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

62085 

Vol. 70, No. 208 

Friday, October 28, 2005 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22806; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–SW–04–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron Model 206B 

Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration, DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This document proposes 

adopting a new airworthiness directive 

(AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) 

Model 206B helicopters modified with 

Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI) 

Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 

No. SH8435SW or SH8419SW with 

energy attenuating seat installation wire 

(wire). The AD would require replacing 

certain wire with airworthy wire. This 

proposal is prompted by disclosure that 

certain wires may not have the yield 

strength to allow seats to attenuate 

energy during an emergency landing. 

The actions specified by the proposed 

AD are intended to prevent failure of a 

seat to attenuate energy during an 

emergency landing, which could result 

in occupant injury. 

DATES: Comments must be received on 

or before December 27, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to submit comments on this 

proposed AD: 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically; 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically; 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590; 

• Fax: 202–493–2251; or 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

You may get the service information 

identified in this proposed AD from 

Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., P.O. Box 

3689, Bristol, Tennessee 37625–3689. 

You may examine the comments to 

this proposed AD in the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Marc Belhumeur, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Rotorcraft Certification Office, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76193–0170, telephone 

(817) 222–5177, fax (817) 222–5783. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to submit any written 

data, views, or arguments regarding this 

proposed AD. Send your comments to 

the address listed under the caption 

ADDRESSES. Include the docket number 

‘‘FAA–2005–22806, Directorate 

Identifier 2005–SW–04–AD’’ at the 

beginning of your comments. We 

specifically invite comments on the 

overall regulatory, economic, 

environmental, and energy aspects of 

the proposed AD. We will consider all 

comments received by the closing date 

and may amend the proposed AD in 

light of those comments. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this proposed 

rulemaking. Using the search function 

of our docket Web site, you can find and 

read the comments to any of our 

dockets, including the name of the 

individual who sent or signed the 

comment. You may review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the Docket 

You may examine the docket that 

contains the proposed AD, any 

comments, and other information in 

person at the Docket Management 

System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 

a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 

Friday, except Federal holidays. The 

Docket Office (telephone 1–800–647– 

5227) is located at the plaza level of the 

Department of Transportation NASSIF 

Building in Room PL–401 at 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC. 

Comments will be available in the AD 

docket shortly after the DMS receives 

them. 

Discussion 

This document proposes adopting a 

new AD for Bell Model 206B helicopters 

with AAI STC No. SH8435SW or 

SH8419SW. The AD would require 

replacing wires that were manufactured 

or invoiced during a specified time 

frame. This proposal is prompted by 

disclosure that certain wires may not 

have the yield strength necessary to 

allow seats to attenuate energy during 

an emergency landing. This condition, if 

not corrected, could result in failure of 

a seat to attenuate energy during an 

emergency landing resulting in 

occupant injury. 

We have reviewed AAI Alert Service 

Bulletin No. AA–04107, Revision B, 

dated April 8, 2005 (ASB), which 

describes procedures for determining 

either the manufacture date or the 

installation date of wires, part number 

(P/N) 157–13000–39, 157–13000–40, 

and 157–43000–61. The ASB specifies 

replacing these part-numbered wires 

based on specific manufacture or 

installation dates. 

This unsafe condition is likely to exist 

or develop on other helicopters with the 

same supplemental type design. 

Therefore, the proposed AD would 

require within 60 days: 

• Determining the manufacture or 

invoice date of wires, P/N 157–13000– 

39, 157–13000–40, and 157–43000–61. 

• Replacing wire, P/N 157–13000–39 

and 157–13000–40, with airworthy wire 

if the manufacture date is within the 

range of dates from September 1, 2001, 

through September 30, 2004, inclusive, 

or if the manufacture date cannot be 

determined and the AAI invoice is not 

dated before September 1, 2001. 

• Replacing wire, P/N 157–43000–61, 

with airworthy wire if the manufacture 

date is within the range of dates from 

September 1, 2002, through September 

30, 2004, inclusive, or if the 

manufacture date cannot be determined 

and the AAI invoice is not dated before 

September 1, 2002. The actions would 

be required to be accomplished by 

62086 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 208 / Friday, October 28, 2005 / Proposed Rules 

following the specified portions of the 

ASB described previously. 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 200 helicopters of U.S. 

registry, and would take about 2 work 

hours per helicopter to determine the 

manufacture and invoice date of the 

wires and to replace the wires at an 

average labor rate of $65 per work hour. 

The manufacturer states in its ASB that 

they will provide the wire. Based on 

these figures, the total cost impact of the 

proposed AD on U.S. operators would 

be $26,000, assuming the manufacturer 

provides the wiring at no cost. 

Regulatory Findings 

We have determined that this 

proposed AD would not have federalism 

implications under Executive Order 

13132. Additionally, 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 that the 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); 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. 

We prepared a draft economic 

evaluation of the estimated costs to 

comply with this proposed AD. See the 

DMS to examine the draft economic 

evaluation. 

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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Safety. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, pursuant to the 

authority delegated to me by the 

Administrator, the Federal Aviation 

Administration proposes to amend part 

39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations 

(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. Section 39.13 is amended by 

adding a new airworthiness directive to 

read as follows: 

Bell Helicopter Textron: Docket No. FAA–

2005–22806; Directorate Identifier 2005–

SW–04–AD. 

Applicability: Model 206B helicopters 

modified with Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. 

(AAI) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 

No. SH8435SW or SH8419SW, with energy 

attenuating seat installation wire (wire), part 

number (P/N) 157–13000–39, 157–13000–40, 

or 157–43000–61, installed, certificated in 

any category. 

Compliance: Required as indicated, unless 

accomplished previously. 

To prevent failure of a seat to attenuate 

energy during an emergency landing 

resulting in occupant injury, accomplish the 

following: 

(a) Within 60 days, determine the 

manufacture date or invoice date of the wire. 

(1) Before further flight, replace wire, P/N 

157–13000–39 and 157–13000–40, with 

airworthy wire if the manufacture date is 

within the range of dates from September 1, 

2001 through September 30, 2004, inclusive, 

or if the manufacture date cannot be 

determined and the AAI invoice is not dated 

before September 1, 2001. To replace the 

wire, follow the Accomplishment 

Instructions, section I, paragraphs 1 through 

11, of Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. Alert 

Service Bulletin ASB No. AA–04107, 

Revision B, dated April 8, 2005 (ASB). 

(2) Before further flight, replace wire, P/N 

157–43000–61, with airworthy wire if the 

manufacture date is within the range of dates 

from September 1, 2002, through September 

30, 2004, inclusive, or if the manufacture 

date cannot be determined and the AAI 

invoice is not dated before September 1, 

2002. To replace the wire, follow the 

Accomplishment Instructions, section I, 

paragraphs 1 through 11, of the ASB. 

(b) To request a different method of 

compliance or a different compliance time 

for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 

39.19. Contact the Rotorcraft Certification 

Office, FAA, for information about 

previously approved alternative methods of 

compliance. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 21, 

2005. 

David A. Downey, 

Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 

Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–21541 Filed 10–27–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

National Highway Traffic Safety 

Administration 

49 CFR Part 571 

[DOT Docket No. NHTSA–2005–22242] 

RIN 2127–AJ57 

Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 

Standards; Cargo Carrying Capacity 

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic 

Safety Administration (NHTSA), DOT. 

ACTION: Extension of comment period 

for a notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: This document extends the 

comment period on a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) published on 

August 31, 2005 (70 FR 51707) that 

addresses motor home and travel trailer 

overloading by proposing to amend the 

Federal motor vehicle safety standard 

(FMVSS) on tire selection and rims for 

motor vehicles other than passenger 

cars. We also proposed a related 

amendment to our safety standard for 

tire selection and rims for light vehicles. 

The comment due date was October 31, 

2005. 

In a submission dated October 14, 

2005, a coalition of trade associations 

representing vehicle manufacturers and 

dealers asked NHTSA for an extension 

of this due date. This document grants 

that request and extends the comment 

due date for the NPRM to November 30, 

2005. 

DATES: The due date for comments on 

DOT Docket No. NHTSA–2005–22242 is 

extended to November 30, 2005. 

ADDRESSES: You may submit your 

comments in writing to: Docket 

Management, Room PL–401, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, 

20590. Alternatively, you may submit 

your comments electronically by logging 

onto the Docket Management System 

Web site at http://dms.dot.gov. Click on 

‘‘Help & Information’’ or ‘‘Help/Info’’ to 

view instructions for filing your 

comments electronically. Regardless of 

how you submit your comments, you 

should mention the docket number of 

this document. 

You may call the Docket at 202–366–

9324. You may visit the Docket from 10