[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51126-51127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20248]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell)
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Bell Model 204B helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting
the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an incorrectly machined body.
This proposed AD is prompted by a report from Bell that a defective
body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from fully engaging in
the body cavity. The proposed actions are intended to prevent
disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the T/R pitch
control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 21,
2013.
ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
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 proposed AD, the economic
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket
shortly after receipt.
For service information identified in this proposed 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 the referenced service
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helene Gandy, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA,
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5413;
email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.
Discussion
We received a report from Bell that a number of cable assemblies,
part number (P/N) 205-001-720-001, were manufactured with a defective
body, P/N 205-001-742-001. Bell states the bodies were incorrectly
machined with a ``false cut,'' preventing the barrel assembly, P/N
0301245, from fully engaging with the body cavity. This condition,
combined with a failure of the lockwire securing the barrel and the
cable, could result in disengagement of the cable, T/R pitch control
failure in a fixed position, and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant
information and determined that an unsafe condition exists and is
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type
design.
Related Service Information
We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 204B-12-68, dated
October 10, 2012, which describes procedures for inspecting the barrel
assembly to determine if an incorrectly machined body is installed. If
an incorrectly machined body is installed, the ASB specifies replacing
the cable assembly. The ASB further specifies inspecting the barrel
assembly and cable connection daily until the cable assembly is
replaced.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require inspecting each cable assembly,
within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), to determine if an incorrectly
machined body is installed. If an incorrectly machined body is
installed, the proposed AD would require replacing the cable assembly
within 100 hours TIS. Until the cable assembly is replaced, this
proposed AD would require inspecting the assembly for separation daily.
[[Page 51127]]
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
The ASB specifies replacing any defective cable assembly within 100
hours TIS or by January 31, 2013; the proposed AD specifies replacing
the cable assembly within 100 hours TIS.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 9 helicopters of
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs
in order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per
hour, inspecting the barrel assembly would require about 1 work-hour,
for a cost per helicopter of $85 and a total cost of $765 for the
fleet. If required, replacing a defective cable assembly would require
about 8 work-hours, and required parts would cost about $625, for a
cost per helicopter of $1,305.
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
We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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, I certify this proposed 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);
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 proposed 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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):
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-
2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Bell Model 204B helicopters with a cable
assembly, part number (P/N) 205-001-720-001 installed, certificated
in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrectly machined
body on the cable assembly, which could prevent the barrel assembly
from fully engaging in the body cavity. This condition could result
in disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the tail
rotor pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
(c) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by October 21, 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 25 hours time in service (TIS), inspect each cable
assembly to determine if there is a false cut on the body of the
barrel assembly, as depicted in Figure 1 of Bell Alert Service
Bulletin No. 204B-12-68, dated October 10, 2012.
(2) If there is a false cut, before the first flight of each
day, inspect the cable assembly for separation of the barrel
assembly from the body. If there is any separation, before further
flight, replace the cable assembly.
(3) Within 100 hours TIS, replace the cable assembly with an
airworthy cable assembly that does not have a false cut in the body.
Replacing the cable assembly is terminating action for the
inspections required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)
(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Helene Gandy,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office,
Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas
76137; telephone (817) 222-5413; 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.
(g) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6720: Tail Rotor
Control System.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 12, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20248 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P