Document ID: FAA-2018-0036-0003
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., Helicopters
Posted Date: 2018-08-30T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 169 (Thursday, August 30, 2018)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 44207-44209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-18735]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0036; Product Identifier 2017-SW-015-AD; Amendment 
39-19354; AD 2018-16-14]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Inc., 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 
Helicopter Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 212, Model 412, and Model 412EP 
helicopters. This AD requires replacing the emergency flotation system 
(EFS) tube assembly. This AD was prompted by a report of an EFS tube 
assembly failure. The actions of this AD are intended to address an 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 4, 2018.

ADDRESSES: 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 a copy of the referenced 
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 
76177.

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-2018-
0036; 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 AD, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is U.S.

[[Page 44208]]

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: Rory Rieger, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
DSCO Branch, AIR-7J0, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 
telephone (817) 222-5193; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On January 26, 2018, at 83 FR 3630, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Model 212, Model 
412, and Model 412EP helicopters with a certain EFS tube assembly 
installed. The NPRM proposed to require, within 300 hours time-in-
service (TIS), replacing any EFS tube assembly part number (P/N) 412-
073-820-101 with an unknown manufacture date or that was manufactured 
before July 28, 2016. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit installing on 
any helicopter an EFS tube assembly P/N 412-073-820-101 that was 
manufactured before July 28, 2016 or that has an unknown manufacture 
date.
    The NPRM was prompted by a report from Bell that an EFS tube 
assembly separated from the valve during a 2-year inflation test. A 
subsequent investigation found that excessive sleeve preset force 
during manufacturing caused cracks in the sleeve of the tube assembly, 
which may result in the EFS float failing to deploy. Bell determined 
that only those EFS tube assemblies with P/N 412-073-820-101 that were 
shipped prior to July 28, 2016, were subject to this manufacturing 
defect. Bell states that because this manufacturing defect is difficult 
to detect, affected EFS tube assemblies in service must be replaced. 
The affected parts were associated with a single Bell supplier that is 
no longer manufacturing the tube assembly.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

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.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 212-11-143 for Bell 
Model 212 helicopters, and ASB 412-11-147 for Bell Model 412 and 412EP 
helicopters, both Revision C and dated December 22, 2016. Each ASB 
describes and illustrates procedures to replace the tube assembly 
within 600 flight hours or by March 31, 2017.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The service information requires compliance within 600 flight hours 
or by March 31, 2017; this AD requires compliance within 300 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 250 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
replacing a tube assembly will require about 6 work-hours and required 
parts will cost $4,902, for a total cost of $5,412 per helicopter and 
$1,353,000 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.

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.
    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):

2018-16-14 Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.: Amendment 39-19354; Docket 
No. FAA-2018-0036; Product Identifier 2017-SW-015-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Inc. Model 212, Model 
412, and Model 412EP helicopters, certificated in any category, with 
an emergency flotation system (EFS) tube assembly part number (P/N) 
412-073-820-101 with a date of manufacture before July 28, 2016, or 
an unknown date of manufacture installed.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack on an EFS tube 
assembly. This condition could result in failure of the

[[Page 44209]]

emergency floats to inflate during an emergency water landing.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 4, 2018.

(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 300 hours time-in-service:
    (i) Remove the EFS tube assembly from service.
    (ii) Lubricate the shoulder of the sleeves, threads, and seat of 
each mating fitting with anti-seize compound.
    (iii) Install an EFS tube assembly not listed in paragraph (a) 
of this AD.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install an EFS 
tube assembly listed in paragraph (a) of this AD on any helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 
AD. Send your proposal to: Rory Rieger, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
DSCO Branch, AIR-7J0, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 
76177; telephone (817) 222-5193; email [email protected].
    (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

    Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletins 212-11-143 and 412-11-
147, both Revision C and dated December 22, 2016, 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 a copy of 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) Code: 3212 Emergency 
Flotation Section.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 3, 2018.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-18735 Filed 8-29-18; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P