[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 13, 2007)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 11295-11297]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-4525]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-27496; Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-37-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 
205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness 
directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) 
helicopters. That AD currently requires inspecting each affected tail 
rotor blade (blade) forward tip weight retention block (tip block) and 
the aft tip closure (tip closure) for adhesive bond voids, and removing 
any blade with an excessive void from service. That AD also requires 
modifying certain blades by installing shear pins and tip closure 
rivets. This action would contain the same requirements but would 
expand the applicability to include other part and serial-numbered 
blades. This AD would also clarify the requirement to re-identify the 
modified blade by adding ``FM'' after the part number and would require 
dynamically balancing the tail rotor. The existing AD was prompted by 
five occurrences of missing tip blocks or tip closures resulting in 
minor to substantial damage. This proposal was prompted by the 
determination that the AD should apply to other affected part and 
serial-numbered blades. The actions specified by this proposed AD are 
intended to prevent loss of a tip block or tip closure, loss of a 
blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before May 14, 2007.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
    <bullet> DOT Docket Web site: Go to  http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
    <bullet> Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically;
    <bullet> Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400

[[Page 11296]]

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, Washington, DC 
20590;
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251; or
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 
76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 222-
5783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2007-
27496, Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-37-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation NASSIF Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    On April 22, 2002, we issued AD 2002-09-04, Amendment 39-12737 (67 
FR 22349, May 3, 2002), to require inspecting the tip block and the tip 
closure for adhesive bonding voids, and removing any blade with an 
excessive void from service. The AD also required modifying certain 
blades by installing shear pins and tip closure rivets in the tip area 
of the affected blades. That action was prompted by five occurrences of 
missing tip blocks or tip closures resulting in minor to substantial 
damage. The requirements of that AD are intended to prevent loss of a 
tip block or tip closure, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.
    Since issuing that AD, Bell has issued further revisions to Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) Nos. 205-00-80, 205B-00-34, 212-00-111, 412-00-
106, and 412CF-00-13, Revision A, dated December 20, 2000. The 
revisions add blades with a serial number (S/N) A or AFS-11530 to 
13594, 13603 to 13618, and changed the ``effectivity'' of the blades. 
The latest revision, Revision D, dated March 18, 2005, provides an 
alternate fastener for the blade tip closure rivets installation. The 
revised ASB also states that blades with S/N A or AFS-11926, 13351, 
13367, 13393, 13400, 13402, 13515, 13540, 13568, 13595 to 13602, and 
13619 and subsequent will have the intent of the ASBs accomplished 
before delivery.
    The previously described unsafe condition is likely to exist or 
develop on other helicopters of these same type designs. Therefore, the 
proposed AD would supersede AD 2002-09-04 to expand the applicability 
for the blade part and serial number. The proposed AD would also 
clarify the requirement to re-identify the modified blade by adding 
``FM'' after the part number and would also require dynamically 
balancing the tail rotor. Because blades with a S/N with a prefix of 
``A'' or ``AFS'' and a number 11926, 13351, 13367, 13393, 13400, 13402, 
13515, 13540, 13568, 13595 to 13602, and 13619 and subsequent will have 
the modification required by this AD accomplished before delivery, we 
would exclude them from the applicability of this AD.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 281 helicopters of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would take about 3 work hours per 
helicopter to inspect certain blades, install the shear pins and tip 
closure rivets, re-identify the modified blades, and dynamically 
balance the blade assembly at an average labor rate of $80 per work 
hour. Required supplies would cost about $35 per helicopter. Based on 
these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. 
operators to be $77,275.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, 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 that the 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); 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.
    We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

[[Page 11297]]

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-12737 (67 FR 
22349, May 3, 2002), and by adding a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
to read as follows:

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2007-27496; 
Directorate Identifier 2005-SW-37-AD. Supersedes AD 2002-09-04, 
Amendment 39-12737, Docket No. 2001-SW-37-AD.

Applicability

    Model 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters 
with a tail rotor blade (blade), part number 212-010-750-009 through 
-129, all serial numbers except serial numbers with a prefix of 
``A'' or ``AFS'' and the number 11926, 13351, 13367, 13393, 13400, 
13402, 13515, 13540, 13568, 13595 through 13602, 13619, and 
subsequent assigned numbers, installed, certificated in any 
category.

Compliance

    Within 100 hours time-in-service, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of the forward tip weight retention block (tip 
block) or aft tip closure (tip closure), loss of the blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Inspect the tip block and tip closure for voids. Remove from 
service any blade with a void in excess of that allowed by the 
Component Repair and Overhaul Manual limitations.
    (b) Inspect the tip block attachment countersink screws in four 
locations to determine if the head of each countersunk screw is 
flush with the surface of the abrasion strip. The locations of these 
four screws are depicted on Figure 1 of Bell Helicopter Textron, 
Inc. Alert Service Bulletins 205-00-80, 205B-00-34, 212-00-111, 412-
00-106, and 412CF-00-13, all Revision D, all dated March 18, 2005 
(ASB). If any of these screws are set below the surface of the 
abrasion strip or are covered with filler material, install shear 
pins by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part A, Shear Pin 
Installation paragraphs, of the ASB appropriate for your model 
helicopter.
    (c) Install the aft tip closure rivets, re-identify the modified 
blade by adding an ``FM,'' and dynamically balance the tail rotor 
hub assembly by following the Accomplishment Instructions, Part B, 
Aft Tip Closure Rivet Installation paragraphs, of the ASB 
appropriate for your model helicopter.
    (d) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA, ATTN: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 
222-5783, for information about previously approved alternative 
methods of compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 28, 2007.
S. Frances Cox,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-4525 Filed 3-12-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P