[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17593-17594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05875]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2012-1016; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-009-AD;
Amendment 39-17386; AD 2013-05-14]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell
Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell), Model 412 and 412EP helicopters. This
AD requires establishing a lower life limit on certain swashplate outer
ring assemblies (outer ring), revising the retirement life on the
components' history card or equivalent record, and revising the
maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA).
This AD also prohibits installing these outer rings on any helicopter.
This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the outer rings. The
actions are intended to prevent failure of an outer ring because of
cracking, which could lead to the loss of main rotor (M/R) blade pitch
control and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
DATES: This AD is effective April 26, 2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell
Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone
(817) 280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review a copy of the 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 or in person at the Docket Operations Office
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
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-
140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5447;
email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On September 24, 2012, at 77 FR 58794, the Federal Register
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to
amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Bell Model
412 and 412EP helicopters, with an outer ring, part number (P/N) 412-
010-407-105. That NPRM proposed to require establishing a lower life
limit on certain outer rings, revising the retirement life on the
components' history card or equivalent record, and revising the
maintenance manual or ICA. The proposal also proposed prohibiting the
installation of these outer rings on any helicopter. The outer rings
had a life limit of 10,000 hours TIS, but Bell has recommended reducing
that limit to 2,500 hours TIS because of reports of cracking in the
outer rings. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure
of an outer ring, which could lead to the loss of M/R blade pitch
control and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 58794,
September 24, 2012).
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 these same type designs and that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed with minor
editorial changes. These changes are consistent with the intent of the
proposals in the NPRM (77 FR 58794, September 24, 2012) and will not
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of
the AD.
Related Service Information
We have reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 412-08-
131, Revision B, dated October 29, 2009 (ASB), which describes
procedures for establishing a new retirement life for the
[[Page 17594]]
outer ring and replacing the outer ring at 2,500 hours TIS.
Differences Between This AD and the Service Information
The ASB sets a calendar date for compliance. This AD does not.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD affects 143 helicopters. We estimate that
it takes about 1 work-hour to revise the component history card or
equivalent record, as well as the maintenance manual or ICA, at an
average labor rate of $85 per work hour, for a total cost of $85 per
helicopter and $12,155 for the U.S. operator fleet. Replacing an outer
ring takes 26 work-hours and required parts costs an estimated $25,725.
Based on these figures, we calculate the total cost to be $27,935 per
helicopter to replace an outer ring.
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 to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction; 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
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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
2013-05-14 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell): Amendment 39-17386;
Docket No. FAA-2012-1016; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-009-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Bell Model 412 and 412EP helicopters, with a
swashplate outer ring assembly (outer ring), part number (P/N) 412-
010-407-105, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as cracking in the outer
ring, which could result in the loss of main rotor (M/R) blade pitch
control and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective April 26, 2013.
(d) 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.
(e) Required Actions
(1) Within 30 days, establish a retirement life of 2,500 hours
time-in-service (TIS) for any affected outer ring on the component
history card or equivalent record. Revise the helicopter
Airworthiness Limitations section of the applicable maintenance
manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) by
establishing the new retirement life by making pen-and-ink changes
or inserting a copy of this AD into the maintenance manual or the
ICAs.
(2) For any affected outer ring that, on the effective date of
this AD, has 2,200 or more hours TIS, within 300 hours TIS, replace
the outer ring with an airworthy outer ring.
(3) Within 12 months, for any affected outer ring, regardless of
the number of hours TIS, replace the outer ring with an airworthy
outer ring.
(4) Do not install outer ring, P/N 412-010-407-105, on any
helicopter.
(f) Special Flight Permits
No special flight permits will be issued for any helicopter
installed with outer ring, P/N 412-010-407-105, if the outer ring
has 2,500 hours or more TIS.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate,
FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-
5447; 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.
(h) Additional Information
Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 412-08-131, Revision
B, dated October 29, 2009, which is not incorporated by reference,
contains additional information about the subject of this AD. For
service information identified in this AD, contact Bell Helicopter
Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone (817)
280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review a copy of this service 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: 6230, Main Rotor
Mast/Swashplate.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05875 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P