[4910-13-P]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-XXXXX; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206L-4 and 407 

Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter 

Textron Canada (Bell) Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters. This proposed AD results from 

mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by Transport Canada, 

which is the aviation authority of Canada. The MCAI states: “Transport Canada has been 

advised that a manufacturing oversight has occurred where a lubrication channel to allow oil 

flow has not been machined into the aft bearing cap of some freewheel units. Lack of 

lubrication may adversely affect the durability and potentially the function of the freewheel 

unit” and creates an unsafe condition.

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to prevent failure of the freewheel 

unit and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by [insert date 30 days after date 

of publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER].

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

CONCURRENCES

ROUTING SYMBOL

ADC

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

ACO Egr

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

ACO Mgr

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

-112 Mgr

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

FTW AEG

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

ASW-7

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

ASW-101

INITIALS/SIG

DATE

ROUTING SYMBOL

ASW-100

INITIALS/SIG

DATE
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 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, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 

280-6466.

EXAMINING THE 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 

telephone (817) 222-5204, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD. 
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Send your comments to an address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this proposal. 

Include “Docket No. FAA-2011-XXXXX; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD” at the 

beginning of your comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposed AD based on 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 we receive about this proposed 

AD.

Discussion

Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has issued Canadian 

AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11, 2005, to correct an unsafe condition for the Bell 

Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters. The MCAI states: “Transport Canada has been advised 

that a manufacturing oversight has occurred where a lubrication channel to allow oil flow 

has not been machined into the aft bearing cap of some freewheel units. Lack of lubrication 

may adversely affect the durability and potentially the function of the freewheel unit” and 

creates an unsafe condition.

The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to prevent failure of the 

freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. You may obtain further 

information by examining the MCAI and any related service information in the AD docket.

Related Service Information

Bell has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Nos. 206L-04-129 for the Model 206L-
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4 and 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, both dated December 1, 2004. The 

ASBs specify identifying the affected freewheel aft bearing caps, actions to be taken for 

freewheel assemblies based on the average engine start cycle count, procedures for returning 

the freewheel assembly to service, including replacing the output shaft, part number (P/N) 

406-040-517-101, and sprag and retainer, P/N 406-040-580-103, for freewheel assemblies 

with a discrepant aft bearing cap installed. The actions described in the MCAI are intended 

to correct the unsafe condition identified in the service information.

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 with this 

State of Design Authority, we have been notified of the unsafe condition described in the 

MCAI and service information. We are proposing 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. This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours TIS, modifying any affected 

freewheel assembly. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the MCAI AD

This proposed AD differs from the MCAI AD in that:

 We refer to “air time hours” as “hours time-in-service (TIS).”

 We did not use the calendar time because that time has already passed.

 We require all affected helicopters to comply within 50 hours TIS.

 We removed the reference to calculate the average engine cycle start count, since 

only TIS is required to be tracked. 
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 It does not apply to spares.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 212 Model 206L-4 

helicopters and 540 Model 407 helicopters of U.S. registry. We also estimate that 80 

helicopters could have defective aft bearing caps and that it would take 16 work hours for 

replacing the affected freewheel unit parts. The average labor rate is $85 per work hour and 

required parts would cost about $21,600 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate 

the cost of the proposed AD on one aircraft would be $23,003 and on all U.S. operators 

would be $1,868,760.

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 
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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.

Therefore, I certify this proposed AD:

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 

proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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

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. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new AD:

BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA: Docket No. FAA-2011-XXXXX; 

Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD.
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Comments Due Date

(a) We must receive comments by [insert date 30 days after date of publication in the 

FEDERAL REGISTER].

Other Affected ADs

(b) None.

Applicability

(c) 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.

Reason

(d) The mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD states: 

“Transport Canada has been advised that a manufacturing oversight has occurred where a 

lubrication channel to allow oil flow has not been machined into the aft bearing cap of some 

freewheel units” and creates an unsafe condition. Lack of lubrication may adversely affect 

the durability and potentially the function of the freewheel unit. This AD requires actions 

that are intended to prevent failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of 

the helicopter.

Actions and Compliance

(e) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), unless already done, determine whether 

the aft cap bearing is affected by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part I, 

paragraphs 1 through 3, of either Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

206L-04-129, Revision A, dated December 1, 2004, for the Model 206L-4 or ASB No. 

407-04-66, Revision A, dated December 1, 2004, for the Model 407 helicopters. If the 
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freewheel assembly has an affected aft bearing cap, modify the aft bearing cap, P/N 406-

040-509-101, by following Parts III and IV, of the ASB, as appropriate for your model 

helicopter. Part II of the ASB is not required for compliance with this AD. 

Differences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI

(f) We refer to “air time hours” as “hours TIS.” We do not use the calendar time 

because that time has already passed. We require all affected helicopters to comply within 

50 hours TIS. We removed the reference to calculate the average engine cycle start count, 

since only TIS is required to be tracked. This AD is not applicable to spare parts. 

Other Information

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, Safety 

Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, ATTN: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort Worth, Texas 

76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5204, fax (817) 222-5961, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

(h) Refer to MCAI AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11, 2005, for related 

information.

Air Transport Association of America (ATA) Tracking Code

(i) The ATA Code is 6300: Main Rotor Drive System.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on