2024-15707: Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters

Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024) [Federal Register Volume 89, Number 137 (Wednesday, July 17, 2024)] [Proposed Rules] [Pages 58084-58086] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2024-15707] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA-2024-1886; Project Identifier AD-2023-01018-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson Helicopter) Model R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, and R44 II helicopters with a certain governor controller installed. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of engine governor failure, which was a result of water intrusion inside of the governor controller. This proposed AD would require removing certain governor controllers from service and installing a part eligible for installation. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing certain governor controllers on any helicopter. 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 September 3, 2024.

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 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. AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2024-1886; 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. Material Incorporated by Reference: For Robinson Helicopter service information, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, Technical Support Department, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; phone (310) 539-0508; fax (310) 539-5198; email robinsonheli.com">ts1@robinsonheli.com; or at robinsonheli.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. Other Related Service Information: For Robinson service information identified in this NPRM, contact Robinson Helicopter Company at its contact information under Material Incorporated by Reference above.

For Further Information Contact

Eric Moreland, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: (562) 627-5364; email: [email protected].

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-2024-1886; Project Identifier AD-2023-01018-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 this 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 regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM. 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 Eric Moreland, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 3960 Paramount Boulevard, Lakewood, CA 90712; phone: (562) 627-5364; email: [email protected]. 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 has received three reports of governor controller failures involving Robinson Helicopter Model R22 Beta and R44 II helicopters. These failures resulted in three underspeed or overspeed events, and two of these events resulted in hard landings which caused significant damage to the helicopters. Each of these separate incidents occurred after significant rainfall where the helicopter was exposed to those weather conditions. Prior to these governor controller failures, several operators notified Robinson Helicopter of a malfunction of the governor controller. Subsequent investigation revealed evidence of water [[Page 58085]] spotting inside of these governor controllers. Testing involving the application of water to the electronics of a governor controller confirmed that these conditions result in this malfunction. As a result of this investigation, it has been determined that the root cause for these malfunctions is water intrusion in the circuit board of the governor controller. In light of this, Robinson Helicopter issued service bulletins which specify exchanging the existing governor controller with a governor which provides additional moisture protection. Since the affected parts may also be installed on Robinson Helicopter Model R22 Mariner and R44 helicopters, those model helicopters are also affected by the unsafe condition. The affected parts cannot be installed on Robinson Helicopter Model R22 and R22 Alpha helicopters, so those model helicopters are not affected by the unsafe condition. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in loss of engine speed governing such as an engine overspeed or underspeed condition, and subsequent unexpected loss of power during critical phases of flight and 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 design. Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51 The FAA reviewed Robinson Helicopter R22 Service Bulletin SB-121 and Robinson Helicopter R44 Service Bulletin SB-114, each dated June 28, 2023 (SB-121 and SB-114). This service information specifies procedures for removing governor controller part number (P/N) D270-1, Revision A thru E, and replacing it with governor controller P/N D270- 1, Revision F (or subsequent). This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by the means identified in ADDRESSES. Other Related Service Information The FAA also reviewed Robinson R22 and R44 Engine Monitoring Unit (EMU) Technician's PC Software Guide, dated Oct 9, 2020. This service information provides information to program the new EMU ID for the governor controller. Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM This proposed AD would require removing any governor controller P/N D270-1, Revision A thru E inclusive, from service and installing a governor controller P/N D270-1, Revision F or later approved revision. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing governor controller P/N D270-1, Revision A through E inclusive, on any helicopter. Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 140 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. Replacing the governor controller would take approximately 2 work- hours and parts would cost approximately $1,800 for an estimated cost of $1,970 per helicopter and $275,800 for the U.S. fleet. Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information The service information applies to Robinson Helicopter Model R22- series and R44-series helicopters with a certain P/N D270-1 governor controllers installed and also identifies which serial-numbered helicopters the affected parts were factory installed on, whereas this proposed AD would apply to all Robinson Helicopter Model R22 Beta, R22 Mariner, R44, and R44 II helicopters with a certain P/N D270-1 governor controllers installed. This proposed AD would require accomplishing certain actions specified in SB-121 or SB-114, as applicable to your helicopter model, except the procedures in paragraph 4. of SB-121 and SB-114 must be accomplished by persons authorized under 14 CFR 43.3., instead of ``an appropriately rated person.'' 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 this 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. 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 0