[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65178-65180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25310]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD;
Amendment 39-17633; AD 2013-22-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (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 Bell
Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters. This AD requires replacing or
reworking certain aft bearing caps. This AD was
[[Page 65179]]
prompted by the manufacture of certain freewheel aft bearing caps
without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into the aft bearing
support assembly. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent
failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective December 5, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of December 5,
2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell
Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101,
telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466. 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 Transport Canada Civil
Aviation (TCCA) 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: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer,
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On June 20, 2013, at 78 FR 37158, the Federal Register published
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14
CFR part 39 to add an AD that would apply to Bell Model 206L-4 and 407
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require, within 50 hours time-in-
service (TIS), removing and disassembling the freewheel assembly,
replacing the sprag, retainer, and the aft seal, and visually
inspecting the remaining freewheel part details for a missing channel.
Also, the NPRM proposed to require, if the channel is missing, before
further flight, replacing the cap assembly with an airworthy cap or
reworking and reidentifying the existing cap by using a vibrating
stylus to add the letter ``R'' to the serial number of the reworked
cap. The proposed actions were prompted by the manufacture of certain
freewheel aft bearing caps without a lubrication channel to allow oil
flow into the aft bearing support assembly. The proposed requirements
were intended to prevent failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11,
2005 (AD No. CF-2004-17R1), issued by TCAA, which is the aviation
authority for Canada. AD No. CF-2004-17R1 requires replacing or
reworking freewheel assemblies on the Bell Model 206L-4 and 407
helicopters. TCAA advises of a manufacturing oversight where a
lubrication channel was not machined into the aft bearing cap of some
freewheel units to allow oil flow into the aft bearing support
assembly. TCAA states that lack of lubrication may adversely affect the
durability and potentially the function of the freewheel unit.
Comments
We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 37158,
June 20, 2013).
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, TCAA, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
its AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information
provided by TCAA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type
designs and that air safety and the public interest require adopting
the AD requirements as proposed.
Differences Between This AD and the TCAA AD
This AD differs from the TCAA AD as follows:
We do not use a calendar time, which has already passed.
We require all affected helicopters to comply within 50
hours TIS; the TCAA AD has different compliance times as stipulated by
the calculated average engine start cycle count identified in the
applicable alert service bulletin (ASB), and a 300-hour TIS terminating
action for modifying all affected helicopters.
We do not require referencing compliance with the ASBs as
does the TCAA AD, and we do not require you to provide an affected cap
for rework to Bell Tennessee nor require the original cap to be
reworked by Bell Tennessee.
We do not require any action on ``spare'' parts not
installed on a helicopter but would require, before installing any
replacement bearing support assembly, ensuring that the rework has been
done.
Related Service Information
Bell has issued ASB No. 206L-04-129 for the Model 206L-4 and ASB
No. 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, and both dated
December 1, 2004, which specify identifying the affected freewheel aft
bearing caps. The ASBs provide separate procedures, depending on
whether helicopters are ``not exclusively used for training'' or
``exclusively used for training,'' for replacing or reworking the
freewheel cap assembly and replacing the output shaft, part number (P/
N) 406-040-517-101, and sprag and retainer, P/N 406-040-580-103. TCCA
classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2004-17R to
ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate there are 212 Model 206L-4 helicopters and 540 Model
407 helicopters of U.S. registry; however, we estimate that only 80
helicopters are affected by this AD. We estimate that operators may
incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD: It will take
about 16 work hours to replace the freewheel unit for all the affected
parts at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Required parts
will cost about $21,600 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we
estimate the total cost per helicopter will be $22,900, and the total
cost of the AD on U.S. operators will be $1,836,800.
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
[[Page 65180]]
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:
(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):
2013-22-01 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Amendment 39-17633;
Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters, with a
freewheel aft bearing cap (cap), part number (P/N) 406-040-509-101,
with a serial number with a prefix of ``A-'' and Nos. 1833 through
1912, installed, certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as certain caps being
manufactured without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into
the aft bearing support assembly, which could result in failure of
the freewheel unit 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 50 hours time-in-service (TIS):
(1) Remove and disassemble each freewheel assembly.
(2) Replace the sprag and retainer (item 7), the output shaft
(item 10), and the aft seal (item 3), as depicted in Figure 2 of
Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-04-129 for the Model
206L-4 and ASB No. 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, and
both dated December 1, 2004.
(3) Visually inspect the remaining freewheel part details for a
missing channel.
(4) If the channel is missing, replace or rework the cap
assembly by following the instructions depicted in Figure 3 of ASB
206L-04-129 or ASB 407 04-66, as applicable for your model
helicopter. Using a vibrating stylus, mark the letter ``R'' at the
end of the serial number on the cap assembly.
(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group,
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
The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada Civil
Aviation (TCCA) AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11, 2005. You
may view the TCCA AD at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No.
FAA-2013-0526.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300: Main Rotor
Drive System.
(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) Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-04-129, Revision
A, dated December 1, 2004.
(ii) Bell ASB No. 407-04-66, Revision A, dated December 1, 2004.
(3) For Bell service information identified in this AD, contact
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas
76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466.
(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 October 1, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25310 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
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