Document ID: FAA-2013-0500-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters
Posted Date: 2013-10-25T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 207 (Friday, October 25, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 63858-63860]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-24961]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0500; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-45-AD; 
Amendment 39-17624; AD 2013-20-18]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2009-05-09 for 
Bell Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. AD 2009-05-09 required 
reidentifying each affected part-numbered main rotor yoke (yoke) on its 
data plate, reducing the retirement life of the reidentified yoke, and 
revising the Airworthiness Limitations section of the maintenance 
manual or the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs) 
accordingly. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2009-05-09 with 
the exception of the P/N marking location. This AD was prompted by 
fatigue analysis that shows the retirement life should be reduced on 
certain yokes. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition 
on these helicopters.

DATES: This AD is effective November 29, 2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, 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 a copy of the referenced service information at 
the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth Texas 76137.
    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 AD, the economic 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, ASW-170, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification 
Office, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 
222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783, email 7-avs-asw-170@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2009-05-09, Amendment 39-15833 (74 FR 11001, 
March 16, 2009). AD 2009-05-09 applied to Bell Model 412, 412CF, and

[[Page 63859]]

412EP helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 
11, 2013 (78 FR 34958). The NPRM proposed to retain the requirements of 
AD 2009-05-09 to reidentify each affected part-numbered yoke based on 
whether it was ever installed on a Model 412CF helicopter or on a Model 
412 or 412EP helicopter with a slope landing kit, reduce the retirement 
life of each reidentified yoke, revise the Airworthiness Limitations 
section of the maintenance manual or ICAs accordingly, and record each 
reidentified yoke P/N and the reduced retirement life on the component 
history card or equivalent record. However, the NPRM proposed to change 
the requirement to reidentify the yoke by etching the new P/N on the 
side of the yoke instead of on the data plate.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (78 FR 34958, June 11, 
2013) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

FAA's Determination

    We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an 
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of these same type designs and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed except for 
minor editorial changes in paragraphs (f)(2) and (f)(3) to clarify the 
intent of paragraph (f)(2) and to remove an unnecessary reference. 
These minor editorial changes are consistent with the intent of the 
proposals in the NPRM (78 FR 34958, June 11, 2013) and will not 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 115 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. It will take about 3 work hours to review 
and revise the records to reflect the new retirement life and 
reidentify the P/N at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Based 
on these estimates, the cost will be $255 per helicopter and $29,325 
for the U.S. operator fleet. Replacing a yoke will take about 20 work 
hours and $50,196 for the required parts for a cost of $51,896 per 
helicopter.

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

    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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of 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

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2009-05-09, Amendment 39-15833 (74 FR 11001, March 16, 2009), and 
adding the following new AD:

2013-20-18 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Amendment 39-17624; Docket 
No. FAA-2013-0500; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-45-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 412 and 412EP helicopters with a main 
rotor yoke assembly (yoke), part number (P/N) 412-010-101-123, -127, 
-129, or -133, installed; and Model 412CF helicopters with a yoke, 
P/N 412-010-101-127 or -129, installed; certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as fatigue cracking of a 
yoke, failure of the yoke, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2009-05-09, Amendment 39-15833 (74 FR 
11001, March 16, 2009).

 (d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 29, 2013.

(e) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time, unless it has been 
accomplished previously.

(f) Required Actions

    Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) Review the helicopter records to determine all of the 
helicopter models on which an affected yoke has been installed since 
its production and the hours TIS of each affected yoke.
    (2) If an affected part-numbered yoke has ever been installed on 
a Model 412CF helicopter or on a Model 412 or 412EP helicopter with 
a slope landing kit, P/N 412-704-012-101, installed, do the 
following:
    (i) Reidentify the P/N on the side of the yoke by using a 
vibrating stylus and etching two lines through the last three digits 
of the existing P/N and etching ``137FM'' adjacent to where you 
etched through the last three digits of the original P/N. This 
converts each affected yoke P/N to a new yoke P/N 412-010-101-137FM. 
The serial number remains the same.

    Note 1 to paragraph (f)(2)(i) of this AD:  The ``FM'' P/N suffix 
denotes a field-modified part.

    (ii) Treat the etched surface with chemical film, and apply 
primer and paint.
    (iii) Record the reidentified P/N on the applicable component 
history card or equivalent record.
    (3) If you cannot determine all the model helicopters on which 
an affected yoke has been installed since its production or whether 
it has ever been installed on a Model 412 or 412EP helicopter with a 
slope landing kit, P/N 412-704-012-101, installed, perform the 
actions required by paragraphs (f)(2)(i) through (f)(2)(iii) of this 
AD.
    (4) For each reidentified yoke, P/N 412-010-101-137FM, reduce 
the retirement life

[[Page 63860]]

from 5,000 hours TIS to 4,500 hours TIS. Record the revised life 
limit on the applicable component history card or equivalent record.
    (5) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations section of the 
applicable maintenance manual or the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness by reducing the retirement life from 5,000 hours TIS 
to 4,500 hours TIS for each reidentified yoke, P/N 412-010-101-
137FM.

(g) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits will not be issued.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Kohner, 
ASW-170, Aviation Safety Engineer, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5170, fax (817) 222-5783; email 7-avs-asw-170@faa.gov.
    (2) For operations conducted under 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.

(i) Additional Information

    Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Alert Service Bulletins No. 412-
08-128 and No. 412CF-08-35, both Revision A and both dated April 14, 
2009, which are not incorporated by reference, contain additional 
information about the subject of this AD. For service information 
identified in this AD, 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 
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 
76137.

(j) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code: 6220 Main Rotor 
Head.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 27, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-24961 Filed 10-24-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P