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

3628 

Vol. 83, No. 18 

Friday, January 26, 2018 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0757; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–022–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

serial numbered Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 429 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require marking a serial number on lifelimited forward spars and actuator 

fitting assemblies. The actions of this 

proposed AD are intended to prevent an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 27, 2018. 

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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0757; 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 proposed 

AD, the Transport Canada AD, the 

economic evaluation, any comments 

received, and other information. The 

street address for Docket Operations 

(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 rule, 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, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Helene Gandy, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Regulations & Policy Section, 

Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5413; email 

helene.gandy@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, which is the 

aviation authority for Canada, has 

issued Canadian AD No. CF–2017–02, 

dated January 16, 2017, to correct an 

unsafe condition for BHTC Model 429 

helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 57150, 

57168, 57176, 57210, 57211 through 

57216, 57265, 57266, 57267, and 57287. 

Transport Canada advises that forward 

spars part number (P/N) 429–031–213– 

103 and 429–031–213–104 and actuator 

fitting assembly P/N 429–031–222–101 

and 429–031–222–102 have life limits of 

30,000 and 19,000 Retirement Index 

Numbers, respectively. However, 

Transport Canada states these parts are 

not serialized and therefore their 

accumulated usage is difficult to track, 

which creates a risk that these parts 

could remain in service beyond their 

life limits. This condition could result 

in failure of the part. 

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, Transport 

Canada, 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 products of the 

same type design. 

Related Service Information Under 

1 CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert 

Service Bulletin 429–16–34, dated 

November 10, 2016, which specifies 

procedures for permanently marking 

each forward spar and actuator fitting 

assembly with the serial number of the 

helicopter. 

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 the ADDRESSES section. 

Other Related Service Information 

We also reviewed Bell Helicopter 

Model 429 Maintenance Manual BHT– 

429–MM–1, Chapter 4, Airworthiness 

Limitations Schedule, Revision 26, 

dated September 9, 2016, which 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 18 / Friday, January 26, 2018 / Proposed Rules 3629 

specifies airworthiness life limits and 

inspection intervals for parts installed 

on Model 429 helicopters. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

cleaning and marking the helicopter’s 

serial number on each forward spar 

P/N 429–031–213–103 and 429–031– 

213–104 and on each actuator fitting 

assembly P/N 429–031–222–101 and 

429–031–222–102. This proposed AD 

would also prohibit installing any 

affected part on any helicopter unless is 

has been marked in accordance with 

this proposed AD. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Transport Canada AD 

The Transport Canada AD requires 

compliance within 12 months from its 

effective date, unless already 

accomplished. This proposed AD would 

require compliance within 800 hours 

time in service. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 6 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry and that labor costs average $85 

per work-hour. We estimate that 

marking the forward spars and actuator 

fitting assemblies would require 1 workhour and no parts would be needed. 

Based on these estimates, we expect a 

total cost of $85 per helicopter and $510 

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. 

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: 

Docket No. FAA–2017–0757; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–022–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron 

Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters, serial 

number (S/N) 57150, 57168, 57176, 57210 

through 57216, 57265, 57266, 57267, and 

57287, with a forward spar part number 

(P/N) 429–031–213–103 or 429–031–213–104 

or actuator fitting assembly P/N 429–031– 

222–101 or 429–031–222–102 installed, 

certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

forward spar or actuator fitting assembly 

remaining in service after reaching its life 

limit. This condition could result in failure 

of a forward spar or actuator fitting assembly 

and subsequent collapse of the landing gear. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by March 27, 

2018. 

(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 

(1) Within 800 hours time-in-service, clean 

and identify each forward spar and actuator 

fitting assembly with the helicopter serial 

number in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3 

through 5 and with reference to Figure 1 of 

Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429– 

16–34, dated November 10, 2016. 

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

not install a forward spar P/N 429–031–213– 

103 or 429–031–213–104 or actuator fitting 

assembly P/N 429–031–222–101 or 429–031– 

222–102 on any helicopter unless it has been 

marked with a serial number in accordance 

with paragraph (e)(1) of this AD. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Safety Management 

Section, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Send your proposal to: Helene Gandy, 

Aviation Safety Engineer, Regulations & 

Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 

FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5413; email 9- 

ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@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 Helicopter Model 429 Maintenance 

Manual BHT–429–MM–1, Chapter 4, 

Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, 

Revision 26, dated September 9, 2016, 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 the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, 

TX 76177. 

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in 

Transport Canada AD No. CF–2017–02, dated 

January 16, 2017. You may view the 

Transport Canada AD on the internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 1100, Placards and Markings. 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS
3630 Federal Register / Vol. 83, No. 18 / Friday, January 26, 2018 / Proposed Rules 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 12, 

2018. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2018–01194 Filed 1–25–18; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2018–0036; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–015–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Inc. 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 

Helicopter Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 

212, Model 412, and Model 412EP 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require replacing the emergency 

flotation system (EFS) tube assembly. 

This proposed AD is prompted by a 

report of an EFS tube assembly failure. 

The actions of this proposed AD are 

intended to address an unsafe condition 

on these helicopters. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by March 27, 2018. 

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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2018– 

0036; 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 proposed 

AD, the economic evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for 

Docket Operations (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 rule, 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, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rory 

Rieger, Aviation Safety Engineer, DSCO 

Branch, AIR–7J0, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 

(817) 222–5193; email rory.rieger@

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 

We propose to adopt a new AD for 

Bell Model 212, Model 412, and Model 

412EP helicopters with an EFS tube 

assembly part number (P/N) 412–073– 

820–101 with a date of manufacture 

before July 28, 2016. This proposed AD 

is prompted by a report from Bell that 

an EFS tube assembly separated from 

the valve during a 2-year inflation test. 

A subsequent investigation found that 

excessive sleeve preset force during 

manufacturing caused cracks in the 

sleeve of the tube assembly, which may 

result in the EFS float failing to deploy. 

Bell determined that only those EFS 

tube assemblies with P/N 412–073–820– 

101 that were shipped prior to July 28, 

2016, were subject to this manufacturing 

defect. Bell states that because this 

manufacturing defect is difficult to 

detect, affected EFS tube assemblies in 

service must be replaced. The affected 

parts were associated with a single Bell 

supplier that is no longer manufacturing 

the tube assembly. 

Accordingly, this proposed AD would 

require replacing the EFS tube 

assemblies and would prohibit 

installing an affected EFS tube assembly 

on any helicopter. We are proposing this 

AD to prevent installing a cracked EFS 

tube assembly, which could result in 

failure of the EFS floats to deploy 

during an emergency water landing. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all known relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Bell Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) 212–11–143 and ASB 

412–11–147, both Revision C and dated 

December 22, 2016. Each ASB describes 

and illustrates procedures to replace the 

tube assembly within 600 flight hours or 

by March 31, 2017. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS), 

replacing any EFS tube assembly P/N 

412–073–820–101 that was 

manufactured before July 28, 2016. This 

proposed AD would also prohibit 

installing an EFS tube assembly P/N 

412–073–820–101 that was 

manufactured before July 28, 2016 on 

any helicopter. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

The ASBs require compliance within 

600 flight hours or by March 31, 2017; 

this proposed AD would require 

compliance within 300 hours TIS. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 250 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. 

We estimate that operators may incur 

the following costs in order to comply 

with this proposed AD. At an average 


daltland on DSKBBV9HB2PROD with PROPOSALS