This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

13059 

Vol. 76, No. 47 

Thursday, March 10, 2011 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2011–0079; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–108–AD; Amendment 

39–16587; AD 2010–26–51] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

(BHTC) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L– 

1, 206L–3, 206L–4, 222, 222B, 222U, 

230, 407, 427, and 430 Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: This document publishes in 

the Federal Register an amendment 

adopting Emergency Airworthiness 

Directive (AD) 2010–26–51, which was 

sent previously to all known U.S. 

owners and operators of the specified 

model helicopters by individual letters. 

This AD also supersedes existing AD 

2009–08–03. This AD is prompted by 

another incident in which the tail rotor 

blade (blade) tip weight separated from 

a blade during flight causing vibration. 

This unsafe condition led to the 

determination that additional blades 

could be affected and should be added 

to the applicability. The actions 

specified by this AD are intended to 

prevent loss of the blade tip weight, loss 

of a blade, and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: Effective March 25, 2011, to all 

persons except those persons to whom 

it was made immediately effective by 

Emergency AD 2010–26–51, issued on 

December 8, 2010, which contained the 

requirements of this amendment. 

The incorporation by reference of 

certain publications listed in the 

regulations is approved by the Director 

of the Federal Register as of March 25, 

2011. 

Comments for inclusion in the Rules 

Docket must be received on or before 

May 9, 2011. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

AD: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, 

M–30, West Building Ground Floor, 

Room W12–140, 1200 New Jersey 

Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

You may get the service information 

identified in this AD from 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/. 

Examining The Docket: You may 

examine the docket that contains the 

AD, any comments, and other 

information 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 Docket 

Operations office (telephone (800) 647– 

5527) is located in Room W12–140 on 

the ground floor of the West Building at 

the street address stated in the 

ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 

available in the AD docket shortly after 

receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and 

Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone 

(817) 222–5122, fax (817) 222–5961. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On March 

26, 2009, the FAA issued AD 2009–08– 

03, Amendment 39–15876 (74 FR 

16112, April 9, 2009). AD 2009–08–03 

requires, before further flight, removing 

and replacing each affected blade with 

an airworthy blade. That action was 

prompted by three reports of blade tip 

weights being slung from the blades 

during flights, causing significant 

vibration. 

Since issuing AD 2009–08–03, BHTC 

has revised the Alert Service Bulletins 

(ASBs) based on revisions to the Rotor 

Blades Inc. (RBI) documents that are 

attached to the ASBs. All of the ASBs 

contain a letter from RBI indicating that 

RBI has received a fourth blade in 

which one tip weight was lost in flight. 

This prompted RBI to add additional 

blade serial numbers that could be 

affected. RBI asked BHTC to re-issue the 

affected ASBs calling for immediate 

inspection of the affected blades. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in loss of the blade tip weight, loss of 

a blade, and subsequent loss of control 

of the helicopter. 

Related Service Information 

We have reviewed the following 

revised BHTC ASBs, all dated 

November 29, 2010. Each ASB contains 

an RBI letter that adds blade serial 

numbers to the RBI list. 

• No. 206–07–116, Revision B, for 

Model 206A/B series helicopters; 

• No. 206L–07–148, Revision B, for 

Model 206L series helicopters; 

• No. 222–07–106, Revision D, for 

Model 222 and 222B helicopters; 

• No. 222U–07–77, Revision D, for 

Model 222U helicopters; 

• No. 230–07–38, Revision D, for 

Model 230 helicopters; 

• No. 407–07–81, Revision B, for 

Model 407 helicopters; 

• No.427–07–18, Revision B, for 

Model 427 helicopters; 

• No. 430–07–41, Revision D, for 

Model 430 helicopters. 

Transport Canada, the airworthiness 

authority for Canada, notified the FAA 

that an unsafe condition may exist on 

these helicopter models. Transport 

Canada advises of three reports of blade 

weights departing from the blades 

during flight due to missing weight 

screws and that the failure can occur at 

any time leading to loss of control of the 

helicopter. Transport Canada advises 

since issuing its original AD, the blade 

manufacturer has determined that a 

batch of additional blades could be 

affected. Transport Canada classified the 

ASBs as mandatory and issued revised 

AD No. CF–2007–21R1, dated 

November 30, 2010, to extend the 

applicability of the AD to cover the 

affected blades to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these helicopters. 


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13060 Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 

FAA’s Evaluation and Unsafe Condition 

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, Transport Canada has 

notified us of the unsafe condition 

described in the Transport Canada AD. 

We are issuing this AD because we 

evaluated all information provided by 

Transport Canada and determined the 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs. 

Since the unsafe condition is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs, this AD 

requires, before further flight, unless 

already accomplished, replacing any 

affected blade with an airworthy blade. 

An airworthy blade is one that has a 

part number and a serial number that is 

not listed in the RBI document that is 

attached to each ASB listed in the 

Applicability section of this AD. 

Differences Between This AD and the 

Transport Canada AD 

This AD differs from the Transport 

Canada AD in that this AD only applies 

to those blades listed in the RBI 

document attached to the ASBs. The 

Transport Canada AD allows use of 

those ASBs or later revisions approved 

by the Chief, Continuing Airworthiness, 

Transport Canada. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

This unsafe condition is likely to exist 

or develop on other helicopters of the 

same type design. Therefore, this AD is 

being issued to prevent loss of the blade 

tip weight, loss of a blade, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

The short compliance time involved 

is required because the previously 

described critical unsafe condition can 

adversely affect the controllability of the 

helicopter. Therefore, replacing each 

affected blade with an airworthy blade 

is required before further flight, and this 

AD must be issued immediately. 

Since it was found that immediate 

corrective action was required, notice 

and opportunity for prior public 

comment thereon were impracticable 

and contrary to the public interest, and 

good cause existed to make the AD 

effective immediately by individual 

letters issued on December 8, 2010 to all 

known U.S. owners and operators of the 

specified helicopters. These conditions 

still exist, and the AD is hereby 

published in the Federal Register as an 

amendment to 14 CFR 39.13 to make it 

effective to all persons. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

3,741 helicopters of U.S. registry, and it 

will take approximately 2.0 work hours 

per helicopter to replace and track-andbalance any affected blade. At an 

average labor rate of $85 per work hour, 

this is a cost per helicopter of $170. The 

RBI letter contains a warranty statement 

which states that owners or operators of 

Bell helicopters ‘‘who comply with the 

instructions in this bulletin will be 

eligible to return defective blades 

identified by serial number in the 

compliance section of this bulletin to 

your nearest RBI facility for inspection 

and repair at no cost.’’ Based on these 

figures, we estimate the total cost 

impact of the AD on U.S. operators to 

be $635,970. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements that affect flight safety and 

was not preceded by notice and an 

opportunity for public comment; 

however, we invite you to submit any 

written data, views, or arguments 

regarding this AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under ADDRESSES. 

Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA–2010–XXXX; 

Directorate Identifier 2010–SW–108– 

AD’’ at the beginning of your comments. 

We specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the AD. We will consider all comments 

received by the closing date and may 

amend the AD in light of those 

comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. We 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this AD. Using the 

search function of our docket Web site, 

you can find and read the comments to 

any of our dockets, including the name 

of the individual who sent the 

comment. You may review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78). 

Regulatory Findings 

We have determined that 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 the 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); and 

3. 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. See the AD docket to examine 

the economic evaluation. 

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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

Accordingly, pursuant to the 

authority delegated to me by the 

Administrator, the Federal Aviation 

Administration amends part 39 of the 

Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 

part 39) as follows: 

PART 39—AIRWORTHINESS 

DIRECTIVES 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding 

a new airworthiness directive to read as 

follows: 

2010–26–51 Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada Limited: Amendment 39–16587. 

Docket No. FAA–2011–0079; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–108–AD. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 76, No. 47 / Thursday, March 10, 2011 / Rules and Regulations 13061 

Applicability: Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 

206L–1, 206L–3, 206L–4, 222, 222B, 222U, 

230, 407, 427, and 430 helicopters, with a tail 

rotor blade (blade) having a part number and 

serial number, installed, as listed in the Rotor 

Blades Inc. (RBI) document attached to the 

following Bell Helicopter Textron Alert 

Service Bulletins (ASBs), certificated in any 

category: 

ASB No. Revision Date Helicopter model 

206–07–116 ........................................................................... B .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 206A and 206B Series. 

206L–07–148 ......................................................................... B .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 206L, L–1, L–3, and L–4. 

222–07–106 ........................................................................... D .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 222 and 222B. 

222U–07–77 .......................................................................... D .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 222U. 

230–07–38 ............................................................................. D .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 230. 

407–07–81 ............................................................................. B .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 407. 

427–07–18 ............................................................................. B .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 427. 

430–07–41 ............................................................................. D .............. November 29, 2010 .............................. 430. 

Compliance: Before further flight, unless 

accomplished previously. 

To prevent loss of a blade tip weight, loss 

of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter, do the following: 

(a) Replace any affected blade with an 

airworthy blade. An airworthy blade is one 

that has a part number and a serial number 

that is not listed in the RBI document 

attached to each ASB listed in the 

Applicability section of this AD. 

(b) To request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 

39.19. Contact the Manager, Safety 

Management Group, FAA, ATTN: Sharon 

Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137, telephone (817) 222–5122, fax (817) 

222–5961, for information about previously 

approved alternative methods of compliance. 

(c) Special flight permits will not be 

issued. 

(d) The Joint Aircraft System/Component 

(JASC) Code is: 6410—Tail Rotor Blades. 

(e) Determine the affected part number and 

serial number by referring to the RBI 

document attached to the following Bell 

Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletins, 

all dated November 29, 2010: 

Alert Service Bulletin No. Revision 

206–07–116 .............................. B 

206L–07–148 ............................ B 

222–07–106 .............................. D 

222U–07–77 ............................. D 

230–07–38 ................................ D 

407–07–81 ................................ B 

427–07–18 ................................ B 

430–07–41 ................................ D 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved this incorporation by reference in 

accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR 

part 51. Copies may be obtained from 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/. Copies may be 

inspected at the FAA, Office of the Regional 

Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham 

Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas or 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/ 

code_of_federal_regulations/ 

ibr_locations.html. 

(f) This amendment becomes effective on 

March 25, 2011, to all persons except those 

persons to whom it was made immediately 

effective by Emergency AD 2010–26–51, 

issued December 8, 2010, which contained 

the requirements of this amendment. 

Note: The subject of this AD is addressed 

in Transport Canada (Canada) AD CF–2007– 

21R1, dated November 30, 2010. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 14, 

2011. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2011–4465 Filed 3–9–11; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2010–0866; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–065–AD; Amendment 

39–16586; AD 2011–03–03] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

Model 427 Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

products listed above. This AD results 

from mandatory continuing 

airworthiness information (MCAI) 

issued by an aviation authority of 

another country to identify and correct 

an unsafe condition on an aviation 

product. The MCAI describes the unsafe 

condition as: 

Tail rotor driveshaft hanger bearing bracket 

part number (P/N) 427–044–223–101 has 

been found cracked due to fatigue. It has 

been determined that the fatigue cracking 

was initiated by a tooling mark left during 

manufacture. 

The existence of tooling marks on the 

bracket could lead to bracket failure, loss of 

tail rotor drive and, consequently, loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

We are issuing this AD to require 

actions to correct the unsafe condition 

on these products. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 

14, 2011. 

On April 14, 2011, the Director of the 

Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of certain 

publications listed in this AD. 

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD 

docket on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov or in person at 

Document Management Facility, U.S. 

Department of Transportation, Docket 

Operations, M–30, West Building 

Ground Floor, Room W12–140, 1200 

New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, 

DC 20590. 

For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Bell Helicopter 

Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, 

TX 76101; telephone: (817) 280–2011; 

fax: (817) 280–2321; or at http:// 

www.bellhelicopter.com. You may 

review copies of 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: 

Sharon Miles, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone: (817) 222–5122; fax: 

(817) 222–5961. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

We issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 to include an AD that would 

apply to the specified products. That 

NPRM was published in the Federal 

Register on August 30, 2010 (75 FR 

52912). That NPRM proposed to correct 

an unsafe condition for the specified 

products. The MCAI states: 


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