1 [Federal Register Volume 78, Nu mber 107 (Tuesday, June 4, 2013)] [Rules and Regulations] [Pages 33204-33206] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-12720]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0470; Directorate Id entifier 2013-SW-008-AD; Amendment 39-17465; AD 2013-11-05]

RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness di rective (AD) for Be ll Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with a certai n tail rotor hanger bearing (bear ing) installed. This AD requires inspecting the bearing to determine whether an inco rrectly manufactured seal material is installed on the bearing. This AD is prompted by a report that certain bearings were manufactured with an

incorrect seal material that does not meet Bell specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of bearing grease, failure of the bearing, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 19, 2013.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorpor ation by reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of June 19, 2013. We must receive comments on this AD by August 5, 2013.

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

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to h ttp://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 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'' addr ess between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.2 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 AD, th e economic evaluation, any comments received, and

other information. The street a ddress for the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is

in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be av ailable in the AD docket shortly after receipt. For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone (817) 280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Re gion, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,

Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: James Blyn, Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5762; em ail 7-AVS-ASW-170@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirement s affecting flight safet y, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to provide yo ur comments prior to it becoming effective. However, we invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to th e economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that resulted from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommende d 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 electronica lly, commenters should submit them 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 rulema king during the comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based

on those comments.

Discussion

We are adopting a new AD for Bell Model 214B , 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with certain bearings installed. Bell was notified by a supplie r that all part number 214-040-606-005 and 214-040- 606-101 bearings delivered between May 2011 and June 2012 were manufactured with incorrect seal

material. The incorrect seal material does not m eet Bell's operating and environmental temperature specifications and under extreme heat could result in seal failure and grease loss from the bearing. The incorrect seal material is black in color; the correctly manufactured beari ngs have a red/orange to

brown colored seal.

FAA's Determination

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated a ll the relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other helicopters of these same type designs.3 Related Service Information

Bell has issued Alert Service Bulletin (A SB) 214-13-74, Revision A, dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters, serial num ber (S/N) 28001 through 28070, and ASB 214ST-13- 90, Revision A, dated March 25, 2013, for Mode l 214ST helicopters, S/N 28101 through 28200. Both ASBs describe procedures for determining whethe r any bearing with incorrect seal material is installed on the helicopter and for inspecting any installed bearing with incorrect seal material every 10 hours time-in-service (TIS). Both ASBs also speci fy replacing any beari ng with incorrect seal material that is leaking grease or damaged. Fina lly, the ASBs specify replacing any bearing with

incorrect seal material within 500 hours TIS or by December 31, 2013.

AD Requirements

This AD requires:

• Inspecting each bearing within 10 hours TIS to determine whethe r the bearing has correct seal

material.

• If a bearing has incorrect seal material, inspect ing the bearing at inte rvals not to exceed 10 hours TIS for leakage, slung grease, or damage.

• If there is leakage, slung grease, or damage, be fore further flight, repl acing the bearing with an airworthy bearing that does not have a black seal, which would be terminating action for the requirements of this AD.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

The Bell ASBs specify 25 hours TIS for the initia l inspection, while this AD requires inspecting within 10 hours TIS. The ASBs specify replacing a ny bearing with black s eal material within 500 hours TIS or by December 31, 2013. This AD requires re petitive inspections of the bearing until the bearing is replaced with an airworthy bearing that doe s not have a black seal.

Interim Action

We consider this AD to be an interim acti on. We are currently cons idering requiring the replacement of the defective bearings, which will constitute terminating action for the repetitive inspections required by this AD action. However, th e planned compliance time for the replacement of the bearing would allow enough time to provide no tice and opportunity for prior public comment on the merits of the replacement.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 26 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply w ith this AD. At an average labor cost of $85 per hour, inspecting the bearings woul d require about 2.5 work hours, fo r a cost per he licopter of $213 and a cost of $5,538 for the fleet. Replacing a defec tive bearing would requir e about 3 work hours, and required parts would cost $1,372 per bear ing, for a cost per helicopter of $1,627. According to Bell's service information some of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on aff ected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Bell. Accordingly, we have in cluded all costs in our cost estimate.4 FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

Providing an opportunity for public comments pr ior to adopting these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions needed to correct this known unsafe c ondition. Therefore, we find that the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment prior to the adoption of this rule because the required co rrective actions must be accomplished within 10 hours TIS, a very short time period based on the average flight hour utilization rate of these helicopters. Since an unsafe condition exists that requires th e immediate adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for public comment befo re issuing this AD are impracticable and that good cause exists for making this amendm ent effective in less than 30 days.

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 safe ty 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 AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

This AD will not have a substantial direct effect on the States, on the relationship between the national Government and the States, or on the di stribution of power and responsibilities among the various levels of government.

For the reasons discusse d, I certify that this AD: 1. Is not a ''significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866; 2. Is not a ''significant rule'' under DOT Regul atory 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 esti mated costs to comply with this AD and placed it

in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safe ty, Incorporation by reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39–AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:5 Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

§ 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the fo llowing new airworthin ess directive (AD):6 FAA Aviation Safety 

## AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts/ www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/advanced.html

2013-11-05 Bell Helicopter Te xtron, Inc. (Bell): Amendment 39-17465; Docket No. FAA-2013- 0470; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-008-AD.

(a) Applicability

This AD applies to Bell Model 214B helicop ters, serial number (S/N) 28001 through 28070, Model 214B-1 helicopters, S/N 28001 through 28070, and Model 214ST helicopters, S/N 28101 through 28200, with a tail rotor ha nger bearing (bearing), part number (P/N) 214-040-606-005 or 214-040-606-101 installed, certific ated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a bearing with incorrect seal material, which could fail under extreme temperature or environmental conditi ons, resulting in loss of tail rotor control and subsequent loss of cont rol of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

This AD becomes effective June 19, 2013.

(d) Compliance

You are responsible for performing each acti on required by this AD w ithin the specified compliance time.

(e) Required Actions

(1) Within 10 hours time in service (TIS): (i) Inspect each beari ng to determine whether the seal materi al is correct, as described in the Accomplishment Instructions, Part 1–Inspection, paragraphs 1.a. through 2. and Figure 1 of Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 214-13-74, Revision A, dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters and ASB 214ST-13-90, Revi sion A, dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214ST helicopters. (ii) For each bearing with black seal material, be fore further flight and th ereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS, inspect the bearing for leak age, slung grease, or damage. If there is any leakage, slung grease, or damage, before further flight, replace the bearing with an airworthy bearing with red/orange to brown color seal material. (2) Replacing a bearing with an airworthy bearing with the correct red/orange to brown color seal material terminates the inspection requirements of this AD. (3) Do not install bearing P/N 214-040-606-005 or 214-040-606-101 with black seal material on any helicopter.

(f) Special Flight Permits

Special flight permits are prohibited.7 (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification O ffice, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: James Blyn, Aviation Safety Engineer , Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Wort h, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5762; email 7-AVS-ASW-170@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 princi pal inspector, or lacki ng a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight st andards district office or certificat e holding district office before operating any aircraft complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(h) Subject

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JAS C) Code: 6500: Tail Rotor Drive Bearing.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register appr oved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragra ph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. (i) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 21 4-13-74, Revision A, dated March 25, 2013. (ii) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 214ST-13-90, Revision A, dated March 25, 2013. (3) For Bell service information identified in th is AD, contact Bell Helico pter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone ( 817) 280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. (5) You may view this service information that is incorporat ed by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For info rmation on the availability of this material at NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal -register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 17, 2013. Kim Smith, Directorate Manager, Roto rcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.