Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 63 (Tuesday, April 2, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 12484-12486]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-06018]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0433; Product Identifier 2016-SW-078-AD; Amendment 
39-19602; AD 2019-06-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
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 
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 429 helicopters. This AD 
requires inspecting each main rotor pitch link rod end bearing assembly 
(bearing) for wear and play. This AD was prompted by reports of worn 
bearings. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective May 7, 2019.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 7, 2019.

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. It is also available on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-
0433.

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-
0433; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this AD, the Transport Canada AD, any incorporated-by-reference service 
information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-
5527) is 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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On March 8, 2018, at 83 FR 9818, 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 BHTC Model 429 helicopters, 
serial numbers 57001 and larger, with a bearing part number (P/N) 429-
010-433-101 or 429-010-433-103 installed. The NPRM proposed to require 
inspecting each bearing for wear and play. The AD was prompted by 
reports of worn bearings. The proposed requirements were intended to 
prevent a worn bearing, which could result in failure of a bearing, 
which could lead to reduced helicopter handling, damage to other 
components, and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
    The NPRM was prompted by Canadian AD No. CF-2016-39, dated December 
12, 2016 (Transport Canada AD CF-2016-39), issued by Transport Canada, 
which is the aviation authority for Canada, to correct an unsafe 
condition for BHTC Model 429 helicopters, serial numbers 57001 and 
subsequent. Transport Canada advises of reports of worn bearings 
adversely affecting the helicopters' handling qualities. Transport 
Canada states the scheduled inspection interval of 12 months or 800 
hours is not sufficient to detect and correct a worn bearing under the 
current wear rate. Additionally, according to Transport Canada, the 
combination of the blade weight, positioning of the swashplate, and the 
preload of elastomers can make bearing play difficult to detect during 
a preflight exterior check. Transport Canada determined it necessary to 
implement an inspection frequent enough to detect a worn bearing in 
order to prevent a bearing from failing, adversely affecting handling 
qualities, and damaging adjacent components. These conditions could 
lead to loss of control of the helicopter. Transport Canada AD CF-2016-
39 therefore requires inspecting bearing P/N 429-010-433-101/-103 for 
play and potential wear and replacing it if necessary, within 30 days 
from the effective date of its AD and at subsequent intervals not to 
exceed 50 hours air time.

Comments

    After our NPRM was published, we received a comment from one 
commenter.

Request

    The commenter questioned the need for the proposed AD. The 
commenter stated that Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429-11-03, 
which was issued in 2011, already requires inspections of the pitch 
link bearings.
    We disagree. While an operator may incorporate the procedures in 
the Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin into its maintenance 
program, not all operators are required to do so. In order for the 
corrective actions in the service information to become mandatory, and 
to correct the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM, the FAA must 
issue an AD.

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 
the Transport Canada AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated 
all information provided by Transport Canada, reviewed the relevant 
information, considered the comments

[[Page 12485]]

received, and determined the 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.

Differences Between This AD and the EASA AD

    This AD requires initially inspecting the bearing within 20 hours 
time-in-service, while the Transport Canada AD requires the initial 
inspection within 30 days.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429-11-03, 
Revision A, dated January 13, 2015 (ASB), which specifies inspecting 
bearing P/N 429-010-433-101 and P/N 429-010-433-103 within 10 flight 
hours and every 50 hours thereafter for play and potential wear.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 64 helicopters of U.S. Registry 
and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these 
estimates, we expect the following costs:
    <bullet> Inspecting the bearing requires 2 work-hours and no parts 
for a cost of $170 per helicopter and $10,880 for the U.S. fleet per 
inspection cycle.
    <bullet> Replacing a -101 bearing requires 1 work-hour and $3,560 
for parts for a cost of $3,645 per bearing. Replacing a -103 bearing 
requires 1 work-hour and $3,365 for parts for a cost of $3,450 per 
bearing.

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):

2019-06-04 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-
19602; Docket No. FAA-2017-0433; Product Identifier 2016-SW-078-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 
429 helicopters, serial numbers 57001 and larger, with a main rotor 
pitch link rod end bearing assembly (bearing) part number (P/N) 429-
010-433-101 or 429-010-433-103 installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a worn bearing. This 
condition could
    result in failure of a bearing, which could lead to reduced 
helicopter handling, damage to other components, and subsequent loss 
of helicopter control.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 7, 2019.

(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

    Within 20 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS:
    (1) Inspect the upper and lower pitch link rod ends for axial 
and radial bearing play by rolling the bearings through all angles, 
paying particular attention to the areas depicted in Figure 1 of 
Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429-11-03, Revision A, dated 
January 13, 2015.
    (2) If there is any play in a bearing, remove the pitch link 
assembly and perform a dimensional inspection of the axial and 
radial bearing play. Measure the play at the angle that results in 
the maximum amount of play. Replace the rod end assembly before 
further flight if bearing play exceeds 0.010 inch for axial 
direction or 0.005 inch for radial direction.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 
David Hatfield, Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, 
Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 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

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD No. 
CF-2016-39, dated December 12, 2016. You may view the Transport 
Canada AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2017-0433.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6200, Main Rotor 
System.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

[[Page 12486]]

    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429-11-03, Revision 
A, dated January 13, 2015.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 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 March 15, 2019.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-06018 Filed 4-1-19; 8:45 am]
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