Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 11415 

(6) Where paragraph (1) of EASA AD 2020– 

0086 refers to a compliance time of ‘‘within 

25 flight hours or during the next scheduled 

50 FH inspection, whichever occurs later 

. . . , ’’ for the initial replacement, this AD 

requires completion within 25 hours time-inservice after the effective date of this AD. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, send it to: Manager, 

Strategic Policy Rotorcraft Section, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone 817–222–5110. Information 

may be emailed to: 9-ASW-FTW-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(j) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Daniel Moore, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Denver ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 26805 E 68th 

Ave., Denver, CO 80249; telephone 303–342– 

1095; email daniel.e.moore@faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

(IBR) of the service information listed in this 

paragraph 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 this AD specifies otherwise. 

(i) European Union Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA) AD 2020–0086, dated April 14, 2020. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For EASA AD 2020–0086, contact the 

EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 50668 

Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 221 8999 

000; email ADs@easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

EASA AD on the EASA website at https://

ad.easa.europa.eu. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 817–222–5110. This 

material may be found in the AD docket on 

the internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0983. 

(5) You may view this material that is 

incorporated by reference at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, email fedreg.legal@

nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/ 

federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on January 21, 2021. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03662 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–0860; Product 

Identifier 2019–SW–005–AD; Amendment 

39–21416; AD 2021–03–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron 

Canada Limited (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Bell Helicopter 

Textron Canada Limited) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bell Textron Canada Limited (type 

certificate previously held by Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) 

Model 429 helicopters. This AD was 

prompted by the introduction of a new 

life limit for the centrifugal force 

bearing (CFB). This AD requires 

determining the accumulated retirement 

index number (RIN) and removing each 

affected CFB from service before it 

accumulates 8,000 total RIN. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 1, 

2021. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact Bell 

Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de 

l’Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J 1R4; 

telephone 450–437–2862 or 800–363– 

8023; fax 450–433–0272; or at https://

www.bellcustomer.com. You may view 

this service information at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 

76177. You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 817–222–5110. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

0860; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this final rule, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt 

Fuller, AD Program Manager, Continued 

Operational Safety Branch, 

Airworthiness Products Section, 

General Aviation and Rotorcraft Unit, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222– 

5110; email matthew.fuller@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

Transport Canada Civil Aviation 

(TCCA), which is the aviation authority 

for Canada, issued Transport Canada AD 

CF–2019–03, dated January 31, 2019 

(referred to after this as the Mandatory 

Continuing Airworthiness Information, 

or the MCAI), to correct an unsafe 

condition for certain Bell Helicopter 

Textron Canada Limited (now Bell 

Textron Canada Limited) Model 429 

helicopters. TCCA advises that an 

airworthiness limitations schedule 

document introduces a new life limit for 

CFB part number (P/N) 429–310–003– 

103, a component that was not 

previously included. Failure to observe 

the CFB life limit could result in 

excessive vibration and loss of control 

of the helicopter. You may examine the 

MCAI in the AD docket on the internet 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0860. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada Limited (now Bell Textron 

Canada Limited) Model 429 helicopters. 

The NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on October 1, 2020 (85 FR 

61879). The NPRM was prompted by the 

introduction of a new life limit for the 

CFB. The NPRM proposed to require 

determining the accumulated RIN and 

removing each affected CFB from 

service before it accumulates 8,000 total 

RIN. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address a CFB remaining in service 

beyond its fatigue life. Failure to 

observe the CFB life limit could result 

in excessive vibration and loss of 

control of the helicopter. See the MCAI 

for additional background information. 

11416 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The FAA received no 

comments on the NPRM or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Other Related Service Information 

Bell Helicopter has issued Bell Model 

429 Maintenance Planning Information 

BHT–429–MPI, Chapter 4, 

Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, 

DMC–429–A–04–00–00–00A–288A–A, 

Issue 1, dated January 10, 2019. This 

service information describes new 

maintenance requirements and 

airworthiness limitations. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 85 helicopters of U.S. registry. 

The FAA estimates the following costs 

to comply with this AD: 

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR REQUIRED ACTIONS

Labor cost Parts cost Cost per 

helicopter 

Cost on U.S. 

operators 

28 work-hours × $85 per hour = $2,380 ...................... $42,576 ($10,644 per bearing × 4 blades) .................. $44,956 $3,821,260 

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. 

The FAA is 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 

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 

distribution of power and 

responsibilities among the various 

levels of government. 

For the reasons discussed above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, 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: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2021–03–13 Bell Textron Canada Limited 

(Type Certificate Previously Held by Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited): 

Amendment 39–21416; Docket No. 

FAA–2020–0860; Product Identifier 

2019–SW–005–AD. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective April 1, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bell Textron Canada 

Limited (type certificate previously held by 

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) 

Model 429 helicopters, certificated in any 

category, serial numbers 57001 through 

57351 inclusive. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code 6200, Main rotor system. 

(e) Reason 

This AD was prompted by the introduction 

of a new life limit for the centrifugal force 

bearing (CFB). The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address a CFB remaining in service beyond 

its fatigue life. Failure to observe the CFB life 

limit could result in excessive vibration and 

loss of control of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

For each CFB having part number 429– 

310–003–103 (the affected CFB): Within 50 

hours time-in-service, determine the 

accumulated retirement index number (RIN). 

For purposes of this AD, count 1 RIN each 

time one or both engines are started. If any 

affected CFB has accumulated 8,000 or more 

total RIN, before further flight, remove the 

affected CFB from service. If any affected 

CFB has accumulated less than 8,000 total 

RIN, create a component history card or 

equivalent record indicating a life limit of 

8,000 total RIN. Thereafter, continue to count 

RIN and record the life limit of the affected 

CFB on its component history card or 

equivalent record and remove the affected 

CFB from service before accumulating 8,000 

total RIN. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, FAA, has the authority to 

approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the Strategic Policy 

Rotorcraft Section, send it to: Manager, 

Strategic Policy Rotorcraft Section, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone 817–222–5110. Information 

may be emailed to: 9-ASW-FTW-AMOCRequests@faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 36 / Thursday, February 25, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 11417 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada AD CF–2019–03, dated 

January 31, 2019. This Transport Canada AD 

may be found in the AD docket on the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. FAA– 

2020–0860. 

(2) For more information about this AD, 

contact Matt Fuller, AD Program Manager, 

Continued Operational Safety Branch, 

Airworthiness Products Section, General 

Aviation and Rotorcraft Unit, FAA, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 

telephone 817–222–5110; email 9-ASW-FTWAMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(3) Bell Model 429 Maintenance Planning 

Information BHT–429–MPI, Chapter 4, 

Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, DMC– 

429–A–04–00–00–00A–288A–A, Issue 1, 

dated January 10, 2019, which is not 

incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the subject of 

this AD. For service information identified in 

this AD that is not incorporated by reference, 

contact Bell Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 

Rue de l’Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J 1R4; 

telephone (450) 437–2862 or (800) 363–8023; 

fax (450) 433–0272; or at https://

www.bellcustomer.com. 

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued on January 28, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–03659 Filed 2–24–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2020–1036; Project 

Identifier MCAI–2020–01430–R; Amendment 

39–21409; AD 2021–03–06] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Airbus Helicopters Model SA–365N, 

SA–365N1, AS–365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 

155B, and EC155B1 helicopters. This 

AD was prompted by the FAA’s 

determination that to improve the 

process and performance in collecting 

metal particles in the main gear box 

(MGB) certain existing magnetic plugs 

(electrical and nonelectrical) installed in 

the MGB pump intake must be replaced 

with improved non-electrical magnetic 

plugs. This AD requires replacing the 

existing magnetic plug with an 

improved non-electrical magnetic plug, 

as specified in a European Aviation 

Safety Agency (now European Union 

Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, 

which is incorporated by reference. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 1, 

2021. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of April 1, 2021. 

ADDRESSES: For material incorporated 

by reference (IBR) in this AD, contact 

the EASA, Konrad-Adenauer-Ufer 3, 

50668 Cologne, Germany; telephone +49 

221 8999 000; email ADs@

easa.europa.eu; internet 

www.easa.europa.eu. You may find this 

material on the EASA website at https:// 

ad.easa.europa.eu. You may view this 

material at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 817–222–5110. It is also 

available in the AD docket on the 

internet at https://www.regulations.gov 

by searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2020–1036. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the internet at https://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2020– 

1036; or in person at Docket Operations 

between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

The AD docket contains this final rule, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The address for Docket 

Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Mahmood Shah, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Fort Worth ACO Branch, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 

Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817–222– 

5538; email mahmood.g.shah@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

The EASA, which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, has issued EASA AD 

2018–0176, dated August 21, 2018 

(EASA AD 2018–0176) (also referred to 

as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or the 

MCAI), to correct an unsafe condition 

for certain Airbus Helicopters Model 

SA–365N, SA–365N1, AS–365N2, AS 

365 N3, EC 155B, and EC155B1 

helicopters. 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to certain Airbus Helicopters 

Model SA–365N, SA–365N1, AS– 

365N2, AS 365 N3, EC 155B, and 

EC155B1 helicopters. The NPRM 

published in the Federal Register on 

November 30, 2020 (85 FR 76495). The 

NPRM was prompted by the FAA’s 

determination that to improve the 

process and performance in collecting 

metal particles in the MGB certain 

existing magnetic plugs (electrical and 

non-electrical) installed in the MGB 

pump intake must be replaced with 

improved non-electrical magnetic plugs. 

The NPRM proposed to require 

replacing the existing magnetic plug 

with an improved non-electrical 

magnetic plug, as specified in an EASA 

AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

metal particles causing seizure of the 

MGB, loss of power to the main rotor, 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. See the MCAI for additional 

background information. 

Comments 

The FAA gave the public the 

opportunity to participate in developing 

this final rule. The FAA received no 

comments on the NPRM or on the 

determination of the cost to the public. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety and the 

public interest require adopting this 

final rule as proposed, except for minor 

editorial changes. The FAA has 

determined that these minor changes: 

• Are consistent with the intent that 

was proposed in the NPRM for 

addressing the unsafe condition; and 

• Do not add any additional burden 

upon the public than was already 

proposed in the NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

EASA AD 2018–0176 describes 

procedures for replacing the existing 

magnetic plug (electrical and nonelectrical) installed in the MGB pump 

intake with an improved non-electrical 

magnetic plug. This material is 

reasonably available because the 

interested parties have access to it 

through their normal course of business