2020-08072

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: • the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document • the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to • the agency docket number / agency internal file number • the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration • 14 CFR Part 39 • [Docket No. FAA-2017-0947; Product Identifier 2017-SW-059-AD; Amendment 39-19902; AD 2020-08-10] • RIN 2120-AA64 AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in certain tail rotor blades. This AD requires visually checking each tail rotor blade for a crack. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. DATES: This AD is effective May 22, 2020. ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, contact Robinson Helicopter Company, 2901 Airport Drive, Torrance, CA 90505; telephone 310-539-0508; fax 310-539-5198; or at https://robinsonheli.com/​technical-support/​. You may view a copy of the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0947; 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 AD, any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M 30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12 140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Guo, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles ACO Branch, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone 562-627-5357; email james.guo@faa.gov. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Discussion The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Robinson Model R44 and R44 II helicopters with a tail rotor blade part number (P/N) C029-1 or P/N C029-2 installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 23, 2018 (83 FR 23829). The NPRM was prompted by reports of P/N C029-1 and P/N C029-2 tail rotor blades with fatigue cracks at the leading edge. The cracks were caused by high fatigue stresses due to resonance when the blades were at high pitch angles from large left pedal inputs. The NPRM proposed to require visually checking each tail rotor blade for a crack. The proposed requirements were intended to detect a cracked tail rotor blade and prevent loss of the blade and subsequent loss of directional control. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since the FAA issued the NPRM, the website address for Robinson changed. This AD updates that website address. Comments The FAA gave the public the opportunity to comment on the NPRM. The following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment. Request: Robinson requested the FAA change the wording in the Discussion section that states the cracks in tail rotor blades were caused by “stresses due to resonance when the b…

Fonte: Federal Register (federalregister.gov). Texto original em inglês. Conteúdo sanitizado por segurança.