This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains notices to the public of the proposed

issuance of rules and regulations. The

purpose of these notices is to give interested

persons an opportunity to participate in the

rule making prior to the adoption of the final

rules.

Proposed Rules Federal Register

34279 

Vol. 78, No. 110 

Friday, June 7, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0492; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–013–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 Bell 

Model 230 helicopters. This proposed 

AD would require installing a placard 

on the instrument panel and revising 

the limitations section of the rotorcraft 

flight manual (RFM). This proposed AD 

is prompted by several incidents of 

third stage engine turbine wheel 

failures, which were caused by 

excessive vibrations at certain engine 

speeds during steady-state operations. 

The proposed actions are intended to 

alert pilots to avoid certain engine 

speeds during steady-state operations, 

prevent failure of the third stage engine 

turbine, engine power loss, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by August 6, 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 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 Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 

12,800 Rue de l’Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec 

J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437–2862 or 

(800) 363–8023; fax (450) 433–0272; 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: 

Chinh Vuong, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone 

(817) 222–5110; email 

chinh.vuong@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 

Transport Canada (TC), which is the 

aviation authority for Canada, has 

issued TC AD No. CF–2005–24, dated 

July 4, 2005, to correct an unsafe 

condition for Model 230 helicopters. TC 

advises of several failures of third stage 

turbine wheels used in Rolls Royce 250– 

C30S and 250–C47B engines and that 

three of these failures have occurred on 

the same engine used by Bell on Model 

230 helicopters. According to TC, Rolls 

Royce has determined that detrimental 

vibrations can occur within a particular 

range of turbine speeds, and may be a 

contributing factor to these failures. Bell 

has revised the operating limitations of 

the RFM and provided a corresponding 

decal on the instrument panel to inform 

pilots to avoid steady-state operations 

between 71% and 92% turbine speeds. 

The TC AD requires amending the 

RFM, advising pilots of the change, and 

installing a decal as described in Bell 

Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 230– 

05–33, dated June 10, 2005 (ASB 230– 

05–33). 

FAA’s Determination 

These helicopters have been approved 

by the aviation authority of Canada and 

are approved for operation in the United 

States. Pursuant to our bilateral 

agreement with Canada, TC, its 

technical representative, has notified us 

of the unsafe condition described in its 

AD. We are proposing this AD because 

we evaluated all known relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition is likely to exist or 

develop on other helicopters of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information 

Bell has issued ASB 230–05–33, 

which contains procedures for installing 

a placard on the instrument panel and 

for inserting the RFM changes into the 

flight manual. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

installing a placard on the instrument 


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34280 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 110 / Friday, June 7, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

panel and revising the Operating 

Limitations section of the Model 230 

RFM to limit steady-state operation 

between speeds of 71% and 92%. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the TC AD 

The TC AD requires compliance 

within 10 calendar days, the proposed 

AD requires compliance within 30 days. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 12 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. Based on an average labor rate 

of $85 per hour, we estimate that 

operators may incur the following costs 

in order to comply with this AD. 

Amending the RFM would require about 

0.5 work-hours, for a cost per helicopter 

of about $43 and a cost to U.S. operators 

of $516. Installing the decal would 

require about 0.2 work-hours and 

required parts would cost $20, for a cost 

per helicopter of $37 and a cost to U.S. 

operators of $444. Based on these 

estimates, the total cost of this proposed 

AD would be $80 per helicopter and 

$960 for the U.S. operator 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, 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 

AD 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 airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

(Bell): Docket No. FAA–2013–0492; 

Directorate Identifier 2008–SW–013–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bell Model 230 

helicopters, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

third stage turbine vibration, which could 

result in turbine failure, engine power loss, 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by August 6, 

2013. 

(d) 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. 

(e) Required Actions 

Within 30 days: 

(1) Revise the Operating Limitations 

section of the Model 230 Rotorcraft Flight 

Manual by inserting Section 1, Limitations, 

page 1–12, of Bell BHT–230–FM–1, revision 

5, dated May 6, 2005. 

(2) Install placard part number 230–075– 

213–115, or equivalent, on the instrument 

panel directly below the No. 1 and No. 2 

engine oil temp/press indicator. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Chinh Vuong, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management 

Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5110; email 

chinh.vuong@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 

certificate holding district office before 

operating any aircraft complying with this 

AD through an AMOC. 

(g) Additional Information 

(1) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 230–05– 

33, dated June 10, 2005, which is not 

incorporated by reference, contains 

additional information about the subject of 

this AD. For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l’Avenir, 

Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 

437–2862 or (800) 363–8023; fax (450) 433– 

0272; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/ 

files/. You may review a copy of the service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada AD No. CF–2005–24, dated 

July 4, 2005. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 7250: Turbine Section. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 29, 

2013. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–13480 Filed 6–6–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–0488; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–SW–002–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

(Bell) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 


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