Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 33 (Wednesday, February 19, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9400-9402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-02961]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD; 
Amendment 39-17748; AD 2014-03-11]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (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 204B helicopters with a certain cable assembly installed. This AD 
requires inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an 
incorrectly machined body. This AD is prompted by a report from Bell 
that a defective body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from 
fully engaging in the body cavity. These actions are intended to 
prevent disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the T/R 
pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective March 26, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of March 26, 2014.

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

[[Page 9401]]

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: Helene Gandy, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5413; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 20, 2013, at 78 FR 51126, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Model 204B 
helicopters with a cable assembly, part number 205-001-720-001 
installed. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting each cable assembly 
to determine if an incorrectly machined body is installed. If an 
incorrectly machined body is installed, the NPRM proposed to require 
replacing the cable assembly within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS). 
Until the cable assembly is replaced, the NPRM proposed to require 
inspecting the assembly for separation daily.
    The proposed requirements were intended to prevent disengagement of 
the cable from the body, T/R pitch control failure in a fixed position, 
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 (78 FR 51126, 
August 20, 2013).

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 the same type design and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 204B-12-68, dated 
October 10, 2012 (ASB), which describes procedures for inspecting the 
barrel assembly to determine if an incorrectly machined body is 
installed. If an incorrectly machined body is installed, the ASB 
specifies replacing the cable assembly. The ASB further specifies 
inspecting the barrel assembly and cable connection daily until the 
cable assembly is replaced.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The ASB specifies replacing any defective cable assembly within 100 
hours TIS or by January 31, 2013; this AD requires replacing the cable 
assembly within 100 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 9 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators will incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour, 
inspecting the barrel assembly requires about 1 work-hour, for a cost 
per helicopter of $85 and a total cost of $765 for the fleet. If 
required, replacing a defective cable assembly requires about 8 work-
hours, and required parts cost about $625, for a cost per helicopter of 
$1,305.

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):

2014-03-11 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters: 
Amendment 39-17748; Docket No. FAA-2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 
2013-SW-014-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 204B helicopters with a cable 
assembly, part number 205-001-720-001 installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrectly machined 
body on the cable assembly, which could prevent the barrel assembly 
from fully engaging in the body cavity. This condition could result 
in disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the tail 
rotor pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

[[Page 9402]]

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective March 26, 2014.

(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 25 hours time in service (TIS), inspect each cable 
assembly to determine if there is a false cut on the body of the 
barrel assembly, as depicted in Figure 1 of Bell Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 204B-12-68, dated October 10, 2012.
    (2) If there is a false cut, before the first flight of each 
day, inspect the cable assembly for separation of the barrel 
assembly from the body. If there is any separation, before further 
flight, replace the cable assembly.
    (3) Within 100 hours TIS, replace the cable assembly with an 
airworthy cable assembly that does not have a false cut in the body. 
Replacing the cable assembly is terminating action for the 
inspections required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Helene Gandy, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 
76137; telephone (817) 222-5413; 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: 6720: Tail Rotor 
Control System.

(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 Alert Service Bulletin No. 204B-12-68, dated October 
10, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Bell 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/.
    (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 January 31, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-02961 Filed 2-18-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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