Document ID: FAA-2017-0701-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters
Posted Date: 2017-07-20T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 138 (Thursday, July 20, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33439-33441]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15031]

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 Rules and Regulations
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  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 138 / Thursday, July 20, 2017 / Rules 
and Regulations  

[[Page 33439]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0701; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-063-AD; 
Amendment 39-18962; AD 2017-15-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 
Model 212 and Model 412 helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain 
oil and fuel check valves and prohibits installing them on any 
helicopter. This AD is prompted by a report of cracked or leaking check 
valves. These actions are intended to address an unsafe condition on 
these helicopters.

DATES: This AD becomes effective August 4, 2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by September 18, 2017.

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-
0701; 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 
(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 final 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: Jurgen E. Priester, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Delegation Systems Certification Office, ASW-130, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5159; email 
jurgen.e.priester@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, 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 resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, 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 them 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 rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    We are adopting a new AD for Bell Model 212 and Model 412 
helicopters. This AD is prompted by a report that certain part numbered 
209-062-520-001 check valves manufactured by Circor Aerospace as 
replacement parts have been found cracked or leaking on several Bell 
Model 427 and Model 429 helicopters. These check valves may be 
installed as engine oil check valves on Bell Model 212 helicopters. 
Similar check valves, part number 209-062-607-001, may be installed as 
fuel check valves on Bell Model 212 or 412 helicopters. These check 
valves may have a condition induced during assembly that can cause the 
valve body to crack, resulting in oil or fuel leakage. These suspect 
check valves are marked ``Circle Seal'' and were manufactured between 
October 2011 and March 2015. If not corrected, this condition could 
result in a crack, fuel or oil leakage, and subsequent failure of the 
engine or a fire and loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other helicopters of these same type 
designs.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 212-15-153, dated 
September 4, 2015 (212-15-153), and Bell ASB 212-15-155, dated 
September 15, 2015 (212-15-155), for Model 212 helicopters and Bell ASB 
412-15-168, dated September 15, 2015 (412-15-168), for Model 412 
helicopters. ASB 212-15-153 describes procedures for inspecting and 
replacing engine oil check valve part number (P/N) 209-062-520-001 
installed on certain serial-numbered Model 212 helicopters. ASB 212-15-
155 and ASB 412-15-168 describe procedures for inspecting and replacing 
fuel check valve P/N 209-062-607-001 installed on certain serial-
numbered Model 212 and Model 412 helicopters.

[[Page 33440]]

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), replacing 
the engine oil and fuel check valves.
    This AD also prohibits installing a check valve P/N 209-062-520-001 
or P/N 209-062-607-001 that was manufactured by Circor Aerospace, 
marked ``Circle Seal,'' and marked with a manufacturing date code of 
``10/11'' (October 2011) through ``03/15'' (March 2015) on any 
helicopter.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The manufacturer's service information describes procedures for an 
inspection of the check valves within 25 hours TIS for a crack and 
allows 300 hours TIS to determine if the valve is affected and to 
replace any affected check valve. This AD requires replacing all 
affected check valves within 25 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 161 (59 Model 212 and 102 Model 
412) helicopters of U.S. Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85, replacing each 
check valve (engine oil or fuel) will require about 1 work-hour, and 
required parts will cost $85. For the Model 212, we estimate a total 
cost of $340 per helicopter and $20,060 for the U.S. fleet. For the 
Model 412, we estimate a total cost of $170 per helicopter and $17,340 
for the U.S. fleet.
    According to Bell's service information some of the costs of this 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Bell. 
Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because the actions required by this 
AD must be accomplished within 25 hours TIS, a very short interval for 
helicopters used in firefighting and logging operations.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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 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, 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.
    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this 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.

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2017-15-02 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell): Amendment 39-18962; 
Docket No. FAA-2017-0701; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-063-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 212 and 412 helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with an engine oil check valve part 
number (P/N) 209-062-520-001 or fuel check valve P/N 209-062-607-001 
manufactured by Circor Aerospace, marked ``Circle Seal'' and with a 
manufacturing date code of ``10/11'' (October 2011) through ``03/
15'' (March 2015), installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a cracked or leaking 
check valve, which could result in loss of lubrication or fuel to 
the engine, failure of the engine or a fire, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 4, 2017.

(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 25 hours time-in-service:
    (i) Replace each fuel check valve.
    (ii) For Model 212 helicopters, replace each engine oil check 
valve.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
check valve P/N 209-062-520-001 or P/N 209-062-607-001 manufactured 
by Circor Aerospace, marked ``Circle Seal'' and with a manufacturing 
date code of ``10/11'' (October 2011) through ``03/15'' (March 
2015), on any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Delegation Systems Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Jurgen E. 
Priester, Aviation Safety Engineer, Delegation Systems Certification 
Office, ASW-130, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone (817) 222-5159; email jurgen.e.priester@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.

[[Page 33441]]

(g) Additional Information

    Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 212-15-153, dated September 4, 
2015; Bell ASB 212-15-155, dated September 15, 2015; and Bell ASB 
412-15-168, dated September 15, 2015, 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 this service information 
at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Codes: 7900 Engine Oil 
System and 2800 Aircraft Fuel System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 7, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-15031 Filed 7-19-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P