This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

52821 

Vol. 86, No. 182 

Thursday, September 23, 2021 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0454; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00006–R; Amendment 

39–21740; AD 2021–20–02] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron 

Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held 

by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Bell Textron Inc. (type certificate 

previously held by Bell Helicopter 

Textron Inc.) Model 205B helicopters. 

This AD was prompted by a notification 

of certain parts needing a life limit. This 

AD requires determining the total hours 

time-in-service (TIS) of certain partnumbered main rotor grip assemblies 

(grip assemblies), establishing a life 

limit for certain part-numbered grip 

assemblies, removing from service any 

grip assembly that has reached or 

exceeded its retirement life, creating a 

component history card, and removing 

any grip assembly from service before 

reaching its retirement life. This AD also 

prohibits installing certain grip 

assemblies unless the life limit was 

established in accordance with this AD. 

The FAA is issuing this AD to address 

the unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective October 28, 

2021. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–0454; 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 address for 

Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Kuethe Harmon, Safety Management 

Program Manager, Certification & 

Program Management Section, DSCO 

Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 

222–5198; email kuethe.harmon@

faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to Bell Textron Inc. Model 205B 

helicopters with grip assembly part 

number (P/N) 204–011–121–005, P/N 

204–011–121–113, or P/N 204–011– 

121–117 installed. The NPRM published 

in the Federal Register on June 10, 2021 

(86 FR 30824). The NPRM was 

prompted by a notification from Bell of 

established life limits for certain part 

numbered grip assemblies that were not 

included in Chapter 4, Airworthiness 

Limitations Schedule (ALS) of Bell 

Helicopter 205B Maintenance Manual 

BHT–205B–MM–1, Revision 1, dated 

July 15, 1993. Bell states the life limit 

of 9,000 hours TIS for grip assembly 

part number (P/N) 204–011–121–005, P/ 

N 204–011–121–113, and P/N 204–011– 

121–117 was left out of the ALS for 

Model 205B helicopters. Bell states this 

may suggest that these part numbers 

have an unlimited life when installed 

on Model 205B helicopters, whereas the 

retirement life is 9,000 hours TIS. This 

condition, if not addressed, could result 

in fatigue and failure of the grip 

assembly and loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

Accordingly, Bell specifies updating 

the existing ALS to establish a life limit 

of 9,000 hours TIS for grip assembly P/ 

N 204–011–121–005, P/N 204–011–121– 

113, and P/N 204–011–121–117. The 

FAA is issuing this AD to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received comments from 

one commenter. The following presents 

the comment received on the NPRM and 

the FAA’s response. 

Request To Correct a Typographical 

Error 

The European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency requested the FAA revise 

references made to a certain grip 

assembly P/N, which is listed 

incorrectly in two instances in the 

Background section of the NPRM. The 

FAA agrees. The Background section of 

the NPRM contained two typographical 

errors in which the FAA incorrectly 

stated the affected grip assemblies with 

life limits omitted from the ALS for 

Model 205B helicopters are grip 

assembly P/N 204–011–121–005, P/N 

204–011–121–113, and P/N 204–011– 

121–005. However, the affected grip 

assembly part numbers are P/N 204– 

011–121–005, P/N 204–011–121–113, 

and P/N 204–011–121–117. The FAA 

has revised the Background paragraph 

of this final rule accordingly. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed. 

Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. Except for the minor editorial 

change described above, this AD is 

adopted as proposed in the NPRM. This 

change, which corrects a typographical 

error in the Background section of the 

NPRM, does not increase the scope of 

the AD. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 2 helicopters of U.S. registry. The 

FAA estimates that operators may incur 

the following costs to comply with this 

AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per 

work-hour. 

Determining the total hours TIS of 

each grip assembly and updating the 

helicopter records takes about 1 workhour for each grip assembly, for an 

estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and 

$170 for the U.S fleet. 

Replacing each grip assembly takes 

about 16 work-hours and parts cost 

about $50,000, for an estimated cost of 

$51,360 per grip assembly. 


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52822 Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 182 / Thursday, September 23, 2021 / Rules and Regulations 

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, 

(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(3) 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. 

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: 

2021–20–02 Bell Textron Inc. (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by Bell 

Helicopter Textron Inc.): Amendment 

39–21740; Docket No. FAA–2021–0454; 

Project Identifier AD–2021–00006–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective October 28, 2021. 

(b) Affected ADs 

None. 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Bell Textron Inc. (type 

certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter 

Textron Inc.) Model 205B helicopters, 

certificated in any category, with main rotor 

grip assembly (grip assembly) part number 

(P/N) 204–011–121–005, P/N 204–011–121– 

113, or P/N 204–011–121–117 installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 6220, Main Rotor Head. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by a notification of 

certain parts needing a life limit. The FAA 

is issuing this AD to prevent a grip assembly 

remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. 

The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 

result in fatigue and failure of the grip 

assembly and loss of helicopter control. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Before further flight after the effective 

date of this AD, determine the total hours 

time-in-service (TIS) of any grip assembly 

having P/N 204–011–121–005, P/N 204–011– 

121–113, or P/N 204–011–121–117. Remove 

from service any grip assembly that has 

accumulated or exceeded 9,000 total hours 

TIS. For each grip assembly that has 

accumulated less than 9,000 total hours TIS, 

do the following: 

(i) Create a component history card or 

equivalent record to establish a life limit of 

9,000 total hours TIS. 

(ii) Thereafter, remove from service any 

grip assembly before it accumulates 9,000 

total hours TIS. 

(2) Thereafter, no alternative life limits 

may be approved for any grip assembly P/N 

204–011–121–005, P/N 204–011–121–113, or 

P/N 204–011–121–117. 

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

not install any grip assembly having P/N 

204–011–121–005, P/N 204–011–121–113, or 

P/N 204–011–121–117 on any Model 205B 

helicopter unless the life limit is established 

in accordance with this AD. 

(h) Special Flight Permits 

Special flight permits are prohibited. 

(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, DSCO 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 DSCO Branch, send it 

to the attention of the person identified in 

paragraph (j) of this AD. Information may be 

emailed to: 9-ASW-190-COS@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) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Kuethe Harmon, Safety Management 

Program Manager, Certification & Program 

Management Section, DSCO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 

76177; telephone (817) 222–5198; email 

kuethe.harmon@faa.gov. 

(k) Material Incorporated by Reference 

None. 

Issued on September 15, 2021. 

Gaetano A. Sciortino, 

Deputy Director for Strategic Initiatives, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2021–20408 Filed 9–22–21; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 71 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–0414; Airspace 

Docket No. 21–AAL–25] 

RIN 2120–AA66 

Revocation of Colored Federal Airway 

Red–4 (R–4) in Central Alaska 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This action revokes Colored 

Federal airway R–4 in central Alaska 

due to the scheduled decommissioning 

of the Bear Creek (BCC) Non-Directional 

Beacon (NDB) on December 2, 2021. 

DATES: Effective date 0901 UTC, 

December 2, 2021. The Director of the 

Federal Register approves this 

incorporation by reference action under 

1 CFR part 51, subject to the annual 

revision of FAA Order JO 7400.11 and 

publication of conforming amendments. 

ADDRESSES: FAA Order JO 7400.11F, 

Airspace Designations and Reporting 

Points, and subsequent amendments can 

be viewed online at https://

www.faa.gov/air_traffic/publications/. 

For further information, you can contact 

the Rules and Regulations Group, 

Federal Aviation Administration, 800 


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