Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 143 (Thursday, July 27, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 34844-34846]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15552]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0174; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-059-AD; 
Amendment 39-18973; AD 2017-15-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited

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 Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. This AD 
requires reducing the life limit of certain landing gear parts and is 
prompted by a stress analysis. The actions of this AD are intended to 
address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 31, 2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0174; 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 Transport Canada AD, 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.

[[Page 34845]]


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On March 7, 2017, at 82 FR 12753, 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 429 
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require reducing the life limit of 
certain landing gear parts by requiring the removal from service of any 
part that has reached or exceeded its new life limit before further 
flight. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of a 
landing gear part, failure of a landing gear skid, and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter during takeoff or landing.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2014-28, dated August 19, 2014, 
issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, 
to correct an unsafe condition for Bell Model 429 helicopters, serial 
numbers 57001 and subsequent. Transport Canada advises that Bell has 
reduced the life limits of several landing gear components and 
accordingly revised the airworthiness limitations schedule for Model 
429 helicopters. The reduced life limits resulted from a stress 
analysis completed by Bell after the introduction of the Model 429 
helicopter to service. While the reduced life limits were originally 
published in Revision 9 of the Bell Model 429 maintenance manual, 
Transport Canada AD No. CF-2014-28 requires inserting the new 
airworthiness limitations schedule in Revision 10 of the Bell Model 429 
maintenance manual. Transport Canada states that failure to replace 
those components prior to the established airworthiness life could 
result in an unsafe condition.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Canada and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with Canada, Transport Canada, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
its AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by Transport Canada and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters 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 Model 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1, Chapter 
4, Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, Revision 9, dated January 6, 
2012, which specifies airworthiness life limits and inspection 
intervals for parts installed on Model 429 helicopters. Revision 9 
reduced the life limits for the skid tube assemblies, forward crosstube 
assembly, and aft crosstube assembly.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 71 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. 
Calculating the life limit will take about 0.25 work-hour for an 
estimated cost of $21 per helicopter and $1,491 for the U.S. fleet. 
Replacing a skid tube assembly will take about 2 work-hours and parts 
will cost about $7,050 for an estimated replacement cost of $7,220. 
Replacing a forward cross tube assembly will take about 1.5 work-hours 
and parts will cost about $5,880 for an estimated replacement cost of 
$6,008. Replacing an aft tube assembly will take about 1.5 work-hours 
and parts will cost $6,710 for an estimated replacement cost of $6,838.

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 helicopters 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):

2017-15-13 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-
18973; Docket No. FAA-2017-0174; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-059-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 
429 helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a landing gear part 
remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. This condition could 
result in failure of a landing gear part, failure of a landing gear 
skid, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter during 
takeoff or landing.

[[Page 34846]]

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 31, 2017.

(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, determine the accumulated retirement 
index number (RIN) for each part and remove it from service if it 
has reached or exceeded its life limit as follows. Thereafter, 
remove each part from service on or before reaching its life limit. 
For purposes of this AD, a run-on landing is defined as a landing 
with forward ground travel of the helicopter greater than 3 feet 
(0.91 m) with weight on skids.
    (1) For Skid Tube Assembly part number (P/N) 429-700-101, 429-
700-102, and 429-030-586-107: 16,000 RIN. Count 1 RIN for each 
landing; count 81 RIN for each run-on landing; and count 117 RIN for 
each autorotation landing.
    (2) For Forward Crosstube Assembly P/N 429-712-101: 10,000 RIN. 
Count 1 RIN for each landing; count 50 RIN for each run-on landing; 
and count 118 RIN for each autorotation landing.
    (3) Aft Crosstube Assembly P/N 429-723-108: 30,000 RIN. Count 1 
RIN for each landing; count 32 RIN for each run-on landing; and 
count 186 RIN for each autorotation landing.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation 
Safety Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 
222-5110; 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) Additional Information

    (1) Bell 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1, Volume 1, Chapter 
4, Revision 9, dated January 6, 2012, 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 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 a 
copy of the service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD 
No. CF-2014-28, dated August 19, 2014. You may view the Transport 
Canada AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2017-0174.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 3200, Landing Gear 
System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 18, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-15552 Filed 7-26-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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