Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 17593-17594]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-05875]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2012-1016; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-009-AD; 
Amendment 39-17386; AD 2013-05-14]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.

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, Inc. (Bell), Model 412 and 412EP helicopters. This 
AD requires establishing a lower life limit on certain swashplate outer 
ring assemblies (outer ring), revising the retirement life on the 
components' history card or equivalent record, and revising the 
maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA). 
This AD also prohibits installing these outer rings on any helicopter. 
This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the outer rings. The 
actions are intended to prevent failure of an outer ring because of 
cracking, which could lead to the loss of main rotor (M/R) blade pitch 
control and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

DATES: This AD is effective April 26, 2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 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: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-5447; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On September 24, 2012, at 77 FR 58794, 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 Bell Model 
412 and 412EP helicopters, with an outer ring, part number (P/N) 412-
010-407-105. That NPRM proposed to require establishing a lower life 
limit on certain outer rings, revising the retirement life on the 
components' history card or equivalent record, and revising the 
maintenance manual or ICA. The proposal also proposed prohibiting the 
installation of these outer rings on any helicopter. The outer rings 
had a life limit of 10,000 hours TIS, but Bell has recommended reducing 
that limit to 2,500 hours TIS because of reports of cracking in the 
outer rings. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure 
of an outer ring, which could lead to the loss of M/R blade pitch 
control and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM (77 FR 58794, 
September 24, 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 with minor 
editorial changes. These changes are consistent with the intent of the 
proposals in the NPRM (77 FR 58794, September 24, 2012) and will not 
increase the economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of 
the AD.

Related Service Information

    We have reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 412-08-
131, Revision B, dated October 29, 2009 (ASB), which describes 
procedures for establishing a new retirement life for the

[[Page 17594]]

outer ring and replacing the outer ring at 2,500 hours TIS.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The ASB sets a calendar date for compliance. This AD does not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 143 helicopters. We estimate that 
it takes about 1 work-hour to revise the component history card or 
equivalent record, as well as the maintenance manual or ICA, at an 
average labor rate of $85 per work hour, for a total cost of $85 per 
helicopter and $12,155 for the U.S. operator fleet. Replacing an outer 
ring takes 26 work-hours and required parts costs an estimated $25,725. 
Based on these figures, we calculate the total cost to be $27,935 per 
helicopter to replace an outer ring.

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):

2013-05-14 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell): Amendment 39-17386; 
Docket No. FAA-2012-1016; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-009-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 412 and 412EP helicopters, with a 
swashplate outer ring assembly (outer ring), part number (P/N) 412-
010-407-105, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as cracking in the outer 
ring, which could result in the loss of main rotor (M/R) blade pitch 
control and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective April 26, 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

    (1) Within 30 days, establish a retirement life of 2,500 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) for any affected outer ring on the component 
history card or equivalent record. Revise the helicopter 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the applicable maintenance 
manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) by 
establishing the new retirement life by making pen-and-ink changes 
or inserting a copy of this AD into the maintenance manual or the 
ICAs.
    (2) For any affected outer ring that, on the effective date of 
this AD, has 2,200 or more hours TIS, within 300 hours TIS, replace 
the outer ring with an airworthy outer ring.
    (3) Within 12 months, for any affected outer ring, regardless of 
the number of hours TIS, replace the outer ring with an airworthy 
outer ring.
    (4) Do not install outer ring, P/N 412-010-407-105, on any 
helicopter.

(f) Special Flight Permits

    No special flight permits will be issued for any helicopter 
installed with outer ring, P/N 412-010-407-105, if the outer ring 
has 2,500 hours or more TIS.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; telephone (817) 222-
5447; 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.

(h) Additional Information

    Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 412-08-131, Revision 
B, dated October 29, 2009, 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, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone (817) 
280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review a copy of this service information at the 
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth Texas 76137.

(i) Subject

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

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 2013.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-05875 Filed 3-21-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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