Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 427 Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 147 (Monday, August 3, 2009)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 38340-38341]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-18431]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0227; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-65-AD; 
Amendment 39-15978; AD 2009-15-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
427 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 427 helicopters. This AD results 
from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 
by the aviation authority of Canada to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on an aviation product. Transport Canada, the aviation 
authority of Canada, with which we have a bilateral agreement, states 
that it has been determined that the existing hardware connecting the 
vertical fin to the tail rotor gearbox needs to be upgraded to prevent 
the vertical fin from becoming loose.
    BHTC has received reports of loose vertical fins discovered during 
inspections. Investigation revealed that the current vertical fin 
attachment hardware may not provide adequate clamp-up. If not 
corrected, the vertical fin could become loose and cause vibration, 
which could lead to subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This 
AD requires actions that are intended to address this unsafe condition.

DATES: This AD becomes effective on September 8, 2009.

ADDRESSES: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations office, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 
W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 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 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/.
    Examining the AD Docket: The AD docket contains the Notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM), the economic evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address and operating hours 
for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) are in the 
ADDRESSES section of this AD. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after they are received.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5122, 
fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that 
would apply to BHTC Model 427 helicopters on March 4, 2009. That NPRM 
was published in the Federal Register on March 23, 2009 (74 FR 12098). 
That NPRM proposed to require actions to prevent the vertical fin from 
becoming loose and causing vibration, which could lead to subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter. You may obtain further information 
by examining the MCAI and any related service information in the AD 
docket.

Comments

    By publishing the NPRM, we gave the public an opportunity to 
participate in developing this AD. However, we received no comment on 
the NPRM or on our determination of the cost to the public. Therefore, 
based on our review and evaluation of the available data, we have 
determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the 
AD as proposed.

Relevant Service Information

    Bell Helicopter Textron has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 427-
06-15, dated December 14, 2006. The actions described in the MCAI are 
intended to correct the same unsafe condition as that identified in the 
service information.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI AD

    We have reviewed the MCAI AD and related service information and, 
in general, agree with their substance. This AD differs from the MCAI 
AD as follows:
    <bullet> We do not require compliance ``no later than November 27, 
2007'', because that date has passed.
    <bullet> We refer to the compliance time as ``hours time-in-
service'' rather than ``air time hours.''
    These differences are highlighted in the ``Differences Between this 
AD and the MCAI AD'' section in the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect about 17 products of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it will take about 2 work-hours per 
helicopter to remove and visually inspect the vertical fin and the tail 
rotor gearbox attachment legs and to re-install the vertical fin. The 
average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Required parts will cost about 
$227 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of 
this AD on U.S. operators to be $6,579 for the fleet, or $387 per 
helicopter, to perform the inspections and remove and re-install the 
vertical fin.

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:

[[Page 38341]]

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 product(s) identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We 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.
    Therefore, I certify this AD:
    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 and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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 AD:

2009-15-15 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC): Amendment 39-
15978; Docket No. FAA-2009-0227; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-65-
AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective on 
September 8, 2009.

Other Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Model 427 helicopters, serial numbers 
56001 through 56057, 58001, and 58002, certificated in any category.

Reason

    (d) Transport Canada states in the mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) that it has been determined that 
the existing hardware connecting the vertical fin to the tail rotor 
gearbox needs to be upgraded to prevent the vertical fin from 
becoming loose. BHTC has received reports of loose vertical fins 
discovered during inspections. Investigation revealed that the 
current vertical fin attachment hardware may not provide adequate 
clamp-up. If not corrected, the vertical fin could become loose and 
cause vibration, which could lead to subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Within the next 150 hours time-in-service, unless already 
done, do the following:
    (1) Remove the vertical fin and visually inspect the inboard and 
outboard surfaces of the vertical fin where it attaches to the tail 
rotor gearbox support for a crack, an elongated bolt hole, fretting, 
distortion and corrosion.
    (2) Visually inspect the tail rotor gearbox support attachment 
legs for a crack, fretting and corrosion.
    (f) If a crack, elongated bolt hole, fretting, distortion or 
corrosion is detected, repair or replace the part with an airworthy 
part before further flight.
    (g) Reinstall the vertical fin.

Differences Between This AD and the MCAI AD

    (h) This AD differs from the MCAI AD as follows:
    (1) We do not require compliance ``no later than November 27, 
2007'', because that date has passed.
    (2) We refer to the compliance time as ``hours time-in-service'' 
rather than ``air time hours.''

Other Information

    (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): The Manager, 
Safety Management Group, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for 
this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Send information to ATTN: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5122, 
fax (817) 222-5961.

Related Information

    (j) Mandatory Continuing Airworthiness Information (MCAI) 
Transport Canada Airworthiness Directive CF-2007-22, dated September 
14, 2007, and Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 
427-06-15, dated December 14, 2006, contain related information.

Subject

    (k) Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code: 5553, Vertical 
Stabilizer, Attach Fittings.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 14, 2009.
Judy I. Carl,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E9-18431 Filed 7-31-09; 8:45 am]
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