Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 191 / Monday, October 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules 58681

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000–SW–16–AD

RIN 2120–AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell

Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 204B

Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation

Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking

(NPRM).

SUMMARY: This document proposes

adopting a new airworthiness directive

(AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

(BHTI) Model 204B helicopters. The AD

would require replacing any main rotor

mast assembly (mast), part number (P/

N) 204–011–450–001, within 25 hours

time-in-service (TIS). This proposal is

prompted by the crash of a restricted

category Model UH–1B helicopter due

to failure of a mast, P/N 204–011–450–

001. The same mast P/N is used on the

Model 204B helicopters. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent failure of the mast

and subsequent loss of control of the

helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before December 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in

triplicate to the Federal Aviation

Administration (FAA), Office of the

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region,

Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000–SW–

16–AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room

663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may

also send comments electronically to

the Rules Docket at the following

address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov.

Comments may be inspected at the

Office of the Regional Counsel between

9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through

Friday, except Federal holidays.

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

Interested persons are invited to

participate in the making of the

proposed rule by submitting such

written data, views, or arguments as

they may desire. Communications

should identify the Rules Docket

number and be submitted in triplicate to

the address specified above. All

communications received on or before

the closing date for comments will be

considered before taking action on the

proposed rule. The proposals contained

in this notice may be changed in light

of the comments received.

Comments are specifically invited on

the overall regulatory, economic,

environmental, and energy aspects of

the proposed rule. All comments

submitted will be available in the Rules

Docket for examination by interested

persons. A report summarizing each

FAA-public contact concerned with the

substance of this proposal will be filed

in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to

acknowledge receipt of their mailed

comments submitted in response to this

notice must submit a self-addressed,

stamped postcard on which the

following statement is made:

‘‘Comments to Docket No. 2000–SW–

16–AD.’’ The postcard will be date

stamped and returned to the

commenter.

Availability of NPRMs

Any person may obtain a copy of this

NPRM by submitting a request to the

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,

Southwest Region, Attention: Rules

Docket No. 2000–SW–16–AD, 2601

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,

Texas 76137.

Discussion

This document proposes adopting a

new AD for BHTI Model 204B

helicopters. The AD would require

replacing any mast, P/N 204–011–450–

001, within 25 hours time-in-service

(TIS). This proposal is prompted by the

crash of a restricted category Model

UH–1B helicopter due to failure of a

mast, P/N 204–011–450–001, as a result

of an undetected fatigue crack in the

stabilizer bar damper spline.

Metallurgical examination of the failed

part by the National Transportation

Safety Board (NTSB) Materials

Laboratory revealed fatigue cracking

adjacent to the upper groove on the

stabilizer bar damper spline. Several

other cracks were noted in the same area

during visual examination. The mast

was reported to have accumulated 4006

hours TIS. The accident investigation

also revealed that the U. S. Army

removed the masts, P/N 204–011–450–

001 and –005, from service in July 1984.

The FAA issued AD 2000–15–21 on

August 1, 2000 (65 FR 48605, August 9,

2000), requiring removal of the mast, P/

N 204–011–450–001 and –005, from

service on former U.S. military

restricted category helicopters. Because

the same P/N mast is used on the Bell

Model 204B helicopters, this AD

proposes to remove the mast, P/N 204–

011–450–001, from service on these

model helicopters as well. The actions

specified by the proposed AD are

intended to prevent failure of the mast.

This condition, if not corrected, could

result in loss of control of the

helicopter.

We have identified an unsafe

condition that is likely to exist or

develop on other BHTI Model

helicopters of the same type design. The

proposed AD would require replacing

any mast, P/N 204–011–450–001, which

would no longer be eligible for

installation on any helicopter.

We estimate that 15 helicopters of

U.S. registry would be affected by this

proposed AD, that it would take

approximately 10 work hours per

helicopter to accomplish the proposed

actions, and that the average labor rate

is $60 per work hour. Required parts

would cost approximately $8,862 per

helicopter. Based on these figures, the

total cost impact of the proposed AD on

U.S. operators is estimated to be

$141,930.

The regulations proposed herein

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. Therefore,

it is determined that this proposal

would not have federalism implications

under Executive Order 13132.

For the reasons discussed above, I

certify that 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); and (3) if

promulgated, 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. A copy of the draft

regulatory evaluation prepared for this

action is contained in the Rules Docket.

A copy of it may be obtained by

contacting the Rules Docket at the

location provided under the caption

ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation

safety, Safety.

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:

58682 Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 191 / Monday, October 2, 2000 / Proposed Rules

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. Section 39.13 is amended by

adding a new airworthiness directive to

read as follows:

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Docket No.

2000–SW–16–AD.

Applicability: Model 204B helicopters with

main rotor mast assembly, part number (P/N)

204–011–450–001, installed, certificated in

any category.

Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter

identified in the preceding applicability

provision, regardless of whether it has been

otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in

the area subject to the requirements of this

AD. For helicopters that have been modified,

altered, or repaired so that the performance

of the requirements of this AD is affected, the

owner/operator must request approval for an

alternative method of compliance in

accordance with paragraph (b) of this AD.

The request should include an assessment of

the effect of the modification, alteration, or

repair on the unsafe condition addressed by

this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not

been eliminated, the request should include

specific proposed actions to address it.

Compliance: Required within 25 hours

time-in-service, unless accomplished

previously.

To prevent failure of the main rotor mast

assembly (mast) and subsequent loss of

control of the helicopter, accomplish the

following:

(a) Remove any mast, P/N 204–011–450–

001, from service and replace it with an

airworthy mast. Accomplishing the

requirement of this paragraph constitutes

terminating action for the requirements of

this AD. P/N 204–011–450–001 is not eligible

for installation on any helicopter.

(b) An alternative method of compliance or

adjustment of the compliance time that

provides an acceptable level of safety may be

used if approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft

Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate,

FAA. Operators shall submit their requests

through an FAA Principal Maintenance

Inspector, who may concur or comment and

then send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft

Certification Office.

Note 2: Information concerning the

existence of approved alternative methods of

compliance with this AD, if any, may be

obtained from the Rotorcraft Certification

Office.

(c) Special flight permits may be issued in

accordance with sections 21.197 and 21.199

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR

21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter

to a location where the requirements of this

AD can be accomplished.

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September

25, 2000.

Eric Bries,

Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate,

Aircraft Certification Service.

[FR Doc. 00–25154 Filed 9–29–00; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P

POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Parts 111 and 502

Production, Distribution, and Use of

Postal Security Devices and

Information-Based Indicia

AGENCY: Postal Service.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

SUMMARY: The Postal Service is

proposing to add new sections to the

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) and to

title 39, Code of Federal Regulations

(CFR), to reflect policies and regulations

pertaining to all postage evidencing

systems that generate information-based

indicia (IBI). We originally published

policies and regulations for public

review and comment in the March 28,

1997, Federal Register (62 FR 14833). In

the September 2, 1998, Federal Register

(63 FR 46719) we published a revision

of those proposed policies and

regulations which included changes

made in response to the comments

received from the public.

This publication of proposed policies

and regulations includes extensive

changes. We based the changes since the

1998 publication on public comments

and on the experience we gained by

testing and implementing the first

postage evidencing systems to generate

information-based indicia (IBI). One

significant proposed change is the

establishment by the Postal Service of

the Electronic Funds Resetting System

(EFRS) to process resetting data for

these systems. We will continue to

process data for traditional postage

meters under the Computerized Meter

Resetting System (CMRS). Other

proposed changes include modifying

the forms of payment the Postal Service

will accept, and changing the policy for

refunds for unused IBI postage and for

the balance remaining on a postal

security device (PSD) that is withdrawn

from service.

We are reissuing the policies and

regulations in this proposal for public

comment because we made extensive

changes. We will revise the proposed

IBI policies and regulations, if required,

and publish them as a final rule after we

review the comments.

DATES: Comments must be received on

or before December 1, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Written comments should

be mailed or delivered to the Manager,

Postage Technology Management, USPS

Headquarters, 475 L’Enfant Plaza SW,

Room 8430, Washington, DC 20260–

2444. Copies of all written comments

will be available at this address for

inspection and photocopying between 9

a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Nicholas S. Stankosky, 202–268–5311.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Postage

evidencing systems covered by these

regulations include all those systems

that generate information-based indicia

(IBI) and use a postal security device

(PSD). The characteristics of these

systems enable the Postal Service to

scan indicia to detect fraud. Core

security functions, such as digital

signature generation, digital signature

verification, and the management of

postage registers are performed by the

PSD. The IBI contains a twodimensional barcode that incorporates a

cryptographic digital signature. The

component of these postage evidencing

systems that controls the registered user

infrastructure for system authorization,

system audits, remote postage resetting,

and production of the indicia is called

the client system.

Authorized postage evidencing

systems are available from authorized,

commercial product service providers.

The provider’s infrastructure supports

user registration (formerly ‘‘licensing’’),

PSD management and life cycle support,

and an interface between the client

system and the Postal Service

infrastructure. The Postal Service

infrastructure supports the issuance of

user registrations, updating user

registration information, PSD inventory

and tracking, resetting, account

reconciliation, lost and stolen/

irregularity monitoring, and the

assignment of digital certificates.

The Following is a Summary of the

Postal Service’s Position on Some

General Interest Policy Issues for

Postage Evidencing Systems That

Generate IBI

1. Any proposed postage evidencing

system that generates IBI must be

submitted to the Postal Service for

approval under the then current version

of the postage evidencing product

submission procedures. These

procedures include specifics on letters

of intent, nondisclosure agreements, the

product service provider’s concept of

operations and infrastructure,

documentation requirements, product

submissions, and testing activities.

Information pertaining to these