[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 96 (Monday, May 19, 1997)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 27211-27212]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13082]
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 96 / Monday, May 19, 1997 / Proposed
Rules
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. 97-SW-04-AD]
Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Model R22
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness
directive (AD) that is applicable to Robinson Helicopter Company
(Robinson) Model R22 helicopters with a Lycoming O-360-J2A engine
installation. This proposal would require replacing the carburetor and
carburetor air temperature (CAT) gage with an improved carburetor that
does not require manual leaning of the fuel/air mixture during flight,
and a remarked CAT gage; and revising the Rotorcraft Flight Manual to
remove the reference to leaning the engine. This proposal is prompted
by a report from the Civil Aviation Authority of Great Britain that
cautioned that the mixture control could inadvertently be placed in the
idle cutoff position during in-flight manual leaning of the fuel/air
mixture in the carburetor of the Lycoming O-360-J2A engine. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent inadvertent
placement of the mixture control to the idle cutoff position during in-
flight leaning of the engine, which could result in an engine shutdown
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received by July 18, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention:
Rules Docket No. 97-SW-04-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137. Comments may be inspected at this location between 9:00
a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be
obtained from Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive,
Torrance, California 90505. This information may be examined at the
FAA, Office of the Assistant Chief Counsel, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room
663, Fort Worth, Texas.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ms. Elizabeth Bumann, Aerospace
Engineer, FAA, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Propulsion
Branch, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, California 90712, telephone
(562) 627-5265, 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,
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 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. 97-SW-04-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 Assistant Chief Counsel, Attention: Rules
Docket No. 97-SW-04-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
Discussion
This document proposes the adoption of a new AD that is applicable
to Robinson Model R22 helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 2571 through
2664. This proposal would require replacing the MA-4-5 carburetor and
CAT gage, part number (P/N) C604-6, with an airworthy MA-4SPA
carburetor and CAT gage, P/N A606-2; and mandating the Robinson Model
R22 Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) revision dated February 6, 1997 be
inserted into the RFM. These revised supplements to the RFM do not
provide for leaning of the carburetor mixture. This proposal is
prompted by a report from the Civil Aviation Authority of Great Britain
that cautioned that the mixture control could inadvertently be placed
in the idle cutoff position during in-flight leaning of the O-360-J2A
engine. This condition, if not corrected, could result in inadvertent
placement of the mixture control to the idle cutoff position during in-
flight leaning of the engine, which could result in an engine shutdown
during flight and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The FAA has reviewed Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service
Bulletin SB-82, dated March 3, 1997, and Robinson Helicopter Company
KI-114 O-360 Engine Carburetor Change Kit instructions, Revision A,
dated March 6, 1997, which describe procedures for removing the MA-4-5
carburetor and the CAT gage, P/N C604-6, and replacing them with an
airworthy MA-4SPA carburetor and CAT gage, P/N A604-2, and revising the
RFM Section 9, Supplements 7 (for Beta II) and 8 (for Mariner II) to
eliminate the leaning procedure.
Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to
exist or develop on other Robinson Model R22 helicopters of the same
type design, the proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-
service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD, removing the MA-4-5
carburetor and CAT gage, P/N C604-6, replacing them with an airworthy
MA-4SPA carburetor and
[[Page 27212]]
CAT gage, P/N A604-2, and revising the RFM. The actions would be
required to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin
compliance procedures and kit instructions described previously.
The FAA estimates that 50 helicopters of U.S. registry would be
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 5 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 $3,641 per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total
cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be
$197,050.
The regulations proposed herein would not have substantial direct
effects 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, in
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this
proposal would not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant
the preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
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.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Robinson Helicopter Company: Docket No. 97-SW-04-AD.
Applicability: Model R22 helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 2571
through 2664, certificated in any category.
Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been
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 use the authority
provided in paragraph (c) to request approval from the FAA. This
approval may address either no action, if the current configuration
eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions necessary to
address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request
should include an assessment of the effect of the changed
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair
remove any helicopter from the applicability of this AD.
Compliance: Required within 50 hours time-in-service after the
effective date of this AD, unless accomplished previously.
To prevent inadvertent placement of the mixture control to the
idle cutoff position during in-flight leaning of the engine, which
could result in an engine shutdown during flight and subsequent loss
of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
(a) Remove the MA-4-5 carburetor and carburetor air temperature
(CAT) gage, part number (P/N) C604-6, and replace them with an
airworthy MA-4SPA carburetor and remarked CAT gage, P/N A604-2, in
accordance with Robinson Helicopter Company R22 Service Bulletin SB-
82, dated March 3, 1997, and Robinson Helicopter Company KI-114 O-
360 Engine Carburetor Change Kit instructions, Revision A, dated
March 6, 1997.
(b) Upon completion of paragraph (a) of this AD, insert the FAA-
approved R22 Pilot's Operating Handbook Section 9, Supplements 7
(R22 Beta II) and 8 (R22 Mariner II), revised February 6, 1997, or a
later FAA-approved revision, into the R22 Rotorcraft Flight Manual.
(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, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an FAA
Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and then
send it to the Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office.
Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be
obtained from the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office.
(d) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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 May 8, 1997.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 97-13082 Filed 5-16-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U
