AD 2004-24-04

This AD becomes effective January 3, 2005. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of January 3, 2005.

You can get the service information identified in this AD from Rolls-Royce Corporation, P.O. Box 420, Indianapolis, IN 46206-0420; telephone (317) 230-6400; fax (317) 230-4243.

You may examine the AD docket at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. You may examine the service information, at the FAA, New England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

Khailaa Hosny, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018-4696; telephone (847) 294-7134; fax (847) 294-7834.

The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to RRC models 250-C30R/3, -C30R/3M, -C47B, and -C47M turboshaft engines. We published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on June 9, 2004 (69 FR 32287). That action proposed to require initial and repetitive electrical signal inspections of the HMU PLA potentiometer and replacement of the existing HMU with a new design HMU as a mandatory terminating action to the repetitive inspection requirements.

You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the location.

We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the development of this AD. We received no comments on the proposal or on the determination of the cost to the public.

We have carefully reviewed the available data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

We estimate that 700 engines installed on helicopters of U.S. registry will be affected by this AD. We estimate that it will take about 4 work hours per engine to replace a single-element HMU with a dual-element HMU. We also estimate that 12 percent of the single-element HMUs will fail the required inspection and require replacing the HMU. The average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts cost about $615 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be $686,000.

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); and

(3) 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 a summary of the costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include “AD Docket No. 2003-NE-23-AD” in your request.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Amendment 39-13210 (68 FR 38590, June 30, 2003) and by adding a new airworthiness directive, Amendment 39-13880, to read as follows: