Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 23 / Friday, February 3, 2012 / Proposed Rules 5423 

(f) Additional Information 

The FAA approved AAI Instructions for 

Continued Airworthiness Report Number 

AA–01136 and the Bell Helicopter Textron 

Alert Service Bulletin No. 412–08–129, dated 

May 12, 2008, which are not incorporated by 

reference, contain additional information 

about inspecting the aft crosstube for a crack. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 32: Landing Gear. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 23, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–2423 Filed 2–2–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0087; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–029–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada, Limited 

(Bell) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for the Bell 

Model 206, 206A, 206A–1, 206B, 

206B–1, 206L, 206L–1, 206L–3, and 

206L–4 helicopters with Aviation 

Specialties Unlimited Inc. (ASU) Night 

Vision Imaging System (NVIS) lighting 

modified by Supplemental Type 

Certificate SR01383SE (STC). This 

proposed AD is prompted by the finding 

that an unfiltered turbine outlet 

temperature (TOT) indicator overtemperature warning light, when 

illuminated, created glare and 

reflections that could degrade the pilot’s 

view while using night vision goggles 

thereby creating an unsafe condition. 

The proposed actions are intended to 

modify any unfiltered TOT indicator 

unit over-temperature warning light by 

installing a filter to prevent degradation 

of the pilot’s vision while using night 

vision goggles and to prevent 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by April 3, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

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 Mail 

address above 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 Aviation 

Specialties Unlimited Inc., 4632 

Aeronca Street, Boise, Idaho 83705, 

telephone (208) 426–8117, fax (208) 

426–8975 or http://www.asu-nvg.com/. 

You may review copies of the 

referenced service information at the 

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd. 

Room 663, Fort Worth, TX 76137. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office, Airframe Branch, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, 

Washington 98057, telephone (425) 

917–6426, fax (425) 917–6590; email 

kathleen.arrigotti@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 

We propose to adopt a new AD for the 

specified Bell model helicopters with an 

ASU Night Vision Lighting Imaging 

System installed per STC SR01383SE. 

This proposed AD is prompted by the 

finding that an unfiltered TOT indicator 

over-temperature warning light, when 

illuminated, created glare and 

reflections that could degrade the pilot’s 

view while the pilot is using night 

vision goggles. This proposed AD would 

require determining the date of the STC 

installation, determining whether each 

helicopter has a TOT indicator unit with 

an internal over-temperature warning 

light. If an unfiltered TOT indicator 

over-temperature warning light is 

installed, this AD would require 

installing an NVIS filter. The proposed 

actions are intended to modify any 

unfiltered TOT indicator unit overtemperature warning light by installing 

a filter to prevent degradation of the 

pilot’s vision while using night vision 

goggles and to prevent subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all known relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters 

with NVIS lighting installed per STC 

SR01383SE on or before April 6, 2011. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed ASU’s Alert Service 

Bulletin No. ASU 206–2010–11–1, dated 

November 4, 2010 (ASB) for the Bell 

Helicopter Textron 206 series 

helicopters. The ASB states to visually 

inspect each helicopter to determine if 

the TOT indicator/gauge has an internal 

over-temperature warning light 

installed. If the over-temperature 

warning light is internal, the ASB 

specifies notifying ASU. ASU states it 

will immediately ship an NVIS filter, 

part number (P/N) ASU–TOTGAG–1. 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS

5424 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 23 / Friday, February 3, 2012 / Proposed Rules 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 30 days or 50 hours time-inservice, whichever occurs first, 

determining the date of the STC 

installation. If the date is on or before 

April 6, 2011, or the date is 

undocumented, this AD would require 

determining if the TOT indicator unit 

has an internal over-temperature 

warning light. If the unit has an 

unfiltered internal over-temperature 

warning light, this AD would require 

installing an NVIS filter, P/N ASU– 

TOTGAG–1. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

This proposed AD does not apply to 

helicopters modified by the STC after 

April 6, 2011, because a new design was 

approved for the STC on April 6, 2011, 

and contained instructions to install the 

NVIS over-temperature indicator light 

filter. This proposed AD does not 

require you to notify ASU. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 34 helicopters of U.S. 

registry. We estimate that operators may 

incur the following costs to comply with 

this AD: Determining the date, 

inspecting for an unfiltered, overtemperature TOT indicator light in the 

cockpit, and installing a filter would 

take about 1.8 work hours at $85 per 

hour. A filter would cost about $300. 

The total cost would be $15,402 

assuming the filter would be installed 

on the entire fleet. 

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 above, 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 

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 AD: 

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, Limited 

(Bell): Docket No. FAA–2012–0087; 

Directorate Identifier 2011–SW–029–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model 206, 206A, 

206A–1, 206B, 206B–1, 206L, 206L–1, 206L– 

3, and 206L–4 helicopters, certificated in any 

category, modified with Aviation Specialties 

Unlimited Inc. (ASU) Night Vision Imaging 

System (NVIS) lighting installed per 

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 

SR01383SE. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as an 

unfiltered turbine outlet temperature (TOT) 

indicator over-temperature warning light, 

when illuminated, creating glare and 

reflections that could degrade the pilot’s 

view through night vision goggles. This 

condition could result in loss of control of 

the helicopter. 

(c) 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. 

(d) AD Requirements 

Within 30 days or 50 hours time-in-service, 

whichever occurs first: 

(1) Determine the date of the STC 

installation. 

(2) If the date of the STC installation is on 

or before April 6, 2011, or the date is 

undocumented, determine whether the 

cockpit TOT indicator unit has an unfiltered 

internal over-temperature warning light. If 

the unit has an unfiltered internal overtemperature warning light, install an NVIS 

filter, part number ASU–TOTGAG–1. 

(e) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Seattle Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 

Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, 

Airframe Branch, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, Washington 98057, telephone (425) 

917–6426, fax (425) 917–6590; email 9-ANMSeattle-ACO-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov. 

(2) For operations conducted under a part 

119 operating certificate or under part 91, 

Subpart K, we suggest that you notify your 

principal inspector, or lacking a principal 

inspector, notify 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. 

(f) Additional Information 

Aviation Specialties Unlimited Inc., Alert 

Service Bulletin No. ASU 206–2010–11–1, 

dated November 4, 2010, contains 

information pertaining to the subject of this 

AD. This service information is not 

incorporated by reference. You may review 

copies of this service information at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76193. 

(g) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 7722: Engine EFT/TOT Indicating 

System. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 23, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–2427 Filed 2–2–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS