Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 98 (Thursday, May 21, 2026)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 29888-29890]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-10167]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2026-0736; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00698-R; 
Amendment 39-23344; AD 2026-10-04]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL) Model 407 helicopters. This 
AD was prompted by a determination that chafing can occur at various 
locations on the electrical harnesses located in the aircraft 
instrument panel area. This AD requires a one-time detailed visual 
inspection of the electrical harnesses for chafing and corrective 
actions if necessary. This AD also requires rotation of the backshell 
cast housing of connectors of the lower engine airframe unit and 
installation of a wire harness bracket and support, and for certain 
helicopters, installation of a wire bundle sleeve. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 25, 2026
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of June 25, 
2026.

ADDRESSES: 
    AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0736; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The 
address for Docket Operations 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.
    Material Incorporated by Reference:
    <bullet> For Transport Canada material identified in this AD, 
contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft 
Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0N5, CANADA; 
phone: (888) 663-3639; email: [email protected]. You may find the Transport Canada 
material on the Transport Canada website at tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
    <bullet> You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, 
Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5118. It is also available at 
regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2026-0736.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Williams, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; 
phone: (316) 946-4134; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain BTCL Model 407 
helicopters. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on February 
3, 2026 (91 FR 4857). The NPRM was prompted by Transport Canada AD CF-
2025-22, dated April 23, 2025, (Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22) (also 
referred to as the MCAI), issued by Transport Canada, which is the 
aviation authority for Canada. The MCAI states that chafing could occur 
between the primary flight display/multi-function display harnesses and 
the cable harness protection system rack and could also occur between 
the electrical harnesses and the shroud behind the instrument panel 
area. This condition, if not addressed, could result in smoke or fire 
in the cockpit and loss of control of the helicopter.
    In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require a one-time detailed visual 
inspection of the electrical harnesses for chafing and corrective 
actions if necessary. In the NPRM, the FAA also proposed to require 
rotation of the backshell cast housing of connectors of the lower 
engine airframe unit and installation of a wire harness bracket and 
support, and for certain helicopters, installation of a wire bundle 
sleeve.
    You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under 
Docket No. FAA-2026-0736.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    These products have been approved by the civil aviation authority 
of another country and are approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design 
Authority, that authority has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition 
described in the MCAI referenced above. The FAA reviewed the relevant 
data, considered any comments received, and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for 
minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. 
None of the changes will increase the economic burden on any operator.

Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22, which specifies 
procedures for performing a detailed visual inspection of the 
electrical harnesses located behind the instrument panel for chafing 
and, depending on the inspection results, repairing damaged parts 
(chafed electrical harnesses) and performing further inspections; 
rotating the backshell cast housing; and installing the wire harness 
bracket and support. This material also specifies procedures for 
installing a sleeve to cover the wire bundle for certain helicopters 
without a sleeve installed on the wire bundle.
    This material 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

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 333 helicopters of U.S. 
registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

[[Page 29889]]



                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                Cost per        Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost    product          operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Inspect electrical harness.........  8 work-hours x $85 per               $0         $680  $226,440.
                                      hour = $680.
Install wire bundle sleeve.........  1 work-hour x $85 per hour            0           85  Up to $28,305.
                                      = $85.
Rotate backshell cast housing......  1 work-hour x $85 per hour            0           85  Up to $28,305.
                                      = $85.
Secure wire harness and install      1 work-hour x $85 per hour          100          185  $61,605.
 bracket and support.                 = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following cost to do any repair that would be 
required based on the results of the inspection. The agency has no way 
of determining the number of helicopters that might need this repair:

                           On-Condition Costs
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Cost per
            Action                Labor cost     Parts cost    product
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repair wire bundle...........  1 work-hour x             $0          $85
                                $85 per hour =
                                $85.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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.
    The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

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:
2026-10-04 Bell Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-23344; Docket 
No. FAA-2026-0736; Project Identifier MCAI-2025-00698-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective June 25, 2026.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 407 
helicopters, serial numbers 54300 through 54752, 54805 through 
54999, and 56300 through 56366 and 56368, certificated in any 
category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 1420, Electrical 
connectors.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a determination that chafing can occur 
at various locations on the electrical harnesses located in the 
aircraft instrument panel area. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect 
and address chafing. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 
result in smoke or fire in the cockpit and loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Except as specified in paragraph (h) of this AD: Comply with all 
required actions and compliance times specified in, and in 
accordance with, Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22, dated April 23, 
2025 (Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22).

(h) Exceptions to Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22

    (1) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22 refers to its effective 
date, this AD requires using the effective date of this AD.
    (2) Where Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22 requires compliance in 
terms of air time, this AD requires using hours time-in-service.
    (3) Where the material referenced in Transport Canada AD CF-
2025-22 specifies ``grounding screw heads should face on the left-
hand side'' or ``grounding screw heads should face left-hand side'', 
this AD requires replacing that text with ``grounding screw heads 
must face on the left-hand side''.

(i) Special Flight Permits

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation Branch, FAA, has the 
authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the 
procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, 
send your request to your principal inspector or local flight 
standards district office, as appropriate. If sending information 
directly to the manager of the International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k) of 
this AD and email to: [email protected].

[[Page 29890]]

    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Additional Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Matthew Williams, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; phone: (316) 946-4134; email: 
[email protected].

(l) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the material listed in this paragraph 
under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this material as applicable to do the actions 
required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Transport Canada AD CF-2025-22, dated April 23, 2025.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Transport Canada material identified in this AD, contact 
Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft Certification, 
159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0N5, Canada; phone: (888) 
663-3639; email: [email protected]. You may find this material on 
the Transport Canada website at tc.canada.ca/en/aviation.
    (4) You may view this material at the FAA, Airworthiness 
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, 
Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5118.
    (5) You may view this material at the National Archives and 
Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability 
of this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations or email [email protected].

    Issued on May 7, 2026.
Steven W. Thompson,
Acting Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-10167 Filed 5-20-26; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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