**[4910 -**  **13 -**  **P]**

**DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration**  **14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA**  **- 20**  **11 -**  **XXXXX ; Directorate Identifier**  **200 8**  **- SW**  **- 14**  **- AD]**  **RIN 2120 -** **AA64 Airworthiness Directives;**  **Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206L -**  **4 and 407 Helicopte**  **rs 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 A D results from mandatory

continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority of Canada. The MCAIstates : “ 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 . La ck 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 b y [insert date 30 days after date of publication in the FEDERALREGISTER ]. **ADDRESSES :**  You may s end 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

DATE2

 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 Operatio ns, 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 holiday s . 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 (81 7) 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 holiday s. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket O perations o ffice (telephone (800) 647 - 5 5 27) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after r eceipt. **FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:** Eric Haight , Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort Worth, Texas 7613 7 , telephone (817) 222 - 5 204 , fax (817) 222 - 5961. **SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Comments Invited**  We invite you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this proposed AD.3

Send your comments to an address listed in the ADDRESSES section of this proposal . In clude “Docket No. FAA - 20 11 - XXXXX ; Directorate Identifier 200 8 - SW - 14 - AD ” at the beginnin g of your comments. We specificall y invite comments on the overall regulatory , economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD . We will consider all comments received b y the closing date and may amend this proposed AD based on those comment s. 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 . La ck of lubrication may adversely

affect the durability

and potentiall y the function of the fre ewheel 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 an y 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 -4

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 assembl y 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 b y 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 MCAIand service information. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all information provided b y 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 TI S, 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 ( TI S ).”

 We did not use the calendar time b ecause that time has already passed .  We require all affected helicopters to compl y within 50 hours TI S.

 We removed the reference to calculate the average engine cycle start count, since only TIS is required to be tracked.5

 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 aviatio n 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 b y prescribing regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator f inds 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 determine d that this proposed AD would not have federalism implications under6

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 distributio n of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government. Therefore, I certify

this proposed AD : 1. I s not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866; 2. I s not a “significant rule” under the DOT Regulatory Policies and Pro cedures (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 es timated 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** Accordingl y, 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 addi ng the following new AD: **BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA** : Docket No. FAA - 20 11 - XXXXX ; Directorate Identifier 200 8 - SW - 14 - AD .7

**Comments Due Date** (a) We must receive comments by [insert date 30 day s after date of publication in the FEDERAL REGISTER]. **Other Affec ted 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 No s . 1833 through 1912, installed, certificated in any category . **Reason** (d) The mandatory

continu ing 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 adversel y affect the durability

and potentially

the function of the freewheel unit. Th is AD require s actions that are intended to prevent failure of the free wheel 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 , para graphs 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 the8

fre ewheel 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. **Diffe rences Between the FAA AD and the MCAI**  (f) We refer to “air time hours” as “ hours TIS. ” We d o not use the calendar time because that time has already pas sed . We require all affected helicopters to comply within 50 hours TI S. We removed the reference to calculate the average engine cycle start count, since only

TI S 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 Directorat e, FAA, ATTN: Eric Haight , Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort Worth, Texas 76193 - 0111, telephone (817) 222 - 5 204 , fax (817) 222 - 5961 , has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested, usin g 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 Sy ste m. Issued in Fort Worth, Texas , on