Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 4762-4764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-01008]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0022; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-004-AD; 
Amendment 39-17322; AD 2013-02-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
(Bell) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 
Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters. This AD requires 
inspecting certain hydraulic servo actuator assemblies (servo) for a 
loose nut, shaft, and clevis assembly, modifying or replacing the servo 
as necessary, and reidentifying the servo. This AD is prompted by an 
investigation after an accident and the determination that there was a 
loose connection due to improper lock washer installation. These 
actions are intended to detect loose or misaligned parts of the servo 
to prevent failure of the servo and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective February 7, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document February 7, 2013.
    We must receive comments on this AD by March 25, 2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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 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 economic evaluation 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 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, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, 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 resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, 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 them 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 rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) has issued AD No. CF-2011-
19R1, Revision 1, dated December 7, 2011, to correct an unsafe 
condition for the Bell Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3 helicopters, all 
serial numbers (S/N), and Model 206L-4 helicopters, S/Ns 52001 through 
52430, with servo, part number (P/N) 206-076-062-103, installed. TCCA 
advises that a ``quality escape'' by a supplier occurred, and a number 
of Bell servos may have a loose nut, shaft, and clevis assembly. 
According to TCCA, the loose connection is due to improper lock washer 
installation. TCAA advises that this discrepancy is not traceable or 
identifiable except by inspection and that a ``disconnect'' of the 
affected components may lead to loss of control of the helicopter. TCAA 
states Revision 1 of its AD retains the mandated inspections and 
corrective action in the original issue of its AD but expands the 
applicability to include all serial-numbered servos.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopter models are manufactured in Canada and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to the 
bilateral agreement, TCCA has kept the FAA informed of the situation 
described above. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all 
information provided by TCCA and determined the unsafe condition is 
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type 
designs.

Related Service Information

    Bell has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-11-169, 
Revision B, dated August 29, 2011 (ASB), which specifies, before next 
flight, unless previously accomplished, a one-time inspection for loose 
or misaligned parts of the servos, P/N 206-076-062-103, installed on 
Bell Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 helicopters, all S/Ns, and Model 
206L-4 helicopters, S/Ns 52001 through 52430. TCCA classified this ASB 
as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2011-19R1 to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these helicopters.

Differences Between This AD and the TCAA AD

    The TCCA AD requires you to return the parts removed from service 
to the manufacturer. This AD does not.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires for each servo, before further flight, retracting 
the boot

[[Page 4763]]

and determining whether the nut, shaft, or clevis assembly turns 
independently from each other. If the shaft turns independently this AD 
requires replacing the servo with an airworthy servo. If the shaft does 
not turn independently, this AD requires inspecting the servo to 
determine the tab alignment. If at least one tab is not aligned with 
and bent flush against a nut flat surface and at least one tab is not 
aligned with and bent flush against a flat surface of the clevis 
assembly, this AD requires replacing the servo with an airworthy servo. 
If any tab of the lock washer is not bent flush against either a flat 
surface of the nut or clevis assembly, this AD requires bending the tab 
flush against a flat surface. This AD also requires re-identifying the 
servo on the identification plate.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 695 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. It will take about .5 work hour to 
inspect and re-identify a servo at $85 per work hour for a total cost 
per helicopter of about $43, and a total cost to the U.S. operator 
fleet of $29,538. Replacing a servo will take about 2 work hours and 
parts costing $33,000, for a total cost per helicopter of $33,170.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because the required corrective 
actions must be accomplished before further flight.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice an opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and contrary to 
the public interest and that good cause exists for making this 
amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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 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, 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):

2013-02-01 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell): Amendment 
39-17322; Docket No. FAA-2013-0022; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-
004-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 206L, 206L-1, and 206L-3 
helicopters, all serial numbers (S/N), and Model 206L-4 helicopters, 
S/Ns 52001 through 52430, with a hydraulic servo actuator assembly 
(servo), part number (P/N) 206-076-062-103, installed, certificated 
in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as loose or misaligned 
parts of the servo. This condition could result in failure of the 
servo and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective February 7, 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

    Before further flight, for each servo:
    (1) Retract the boot as depicted in Figure 1 of Bell Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-11-169, Revision B, dated August 29, 
2011 (ASB).
    (2) Applying only hand pressure, determine whether the nut, 
shaft, and clevis assembly turn independently from each other.
    (i) If the shaft turns independently of the nut or the clevis 
assembly, before further flight, replace the servo with an airworthy 
servo.
    (ii) If the shaft does not turn independently of the nut or the 
clevis assembly, inspect to determine whether at least one tab of 
the lock washer (tab) is aligned with and bent flush against a flat 
surface of the nut and whether at least one tab is aligned with and 
bent flush against a flat surface of the clevis assembly.
    (A) If at least one tab is aligned with and bent flush against a 
nut flat surface and at least one tab is aligned with and bent flush 
against a flat surface of the clevis assembly, for any tab that is 
not bent flush against either a flat surface of the nut or clevis 
assembly, bend it flush against a flat surface.
    (B) If at least one tab is not aligned with and bent flush 
against a nut flat surface and at least one tab is not aligned with 
and bent flush against a flat surface of the clevis assembly, before 
further flight, replace the servo with an airworthy servo.
    (3) Re-identify the servo by metal-impression stamping or by 
vibro-etching the letter ``V'' at the end of P/N 206-076-062-103V on 
the identification plate.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Wilbanks, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 
222-5110; email [email protected].

[[Page 4764]]

    (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 AD CF-2011-19R1, Revision 1, dated December 7, 2011.

(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 ASB No. 206L-11-169, Revision B, dated August 29, 2011.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Bell 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/.
    (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.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6730 Rotorcraft 
Servo System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 9, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-01008 Filed 1-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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