2013-19-24: Tail Rotor Blades

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 0 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] 0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2003-08-51, Amendment 39-13215 (68 FR 39449, August 11, 2003; correction 68 FR 47447, August 11, 2003), and adding the following new (AD): 2013-19-24 MD Helicopters, Inc.: Amendment 39-17606; Docket No. FAA- 2013-0401; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-047-AD. (a) Applicability This AD applies to MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI), Model 369A, 369D, 369E, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, 369HS, 369F and 369FF helicopters with a tail rotor blade (blade) part number (P/N) 369D21640-501, 369D21640-503, 369D21641-501, 369D21641-503, 369D21642-501, 369D21642-503, 369D21643-501, or 369D21643-503 installed, or with a Helicopter Technology Company blade P/N 500P3100-101, 500P3100-301, 500P3300-501, or 500P3500-701 installed, certificated in any category. (b) Unsafe Condition This AD defines the unsafe condition as the tail rotor blade pitch horn (pitch horn) separating from the tail rotor blade, leading to an unbalanced condition, vibration, loss of tail rotor pitch control and loss of directional control of the helicopter. (c) Affected ADs This AD supersedes AD No. 2003-08-51, Amendment 39-13215 (68 FR 39449, July 2, 2003; correction 68 FR 47447, August 11, 2003). (d) Effective Date This AD becomes effective December 5, 2013. (e) Compliance You are responsible for performing each action required by this AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished prior to that time. (f) Required Actions (1) Before further flight, for each applicable blade, revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance manual to reflect that the blade has a retirement life of 400 hours time-in- service (TIS). (2) For helicopters with an applicable blade installed that has 390 through 700 hours TIS, within 10 hours TIS, replace the blade with an airworthy blade. (3) For all other applicable helicopters, within 60 days, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed one year, remove the paint from the blade pitch control arm in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Section 2.A.(1) through 2.A.(3), of MDHI Service Bulletins SB369D-210, SB369E-105, SB369F-091, and SB369H-252, all dated November 21, 2011, as applicable to your model helicopter. (i) Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass, inspect all four sides and the pocket of the blade pitch control arm for a crack, pitting, or corrosion and for the condition of the dimpled shot peen surface by referring to Figure 1 of MDHI Service Bulletins SB369D-210, SB369E-105, SB369F-091, and SB369H-252, as applicable toyour model helicopter, and by reviewing the rotorcraft maintenance records to determine whether rework was done in this area. (ii) If there is pitting, corrosion, a crack, blending or removal of any of the dimpled shot peen surface, or any indication that the shot peen has not been done, replace the blade with an airworthy blade. (iii) If there is no pitting, corrosion, cracks, or blending or removal of any of the dimpled shot peen surface, refinish the stripped pitch control arm in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, Section 2.A.(6) through 2.A.(7), of MDHI Service Bulletins SB369D-210, SB369E-105, SB369F-091, and SB369H-252, as applicable to your model helicopter. (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) (1) The Manager, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Fred Guerin, Aviation Safety Engineer, Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, California 90712; telephone (562) 627-5232; email [email protected]. (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office or certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC. (3) AMOCs approved previously in accordance with AD No. 2003-08- 51 (68 FR 39449, July 2, 2003; correction 68 FR 47447, August 11, 2003) are approved as AMOCs for the corresponding requirements in this AD. (h) Additional Information MD Helicopters, Inc., maintenance manuals CSP-HMI2, TR12-001, CHP-H-4, and TR12-001, which are not incorporated by reference, contain additional information about the subject of this AD. For service information identified in this AD, contact MD Helicopters, Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 85215-9734; telephone 1-800-388-3378; fax 480- 346-6813; email [email protected]; Web site http://www.mdhelicopters.com or contact Helicopter Technology Company, 12923 South Spring Street, Los Angeles, CA 90061; telephone 310-523-2750; email [email protected]; Web site www.helicoptertech.com. You may review a copy of this information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. (i) Subject Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6410, Tail Rotor Blades. (j) Material Incorporated by Reference (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) MDHelicopters Service Bulletin SB369D-210, dated November 21, 2011. (ii) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369E-105, dated November 21, 2011. (iii) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369F-091, dated November 21, 2011. [[Page 65183]] (iv) MD Helicopters Service Bulletin SB369H-252, dated November 21, 2011. Note 1 to paragraph (j)(2): MD Helicopters Service Bulletins SB369D-210, SB369E-105, SB369F-091, and SB369H-252, all dated November 21, 2011, are co-published as one document. (3) For MD Helicopters service information identified in this AD, contact MD Helicopters, Inc., Attn: Customer Support Division, 4555 E. McDowell Rd., Mail Stop M615, Mesa, AZ 85215-9734; telephone 1-800-388-3378; fax 480-346-6813; email [email protected]; Web site http://www.mdhelicopters.com. (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on theavailability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. (5) You may also view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.