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

16652 

Vol. 87, No. 57 

Thursday, March 24, 2022 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0286; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–01081–R] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron 

Canada Limited (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Bell Helicopter 

Textron Canada Limited) Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a 

new airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Bell Textron Canada Limited (type 

certificate previously held by Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) 

Model 206L, 206L–1, 206L–3, and 

206L–4 helicopters with a certain partnumbered main rotor (M/R) blade 

installed under Supplemental Type 

Certificate (STC) SR02684LA. This 

proposed AD was prompted by 

delamination of M/R blades. This 

proposed AD would require a repetitive 

inspection for delamination, and 

depending on the results, removing the 

M/R blade from service and reporting 

certain information. The FAA is 

proposing this AD to address the unsafe 

condition on these products. 

DATES: The FAA must receive comments 

on this proposed AD by May 9, 2022. 

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 

https://www.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. 

For service information identified in 

this NPRM, contact Van Horn Aviation, 

L.L.C., ATTN: Dean Rosenlof, 1510 West 

Drake Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283; 

telephone (480) 483–4202; email dean@

vanhornaviation.com. You may view 

this service information at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 

76177. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (817) 222–5110. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0286; 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 

NPRM, any comments received, and 

other information. The street address for 

Docket Operations is listed above. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Peter Jarzomb, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO 

Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., 

Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone (562) 

627–5234; email peter.jarzomb@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

The FAA invites you to send any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments about this proposal. Send 

your comments to an address listed 

under ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2022–0286; Project Identifier AD– 

2021–01081–R’’ at the beginning of your 

comments. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, 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 proposal 

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 https://

www.regulations.gov, including any 

personal information you provide. The 

agency will also post a report 

summarizing each substantive verbal 

contact received about this NPRM. 

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 NPRM 

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 NPRM, 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 

NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 

should be sent to Peter Jarzomb, 

Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Section, 

Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 3960 

Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5234; email 

peter.jarzomb@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 

The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD 

for Bell Textron Canada Limited (type 

certificate previously held by Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) 

Model 206L, 206L–1, 206L–3, and 

206L–4 helicopters with a certain serialnumbered M/R blade part number (P/N) 

20633000–101 installed under STC 

SR02684LA. Testing by Van Horn 

Aviation, L.L.C., revealed the potential 

for delamination in M/R blade P/N 

20633000–101. Delaminations were 

then confirmed by inspection of inservice M/R blades. Testing by Van 

Horn Aviation, L.L.C., has confirmed 

that the 90° plies fail in spanwise 

tension (normal to the fiber direction) at 

the inboard end of the weight receptacle 

near M/R blade station 186.0. 

Delamination then propagates outboard 

from M/R blade station 186.0 at the 

interface between the 0° and 90° plies. 

According to Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C., 

fatigue testing has shown that the 


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Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2022 / Proposed Rules 16653 

delamination initiates almost 

immediately and progresses slowly. 

Thereafter, the delamination grows 

more slowly in a stable, predictable 

manner. The delamination has been 

found to develop first on the lower 

surface and grow outboard from the 

inboard end of the weight receptacle 

and forward of the balance weight 

pocket. After approximately 4 to 6 

inches growth of the delamination on 

the lower surface, a similar 

delamination becomes detectable on the 

M/R blade upper surface. Should the 

delaminations continue to grow to the 

point of static overload, the receptacle 

could depart the M/R blade. 

Accordingly, this proposed AD would 

require a repetitive inspection for 

delamination, and depending on the 

results, removing the M/R blade from 

service and reporting certain 

information. This condition, if not 

addressed, could result in reduced 

structural integrity of the M/R blade, 

excessive vibration, and subsequent loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

FAA’s Determination 

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after 

determining that the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop on other products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Van Horn 

Aviation, L.L.C., Service Bulletin Notice 

No. 33000–4R3, dated November 8, 

2021 (SB 33000–4R3). This service 

information specifies procedures to 

identify ‘‘Zone 1’’ and ‘‘Zone 2’’ 

inspection areas, accomplish repetitive 

visual and tap inspections of the zones 

to detect and monitor the growth of any 

delamination, and depending on the 

results, removing the M/R blade from 

service and contacting Van Horn 

Aviation, L.L.C. 

This service information is reasonably 

available because the interested parties 

have access to it through their normal 

course of business or by the means 

identified in ADDRESSES. 

Proposed AD Requirements in This 

NPRM 

This proposed AD would require, at 

specified intervals, removing the 

affected M/R blade, drawing rectangular 

inspection areas ‘‘Zone 1’’ and ‘‘Zone 2’’ 

with a permanent marker, tap inspecting 

the inspection areas for delamination, 

marking and measuring the length of 

any delamination, and depending on the 

results, removing the M/R blade from 

service. This proposed AD would also 

require reporting certain information to 

Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

This proposed AD would apply to 

additional M/R blades, serial numbers 

A007, A008, and A009, that are not 

identified in SB 33000–4R3 as the FAA 

has determined that those serialnumbered blades are subject to the same 

unsafe condition. The proposed AD 

would require using certain partnumbered composite tap hammers, 

whereas SB 33000–4R3 does not. SB 

33000–4R3 specifies procedures to 

visually inspect the M/R blade, whereas 

this proposed AD would not. If there is 

any delamination in the upper surface 

inspection zone (‘‘Zone 1’’), this 

proposed AD would require removing 

the M/R blade from service, whereas SB 

33000–4R3 does not specify procedures 

for this condition. 

Interim Action 

The FAA considers that this proposed 

AD could be an interim action. The 

inspection reports that would be 

required by this AD will enable the FAA 

to obtain better insight into the unsafe 

condition. If final action is later 

identified, the FAA might consider 

further rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD, if 

adopted as proposed, would affect 23 

helicopters of U.S. registry. Labor rates 

are estimated at $85 per work-hour. 

Based on these numbers, the FAA 

estimates the following costs to comply 

with this proposed AD. 

Removing, tap inspecting, and reinstalling an M/R blade would take 

about 4.5 work-hours for an estimated 

cost of $383 per M/R blade, per 

inspection cycle and up to $8,809 for 

the U.S. fleet per M/R blade, per 

inspection cycle. Replacing an M/R 

blade would take about 4 work-hours 

and parts would cost about $71,500 per 

M/R blade for a total of $71,840 per M/ 

R blade. Reporting information to Van 

Horn Aviation, L.L.C., would take about 

1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 

per report. 

Paperwork Reduction Act 

A federal agency may not conduct or 

sponsor, and a person is not required to 

respond to, nor shall a person be subject 

to a penalty for failure to comply with 

a collection of information subject to the 

requirements of the Paperwork 

Reduction Act unless that collection of 

information displays a current valid 

OMB Control Number. The OMB 

Control Number for this information 

collection is 2120–0056. Public 

reporting for this collection of 

information is estimated to take 

approximately 1 hour per response, 

including the time for reviewing 

instructions, searching existing data 

sources, gathering and maintaining the 

data needed, and completing and 

reviewing the collection of information. 

All responses to this collection of 

information are mandatory. Send 

comments regarding this burden 

estimate or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including 

suggestions for reducing this burden, to: 

Information Collection Clearance 

Officer, Federal Aviation 

Administration, 10101 Hillwood 

Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177–1524. 

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 

The FAA 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 above, I 

certify this proposed regulation: 

(1) Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866, 

(2) Would not affect intrastate 

aviation in Alaska, and 

(3) Would not have a significant 

economic impact, positive or negative, 

on a substantial number of small entities 

under the criteria of the Regulatory 

Flexibility Act. 


khammond on DSKJM1Z7X2PROD with PROPOSALS
16654 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 57 / Thursday, March 24, 2022 / Proposed Rules 

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: 

Bell Textron Canada Limited (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited): 

Docket No. FAA–2022–0286; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–01081–R. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

airworthiness directive (AD) by May 9, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bell Textron Canada 

Limited (type certificate previously held by 

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) 

Model 206L, 206L–1, 206L–3, and 206L–4 

helicopters, certificated in any category, with 

main rotor (M/R) blade part number (P/N) 

20633000–101 with serial number A007, 

A008, A009, or A012 through A104 inclusive 

installed under Supplemental Type 

Certificate SR02684LA. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 6210, Main Rotor Blades. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports of 

delamination of M/R blades. The FAA is 

issuing this AD to address delamination of an 

M/R blade initiating in the 90° plies at the 

lower inboard end of the weight pocket 

receptacle. The unsafe condition, if not 

addressed, could result in reduced structural 

integrity of the M/R blade, excessive 

vibration, 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) Accomplish the actions required by 

paragraph (g)(2) of this AD at the following 

compliance time, whichever occurs later: 

(i) Before the M/R blade accumulates 400 

total hours time-in-service (TIS) or 2,400 

engine starts since initial installation on any 

helicopter, whichever occurs first; or 

(ii) Within 100 hours TIS after the effective 

date of this AD. 

(2) Remove each M/R blade from the 

helicopter, place it on a flat, stable surface, 

and accomplish the following: 

(i) Use a permanent marker to draw 

rectangular inspection ‘‘Zone 1’’ on the upper 

surface of the M/R blade at M/R blade 

stations 186.0 and 191.0, beginning 1.1 

inches from the leading edge of the M/R 

blade to 4.9 inches from the leading edge of 

the M/R blade. Draw lines from the inboard 

end to the outboard end to connect each end 

at 1.1 inches and 4.9 inches. Draw parallel 

lines from the inboard end of the inspection 

zone to the outboard end of the inspection 

zone, with the lines spaced 0.50 inch apart. 

Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2)(i): This note 

applies to paragraphs (g)(2)(i) and (ii) of this 

AD. Figure 4 of Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C., 

Service Bulletin Notice No. 33000–4R3, 

dated November 8, 2021 (SB 33000–4R3) 

depicts ‘‘Zone 1’’ and ‘‘Zone 2.’’ 

(ii) Use a permanent marker to draw 

rectangular inspection ‘‘Zone 2’’ on the lower 

surface of the M/R blade at M/R blade 

stations 186.0 and 191.0, beginning from the 

forward edge of the weight receptacle pocket 

and extending 1 inch in the direction 

towards the leading edge of the M/R blade. 

Draw lines from the inboard end to the 

outboard end to connect each end at the 

weight receptacle pocket and 1 inch forward 

of the weight receptacle pocket. Draw 

parallel lines from the inboard end of the 

inspection zone to the outboard end of the 

inspection zone, with the lines spaced 0.50 

inch apart. 

(iii) Using composite tap hammer Abaris 

Training Tap Hammer P/N ABATH, HeatCon 

Tap Hammer P/N HCS1104–01, Brown Tool 

Composite Tap Hammer P/N BAT–CTH8, or 

MATCO Tools Composite Tap Hammer P/N 

T4BAT–CTH8, tap inspect the areas within 

‘‘Zone 1’’ and ‘‘Zone 2’’ for any delamination 

by following Tap Inspect Balance Receptacle, 

paragraph A.(4) of SB 33000–4R3. Where SB 

33000–4R3 specifies to mark the location 

where the delamination starts, use a 

permanent marker. 

(iv) If there are any marks where the 

delamination starts, connect the marks 

indicating the delamination location and 

measure the length at the farthest point from 

the inboard end of the inspection area. 

(v) If there is any delamination in the lower 

surface inspection zone (‘‘Zone 2’’) that is 6.0 

or more inches in length or if there is any 

delamination in the upper surface inspection 

zone (‘‘Zone 1’’), before further flight, remove 

the M/R blade from service. 

(3) Thereafter repeat the actions required 

by paragraph (g)(2) of this AD at intervals not 

to exceed 400 hours TIS or 2,400 engine 

starts, whichever occurs first. 

(4) If there is any delamination, within 30 

days after accomplishing the actions required 

by paragraphs (g)(1) or (3) of this AD, report 

each delamination size and location, and the 

total hours TIS and total engine starts since 

initial installation of the M/R blade, to Mr. 

Dean Rosenlof, Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C., 

1510 West Drake Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283, or 

by email to info@vanhornaviation.com. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Los Angeles ACO 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 

certification office, send it to the attention of 

the person identified in paragraph (i)(1) of 

this AD. Information may be emailed to: 9- 

ANM-LAACO-AMOC-REQUESTS@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. 

(i) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Peter Jarzomb, Aerospace Engineer, 

Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; 

telephone (562) 627–5234; email 

peter.jarzomb@faa.gov. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Van Horn Aviation, L.L.C., 

ATTN: Dean Rosenlof, 1510 West Drake 

Drive, Tempe, AZ 85283; telephone (480) 

483–4202; email dean@vanhornaviation.com. 

You may view this service information at the 

FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110. 

Issued on March 15, 2022. 

Derek Morgan, 

Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–05874 Filed 3–23–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2022–0148; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00922–T] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to 

supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 

2015–12–03, which applies to certain 

The Boeing Company Model 777–200, 

–200LR, –300, and –300ER series 

airplanes. AD 2015–12–03 requires 

repetitive freeplay inspections and 

lubrication of the right and left 


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