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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 119 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37158-37160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-14693]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) 
Model 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-4 and 407 helicopters. This proposed AD would require 
replacing or reworking certain aft bearing caps. This proposed AD is 
prompted by the manufacture of certain freewheel aft bearing caps 
without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into the aft bearing 
support assembly. The proposed actions 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 August 19, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     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: 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, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101, 
telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466. 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: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email: eric.haight@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

[[Page 37159]]

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 TCAA AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated 
February 11, 2005 (AD No. CF-2004-17R1), which requires replacing or 
reworking freewheel assemblies on the Bell Model 206L-4 and 407 
helicopters. TCAA advises of a manufacturing oversight where a 
lubrication channel was not machined into the aft bearing cap of some 
freewheel units to allow oil flow into the aft bearing support 
assembly. TCAA states that lack of lubrication may adversely affect the 
durability and potentially the function of the freewheel unit.

FAA's 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 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 has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-04-129 for 
the Model 206L-4 and No. 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, 
and both dated December 1, 2004. The ASBs specify identifying the 
affected freewheel aft bearing caps. The ASBs also provide separate 
procedures, depending on whether helicopters are ``not exclusively used 
for training'' or ``exclusively used for training,'' for replacing or 
reworking the freewheel cap assembly and replacing the output shaft, 
part number (P/N) 406-040-517-101, and sprag and retainer, P/N 406-040-
580-103. TCCA classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-
2004-17R to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require for each affected freewheel 
assembly, within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), removing and 
disassembling the freewheel assembly, replacing the sprag, retainer, 
and the aft seal and visually inspecting the remaining freewheel part 
details for a missing channel. Also, the proposed AD would require, if 
the channel is missing, before further flight, replacing the cap 
assembly with an airworthy cap or reworking and reidentifying the 
existing cap by using a vibrating stylus to add the letter ``R'' to the 
serial number of the reworked cap. Reworking or replacing the affected 
cap assembly is terminating action for the requirements of this AD.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the TCAA AD

    This proposed AD differs from the TCAA AD as follows:
     We would not use a calendar time, which has already 
passed.
     We would require all affected helicopters to comply within 
50 hours TIS; the TCAA AD has different compliance times as stipulated 
by the calculated average engine start cycle count identified in the 
applicable ASB, and a 300-hour TIS terminating action for modifying all 
affected helicopters.
     We would not require referencing compliance with the ASBs 
as does the TCAA AD, and we would not require you to provide an 
affected cap for rework to Bell Tennessee nor require the original cap 
to be reworked by Bell Tennessee.
     We would not require any action on ``spare'' parts before 
installation on a helicopter but would require before installing any 
replacement bearing support assembly, ensuring that the rework has been 
done.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 212 Model 206L-4 
helicopters and 540 Model 407 helicopters of U.S. registry; however, we 
estimate that only 80 helicopters are affected. We estimate that 
operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this 
AD: It would take about 16 work hours to replace the freewheel unit for 
all the affected parts at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost about $21,600 per helicopter. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost per helicopter would be $22,900 and 
the total cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators would be 
$1,836,800.

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);
    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:

[[Page 37160]]

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: Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD.

(a) Applicability

    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.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as certain caps being 
manufactured without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into 
the aft bearing support assembly, which could result in failure of 
the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by August 19, 2013.

(d) 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.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) Remove and disassemble each freewheel assembly.
    (2) Replace the sprag and retainer (item 7), the output shaft 
(item 10), and the aft seal (item 3), as depicted in Figure 2 of 
Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-04-129 for the Model 
206L-4 and ASB No. 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, and 
both dated December 1, 2004.
    (3) Visually inspect the remaining freewheel part details for a 
missing channel.
    (4) If the channel is missing, replace or rework the cap 
assembly by following the instructions depicted in Figure 3 of ASB 
206L-04-129 or ASB 407 04-66, as applicable for your model 
helicopter. Using a vibrating stylus, mark the letter ``R'' at the 
end of the serial number on the cap assembly.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email: 
eric.haight@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.

(g) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11, 2005.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300: Main Rotor 
Drive System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 13, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-14693 Filed 6-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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