DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0337; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-029-AD;
Amendment 39-18008; AD 2014-22-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Various Restricted Category Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-14-11 for
Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (AFE), Rotorcraft Development
Corporation (RDC), and San Joaquin Helicopters (SJH) Model OH-58A, OH-
58A+, and OH-58C helicopters. AD 2012-14-11 required inspecting the
main rotor mast (mast) for a crack. This new AD expands the mast
inspection area, changes the inspection to a repetitive inspection, and
removes the reporting requirement. The actions in this AD are intended
to prevent failure of the mast and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: For Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. service information
identified in this AD, contact Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc., 2081 South
Wildcat Way, Porterville, CA 93257; telephone (559) 781-8604; fax (559)
781-9271; email afe@arrowfalcon.com.
For Rotorcraft Development Corporation service information, contact
Rotorcraft Development Corporation, PO Box 430, 1004 Eastside Highway,
Corvallis, MT 59828; telephone (406) 961-4100; fax (406) 961-4101; or
at http://www.rotorcraftdevelopment.com.
For United States Army service information, contact Commander, U.
S. Army Aviation and Missile Command, ATTN: AMSAM-MMA-NP, Redstone
Arsenal, AL 35898-5000, telephone (256) 876-4044; or at https://www.logsa.army.mil/etmpdf/files/030000/035016.pdf.
You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Office
of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
in Docket No. FAA-2014-0337; or in person at the
Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document
Management Facility, 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: John Cecil, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane
Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone
(562) 627-5228; email john.cecil@faa.gov; or Roger Caldwell, Aerospace
Engineer, Denver Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 26805 East 68th
Ave., Room 214, Denver, CO 80249; telephone (303) 342-1086; email
roger.caldwell@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2012-14-11, Amendment 39-17125 (77 FR 42971, July
23, 2012) and add a new AD. AD 2012-14-11 applied to AFE, RDC, and SJH
Model OH-58A, OH-58A+, and OH-58C helicopters and required overhauling
the mast and performing magnetic particle, fluorescent penetrant, and
visual inspections for a crack, pitting, or corrosion in the threaded
area of the mast and associated parts. AD 2012-14-11 also required
replacing the mast and reporting the results of the inspections if any
crack, pitting, or corrosion was found. AD 2012-14-11 was prompted by
two mast failures caused by fatigue cracking and was intended to
prevent failure of the mast and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 2, 2014 (79 FR
31233) and proposed retaining the mast inspection and overhaul
requirements of AD 2012-14-11, while changing the compliance time for
the inspection from within 30 days to within 90 days, repeating the
inspection every 1,200 hours TIS or 3 years, expanding the inspection
area, and removing the reporting requirement.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (79 FR 31233,
June 2, 2014).

FAA's Determination

We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

AFE issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB): 2012-58-01, Revision 1,
dated February 20, 2012 (ASB 2012-58-01), which specifies overhauling
and inspecting the mast for any cracks, pitting, or corrosion by
following the procedures in the United States Army Aviation Unit and
Intermediate Maintenance Manual TM55-1520-228-23. ASB 2012-58-01
further specifies replacing any mast with a crack, pitting, or
corrosion beyond surface rust that is removed with a wire brush or
steel wool in the threaded portion of the mast.
RDC has issued ASB No. OH-58-13-01, dated January 30, 2013, which
describes additional procedures for inspecting the mast and establishes
an overhaul interval of 1,200 hours TIS or 3 years, whichever occurs
first.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

The service information does not apply to SJH helicopters. Those
helicopters are included in this AD because they have the same mast
design and are operated similarly to the AFE and RDC fleets.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 80 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that operators will incur the following costs in order to comply
with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, inspecting the
mast requires about 20 work hours, for a total cost of $1,700 per
helicopter, and a total cost to the U.S. operator fleet of $136,000.
Replacing a cracked main rotor mast requires about 20 work hours, and
required parts cost $11,891, for a total cost per helicopter of
$13,591.

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.
We are 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

We have determined that this AD will not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD will 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 that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866,
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that a regulatory distinction is required, and
(4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2012-14-11, Amendment 39-17125 (77 FR 42971, July 23, 2012), and adding
the following new AD: