69810 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2004–SW–12–AD; Amendment 

39–13884; AD 2004–24–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Model 

206A, B, L, L–1, L–3, and L–4 

Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 

specified Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada (BHTC) model helicopters. This 

action requires an initial inspection and, 

at specified intervals, certain repetitive 

checks and inspections of the tail rotor 

blade (blade) for a deformation, a crack, 

and a bent or deformed tail rotor weight 

(weight). Also, this action requires, 

before further flight, replacing each 

blade with an airworthy blade if a 

deformation, a crack, or a bent or 

deformed weight is found. This 

amendment is prompted by three 

reports of skin cracks originating near 

the blade trailing edge balance weight. 

This condition, if not detected, could 

result in blade failure and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective December 16, 2004. 

Comments for inclusion in the Rules 

Docket must be received on or before 

January 31, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in 

triplicate to the Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2004–SW–

12–AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 

663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may 

also send comments electronically to 

the Rules Docket at the following 

address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations 

and Guidance Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193–0111, telephone (817) 222–5122, 

fax (817) 222–5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

amendment adopts a new AD for the 

specified BHTC model helicopters. This 

action requires an initial inspection and 

certain repetitive checks and 

inspections of the blade, at specified 

intervals, for a deformation, a crack, and 

a bent or deformed weight. Also, this 

action requires, before further flight, 

replacing each blade with an airworthy 

blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent 

or deformed weight is found. This 

amendment is prompted by three 

reports of skin cracks originating near 

the blade trailing edge balance weight. 

In two reports, a loss of the weight and 

a strip of material along the trailing edge 

led to an imbalance and fracture of three 

of the four tail rotor gearbox attachment 

bolts. In one of these incidents the 

gearbox shifted resulting in failure of 

the drive shaft and loss of yaw control. 

This condition, if not detected, could 

result in blade failure and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter. 

BHTC has issued Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 206–04–100 for Model 

206A and B and No. 206L–04–127 for 

Model 206L series helicopters, both 

Revision B, both dated May 28, 2004. 

These service bulletins specify checking 

and inspecting the blades for a 

deformation, a crack, and a bent or 

deformed weight and a one-time 

inspection by Rotor Blades Inc. in 

Louisiana, USA, and if the blades pass 

the one-time inspection, adding a ‘‘V’’ at 

the end of the serial number. The 

service bulletins also specify replacing 

any blade with a deformation, a crack, 

or bent or deformed weight. 

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 skin 

cracks originating near the blade trailing 

edge balance weight. Two of the 

occurrences caused a loss of the weight 

and a strip of material along the trailing 

edge leading to an imbalance, which 

caused the fracture of three of the four 

tail rotor gearbox attachments. One of 

these occurrences resulted in the 

gearbox shifting that caused failure of 

the drive shaft and resulting loss of yaw 

control. Transport Canada classified the 

alert service bulletins as mandatory and 

issued AD No. CF–2004–05R1, dated 

June 28, 2004, to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these helicopters in 

Canada. 

These helicopter models are 

manufactured in Canada and are type 

certificated for operation in the United 

States under the provisions of 14 CFR 

21.29 and the applicable bilateral 

agreement. Pursuant to the applicable 

bilateral agreement, Transport Canada 

has kept the FAA informed of the 

situation described above. The FAA has 

examined the findings of Transport 

Canada, reviewed all available 

information, and determined that AD 

action is necessary for products of these 

type designs that are certificated for 

operation in the United States. 

This unsafe condition is likely to exist 

or develop on other helicopters of the 

same type designs registered in the 

United States. Therefore, the FAA is 

issuing this AD to detect a blade with 

a deformation, a crack, or a bent or 

deformed weight and to prevent blade 

failure and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter. This AD requires the 

following for the specified BHTC 

helicopters with certain blade part 

numbers and serial numbers: 

• Before further flight, unless 

accomplished previously, and before 

installing any blade with an affected 

part number and serial number, 

cleaning the blade. Then, using a 10X or 

higher magnifying glass, inspecting both 

sides of each blade for a deformation, a 

crack, and a bent or deformed weight. 

• Thereafter, cleaning both sides of 

each blade and using a 10X or higher 

magnifying glass, inspecting for a 

deformation, a crack, and a bent or 

deformed weight as follows: 

Æ At intervals not to exceed 12 hours 

time-in-service (TIS), or 

Æ At intervals not to exceed 24 hours 

TIS and checking both sides of each 

blade for a deformation, a crack, and a 

bent or deformed weight at intervals not 

to exceed 3 hours TIS between 

inspections. An owner/operator (pilot) 

may perform the 3-hour TIS check for 

deformed or cracked blades and for bent 

or deformed weights. Pilots may 

perform these checks because they 

require no tools, can be done by 

observation, and can be done equally 

well by a pilot or a mechanic. However, 

the pilot must enter compliance with 

these requirements into the helicopter 

maintenance records by following 14 

CFR 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v). 

• Before further flight, replacing each 

blade with an airworthy blade if you 

find a deformation, a crack, or a bent or 

deformed weight.

The short compliance time involved 

is required because the previously 

described critical unsafe condition can 

adversely affect the controllability and 

structural integrity of the helicopter. 

Therefore, inspecting the blade, for a 

deformation, a crack, and a bent or 

deformed weight is required before 

further flight and at short specified time 

intervals, and this AD must be issued 

immediately. 

Since a situation exists that requires 

the immediate adoption of this 

regulation, it is found that notice and 

opportunity for prior public comment 

hereon are impracticable, and that good 

cause exists for making this amendment 

effective in less than 30 days. 

The FAA estimates that this AD will: 

• Affect 2194 helicopters.

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 69811

• Take about 1⁄4 work hour for a blade 

check or inspection and 3 work hours to 

replace one blade at an average labor 

rate of $65 per work hour. 

• Required parts will cost about 

$5,848 per helicopter. (The service 

bulletin states that warranty credit will 

be given based on hour usage on the 

blade with remaining life hours and 

other restrictions.) Based on these 

figures, the total estimated cost impact 

of the AD on U.S. operators is 

$21,315,807, assuming 226 checks or 

inspections and replacing one blade on 

each helicopter in the fleet. 

Comments Invited 

Although this action is in the form of 

a final rule that involves requirements 

affecting flight safety and, thus, was not 

preceded by notice and an opportunity 

for public comment, comments are 

invited on this rule. Interested persons 

are invited to comment on this rule by 

submitting such written data, views, or 

arguments as they may desire. 

Communications should identify the 

Rules Docket number and be submitted 

in triplicate to the address specified 

under the caption ADDRESSES. All 

communications received on or before 

the closing date for comments will be 

considered, and this rule may be 

amended in light of the comments 

received. Factual information that 

supports the commenter’s ideas and 

suggestions is extremely helpful in 

evaluating the effectiveness of the AD 

action and determining whether 

additional rulemaking action would be 

needed. 

Comments are specifically invited on 

the overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the rule that might suggest a need to 

modify the rule. All comments 

submitted will be available in the Rules 

Docket for examination by interested 

persons. A report that summarizes each 

FAA-public contact concerned with the 

substance of this AD will be filed in the 

Rules Docket. 

Commenters wishing the FAA to 

acknowledge receipt of their mailed 

comments submitted in response to this 

rule must submit a self-addressed, 

stamped postcard on which the 

following statement is made: 

‘‘Comments to Docket No. 2004–SW–

12–AD.’’ The postcard will be date 

stamped and returned to the 

commenter. 

The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it is 

determined that this final rule does not 

have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. 

The FAA has determined that this 

regulation is an emergency regulation 

that must be issued immediately to 

correct an unsafe condition in aircraft, 

and that it is not a ‘‘significant 

regulatory action’’ under Executive 

Order 12866. It has been determined 

further that this action involves an 

emergency regulation under DOT 

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 

FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is 

determined that this emergency 

regulation otherwise would be 

significant under DOT Regulatory 

Policies and Procedures, a final 

economic evaluation will be prepared 

and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy 

of it, if filed, may be obtained from the 

Rules Docket at the location provided 

under the caption ADDRESSES. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, 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:

2004–24–08 Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada: Amendment 39–13884. Docket 

No. 2004–SW–12–AD.

Applicability: Model 206A, B, L, L–1, L–3, 

and L–4 helicopters, with a tail rotor blade 

(blade) with the following part number (P/N) 

and serial number (S/N) installed, 

certificated in any category.

Model 206A & B; Blade, P/N 206–016–201–

133, S/N with prefix ‘‘CS’’ and no ‘‘V’’ suffix 

Model 206A, B, L, L–1, L–3, & L–4, Blade, P/N 206–016–201–131, S/N with prefix ‘‘CS’’ and 

no ‘‘V’’ suffix

1381 through 1442 7000 through 7018 10174 through 10218. 

1492 through 1517 7020 through 7043 10220. 

1520 through 1542 7045 through 7050 10232. 

1550 7052 through 7132 10235. 

1556 7134 through 7246 10237 through 10241. 

1560 7248 through 7270 10244. 

1562 7272 through 7277 10245. 

1564 through 1567 7279 through 7339 10248. 

1569 through 1606 7342 through 7368 10250 through 10264. 

1609 7784 10266 through 10268. 

1611 7786 10270 through 10274. 

1612 7788 10276 through 10278. 

1614 through 1631 7790 through 7796 10280 through 10282. 

1633 through 1675 7798 through 7819 10284 through 10292. 

1677 7821 through 7833 10296. 

1678 7835 through 7839 10300 through 10330. 

1680 through 1682 7841 through 8001 10332. 

1684 through 1787 8003 through 8026 10333. 

1789 through 1803 8029 through 8061 10335 through 10347. 

1810 through 1812 8064 through 8117 10349. 

1814 8119 10351 through 10359. 

1816 8121 through 8139 10363 through 10365. 

69812 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

Model 206A & B; Blade, P/N 206–016–201–

133, S/N with prefix ‘‘CS’’ and no ‘‘V’’ suffix 

Model 206A, B, L, L–1, L–3, & L–4, Blade, P/N 206–016–201–131, S/N with prefix ‘‘CS’’ and 

no ‘‘V’’ suffix

1820 8142 through 8176 10367. 

1823 through 1831 8178 through 8262 10373. 

1834 through 1836 8264 through 8294 10374. 

1838 8298 through 8368 10377 through 10385. 

1840 through 1844 8370 through 8375 10387 through 10408. 

1846 8378 through 8416 10410. 

1848 through 1882 8419 10414 through 10417. 

1884 through 1887 8421 10419 through 10427. 

1889 through 1893 8425 through 8428 10430. 

1896 through 1898 8430 through 8438 10432. 

1900 8440 10437. 

1904 8441 10438. 

1909 through 1912 8443 10442 through 10445. 

1915 8445 through 8447 10458 through 10466. 

1916 8449 through 8606 10469. 

1919 through 1921 8608 through 8622 10470. 

1924 8624 through 8626 10474. 

1928 through 1931 8628 through 8632 10476 through 10478. 

1933 8635 through 8653 10480 through 10487. 

1934 through 1939 8655 through 8686 10489 through 10491. 

1943 8690 10493 through 10495. 

1945 8692 through 8700 10497 through 10503. 

1947 8703 through 8715 10505 through 10588. 

1948 8717 through 8722 10591 through 10606. 

1952 through 1957 8724 through 8742 10608 through 10610. 

1960 8745 through 8828 10612 through 10620. 

1962 through 1965 8830 through 8835 10623. 

8838 through 8840 10624. 

8842 through 8881 10631 through 10655. 

8883 through 9032 10657 through 10669. 

9034 through 9139 10672. 

9141 through 9198 10673. 

9200 10676 through 10678. 

9202 through 9302 10680 through 10683. 

9304 through 9339 10685. 

9341 through 9371 10687. 

9373 through 9411 10689 through 10702. 

9413 10707. 

9415 through 9417 10712. 

9419 through 9496 10715. 

9498 through 9585 10730. 

9587 through 9594 10732 through 10734. 

9596 through 9618 10736. 

9621 through 9629 10738. 

9632 through 9642 10739. 

9645 through 9651 10746. 

9653 through 9673 10750. 

9675 through 9707 10756. 

9709 through 9724 10760. 

9727 through 9731 10761. 

9733 through 9735 10765. 

9737 through 9739 10770. 

9741 through 9748 10774 through 10776. 

9751 through 9785 10778. 

9787 10781. 

9788 10783 through 10785. 

9790 through 9792 10792. 

9795 through 9847 10794. 

9849 through 9928 10798. 

9930 through 9937 10799. 

9940 through 9942 10806 through 10808. 

9944 through 9952 10811. 

9955 through 9972 10814 through 10822. 

9974 through 9989 10824. 

9991 through 9995 10825. 

9997 through 10004 10829. 

10006 through 10009 10831. 

10011 10917. 

Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 69813

Model 206A & B; Blade, P/N 206–016–201–

133, S/N with prefix ‘‘CS’’ and no ‘‘V’’ suffix 

Model 206A, B, L, L–1, L–3, & L–4, Blade, P/N 206–016–201–131, S/N with prefix ‘‘CS’’ and 

no ‘‘V’’ suffix

10013 through 10018 10923. 

10021 through 10030 10931. 

10034 10936. 

10036 through 10057 10937. 

10061 through 10082 10940. 

10090 through 10092 10943. 

10094 through 10100 10945. 

10116 10947. 

10119 10948. 

10121 10964. 

10123 through 10134 10965. 

10136 through 10140 10973. 

10142 through 10144 10982. 

10146 through 10172 10985. 

10986. 

Compliance: Required as indicated. 

To prevent blade failure and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter, do the following: 

(a) Before further flight, unless 

accomplished previously, and before 

installing any blade with a P/N and S/

N listed in the applicability section of 

this AD, clean the blade. Using a 10X or 

higher magnifying glass, inspect both 

sides of each blade for a deformation, a 

crack, and a bent or deformed weight in 

the area shown in Figure 1 of this AD.

Note 1: Paint irregularities on the blade 

may indicate a crack.


ER01DE04.000
69814 Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 230 / Wednesday, December 1, 2004 / Rules and Regulations 

(b) After doing paragraph (a) of this 

AD, at the following intervals, clean 

both sides of each blade and do either 

paragraph (1) or (2) as follows: 

(1) At intervals not to exceed 12 hours 

time-in-service (TIS), using a 10X or 

higher magnifying glass, inspect both 

sides of each blade for a deformation, a 

crack, and a bent or deformed weight in 

the area shown in Figure 1 of this AD, 

or 

(2) Inspect and check both sides of 

each blade for a deformation, a crack, 

and a bent or deformed weight in the 

area shown in Figure 1 of this AD as 

follows: 

(i) Using a 10X or higher magnifying 

glass, inspect at intervals not to exceed 

24 hours TIS, and 

(ii) Check at intervals not to exceed 3 

hours TIS between the inspections 

required by paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this 

AD. An owner/operator (pilot), holding 

at least a private pilot certificate, may 

perform this visual check and must 

enter compliance with this paragraph 

into the helicopter maintenance records 

by following 14 CFR sections 43.11 and 

91.417(a)(2)(v). 

(c) Before further flight, replace any 

blade that has a deformation, a crack, or 

a bent or deformed weight with an 

airworthy blade.

Note 2: Bell Helicopter Textron Alert 

Service Bulletin No. 206–04–100 for Model 

206A and B and No. 206L–04–127 for Model 

206L series, both Revision B, both dated May 

28, 2004, pertain to the subject of this AD.

(d) 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 Safety 

Management Group, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, FAA, for information about 

previously approved alternative 

methods of compliance. 

(e) This amendment becomes effective 

on December 16, 2004.

Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed 

in Transport Canada (Canada) AD No. CF–

2004–05R1, dated June 28, 2004.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 

22, 2004. 

Kim Smith, 

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 04–26425 Filed 11–30–04; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Bureau of Industry and Security 

15 CFR Part 750

[Docket No. 041001275–4331–02] 

RIN 0694–AD05

Correction to Revision of Licensee’s 

Responsibility To Communicate 

License Conditions

AGENCY: Bureau of Industry and 

Security, Commerce.

ACTION: Interim rule; Correction.

SUMMARY: The Bureau of Industry and 

Security is correcting an interim rule 

that appeared in the Federal Register of 

November 23, 2004 (67 FR 68076). The 

rule amended the regulations to require 

licensees to communicate in writing 

specific licensing conditions. This rule 

amends the Export Administration 

Regulations (EAR) by correcting an error 

by inserting regulatory text 

inadvertently omitted.

DATES: This correction is effective: 

November 23, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeffery Lynch, Regulatory Policy 

Division, Office of Exporter Services, 

Bureau of Industry and Security; e-mail: 

jlynch@bis.doc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This rule 

amends the document appearing on 

page 68077 of the Federal Register of 

Thursday, November 23, 2004. BIS 

amends the rule to correct an error in 

the interim rule requiring licensees to 

communicate in writing specific license 

conditions to the parties to whom the 

license conditions apply.

§ 750.7 [Corrected] 

1. On page 68077 of the Federal 

Register, in the second column, 

amendment number 3 to section 750.7 

is corrected to read as follows: ‘‘It is the 

licensee’s responsibility to 

communicate in writing the specific 

license conditions to the parties to 

whom those conditions apply.’’

Rulemaking Requirements 

1. This rule has been determined to be 

not significant for purposes of E.O. 

12866. 

2. Notwithstanding any other 

provision of law, no person is required 

to respond to, nor shall any person be 

subject to a penalty for failure to comply 

with a collection of information, subject 

to the requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501et 

seq.) (PRA), unless that collection of 

information displays a currently valid 

Office of Management and Budget 

(OMB) Control Number. This rule 

involves a collection of information 

subject to the PRA. This collection has 

been approved by OMB under control 

number 0694–0122, ‘‘Multi-Purpose 

Application,’’ which carries a burden 

hour estimate of 10 minutes for a 

manual or electronic submission. Send 

comments regarding these burden 

estimates or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including 

suggestions for reducing the burden, to 

David Rostker, Office of Management 

and Budget (OMB), by e-mail to 

David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or by fax 

to (202) 395–7285; and to the Office of 

Administration, Bureau of Industry and 

Security, Department of Commerce, 

14th and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 

Room 6883, Washington, DC 20230. 

3. This rule does not contain policies 

with federalism implications as that 

term is defined under E.O. 13132. 

4. The Department finds under 5 

U.S.C. 553(b)(B) that good cause exists 

to waive prior notice and opportunity 

for public comment. This rule revises 

the EAR to require licensees to 

communicate in writing specific license 

conditions to the parties to whom they 

apply. This rule merely clarifies the 

identify of the person to whom the 

notice must be provided. The previously 

existing EAR requirement to provide 

such notice is unchanged by this rule. 

Because the rule containing the error 

has not become effective, this correction 

is not a substantive change to the EAR. 

Accordingly, it is unnecessary to 

provide prior notice and opportunity for 

public comment. Therefore, this rule is 

being issued in final form. 

Although there is no formal comment 

period, public comments on this 

regulation are welcome on a continuing 

basis. Comments should be submitted to 

Jeffrey Lynch, Regulatory Policy 

Division, Office of Exporter Services, 

Bureau of Industry and Security, P.O. 

Box 273, Washington, DC 20044, emailed to: jlynch@bis.doc.gov, or faxed 

to (202) 482–3355. The public record 

concerning this regulation will be 

maintained in the Bureau of Industry 

and Security Freedom of Information 

Records Inspection Facility, Room 6881, 

Department of Commerce, 14th Street 

and Pennsylvania Avenue, NW., 

Washington, DC 20230. Records in this 

facility may be inspected and copied in 

accordance with regulations published 

in part 4 of Title 15 of the Code of 

Federal Regulations. Information about 

the inspection and copying of records at 

the facility may be obtained from the 

Bureau of Industry and Security 

Freedom of Information Officer, at the 

above address or by calling (202) 482–

0500. List of Subjects for 15 CFR Part