Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 187 / Thursday, September 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 78791 

Issued on September 19, 2024. 

Victor Wicklund, 

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–21921 Filed 9–25–24; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–C 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2024–2319; Project 

Identifier AD–2024–00498–R; Amendment 

39–22859; AD 2024–19–17] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron 

Inc. and Various Restricted Category 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 

Textron Inc. Model 204B, 205A, 205A– 

1, 205B, 210, and 212 helicopters and 

various restricted category helicopters 

with certain part-numbered tension 

torsion (TT) straps installed by 

supplemental type certificate (STC) No. 

SR03408CH. This AD was prompted by 

an accident involving failure of a TT 

strap. This AD requires removing the 

specified part-numbered TT straps from 

service and prohibits installing those TT 

straps. The FAA is issuing this AD to 

address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 11, 

2024. 

The FAA must receive comments on 

this AD by November 12, 2024. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, 

using the procedures found in 14 CFR 

11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following 

methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

regulations.gov. Follow the instructions 

for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail 

address above between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

AD Docket: You may examine the AD 

docket at regulations.gov under Docket 

No. FAA–2024–2319; or in person at 

Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 

5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this final rule, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations is 

listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Brian Hanley, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

FAA, 1801 S Airport Road, Wichita, KS 

67209; phone: (847) 294–8140; email: 

Brian.Hanley@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written data, views, or arguments about 

this final rule. Send your comments to 

an address listed under the ADDRESSES

section. Include ‘‘Docket No. FAA– 

2024–2319; Project Identifier AD–2024– 

00498–R’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the final 

rule, explain the reason for any 

recommended change, and include 

supporting data. The FAA will consider 

all comments received by the closing 

date and may amend this final rule 

because of those comments. 

Except for Confidential Business 

Information (CBI) as described in the 

following paragraph, and other 

information as described in 14 CFR 

11.35, the FAA will post all comments 

received, without change, to 

regulations.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. The agency 

will also post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact received 

about this final rule. 

Confidential Business Information 

CBI is commercial or financial 

information that is both customarily and 

actually treated as private by its owner. 

Under the Freedom of Information Act 

(FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt 

from public disclosure. If your 

comments responsive to this AD contain 

commercial or financial information 

that is customarily treated as private, 

that you actually treat as private, and 

that is relevant or responsive to this AD, 

it is important that you clearly designate 

the submitted comments as CBI. Please 

mark each page of your submission 

containing CBI as ‘‘PROPIN.’’ The FAA 

will treat such marked submissions as 

confidential under the FOIA, and they 

will not be placed in the public docket 

of this AD. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Brian Hanley, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1801 S 

Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; 

phone: (847) 294–8140; email: 

Brian.Hanley@faa.gov. Any commentary 

that the FAA receives which is not 

specifically designated as CBI will be 

placed in the public docket for this 

rulemaking. 

Background 

This AD was prompted by an accident 

involving a Bell Textron Inc. Model 212 

helicopter, which experienced a 

separation of a main rotor blade from 

the main rotor head and subsequent 

impact into terrain shortly after takeoff. 

Initial investigation determined the TT 

strap failed at 664 total hours time-inservice (TIS). Investigations into 

individual wire failure mechanisms are 

ongoing with early indications 

suggesting some wires possibly failed in 

tensile overload and others in fatigue. 

Bell Textron Inc. Model 204B, 205A, 

205A–1, 205B, and 210 helicopters and 

various restricted category helicopters 

are also affected by this unsafe 

condition since the affected TT straps 

may also be installed on these model 

helicopters. 

This condition, if not addressed, 

could result in loss of a main rotor blade 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this AD because 

the agency determined the unsafe 

condition described previously is likely 

to exist or develop in other products of 

the same type designs. 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires removing TT straps 

part numbers AA–204–310–101–101, 

AA–204–310–101–101C, AA–204–310– 

101–103, and AA–204–310–101–103C 

installed by STC No. SR03408CH from 

service and prohibits installing those TT 

straps on any helicopter. 

Interim Action 

The FAA considers this AD to be an 

interim action. If final action is later 

identified, the FAA might consider 

further rulemaking then. 

Justification for Immediate Adoption 

and Determination of the Effective Date 

Section 553(b) of the Administrative 

Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C. 551 et 

seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense 

with notice and comment procedures 

for rules when the agency, for ‘‘good 

cause,’’ finds that those procedures are 

‘‘impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary 

to the public interest.’’ Under this 

section, an agency, upon finding good 

cause, may issue a final rule without 

providing notice and seeking comment 

prior to issuance. Further, section 

553(d) of the APA authorizes agencies to 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
78792 Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 187 / Thursday, September 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 

make rules effective in less than thirty 

days, upon a finding of good cause. 

An unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD without providing an opportunity 

for public comments prior to adoption. 

The FAA has found that the risk to the 

flying public justifies forgoing notice 

and comment prior to adoption of this 

rule because an affected TT strap was 

involved in an accident in which the TT 

strap failed, resulting in the main rotor 

blade detaching from the main rotor 

head. Failure of an affected TT strap 

could occur at any time without any 

previous indications and result in a 

sudden and catastrophic condition. 

Thus, an urgent unsafe condition exists 

and the required actions must be done 

within 50 hours TIS, a time period of up 

to two months based on the average 

flight-hour utilization rates of these 

helicopters. However, a significant 

portion of these helicopters in the U.S. 

fleet are high usage helicopters, which 

have an increased likelihood of 

occurrence of a failure and will reach 

the compliance time within a period of 

approximately one week based on the 

average flight-hour utilization rates of 

these helicopters. Accordingly, notice 

and opportunity for prior public 

comment are impracticable and contrary 

to the public interest pursuant to 5 

U.S.C. 553(b). 

In addition, the FAA finds that good 

cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) 

for making this amendment effective in 

less than 30 days, for the same reasons 

the FAA found good cause to forgo 

notice and comment. 

Regulatory Flexibility Act 

The requirements of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act (RFA) do not apply when 

an agency finds good cause pursuant to 

5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt a rule without 

prior notice and comment. Because the 

FAA has determined that it has good 

cause to adopt this rule without prior 

notice and comment, RFA analysis is 

not required. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 120 helicopters of U.S. registry. 

Labor rates are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. Based on these numbers, the 

FAA estimates that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this AD. 

Replacing the TT straps (two TT 

straps per helicopter) will take 10 workhours and parts will cost $18,000 for an 

estimated cost of $18,850 per helicopter 

and $2,262,000 for the U.S. 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. 

The FAA is 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 

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 above, I 

certify that this AD: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

and 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

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 

■ 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: 

2024–19–17 Bell Textron Inc. and Various 

Restricted Category Helicopters: 

Amendment 39–22859; Docket No. 

FAA–2024–2319; Project Identifier AD– 

2024–00498–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 11, 2024. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to the helicopters 

identified in paragraphs (c)(1) and (2) of this 

AD with tension torsion (TT) straps partnumber AA–204–310–101–101, AA–204– 

310–101–101C, AA–204–310–101–103, or 

AA–204–310–101–103C installed in 

accordance with Supplemental Type 

Certificate No. SR03408CH. 

(1) Bell Textron Inc. Model 204B, 205A, 

205A–1, 205B, 210, and 212 helicopters, 

certificated in any category; and 

(2) The various restricted category 

helicopters identified in paragraphs (c)(2)(i) 

through (xiii) of this AD. 

(i) Model 209/AH–1G helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Attack Logistics LLC. 

(ii) Model AH–1S helicopters; current type 

certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, US Helicopter, Inc. 

(iii) Model HH–1K helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Midwest Aerospace TC LLC. 

(iv) Model SW205A–1 helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Southwest Florida Aviation 

International, Inc. 

(v) Model TH–1F helicopters; current type 

certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Midwest Aerospace TC LLC, 

Robinson Air Crane, Inc., and Tamarack 

Helicopters, Inc. 

(vi) Model TH–1L helicopters; current type 

certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Bell Textron Inc., Midwest 

Aerospace TC LLC, and Overseas Aircraft 

Support, Inc. 

(vii) Model UH–1A helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc. 

(viii) Model UH–1B helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, International Helicopters, Inc., 

Midwest Aerospace TC LLC, Overseas 

Aircraft Support, Inc., Red Tail Flying 

Services LLC, Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc., 

Southwest Florida Aviation International, 

Inc., and WSH, LLC. 

Note 1 to paragraph (c)(2)(viii): 

Helicopters with an SW204 or SW204HP 

designation are Southwest Florida Aviation 

International, Inc., Model UH–1B helicopters. 

(ix) Model UH–1E helicopters; current type 

certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Bell Textron Inc., Midwest 

Aerospace TC LLC, Overseas Aircraft 

Support, Inc., Smith Helicopters, and West 

Coast Fabrications. 

(x) Model UH–1F helicopters; current type 

certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, AST, Inc., California Department 

of Forestry, Midwest Aerospace TC LLC, 

Robinson Air Crane, Inc., and Tamarack 

Helicopters, Inc. 

(xi) Model UH–1H helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 187 / Thursday, September 26, 2024 / Rules and Regulations 78793 

1Public Law 111–203, 124 Stat. 1376 (2010). 

2 7 U.S.C. 1a(11). 

limited to, Arrow Falcon Exporters Inc., 

Global Helicopter Technology, Inc., 

Hagglund Helicopters, LLC, JJASPP 

Engineering Services, LLC., Midwest 

Aerospace TC LLC, Northwest Rotorcraft, 

LLC, Overseas Aircraft Support, Inc., 

Richards Heavylift Helo, Inc., Southwest 

Florida Aviation International, Inc., and 

Tamarack Helicopters, Inc. 

Note 2 to paragraph (c)(2)(xi): Helicopters 

with an SW205 designation are Southwest 

Florida Aviation International, Inc., Model 

UH–1H helicopters. 

(xii) Model UH–1L helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Bell Textron Inc., Midwest 

Aerospace TC LLC, and Overseas Aircraft 

Support, Inc. 

(xiii) Model UH–1P helicopters; current 

type certificate holders include, but are not 

limited to, Midwest Aerospace TC LLC and 

Robinson Air Crane, Inc. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code 6700, Rotorcraft flight control. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by an accident 

involving failure of a TT strap, which 

resulted in the main rotor blade detaching 

from the main rotor head. The FAA is issuing 

this AD to address failure of a TT strap. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 

result in loss of a main rotor blade and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Remove the TT straps from service and 

replace them with airworthy TT straps at the 

compliance time required by paragraphs 

(g)(1)(i) or (ii) of this AD, as applicable. 

(i) For TT straps that as of the effective date 

of this AD have accumulated 350 or more 

total hours time-in-service (TIS) since first 

installation on any helicopter, within 50 

hours TIS after the effective date of this AD. 

(ii) For TT straps that as of the effective 

date of this AD have accumulated less than 

350 total hours TIS since first installation on 

any helicopter, before the TT straps 

accumulate 400 total hours TIS since first 

installation on any helicopter. 

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do 

not install the TT straps identified in the 

introductory text of paragraph (c) of this AD 

on any helicopter. 

(h) Special Flight Permit 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Central Certification 

Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 

AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 

procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In 

accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your 

request to your principal inspector or local 

Flight Standards District Office, as 

appropriate. If sending information directly 

to the manager of the Central Certification 

Branch, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (j) of this AD. 

Information may be emailed to: AMOC@

faa.gov. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(j) Additional Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Brian Hanley, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, 1801 S Airport Road, 

Wichita, KS 67209; phone: (847) 294–8140; 

email: Brian.Hanley@faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued on September 23, 2024. 

Steven W. Thompson, 

Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 

Service. 

[FR Doc. 2024–22095 Filed 9–23–24; 4:15 pm] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING 

COMMISSION 

17 CFR Parts 1, 3, 4, 30, 43, and 75 

RIN 3038–AF25 

Commodity Pool Operators, 

Commodity Trading Advisors, and 

Commodity Pools Operated: Updating 

the ‘Qualified Eligible Person’ 

Definition; Adding Minimum 

Disclosure Requirements for Pools 

and Trading Programs; Permitting 

Monthly Account Statements for Funds 

of Funds; Technical Amendments 

AGENCY: Commodity Futures Trading 

Commission. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The Commodity Futures 

Trading Commission (Commission or 

CFTC) is adopting amendments to 

certain provisions of its regulations (the 

Final Rule) that would update the 

Portfolio Requirement thresholds within 

the ‘‘Qualified Eligible Person’’ 

definition; include revisions that are 

consistent with long-standing 

Commission exemptive letters 

addressing the timing of certain pools’ 

periodic financial reporting; and make 

several technical amendments related to 

the structure of the regulations that are 

the subject of this Final Rule. 

DATES: 

Effective date: This rule is effective 

November 25, 2024. 

Compliance date: Commodity pool 

operators (CPOs) and commodity 

trading advisors (CTAs) must comply 

with the increased Portfolio 

Requirement thresholds in Commission 

regulation § 4.7(a) by March 26, 2025. 

The optional monthly account statement 

reporting schedule for certain § 4.7 

pools in Commission regulation 

§ 4.7(b)(3)(iv) is available to CPOs as of 

the effective date, and compliance is 

required upon election of that schedule 

by the CPO. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Amanda L. Olear, Director, 202–418– 

5283 or aolear@cftc.gov; Pamela M. 

Geraghty, Acting Deputy Director, 202– 

418–5634 or pgeraghty@cftc.gov; 

Elizabeth Groover, Acting Associate 

Director, 202–418–5985 or egroover@

cftc.gov; or Andrew Ruggiero, Special 

Counsel, 202–418–5712 or aruggiero@

cftc.gov; each in the Market Participants 

Division at the Commodity Futures 

Trading Commission, Three Lafayette 

Centre, 1155 21st Street NW, 

Washington, DC 20581. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Table of Contents 

I. Introduction and Background 

II. The Final Rule 

A. General Overview of Comments 

Received 

B. Minimum QEP Disclosure Requirements 

Under Commission Regulation § 4.7 

C. Updating Financial Thresholds in the 

Portfolio Requirement of the ‘‘Qualified 

Eligible Person’’ Definition 

D. Permitting Monthly Account Statements 

for Certain 4.7 Pools Consistent With 

Commission Exemptive Letters 

E. Other Technical Amendments 

F. Effective and Compliance Dates for the 

Final Rule 

III. Related Matters 

A. Regulatory Flexibility Act 

B. Paperwork Reduction Act 

C. Cost-Benefit Considerations 

D. Antitrust Considerations 

I. Introduction and Background 

As amended by the Dodd-Frank Wall 

Street Reform and Consumer Protection 

Act (Dodd-Frank Act),1 section 1a(11) of 

the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA or 

Act) defines the term ‘‘commodity pool 

operator’’ as any person engaged in a 

business that is of the nature of a 

commodity pool, investment trust, 

syndicate, or similar form of enterprise, 

and who, with respect to that 

commodity pool, solicits, accepts, or 

receives from others, funds, securities, 

or property, either directly or through 

capital contributions, the sale of stock or 

other forms of securities, or otherwise, 

for the purpose of trading in commodity 

interests.2 CEA section 1a(10) defines a 

‘‘commodity pool’’ as any investment 

trust, syndicate, or similar form of 

enterprise operated for the purpose of 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with RULES