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

[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 110 (Monday, June 9, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32859-32861]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-13260]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0697; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-009-AD; 
Amendment 39-17862; AD 2014-12-01]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-11-05 for 
Bell Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with certain tail rotor

[[Page 32860]]

hanger bearings (bearing) installed. AD 2013-11-05 required inspecting 
the bearing to determine whether an incorrectly manufactured seal 
material is installed on the bearing. This new AD retains the 
repetitive inspection of the bearings and also requires replacing the 
defective bearings. This AD was prompted by a report that certain 
bearings were manufactured with an incorrect seal material that does 
not meet Bell specifications. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure 
of the bearing and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective July 14, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in this AD as of June 19, 2013 
(78 FR 33204, June 4, 2013).

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 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 in Docket No. FAA-2013-0697; or in person at the 
Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, any 
incorporated-by-reference information, the economic evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joon Kim, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5762; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to supersede AD 2013-11-05, Amendment 39-17465 (78 FR 33204, 
June 4, 2013) (AD 2013-11-05). AD 2013-11-05 applied to Bell Model 
214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with certain part-numbered bearings 
installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on August 12, 
2013 (78 FR 48822). The NPRM proposed to retain the repetitive 
inspection requirements of AD 2013-11-05 and also proposed to require 
replacing any bearing that has black seal material with a bearing that 
has correct seal material within 500 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 6 
months, whichever occurs earlier, as a terminating action. AD 2013-11-
05 was prompted by a report that all part number 214-040-606-005 and 
214-040-606-101 bearings delivered between May 2011 and June 2012 were 
manufactured with incorrect seal material that does not meet Bell's 
operating and environmental temperature specifications. Since we issued 
AD 2013-11-05, we determined that replacing the bearings within 500 
hours TIS will provide an acceptable level of safety and should be a 
required terminating action for the repetitive inspections. These 
actions are intended to prevent loss of bearing grease, failure of the 
bearing, 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 48822, 
August 12, 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 
helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

    Bell issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 214-13-74, Revision A, 
dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters serial 
number (S/N) 28001 through 28070, and ASB 214ST-13-90, Revision A, 
dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214ST helicopters. Both ASBs describe 
procedures to determine whether any bearing with incorrect seal 
material is installed on the helicopter and for inspecting any 
installed bearing with incorrect seal material every 10 hours TIS. Both 
ASBs also specify replacing any bearing with incorrect seal material 
that is leaking grease or damaged. Finally, the ASBs specify replacing 
any bearing with incorrect seal material within 500 hours TIS or by 
December 31, 2013.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The Bell ASBs allow 25 hours TIS for the initial inspection, while 
this AD requires inspecting within 10 hours TIS. The ASBs specify 
replacing any bearing with black seal material within 500 hours TIS or 
by December 31, 2013. This AD requires replacement within 500 hours TIS 
or 6 months, whichever occurs earlier.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 26 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 cost of $85 per hour, 
inspecting the bearings requires about 2.5 work hours, for a cost per 
helicopter of $213 and a cost of $5,538 for the fleet. Replacing a 
defective bearing requires about 3 work hours, and required parts would 
cost $1,372, for a cost per helicopter of $1,627.
    According to Bell's service information some of the costs of this 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Bell. 
Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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 have 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.

[[Page 32861]]

    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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2013-11-05, Amendment 39-17465 (78 FR 33204, June 4, 2013), and adding 
the following new AD:

2014-12-01 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell): Amendment 39-17862; 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0697; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-009-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 214B helicopters, serial number 
(S/N) 28001 through 28070, Model 214B-1 helicopters, S/N 28001 
through 28070, and Model 214ST helicopters, S/N 28101 through 28200, 
with a tail rotor hanger bearing (bearing), part number (P/N) 214-
040-606-005 or 214-040-606-101 installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a bearing with incorrect 
seal material, which could fail under extreme temperature or 
environmental conditions, resulting in loss of tail rotor control 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2013-11-05, Amendment 39-17465 (78 FR 
33204, June 4, 2013).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective July 14, 2014.

(e) 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.

(f) Required Actions

    (1) Within 10 hours time in service (TIS):
    (i) Inspect each bearing to determine whether the seal material 
is correct, as described in the Accomplishment Instructions, Part 
1--Inspection, paragraphs 1.a. through 2. and Figure 1 of Bell Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 214-13-74, Revision A, dated March 25, 
2013, for Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters and ASB No. 214ST-13-90, 
Revision A, dated March 25, 2013, for Model 214ST helicopters.
    (ii) For each bearing with black seal material, before further 
flight and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 10 hours TIS, 
inspect the bearing for leakage, slung grease, or damage. If there 
is any leakage, slung grease, or damage, before further flight, 
replace the bearing with an airworthy bearing with red/orange to 
brown color seal material.
    (2) Within 500 hours TIS or 6 months, whichever occurs earlier, 
replace any bearing with black seal material with an airworthy 
bearing with red/orange to brown color seal material.
    (3) Do not install bearing P/N 214-040-606-005 or 214-040-606-
101 with black seal material on any helicopter.

(g) Special flight permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Joon Kim, Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; 
telephone (817) 222-5762; 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.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6500: Tail Rotor 
Drive Bearing.

(j) 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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
June 19, 2013 (78 FR 33204, June 4, 2013).
    (i) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 214-13-74, Revision A, dated 
March 25, 2013.
    (ii) Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 214ST-13-90, Revision A, 
dated March 25, 2013.
    (4) For Bell 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/.
    (5) 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.
    (6) You may also 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 May 30, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-13260 Filed 6-6-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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