Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 20, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65224-65226]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22439]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0180; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-37-AD; 
Amendment 39-15265; AD 2007-19-53]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 
204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 412EP, and 412CF Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment 
adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-19-53, which was sent 
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) model helicopters by individual 
letters. This AD requires replacing each affected tail rotor blade 
(blade) with an airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the 
applicability of this AD. This AD is prompted by three incidents in 
which blade tip weights were slung from the blades during flight 
causing significant vibration. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended to prevent loss of a blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective December 5, 2007, to all persons except those persons 
to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD 2007-19-53, 
issued on September 14, 2007, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before January 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this AD:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this AD from Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec 
J7J1R4, telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023, fax (450) 433-0272.

EXAMINING THE DOCKET: You may examine the docket that contains the AD, 
any comments, and other information 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 Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 222-
5783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On September 14, 2007, the FAA issued 
Emergency AD 2007-19-53 for the specified model helicopters, which 
requires replacing each affected part-numbered and serial-numbered 
blade with an airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the 
applicability of this AD. That action was prompted by three incidents 
in which blade tip weights were slung from the blades during flight 
causing significant vibration. The failures have occurred on blades 
being returned to service from Rotor Blades, Inc. (RBI), from as short 
as 12 minutes since repair to as long as 400 hours time-in-service. An 
investigation indicates that the tip weights were missing the adhesive 
that should have been applied during the weight-and-balance process on 
these blades. This condition, if not corrected, could result in loss of 
a blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.
    BHTI has issued the following Alert Service Bulletins (ASB):
    <bullet> No. 204-07-61 for BHTI Model 204 helicopters,
    <bullet> No. 205-07-95 for BHTI Model 205 helicopters,
    <bullet> No. 205B-07-46 for BHTI Model 205B helicopters,
    <bullet> No. 212-07-125 for BHTI Model 212 helicopters, and
    <bullet> No. 412-07-123 for BHTI Model 412 helicopters.

All the ASBs are dated September 11, 2007, and contain a letter from 
RBI indicating certain blades processed by RBI may be missing the 
adhesive applied to the tip weight screws during the weight and balance 
process. Emergency AD 2007-19-53 had the Model 230 helicopters 
incorrectly linked to ASB No. 412-07-123; that ASB is for Model 412 
helicopters. We have made that correction in this AD and determined 
that this change will neither increase the economic burden on any 
operator nor increase the scope of the AD.
    Since the unsafe condition described is likely to exist or develop 
on other specified BHTI model helicopters of these same type designs, 
the FAA issued Emergency AD 2007-19-53 to prevent loss of a blade tip 
weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter. The AD requires replacing each affected blade with an 
airworthy blade. The short compliance

[[Page 65225]]

time involved is required because the previously described critical 
unsafe condition can adversely affect the controllability or structural 
integrity of the helicopter. Therefore, replacing each affected blade 
with an airworthy blade is required before further flight, and this AD 
must be issued immediately.
    Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and good cause 
existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters 
issued on September 14, 2007, to all known U.S. owners and operators of 
the specified BHTI model helicopters. These conditions still exist, and 
the AD is hereby published in the Federal Register as an amendment to 
14 CFR 39.13 to make it effective to all persons.
    The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 1013 helicopters of U.S. 
registry, and it will take about 2 hours to determine if a blade is 
affected per helicopter at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. 
The ASB contains a warranty statement that owners or operators of Bell 
helicopters who comply with the instructions in the ASB will be 
eligible to return defective blades identified by serial number in the 
compliance section to their nearest RBI facility for inspection and 
repair at no cost. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
impact of the AD on U.S. operators to be $162,080, assuming all 
shipping inspection and repair costs are paid by RBI or Bell.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any written data, 
views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0180; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-SW-37-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the 
docket web site, you can find and read the comments to any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent the comment. You 
may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal 
Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); 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.
    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD. See the AD docket to examine the economic evaluation.

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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of 
the Federal Aviation Regulations (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. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:
2007-19-53 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Amendment 39-15265. Docket 
No. FAA-2007-0180; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-37-D.

    Applicability: Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 210, 212, 412, 
412EP, and 412CF helicopters, with a tail rotor blade (blade), 
having a part and serial number as listed in the following table, 
installed, certificated in any category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Part No.                            Serial No.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
204-011-702-015...................  AFS-12703, AFS-12893, AFS-23525, or
                                     AFS-23573.
204-011-702-121...................  A-22020.
212-010-750-105FM.................  A-10090, A-10836, A-11207, or A-
                                     11332.
212-010-750-113...................  A-14953, A15090, or CS-12702.
212-010-750-113FM.................  A-12240, A-12296, A-12640, A-12670,
                                     A-12789, A-13033, A-13096, A-13134,
                                     A-13199, A-13264, or A-13366.
212-010-750-133...................  A15602.
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    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of the blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter do the following:
    (a) Before further flight, replace any affected blade with an 
airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the applicability 
section of this AD.

[[Page 65226]]

    (b) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, ATTN: 
Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety Engineer, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-
0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 222-5783, for information 
about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.
    (c) Special flight permits will not be issued.
    (d) This amendment becomes effective on December 5, 2007, to all 
persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately 
effective by Emergency AD 2007-19-53, issued September 14, 2007, 
which contained the requirements of this amendment.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 31, 2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22439 Filed 11-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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