AD 2005-21-04

Effective November 21, 2005.

You may get the service information identified in this AD from Texas Helicopter Co., Inc., P.O. Box 177686, Irving, Texas 75017, phone (972) 399-1045, fax (972) 790-6397.

Marc Belhumeur, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5177, fax (817) 222-5783.

A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD for the specified model helicopters was published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2005 (70 FR 38817). That action proposed to require, within 60 days, determining and recording the total hours TIS for each PMA-produced scissors assembly and weld assembly scissors bracket and establishing a life limit for each affected part.

We have reviewed Texas Helicopter Co., Inc. (THC) Service Bulletin No. SB 003, dated December 1, 2002. THC holds STC No. SH2772SW and produces parts under PMA No. PQ808SW. That service bulletin was issued to clarify maintenance inspections and retirement schedules. The service bulletin specifies maintaining Bell Model 47 series and all other helicopters utilizing a 74-150-259-1M or 74-150-259-3M control installation per STC SH2772SW or 74-150-117-13M scissors bracket weld assembly as PMA replacement, in accordance with THC Instructions For Continued Airworthiness (ICA), Doc. No. THC 2002-22 Rev. 0, dated December 1, 2002. Those ICAs refer to STC SH2772SW and contain the mandatory retirement times for the scissor assembly and weld assembly scissors bracket in the Airworthiness Limitations section.

Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. The FAA has determined that air safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed.

Based on the manufacturer's production estimate, this AD will affect 350 helicopters of U.S. registry. Determining and recording the initial hours TIS of each scissors assembly will take 1 hour, replacing a scissors assembly will take 2 hours, and replacing a weld assembly scissors bracket will take 8 hours. The average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $1,300 for the 2 scissors assemblies required per helicopter and $2,500 for each weld assembly scissors bracket required per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is $1,580,250, assuming all operators determine and record the hours TIS once, and replace the scissors assembly and weld assembly scissors bracket once.

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 the regulation:

1. Is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866;

2. Is not a “significant rule” under the 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 an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD. See the DMS to examine the economic evaluation.

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.

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

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

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to read as follows: