10 also required repetitively inspecting each blade for


corrosion, separation, a gap, or a dent, refinishing any bare metal before further flight, and replacing


any damaged blade with an airworthy blade. AD 2011-12-10 was prompted by a fatal accident due to


blade delamination.


At the time we issued AD 2011-12-10, Robinson had developed replacement blades on the R22


and R44 model helicopters. AD 2011-12-10 was issued as a Final rule; request for comment;


however, the amount of time permitted to replace the blades required allowing the public an


opportunity to comment. Thus, the NPRM proposed to retain the pilot check, recurring inspection,


and blade refinishing requirements of AD 2011-12-10. An owner/operator (pilot) may perform the


visual check required by paragraph (f)(1) of this AD and must enter compliance with that paragraph


into the helicopter maintenance records in accordance with 14 CFR 43.9(a)(1) through (4) and


91.417(a)(2)(v). A pilot may perform this check because it involves only looking at a visible area of


the blades and can be performed equally well by a pilot or a mechanic. This check is an exception to


our standard maintenance regulations. The NPRM also proposed to add a part-numbered blade to its


applicability for R22 model helicopters. Lastly, the NPRM proposed to require, within five years of


the effective date, replacing both main rotor blades with the new part-numbered aluminum blades,


which would constitute terminating action of the recurring inspection requirements. These actions are


intended to detect and prevent debonding of the blade skin, which could result in blade failure and


subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


Comments


After our NPRM (78 FR 12648, February 25, 2013) was published, we received comments from


15 commenters and have given due consideration to each one. We have identified five unique issues


and addressed those issues as follows.