41886 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 134 / Friday, July 12, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on June 14, 

2013. 

Ali Bahrami, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–15952 Filed 7–11–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0603; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–079–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

serial-numbered Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 206L, 

206L–1, 206L–3, and 206L–4 helicopters 

with a certain tailboom upper left 

attachment fitting (fitting). This 

proposed AD would require inspecting 

the fitting for a crack and other 

conditions. This proposed AD is 

prompted by the manufacturer revising 

and extending the 100 hour time-inservice (TIS) inspection requirements 

for the fitting. The proposed actions are 

intended to detect a crack, loose rivet, 

corrosion, or any other damage, which 

could lead to loss of the tailboom and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 10, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://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’’ 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 Canada Limited, 

12,800 Rue de l’Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec 

J7J1R4, telephone (450) 437–2862 or 

(800) 363–8023, fax (450) 433–0272, or 

at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. 

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: 

Sharon Miles, Aerospace Engineer, 

FAA, Regulations and Policy Group, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone: (817) 222–5110; 

email: sharon.y.miles@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 

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 (TC), which is the 

aviation authority for Canada, has 

issued AD No. CF–2009–41, dated 

November 16, 2009 (AD CF–2009–41), 

to correct an unsafe condition for BHTC 

Model 206L series helicopters, 

specifically: Model 206L, serial number 

(S/N) 45004 through 45153, and 46601 

through 46617; Model 206L–1, S/N 

45154 through 45790; Model 206L–3, S/ 

N 51001 through 51612; and Model 

206L–4, all S/Ns. TC AD No. CF–2009– 

41 was prompted by a new 

airworthiness limitation for the fitting 

that requires an inspection of fitting part 

number 203–032–409–001 at each 100- 

hour or annual inspection. The TC AD 

requires inspecting the fitting, and 

replacing or repairing it if necessary, in 

accordance with the Accomplishment 

Instructions of BHTC Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) 206L–09–158, Revision 

A, dated August 31, 2009 (ASB 206L– 

09–158 Revision A). TC further states 

that incorporating this inspection into 

the applicable maintenance manual 

revision constitutes terminating action 

to TC AD No. CF–2009–41. The actions 

in TC AD No. CF–2009–41 are intended 

to detect a crack in a tailboom 

attachment fitting, which could result in 

loss of the tailboom and subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

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, TC, 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 products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed ASB 206L–09–158 

Revision A for certain serial-numbered 

Model 206L, L–1, L–3, and L–4 

helicopters with certain tailboom 

assemblies installed. That ASB requires 

an inspection of the fitting for a crack, 

loose rivets, corrosion, and damage at 

each 100-hour or annual inspection. If 

there is a crack, the ASB specifies 

replacing the fitting with an airworthy 

fitting. If there is a loose rivet, the ASB 

specifies replacing the rivet with an 

airworthy rivet. If the fitting has 

corrosion or mechanical damage, the 

ASB specifies determining if the 

corrosion or mechanical damage is 

within acceptable limits. If the corrosion 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 134 / Friday, July 12, 2013 / Proposed Rules 41887 

or mechanical damage is within 

acceptable limits, the ASB specifies 

repairing the damage in accordance 

with the instructions contained in the 

ASB. If the damage is not within 

acceptable limits, the ASB specifies 

replacing the fitting with an airworthy 

fitting. TC classified this ASB as 

mandatory and issued AD No. CF– 

2009–41 to ensure the continued 

airworthiness of these helicopters. 

Since that time, BHTC has issued ASB 

206L–09–158, Revision B, dated June 1, 

2011, for all Model 206L series 

helicopters. Revision B of the ASB 

changes the recurring inspection 

interval from every 100 flight hours to 

every 110 flight-hours. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 100 hours TIS and thereafter at 

intervals not exceeding 110 hours TIS, 

inspecting the upper left tailboom 

attachment fitting for a crack, corrosion, 

damage, or a loose rivet. If there is a 

crack or corrosion or damage beyond 

acceptable limits, this proposed AD 

would require replacing the upper left 

tailboom attachment fitting with an 

airworthy fitting. If there is corrosion or 

damage within acceptable limits, this 

proposed AD would require repairing 

the fitting. If there is a loose rivet, this 

proposed AD would require replacing 

the loose rivet. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Transport Canada AD 

The Transport Canada AD requires a 

recurring inspection every 100 hours, 

while this proposed AD would require 

the inspection at intervals not to exceed 

110 hours to align with the Bell ASB. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 783 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. 

We estimate that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. At an average labor rate 

of $85 per hour, inspecting the fitting 

will require about 1 work hour, for a 

cost per helicopter of $85 and a total 

cost to U.S. operators of $66,555 per 

inspection cycle. 

We estimate the following costs to do 

any necessary repairs or replacements 

that would be required based on the 

results of the proposed inspection. We 

have no way of determining the number 

of aircraft that might need these repairs 

or replacements. Repairing a damaged 

fitting would require about 8 workhours and required parts would cost 

about $10, for a cost per helicopter of 

$690. Replacing a fitting which is 

damaged beyond the allowable repair 

limits would require about 8 work-hours 

and required parts would cost about 

$793, for a cost per helicopter of $1,473. 

Replacing a loose rivet would require 

about 1 work-hour, and required parts 

would cost about $1, for a cost per 

helicopter of $86. 

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 proposed 

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: 

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 (AD): 

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC): 

Docket No. FAA–2013–0603; Directorate 

Identifier 2009–SW–79–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to BHTC Model 206L, 

Model 206L–1, Model 206L–3, and Model 

206L–4 helicopters, with an upper left 

attachment fitting part number 206–032– 

409–001 installed, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

crack in a tailboom attachment fitting, which 

could result in loss of the tailboom and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by September 

10, 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 

(1) At the next 100-hour inspection, and 

thereafter at intervals not to exceed 110 hours 

time-in-service, inspect each tailboom upper 

left attachment fitting (fitting) for a crack, a 

loose rivet, corrosion, or damage as depicted 

in Figure 2 of BHTC Alert Service Bulletin 

206L–09–158, Revision B, dated June 1, 2011 

(ASB 206L–09–158). 

(2) If there is a crack, corrosion, or damage 

beyond the acceptable limits of Figure 2 of 

ASB 206L–09–158, before further flight, 

replace the fitting with an airworthy fitting. 

(3) If there is corrosion or damage within 

the acceptable limits of Figure 2 of ASB 

206L–09–158, before further flight, repair the 

fitting as described in the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Part I, paragraphs 5.b.(1) 

through 5.b.(6), of ASB 206L–09–158. 

(4) If there is a loose rivet, before further 

flight, replace the loose rivet with an 

airworthy rivet. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Sharon Miles, 

Aerospace Engineer, FAA, Regulations and 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
41888 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 134 / Friday, July 12, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

Policy Group, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137; telephone: (817) 222– 

5122; fax: (817) 222–5961; email: 

sharon.y.miles@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 

(1) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD 

No. CF–2009–41, dated November 16, 2009. 

You may view the TCCA AD at http:// 

www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA– 

2013–0603. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 5302: Rotorcraft Tailboom. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 1, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–16695 Filed 7–11–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0604; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–110–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; 

AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by Agusta 

S.p.A.) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

AgustaWestland S.p.A. (Agusta) Model 

AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This 

proposed AD would require inspecting 

the nose landing gear (NLG) pin 

installations for incorrect assembly. 

This proposed AD is prompted by 

reports of incorrectly installed pins 

discovered on in-service aircraft. The 

proposed actions are intended to detect 

incorrectly installed pins, which could 

result in collapse of the NLG during taxi 

or landing. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by September 10, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://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’’ 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 Agusta 

Westland, Customer Support & Services, 

Via Per Tornavento 15, 21019 Somma 

Lombardo (VA) Italy, ATTN: Giovanni 

Cecchelli; telephone 39–0331–711133; 

fax 39 0331 711180; or at http:// 

www.agustawestland.com/technicalbullettins. 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: 

Robert Grant, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Group, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 

76137; telephone 817–222–5328; email 

robert.grant@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 

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 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA), which is the Technical Agent 

for the Member States of the European 

Union, has issued EASA AD No. 2012– 

0262, dated December 14, 2012 (EASA 

AD 2012–0262), to correct an unsafe 

condition for the Agusta Model AB139 

and AW139 helicopters. EASA advises 

that incorrectly installed NLG pins, part 

number 1661–0001, were discovered on 

several aircraft. Incorrectly installed 

pins create a pre-stress condition on the 

pin flange. According to EASA, a 

subsequent technical investigation by 

Agusta concluded that the incorrect 

installation could be present on a 

number of other helicopters. EASA 

states that this condition could lead to 

NLG structural failure and consequent 

collapse during landing or taxi, 

resulting in damage to the helicopter 

and injury to the occupants. EASA AD 

2012–0262 requires inspecting the NLG 

pin installation on both the left and 

right arms to determine if the pin, 

washers, and nuts are correctly installed 

and, depending on findings, inspecting 

the bolts, nuts, and pins for corrosion, 

and also inspecting the pins for surface 

cracks, and correctly installing the pins. 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Italy and are 

approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Italy, EASA, 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 products of the same 

type design. 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS