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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 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]

[[Page 33204]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0470; Directorate Identifier 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 directive (AD) for Bell 
Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with a certain tail rotor 
hanger bearing (bearing) installed. This AD requires inspecting the 
bearing to determine whether an incorrectly 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 incorporation 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 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 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 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 Region, 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; email 
7-AVS-ASW-170@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your 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 the 
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 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 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 rulemaking 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 
supplier 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 meet 
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 bearings have a red/orange to brown colored seal.

FAA's Determination

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

Related Service Information

    Bell has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 214-13-74, Revision A, 
dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters, serial 
number (S/N) 28001 through 28070, and ASB 214ST-13-90, Revision A, 
dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214ST helicopters, S/N 28101 through 
28200. Both ASBs describe procedures for determining whether 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 specify replacing any 
bearing with incorrect seal material that is leaking grease or damaged. 
Finally, 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 
whether the bearing has correct seal material.
     If a bearing has incorrect seal material, inspecting the 
bearing at intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS for leakage, slung 
grease, or damage.
     If there is leakage, slung grease, or damage, before 
further flight, replacing 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 initial inspection, 
while this AD requires inspecting within 10 hours TIS. The ASBs specify 
replacing any bearing with black seal material within 500 hours TIS or 
by December 31, 2013. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the 
bearing until the bearing is replaced with an airworthy bearing that 
does not have a black seal.

[[Page 33205]]

Interim Action

    We consider this AD to be an interim action. We are currently 
considering requiring the replacement of the defective bearings, which 
will constitute terminating action for the repetitive inspections 
required by this AD action. However, the planned compliance time for 
the replacement of the bearing would allow enough time to provide 
notice 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 with this AD. At an average labor cost of $85 per hour, 
inspecting the bearings would require about 2.5 work hours, for a cost 
per helicopter of $213 and a cost of $5,538 for the fleet. Replacing a 
defective bearing would require about 3 work hours, and required parts 
would cost $1,372 per bearing, 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 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Bell. 
Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. 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 corrective 
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 the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment 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 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 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, I certify that this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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.

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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2013-11-05 Bell Helicopter Textron, 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 helicopters, 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 hanger bearing (bearing), part number (P/N) 214-
040-606-005 or 214-040-606-101 installed, certificated 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 conditions, resulting in loss of tail rotor control 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective June 19, 2013.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time.

(e) Required Actions

    (1) Within 10 hours time in service (TIS):
    (i) Inspect each bearing to determine whether the seal material 
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, Revision 
A, dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214ST helicopters.
    (ii) For each bearing with black seal material, before further 
flight and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS, 
inspect the bearing for leakage, 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.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 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 Worth, 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 principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or

[[Page 33206]]

certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

 (h) Subject

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

(i) 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 the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 214-13-74, 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 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/.
    (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 incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information 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, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12720 Filed 6-3-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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