Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 430 Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 20, 2001)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 15623-15624]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-6285]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-22-AD; Amendment 39-12146; AD 2001-05-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
430 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 430 helicopters that 
requires modifying the electrical system. This amendment is prompted by 
the loss of electrical power due to design deficiencies discovered 
during single-pilot Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) flight testing. The 
actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of electrical 
power and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective April 24, 2001.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of April 24, 2001.

ADDRESSES: The service information referenced in this AD may be 
obtained from Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466. This 
information may be examined at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or 
at the Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., 
suite 700, Washington, DC.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Robert McCallister, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5121, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an AD for BHTC Model 
430 helicopters was published in the Federal Register on August 9, 2000 
(65 FR 48645). That action proposed to require implementing the 
following electrical system changes in accordance with Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 430-99-10, dated December 16, 1999 (ASB):
    <bullet> Modify the electrical bus distribution system to include 
emergency, essential, and nonessential busses. Relocate electrical 
system circuit breakers accordingly.
    <bullet> Add a second redundant aircraft DC power supply with 
associated circuit breaker for each full authority digital engine 
control electronic control unit.
    <bullet> Modify AC inverter switching logic to prevent inadvertent 
loss of AC power.
    <bullet> Modify electrical bonding of the DC generator ground 
circuits by increasing the size of the hardware securing the ground 
shunt bus bar to the airframe structure.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. However, 
additional FAA engineering evaluation of the required modification was 
conducted after publication of the NPRM. That evaluation necessitated 
an extension of the compliance date from December 31, 2000 to May 1, 
2001 to meet the intent of not grounding helicopters when this AD is 
effective. Except for that change, the FAA has determined that air 
safety and the public interest require the adoption of the rule as 
proposed. The FAA has determined that changing the compliance date will 
neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the 
scope of the AD.
    The FAA estimates that 3 helicopters of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 140 work hours per 
helicopter to accomplish the required actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $60 per work hour. The manufacturer states in the ASB 
that they will provide the 100 percent warranty credit for the parts 
and will allow a maximum warranty credit of $7700 for labor costs. 
Based on these figures, the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. 
operators is estimated to be $2100, assuming the stated credit for 
parts and labor.
    The regulations adopted herein 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. Therefore, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.

[[Page 15624]]

    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); and (3) 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

2001-05-09  Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Amendment 39-12146. 
Docket No. 2000-SW-22-AD.

    Applicability: Model 430 helicopters, serial numbers 49002, 
49004 through 49006, 49008 through 49016, 49018 through 49025, and 
49027 through 49036, certificated in any category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
otherwise modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (b) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required at the next 600-hour inspection or before 
further flight after May 1, 2001, whichever occurs first, unless 
accomplished previously.
    To prevent loss of electrical power and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the electrical system in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 1 through 6, of Bell 
Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 430-99-10, dated 
December 16, 1999.
    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and 
then send it to the Manager, Regulations Group.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (c) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (d) The modification shall be done in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 1 through 6, of Bell 
Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 430-99-10, dated 
December 16, 1999. This incorporation by reference was approved by 
the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, Texas 76101, 
telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466. Copies may be 
inspected at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas; or at the 
Office of the Federal Register, 800 North Capitol Street, NW., suite 
700, Washington, DC.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on April 24, 2001.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada, 
Canada, AD CF-2000-08, dated March 21, 2000.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 5, 2001.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-6285 Filed 3-19-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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