Document ID: FAA-2017-0174-0001
Agency: faa
Document Type: Proposed Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
Posted Date: 2017-03-07T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 43 (Tuesday, March 7, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12753-12754]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-04371]

 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 43 / Tuesday, March 7, 2017 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 12753]]

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0174; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-059-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. 
This proposed AD would reduce the life limit of certain landing gear 
parts and is prompted by a stress analysis. The proposed actions are 
intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 8, 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-
0174; 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 Transport Canada 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 rule, contact 
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, 
Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax 
(450) 433-0272; 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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
matthew.fuller@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 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, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has 
issued AD No. CF-2014-28, dated August 19, 2014, to correct an unsafe 
condition for Bell Model 429 helicopters, serial numbers 57001 and 
subsequent. Transport Canada advises that Bell has reduced the life 
limits of several landing gear components and accordingly revised the 
airworthiness limitations schedule for Model 429 helicopters. The 
reduced life limits resulted from a stress analysis completed by Bell 
after the introduction of the Model 429 helicopter to service. While 
the reduced life limits were originally published in Revision 9 of the 
Bell Model 429 maintenance manual, Transport Canada AD No. CF-2014-28 
requires inserting the new airworthiness limitations schedule in 
Revision 10 of the Bell Model 429 maintenance manual. Transport Canada 
states that failure to replace those components prior to the 
established airworthiness life could result in an unsafe condition.

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, Transport Canada, 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 Bell Model 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1, Chapter 
4, Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, Revision 9, dated January 6, 
2012, which specifies airworthiness life limits and inspection 
intervals for parts installed on Model 429 helicopters. Revision 9 
reduced the life limits for the skid tube assemblies, forward crosstube 
assembly, and aft crosstube assembly.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would reduce the life limit of certain landing 
gear parts by requiring the removal from service of

[[Page 12754]]

any part that has reached or exceeded its new life limit before further 
flight.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 71 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per 
work-hour. Calculating the life limit would take about 0.25 work-hour 
for an estimated cost of $21 per helicopter and $1,491 for the U.S. 
fleet. Replacing a skid tube assembly would take about 2 work-hours and 
parts would cost about $7,050 for an estimated replacement cost of 
$7,220. Replacing a forward cross tube assembly would take about 1.5 
work-hours and parts would cost about $5,880 for an estimated 
replacement cost of $6,008. Replacing an aft tube assembly would take 
about 1.5 work-hours and parts would cost $6,710 for an estimated 
replacement cost of $6,838.

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):

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: Docket No. FAA-2017-0174; 
Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-059-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 
429 helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a landing gear part 
remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. This condition could 
result in failure of a landing gear part, failure of a landing gear 
skid, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter during 
takeoff or landing.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by May 8, 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

    Before further flight, determine the accumulated retirement 
index number (RIN) for each part and remove it from service if it 
has reached or exceeded its life limit as follows. Thereafter, 
remove each part from service on or before reaching its life limit. 
For purposes of this AD, a run-on landing is defined as a landing 
with forward ground travel of the helicopter greater than 3 feet 
(0.91 m) with weight on skids.
    (1) For Skid Tube Assembly part number (P/N) 429-700-101, 429-
700-102, and 429-030-586-107: 16,000 RIN. Count 1 RIN for each 
landing; count 81 RIN for each run-on landing; and count 117 RIN for 
each autorotation landing.
    (2) For Forward Crosstube Assembly P/N 429-712-101: 10,000 RIN. 
Count 1 RIN for each landing; count 50 RIN for each run-on landing; 
and count 118 RIN for each autorotation landing.
    (3) Aft Crosstube Assembly P/N 429-723-108: 30,000 RIN. Count 1 
RIN for each landing; count 32 RIN for each run-on landing; and 
count 186 RIN for each autorotation landing.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 
222-5110; email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@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.

(g) Additional Information

    (1) Bell 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1, Volume 1, Chapter 
4, Revision 9, dated January 6, 2012, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains additional information about the subject of this 
AD. For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, 
Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450) 
433-0272; 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.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD 
No. CF-2014-28, dated August 19, 2014. You may view the Transport 
Canada AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in the AD 
Docket.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3200, Landing Gear 
System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 27, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-04371 Filed 3-6-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P