Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 68055-68057]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-27059]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-0530; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-075-AD; 
Amendment 39-17247; AD 2012-22-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron 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 (BHT) Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters. This 
AD requires a repetitive inspection of the collective lever for a 
crack, and if there is a crack, before further flight, replacing the 
collective lever with an airworthy collective lever. This AD was 
prompted by a reported failure of a collective lever. The actions are 
intended to detect a crack in the collective lever, which could lead to 
failure of the collective lever and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 20, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of December 20, 
2012.

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; 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, 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, 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: Martin Crane, Aerospace Engineer, 
Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5170; email 
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On May 22, 2012, at 77 FR 30232, the Federal Register published our 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered 
BHT Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters with a collective lever, 
part number (P/N) 412-010-408-101. That NPRM proposed to require within 
25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 30 days, whichever occurs first, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, cleaning the 
collective lever and inspecting it for cracks with a 10X or higher 
power magnifying glass. If there is a crack in the collective lever 
paint finish, the NPRM proposed to require removing the collective 
lever from the swashplate and performing a fluorescent penetrant 
inspection, and if there is a crack in the collective lever, before 
further flight, replacing the collective lever with an airworthy 
collective lever. The proposed requirements were intended to detect a 
crack in the collective lever, which could lead to failure of the 
collective lever and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (77 FR 30232, 
May 22, 2012).

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 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 412-
11-148 and ASB No. 412CF-11-47, both Revision A, and both dated 
December 12, 2011, which describe procedures for repetitively 
inspecting the collective lever with a magnifying glass and a strong 
light source and, if necessary, a fluorescent penetrant inspection. If 
there is a crack, the ASBs require replacing the collective lever.

[[Page 68056]]

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The BHT ASBs require compliance within 100 hours of flight time for 
the initial inspection; this AD requires compliance within 25 hours TIS 
or 30 days, whichever occurs first. If there is a crack, the BHT ASBs 
require reporting the defect to Bell Product Support Engineering; this 
AD does not. The BHT ASBs allow a portion of the collective lever to be 
inspected by a mirror and light only without a magnifying glass; this 
AD requires using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass for the entire 
inspection.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 83 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Inspecting the collective lever requires 
one work-hour at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, for a cost 
per helicopter of $85 and a total cost to the U.S. operator fleet of 
$7,055 per inspection cycle. Replacing a cracked collective lever 
requires 10 work-hours at an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour 
and required parts will cost $12,883, for a total cost of $13,733 per 
helicopter.

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):

2012-22-11 Bell Helicopter Textron: Amendment 39-17247; Docket No. 
FAA-2012-0530; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-075-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 412 and 412EP helicopters, serial 
numbers (S/N) 33001 through 33213, 34001 through 34036, and 36001 
and higher; and Model 412CF helicopters, S/N 46400 and higher; with 
a collective lever part number (P/N) 412-010-408-101 installed, 
certificated in any category.

 (b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a cracked collective 
lever, which could result in failure of the collective lever and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

 (c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 20, 2012.

(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 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 30 days, whichever 
occurs first, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours 
TIS:
    (1) Using cleaning compound (C-318) or equivalent, thoroughly 
clean the collective lever.
    (2) Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass, inspect the 
collective lever in the areas shown in Figure 1 of Bell Helicopter 
Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 412-11-148, Revision A, dated 
December 12, 2011 or Bell Helicopter Textron ASB 412CF-11-47, 
Revision A, dated December 12, 2011, as appropriate for your model 
helicopter.
    (3) If there is a crack in the paint, remove the collective 
lever from the swashplate assembly.
    (i) Remove paint and primer from the area around the crack.
    (ii) Fluorescent penetrant inspect the area of the crack.
    (4) If there is a crack in the collective lever, before further 
flight, replace the collective lever with an airworthy collective 
lever.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Martin Crane, 
Aerospace Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, 
telephone (817) 222-5170, 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) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6230, Main Rotor.

(h) 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 Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 412-11-
148, Revision A, dated December 12, 2011.
    (ii) Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 412CF-
11-47, Revision A, dated December 12, 2011.
    (3) For Bell Helicopter 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, or at 
http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/.
    (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

[[Page 68057]]

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 26, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-27059 Filed 11-14-12; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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