DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1236; Product Identifier 2017-SW-136-AD; Amendment
39-19613; AD 2019-07-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Robinson Helicopter Company Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson Helicopter) Model R66
helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the oil tank outlet's fitting
color. If the fitting is blue, this AD requires replacing the tank with
an oil tank that lacks a blue fitting. This AD also requires
determining the revision letter on the ink stamp, and installing an oil
tank angle based on that determination. This AD was prompted by reports
of broken oil tank internal baffles. The actions of this AD are
intended to correct an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 17, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 17, 2019.

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 http://www.robinsonheli.com/servelib.htm. You may review 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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1236.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.
gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
1236; 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 incorporated-by-reference service information, the
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The
street address for the Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) 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: Danny Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, FAA, 3960
Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5247; email danny.nguyen@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On September 21, 2018, at 83 FR 47848, the Federal Register
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Robinson
Helicopter Model R66 helicopters, serial numbers 0003 through 0789,
0791, 0794 and 0796. The NPRM proposed to require, within 100 hours
time-in-service (TIS), inspecting the oil tank outlet fitting color and
replacing the tank before further flight if the fitting is blue. The
NPRM also proposed to require determining the revision letter of the
G689-1 oil tank assembly identification ink stamp and then installing
G805-1 angle if the identification ink stamp is followed by revision
letter F, G, H, or I, or by revision letter J with no yellow dot near
the ink stamp. For revision letter J, a yellow dot indicates that the
angle has been pre-installed and that no further action would be
necessary. If the identification ink stamp is followed by a revision
letter K, the NPRM proposed no further action would be necessary.
The NPRM was prompted by report of broken oil tank internal baffles
caused by vibration. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent
a broken baffle inside an oil tank, which could result in loss of oil
pressure and oil flow to the engine, leading to engine failure and
subsequent forced landing of the helicopter.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

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
products of the same type design and that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Robinson Helicopter R66 Service Bulletin SB-21A,
Revision A, dated June 6, 2017, which specifies installing an angle in
the tank outlet to prevent a failed baffle from blocking the outlet.
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 the ADDRESSES section.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

The service information specifies performing the corrective actions
within the next 100 hours TIS or by July 31, 2017, whichever comes
first. This AD requires the actions within 100 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 265 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to
comply with this AD. Labor costs average $85 a work-hour.
The cost for identifying the oil tank assembly identification ink
stamp and outlet fitting color is minimal. Inserting a G805-1 angle
requires about 1 work-hour and parts cost about $17 for an estimated
cost of $102 per helicopter.

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

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, 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.
We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):