[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63858-63860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24961]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0500; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-45-AD;
Amendment 39-17624; AD 2013-20-18]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell)
Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-05-09 for
Bell Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. AD 2009-05-09 required
reidentifying each affected part-numbered main rotor yoke (yoke) on its
data plate, reducing the retirement life of the reidentified yoke, and
revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance
manual or the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs)
accordingly. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2009-05-09 with
the exception of the P/N marking location. This AD was prompted by
fatigue analysis that shows the retirement life should be reduced on
certain yokes. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition
on these helicopters.
DATES: This AD is effective November 29, 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, 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, ASW-170, Aviation
Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification
Office, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817)
222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783, email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to supersede AD 2009-05-09, Amendment 39-15833 (74 FR 11001,
March 16, 2009). AD 2009-05-09 applied to Bell Model 412, 412CF, and
[[Page 63859]]
412EP helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June
11, 2013 (78 FR 34958). The NPRM proposed to retain the requirements of
AD 2009-05-09 to reidentify each affected part-numbered yoke based on
whether it was ever installed on a Model 412CF helicopter or on a Model
412 or 412EP helicopter with a slope landing kit, reduce the retirement
life of each reidentified yoke, revise the Airworthiness Limitations
section of the maintenance manual or ICAs accordingly, and record each
reidentified yoke P/N and the reduced retirement life on the component
history card or equivalent record. However, the NPRM proposed to change
the requirement to reidentify the yoke by etching the new P/N on the
side of the yoke instead of on the data plate.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (78 FR 34958, June 11,
2013) or on the determination of the cost to the public.
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 except for
minor editorial changes in paragraphs (f)(2) and (f)(3) to clarify the
intent of paragraph (f)(2) and to remove an unnecessary reference.
These minor editorial changes are consistent with the intent of the
proposals in the NPRM (78 FR 34958, June 11, 2013) and will not
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of
the AD.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 115 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in
order to comply with this AD. It will take about 3 work hours to review
and revise the records to reflect the new retirement life and
reidentify the P/N at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Based
on these estimates, the cost will be $255 per helicopter and $29,325
for the U.S. operator fleet. Replacing a yoke will take about 20 work
hours and $50,196 for the required parts for a cost of $51,896 per
helicopter.
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.
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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2009-05-09, Amendment 39-15833 (74 FR 11001, March 16, 2009), and
adding the following new AD:
2013-20-18 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Amendment 39-17624; Docket
No. FAA-2013-0500; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-45-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model 412 and 412EP helicopters with a main
rotor yoke assembly (yoke), part number (P/N) 412-010-101-123, -127,
-129, or -133, installed; and Model 412CF helicopters with a yoke,
P/N 412-010-101-127 or -129, installed; certificated in any
category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as fatigue cracking of a
yoke, failure of the yoke, and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
(c) Affected ADs
This AD supersedes AD 2009-05-09, Amendment 39-15833 (74 FR
11001, March 16, 2009).
(d) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective November 29, 2013.
(e) Compliance
You are responsible for performing each action required by this
AD within the specified compliance time, unless it has been
accomplished previously.
(f) Required Actions
Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS):
(1) Review the helicopter records to determine all of the
helicopter models on which an affected yoke has been installed since
its production and the hours TIS of each affected yoke.
(2) If an affected part-numbered yoke has ever been installed on
a Model 412CF helicopter or on a Model 412 or 412EP helicopter with
a slope landing kit, P/N 412-704-012-101, installed, do the
following:
(i) Reidentify the P/N on the side of the yoke by using a
vibrating stylus and etching two lines through the last three digits
of the existing P/N and etching ``137FM'' adjacent to where you
etched through the last three digits of the original P/N. This
converts each affected yoke P/N to a new yoke P/N 412-010-101-137FM.
The serial number remains the same.
Note 1 to paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD: The ``FM'' P/N suffix
denotes a field-modified part.
(ii) Treat the etched surface with chemical film, and apply
primer and paint.
(iii) Record the reidentified P/N on the applicable component
history card or equivalent record.
(3) If you cannot determine all the model helicopters on which
an affected yoke has been installed since its production or whether
it has ever been installed on a Model 412 or 412EP helicopter with a
slope landing kit, P/N 412-704-012-101, installed, perform the
actions required by paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (f)(2)(iii) of this
AD.
(4) For each reidentified yoke, P/N 412-010-101-137FM, reduce
the retirement life
[[Page 63860]]
from 5,000 hours TIS to 4,500 hours TIS. Record the revised life
limit on the applicable component history card or equivalent record.
(5) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the
applicable maintenance manual or the Instructions for Continued
Airworthiness by reducing the retirement life from 5,000 hours TIS
to 4,500 hours TIS for each reidentified yoke, P/N 412-010-101-
137FM.
(g) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits will not be issued.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Kohner,
ASW-170, Aviation Safety Engineer, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,
Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783; email [email protected].
(2) For operations conducted under 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.
(i) Additional Information
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Alert Service Bulletins No. 412-
08-128 and No. 412CF-08-35, both Revision A and both dated April 14,
2009, which are not incorporated by reference, contain 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
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas
76137.
(j) Subject
Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code: 6220 Main Rotor
Head.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 27, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24961 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P