Document ID: FAA-2013-0526-0004
Agency: faa
Document Type: Rule
Title: Airworthiness Directives: Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) Helicopters
Posted Date: 2013-10-31T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 211 (Thursday, October 31, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65178-65180]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-25310]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD; 
Amendment 39-17633; AD 2013-22-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) 
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 
Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters. This AD requires replacing or 
reworking certain aft bearing caps. This AD was

[[Page 65179]]

prompted by the manufacture of certain freewheel aft bearing caps 
without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into the aft bearing 
support assembly. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent 
failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 5, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of December 5, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101, 
telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466. 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.

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 Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation (TCCA) AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information, 
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: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email: eric.haight@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On June 20, 2013, at 78 FR 37158, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to add an AD that would apply to Bell Model 206L-4 and 407 
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require, within 50 hours time-in-
service (TIS), removing and disassembling the freewheel assembly, 
replacing the sprag, retainer, and the aft seal, and visually 
inspecting the remaining freewheel part details for a missing channel. 
Also, the NPRM proposed to require, if the channel is missing, before 
further flight, replacing the cap assembly with an airworthy cap or 
reworking and reidentifying the existing cap by using a vibrating 
stylus to add the letter ``R'' to the serial number of the reworked 
cap. The proposed actions were prompted by the manufacture of certain 
freewheel aft bearing caps without a lubrication channel to allow oil 
flow into the aft bearing support assembly. The proposed requirements 
were intended to prevent failure of the freewheel unit and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11, 
2005 (AD No. CF-2004-17R1), issued by TCAA, which is the aviation 
authority for Canada. AD No. CF-2004-17R1 requires replacing or 
reworking freewheel assemblies on the Bell Model 206L-4 and 407 
helicopters. TCAA advises of a manufacturing oversight where a 
lubrication channel was not machined into the aft bearing cap of some 
freewheel units to allow oil flow into the aft bearing support 
assembly. TCAA states that lack of lubrication may adversely affect the 
durability and potentially the function of the freewheel unit.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 37158, 
June 20, 2013).

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, TCAA, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
its AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by TCAA and determined the unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type 
designs and that air safety and the public interest require adopting 
the AD requirements as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the TCAA AD

    This AD differs from the TCAA AD as follows:
     We do not use a calendar time, which has already passed.
     We require all affected helicopters to comply within 50 
hours TIS; the TCAA AD has different compliance times as stipulated by 
the calculated average engine start cycle count identified in the 
applicable alert service bulletin (ASB), and a 300-hour TIS terminating 
action for modifying all affected helicopters.
     We do not require referencing compliance with the ASBs as 
does the TCAA AD, and we do not require you to provide an affected cap 
for rework to Bell Tennessee nor require the original cap to be 
reworked by Bell Tennessee.
     We do not require any action on ``spare'' parts not 
installed on a helicopter but would require, before installing any 
replacement bearing support assembly, ensuring that the rework has been 
done.

Related Service Information

    Bell has issued ASB No. 206L-04-129 for the Model 206L-4 and ASB 
No. 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, and both dated 
December 1, 2004, which specify identifying the affected freewheel aft 
bearing caps. The ASBs provide separate procedures, depending on 
whether helicopters are ``not exclusively used for training'' or 
``exclusively used for training,'' for replacing or reworking the 
freewheel cap assembly and replacing the output shaft, part number (P/
N) 406-040-517-101, and sprag and retainer, P/N 406-040-580-103. TCCA 
classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2004-17R to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate there are 212 Model 206L-4 helicopters and 540 Model 
407 helicopters of U.S. registry; however, we estimate that only 80 
helicopters are affected by this AD. We estimate that operators may 
incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD: It will take 
about 16 work hours to replace the freewheel unit for all the affected 
parts at an average labor rate of $85 per work hour. Required parts 
will cost about $21,600 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the total cost per helicopter will be $22,900, and the total 
cost of the AD on U.S. operators will be $1,836,800.

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

[[Page 65180]]

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 helicopters 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):

2013-22-01 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Amendment 39-17633; 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0526; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-14-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 206L-4 and 407 helicopters, with a 
freewheel aft bearing cap (cap), part number (P/N) 406-040-509-101, 
with a serial number with a prefix of ``A-'' and Nos. 1833 through 
1912, installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as certain caps being 
manufactured without a lubrication channel to allow oil flow into 
the aft bearing support assembly, which could result in failure of 
the freewheel unit and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 5, 2013.

(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 50 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) Remove and disassemble each freewheel assembly.
    (2) Replace the sprag and retainer (item 7), the output shaft 
(item 10), and the aft seal (item 3), as depicted in Figure 2 of 
Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-04-129 for the Model 
206L-4 and ASB No. 407-04-66 for the Model 407, both Revision A, and 
both dated December 1, 2004.
    (3) Visually inspect the remaining freewheel part details for a 
missing channel.
    (4) If the channel is missing, replace or rework the cap 
assembly by following the instructions depicted in Figure 3 of ASB 
206L-04-129 or ASB 407 04-66, as applicable for your model 
helicopter. Using a vibrating stylus, mark the letter ``R'' at the 
end of the serial number on the cap assembly.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Eric Haight, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email: 
eric.haight@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

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation (TCCA) AD No. CF-2004-17R1, dated February 11, 2005. You 
may view the TCCA AD at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. 
FAA-2013-0526.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300: Main Rotor 
Drive System.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-04-129, Revision 
A, dated December 1, 2004.
    (ii) Bell ASB No. 407-04-66, Revision A, dated December 1, 2004.
    (3) For Bell service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 
76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 1, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-25310 Filed 10-30-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P