Airworthiness Directives; Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH Model MBB-BK 117 Helicopters

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

This document proposes the supersedure of an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 117 helicopters. That AD currently requires, before further flight, creating a component log card or equivalent record and determining the calendar age and number of flights on each tension-torsion (TT) strap. This action would establish a life limit for certain main rotor TT straps. This proposal is prompted by an accident in which a main rotor blade (blade) separated from an ECD Model MBB-BK 117 helicopter due to fatigue failure of a TT strap. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of a TT strap, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES:

Comments must be received on or before November 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-SW-67-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically to the Rules Docket at the following address: 9-asw-adcomments@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:

Charles Harrison, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5128, fax (817) 222-5961.

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 mailed 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. 99-SW-67-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. 99-SW-67-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

On January 5, 2000, the FAA issued AD 2000-01-11, Amendment 39-11509 (65 FR 2017, January 13, 2000), applicable to ECD Model MBB-BK 117 helicopters. That AD currently requires, before further flight, creating a component log card or equivalent record and determining the age and number of flights on each TT strap. Also, AD 2000-01-11 requires inspecting and removing, as necessary, certain unairworthy TT straps. That action was prompted by an accident in which a blade separated from an ECD Model MBB-BK 117 helicopter due to fatigue failure of a TT strap. The requirements of that AD are intended to prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Since the issuance of that AD, we have determined the need to establish a life limit for the TT strap. We have also determined that the graduated inspection criteria and the accompanying TT strap lives specified in the current AD are no longer necessary after a life limit is established.

ECD issued Alert Service Bulletin MBB-BK 117 No. ASB-MBB-BK 117-10-120, Revision 1, dated August 31, 1999 (ASB). The ASB describes procedures for determining the total accumulated installation time and number of flights on each TT strap. The ASB also specifies inspecting and replacing, as necessary, certain unairworthy TT straps. The ASB further states that certain TT straps must be renumbered prior to installation. The Luftfahrt Bundesamt (LBA), the airworthiness authority for the Federal Republic of Germany, classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD 1999-284/2, dated September 1, 1999, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to exist or develop on other ECD Model MBB-BK 117 helicopters registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require establishing a life limit for the TT straps of 120 months or 25,000 flights, whichever occurs first.

The FAA estimates that 127 helicopters of U.S. registry would be affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 16 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 $10,400 per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,442,720.

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 various levels of government. Therefore, it is determined that this proposal does 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. 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.