Document ID: FAA-2013-0145-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Agusta S.p.A. and Bell Helicopter Textron Helicopters
Posted Date: 2013-02-25T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 37 (Monday, February 25, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12646-12648]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-04223]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0145; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-059-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Agusta S.p.A. and Bell Helicopter 
Textron Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB412 and AB412 EP, and Bell Helicopter 
Textron (Bell) Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters with certain 
DART Aerospace Ltd. (Dart) high gear aft crosstubes (crosstube) 
installed. This proposed AD would require adding a life limit of 10,000 
landings to the crosstube and removing from service any crosstubes with 
more than 10,000 accumulated landings. This proposed AD is prompted by 
five separate reports of crosstube failures. The actions in this 
proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the crosstube and 
subsequent collapse of the landing gear.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by April 26, 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 
Dart Aerospace LTD., 1270 Aberdeen St, Hawkesbury, ON, K6A 1K7, Canada; 
telephone: 1 613 632 5200; Fax: 1 613 632 5246; or at www.dartaero.com. 
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: Jeffrey Zimmer, Airframe Engineer, New 
York Aircraft Certification Office, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 
FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone 
(516) 228-7306; email jeffrey.zimmer@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

[[Page 12647]]

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-2012-14R1, dated May 9, 2012 (CF-2012-14R1), to 
correct an unsafe condition for the Dart high gear aft crosstube 
assembly, part number (P/N) D412-664-203, approved under TC 
Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SH01-9, FAA STC SR01298NY, and 
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) STC IM.R.S.01304, and installed 
on Agusta Model AB412 and AB412 EP and Bell Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF 
helicopters. TC advises that they have received five reports of these 
crosstubes failing. According to TC, based on these reports, the 
affected crosstube requires a life limitation of 10,000 landings. As a 
result, TC issued CF-2012-14R1, which requires amending the 
instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) to establish the new 
life limitation, and removing from service all crosstubes with more 
than 10,000 landings.

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 products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Dart ICA No. ICA-D212-664, Revision 8, dated October 
20, 2011, which contains the airworthiness limitations, inspection 
requirements, proper placards and markings, and maintenance procedures 
for crosstube P/N D212-664 and D412-664. Revision 8 establishes a life 
limit of 10,000 landings for crosstube P/N D412-664-203.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require establishing a component history 
card for each crosstube, P/N D412-664-203; revising the airworthiness 
limitations of the maintenance manual to establish a life limit of 
10,000 landings for each crosstube; and removing from service any 
crosstube with more than 10,000 landings.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 76 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. Based on an average labor cost of $85 per hour, we 
estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Creating a component history card and amending the 
ICA would require about 1 work-hour, for a cost per helicopter of $85 
and a total cost to U.S. operators of $6,460. Replacing a crosstube 
that has exceeded its life-limit would require about 6 work-hours and 
required parts would cost about $10,351, for a total cost per 
helicopter of $10,861.

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

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.

Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Agusta S.P.A. and Bell Helicopter Textron Helicopters: Docket No. 
FAA-2012-*****; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-059-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Agusta S.p.A. Model AB412 and AB412 EP 
helicopters and Bell Helicopter Textron Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP 
helicopters with a DART Aerospace Ltd. high gear aft crosstube 
(crosstube), part-number (P/N) D412-664-203 installed under 
Supplemental Type Certificate SR01298NY, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of a crosstube, 
which could result in collapse of the landing gear.

[[Page 12648]]

(c) Reserved

(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) Create a component history card or equivalent record for 
each crosstube. Determine the number of landings on each crosstube 
and enter it on the component history card or equivalent record. If 
the number of landings is unknown, calculate 10 landings per flight 
hour.
    (2) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
maintenance manual to reflect that crosstube, P/N D412-664-203, has 
a retirement life of 10,000 landings.
    (3) Remove from service any crosstube with a number of landings 
equal to or greater than 10,000.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: ATTN: Program 
Manager, Continuing Operational Safety, FAA, New York ACO, 1600 
Stewart Ave., suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; telephone (516) 
228-7300; fax (516) 794-5531.
    (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) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD 
No. CF-2012-14R1, dated May 9, 2012.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3213: Main Landing 
Gear Strut/Axle/Truck.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 18, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-04223 Filed 2-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P