[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65206-65208]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24035]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0491; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-012-AD;
Amendment 39-17609; AD 2013-20-03]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
(Bell) Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule.
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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain
Bell Model 430 helicopters. This AD requires installing a placard on
the instrument panel and revising the limitations section of the
rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by several
incidents of third stage engine turbine wheel failures, which were
caused by excessive vibrations at certain engine speeds during steady-
state operations. These actions are intended to alert pilots to avoid
certain engine speeds during steady-state operations, prevent failure
of the third stage engine turbine, engine power loss, and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective December 5, 2013.
[[Page 65207]]
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of December 5,
2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel,
Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450)
433-0272; 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.
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 foreign authority's 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: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On June 7, 2013, at 78 FR 34290, the Federal Register published our
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Model 430 helicopters,
serial number 49001 through 49111. The NPRM proposed to require
installing a placard on the instrument panel and revising the Operating
Limitations section of the Model 430 RFM to limit steady-state
operation between speeds of 71% and 91%. The proposed requirements were
intended to alert pilots to avoid certain engine speeds during steady-
state operations, prevent failure of the third stage engine turbine,
engine power loss, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2005-25, dated July 5, 2005,
issued by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada. TCCA issued AD No. CF-2005-25 to correct an
unsafe condition for Model 430 helicopters. TCCA advises that several
failures of third stage turbine wheels used in Rolls Royce 250-C30S and
250-C47B engines and that a similar turbine wheel is installed on the
250-C40B engine used by Bell on Model 430 helicopters. According to
TCCA, Rolls Royce has determined that detrimental vibrations can occur
within a particular range of turbine speeds, and may be a contributing
factor to these failures. Bell has revised the operating limitations of
the RFM and provided a corresponding decal on the instrument panel to
inform pilots to avoid steady-state operations between 71% and 91%
turbine speeds.
The TCCA AD requires amending the RFM, advising pilots of the
change, and installing a decal as described in Bell Alert Service
Bulletin (ASB) No. 430-05-34, dated June 10, 2005 (ASB 430-05-34).
Comments
After our NPRM (78 FR 34290, June 7, 2013) was published, we
received comments from one commenter.
Request
Rolls-Royce Corporation requested that in addition to requiring the
placard on the instrument panel, we allow operators the option to
temporarily mark the Nr/Np gauge with colored
tape, to provide a more visual aide to the pilot for the speed
avoidance zone.
We disagree. Marking the glass surface of the gauge can create
parallax issues when viewing the avoidance ranges on the gauge,
resulting in erroneous readings.
FAA's Determination
These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Canada and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with Canada, TCCA, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
the TCCA AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all
information provided by TCCA, reviewed the relevant information,
considered the comment received, and determined the unsafe condition
exists and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the
same type design and that air safety and the public interest require
adopting the AD requirements as proposed.
Differences Between This AD and the TCCA AD
The TCCA AD requires compliance within 10 calendar days, while this
AD requires compliance within 30 days.
Related Service Information
Bell has issued ASB 430-05-34, which contains procedures for
installing a placard on the instrument panel and for inserting the RFM
changes into the flight manual.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 37 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. Based on an average labor rate of $85 per hour, we estimate
that operators will incur the following costs in order to comply with
this AD. Amending the RFM requires about 0.5 work-hour, for a cost per
helicopter of about $43 and a cost to U.S. operators of $1,591.
Installing the decal requires about 0.2 work-hour and required parts
cost $20, for a cost per helicopter of $37 and a cost to U.S. operators
of $1,369. Based on these estimates, the total cost of this AD will be
$80 per helicopter and $2,960 for the U.S. operator fleet.
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 helicopters 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:
[[Page 65208]]
(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):
2013-20-03 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell): Amendment
39-17609; Docket No. FAA-2013-0491; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-
012-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Bell Model 430 helicopters, serial number
49001 through 49111, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as a third stage turbine
vibration, which could result in turbine failure, engine power loss,
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective December 5, 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
Within 30 days:
(1) Revise the Operating Limitations section of the Model 430
Rotorcraft Flight Manual by inserting Section 1, Limitations, page
1-7, of Bell BHT-430-FM-1, revision 18, dated September 1, 2009.
(2) Install placard part number 230-075-213-113, or equivalent,
on the instrument panel directly below the pilot audio select panel.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110;
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) Additional Information
(1) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 430-05-34, dated June 10,
2005, 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 Canada
Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4; telephone
(450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450) 433-0272; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review a copy of the service
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada
Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD No. CF-2005-25, dated July 5, 2005. You may
view the TCCA AD on the internet in the AD Docket at http://www.regulations.gov.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 7250: Turbine
Section.
(i) Material Incorporated by Reference
(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
(i) Page 1-7 of Section 1, Limitations, of Bell Rotorcraft
Flight Manual BHT-430-FM-1, revision 18, dated September 1, 2009.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For Bell service information identified in this AD, contact
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir,
Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023;
fax (450) 433-0272; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated
by reference 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 18, 2013.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24035 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P