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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37152-37154]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14704]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0525; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-063-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
(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 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters. This proposed AD would 
require measuring each main rotor (M/R) blade spar space to determine 
whether it is oversized and reidentifying the blade and reducing the 
life limit of the blade if the spar spacer is oversized. This proposed 
AD is prompted by the manufacture of certain main rotor blades with an 
oversized spar spacer and the determination to reduce the life limits 
of those main rotor blades. The proposed actions are intended to 
prevent failure of a M/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by August 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the

[[Page 37153]]

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 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email 
sharon.y.miles@faa.gov.

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

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCAA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued AD No. CF-2011-43, dated November 10, 
2011, to correct an unsafe condition for Bell Model 206L, L-1, L-3, and 
L-4 helicopters. TCAA advises that, during manufacturing, some M/R 
blades were inadvertently fitted with oversized spar spacers, which 
reduces the life of the blades from 3600 to 2300 hours ``air time.'' As 
a result, TCCA has mandated procedures to reidentify blades that have 
oversized spar spacers with new part numbers and reduce the life 
limitation for such blades.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by TCAA 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 proposing this AD because 
we evaluated all known relevant information and determined that an 
unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of 
the same type design.

Related Service Information

    Bell issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L-09-163, dated November 
13, 2009, which specifies inspecting certain M/R blades for oversized 
spar spacers and reidentifying and reducing the life limit of any blade 
with an oversized spar spacer from 3600 to 2300 flight hours.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, within a specified time, measuring 
the M/R blade spar spacer. If a blade is fitted with an oversized 
spacer, this AD would require reidentifying the blade, reducing the 
life limit for the blade from 3,600 hours time-in-service (TIS) to 
2,300 hours TIS, and making an entry on the component history card or 
equivalent record.

Differences between This Proposed AD and the EASA AD

    TCAA requires compliance time within 100 hours air time or 30 days; 
this proposed AD would require compliance within 100 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 688 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. It would take about 2.5 work hours to measure 
the spar spacer and reidentify the blade at $85 per work hour for a 
total of $213 per helicopter.
    According to Bell's service information some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by 
Bell. Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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);

[[Page 37154]]

    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 Canada Limited: Docket No. FAA-2013-0525; 
Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-063-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters 
with a main rotor (M/R) blade, part number (P/N) 206-015-001-115, -
117, -119, or -121, with a serial number (S/N) listed in Table 1 or 
2 of Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L-09-163, dated 
November 13, 2009 (ASB), certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as the manufacture of a M/R 
blade with an oversized spar spacer. This condition could result in 
failure of a M/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) 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.

(d) Actions Required

    Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) For each M/R blade with a S/N listed in Table 1 of the ASB, 
measure the M/R blade spar spacer by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part II A), paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 
spar spacer measures more than 1.018 inches (25.86 millimeters), 
reidentify the blade by following Part II A, paragraph 5.a. and 
Table 3, of the ASB.
    (2) For each M/R blade with a S/N listed in Table 2 of the ASB, 
measure the M/R blade spar spacer by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part II B, paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 
spar spacer measures more than 1.018 inches (25.86 millimeters), 
reidentify the blade by following Part II B, paragraph 5 and Table 
4, of the ASB.
    (3) For each reidentified blade, reduce the life limit from 
3,600 hours TIS to 2,300 hours TIS, and make an entry on the 
component history card or equivalent record.
    (4) Before further flight, remove any blade that exceeds the new 
retirement life of 2,300 hours TIS.

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Sharon Miles, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-
5110, email sharon.y.miles@faa.gov.
    (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.

(f) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation AD CF-2011-41, dated November 10, 2011.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6210 Main Rotor 
Blades.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 13, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14704 Filed 6-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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