[Federal Register Volume 59, Number 120 (Thursday, June 23, 1994)]
[Unknown Section]
[Page 0]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 94-15147]


[[Page Unknown]]

[Federal Register: June 23, 1994]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 93-SW-12-AD; Amendment 39-8803; AD 94-02-05]

 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 
214B, 214B-1, and 214ST Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD), applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 214B and 214B-1 
helicopters, that currently establishes a mandatory retirement life for 
the main transmission upper planetary carrier (carrier). This amendment 
requires changing the retirement life for the carrier from flight hours 
to high-power events, removing the 2,500 hours' time-in-service 
magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for the carrier, and making the 
requirements applicable to the Model 214ST as well as the Model 214B 
and 214B-1 helicopters. This amendment is prompted by the 
manufacturer's analysis and retesting that has shown that frequent 
takeoffs and external load lifts (high-power events) shorten the life 
of the carrier. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
prevent fatigue failure of the carrier, failure of the main 
transmission, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 28, 1994.

ADDRESSES: This AD and any related information may be examined in the 
Rules Docket at the Federal Aviation Administration, Office of the 
Assistant Chief Counsel, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Uday Garadi, Aerospace Engineer, 
Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, 2601 
Meacham Boulevard, Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5157, 
fax (817) 222-5959.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations by superseding AD 92-09-06, Amendment 39-8231, (57 
FR 31431, July 16, 1992), which is applicable to Bell Helicopter 
Textron, Inc. Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters, was published in the 
Federal Register on August 31, 1993, (58 FR 45858). That action 
proposed to require changing the retirement life for the main 
transmission upper planetary carrier (carrier), part numbers (P/N) 214-
040-077-007 and 214-040-077-101, from flight hours to high-power 
events, removing the 2,500 hours' time-in-service magnetic particle 
inspection (MPI) for the carrier, and making the requirements 
applicable to the Model 214ST as well as the Model 214B and 214B-1 
helicopters. High-power events are takeoffs and external load lifts.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. No comments were received on the 
proposal or the FAA's determination of the cost to the public. The FAA 
has determined that air safety and the public interest require the 
adoption of the rule as proposed with only minor editorial changes. The 
FAA has determined that these changes will not increase the scope of 
the AD. However, the FAA has performed a more detailed cost analysis 
and has determined that, when factoring in the creation and maintenance 
of the component history card or equivalent record, the anticipated 
costs are $93,403 higher than the proposed amount for the first year 
and $108,987 higher than the proposed amount for each subsequent year. 
In the proposal, the cost of this AD was estimated to be $870,570 each 
year.
    The FAA estimates that 170 helicopters of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that (1) it will take approximately 30 work hours 
per helicopter to replace the affected parts due to the new method of 
determining the retirement life required by this AD, (2) it will take 
approximately 2 work hours per helicopter to create the component 
history card or equivalent record (record), (3) it will take 
approximately 10 work hours per helicopter to maintain the record each 
year, and (4) the average labor rate is $55 per work hour. Required 
parts will cost approximately $28,966 per helicopter. Based on these 
figures, the total cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators for the 
first year is estimated to be $979,557 and each subsequent year to be 
$963,973. These costs assume replacement of the carrier in one-sixth of 
the fleet each year, creation and maintenance of the records for all 
the fleet the first year, and creation of one-sixth of the records and 
maintenance of the records for all the fleet each subsequent year.
    The regulations adopted herein will not have substantial direct 
effects 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, in 
accordance with Executive Order 12612, it is determined that this final 
rule does not have sufficient federalism implications to warrant the 
preparation of a Federalism Assessment.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this action (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); 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. A final evaluation has been prepared for this action 
and it is contained in the Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained 
from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption 
``ADDRESSES.''

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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

    1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. App. 1354(a), 1421 and 1423; 49 U.S.C. 
106(g); and 14 CFR 11.89.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-8231, (57 FR 
31431, July 16, 1992), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD), Amendment 39-8803, to read as follows:

AD 94-02-05 Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Amendment 39-8803. Docket 
Number 93-SW-12-AD. Supersedes AD 92-09-06, Amendment 39-8231.

    Applicability: Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters, 
certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent fatigue failure of the main transmission upper 
planetary carrier (carrier), part numbers (P/N) 214-040-077-007 and 
214-040-077-101, as a result of frequent takeoffs and external load 
lifts (high-power events), that could result in failure of the main 
transmission and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Within the next 25 hours' time-in-service (TIS) after the 
effective date of this airworthiness directive (AD), accomplish the 
following:
    (1) Create a component history card or an equivalent record for 
the affected carrier.
    (2) Determine the actual TIS of the carrier from maintenance 
records, if possible. If the actual TIS cannot be determined, use a 
TIS of 900 hours per year. Prorate the hours for a partial year.
    (3) For Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters, determine and record 
the accumulated high-power events on the carrier as follows:
    (i) If the number of high-power events is unknown, assign 12 
high-power events for each hour TIS obtained in paragraph (a)(2).
    (ii) If the number of high-power events is known, divide that 
number by 2 and record the resulting number as the total accumulated 
high-power events.
    (4) For Model 214ST helicopters, determine and record the 
accumulated high-power events on the carrier as follows:
    (i) If the number of high-power events is unknown, assign 11 
high-power events for each hour TIS obtained in paragraph (a)(2).
    (ii) If the number of high-power events is known, record that 
number as the total accumulated high-power events.
    (b) After the effective date of this AD, continue to record 
high-power events. For Model 214B and 214B-1 helicopters, divide the 
number of high-power events as they occur by 2 and add the resulting 
number to the previously recorded sum; for Model 214ST helicopters, 
add the high-power events as they occur to the previously recorded 
sum.
    (c) Remove the carriers from further service in accordance with 
the following:
    (1) For carriers with 59,400 or more high-power events on the 
effective date of this AD, remove the carrier from service on or 
before the accumulation of an additional 600 high-power events.
    (2) For carriers with less than 59,400 high-power events on the 
effective date of this AD, remove the affected carrier from service 
on or before attaining 60,000 high-power events.
    (d) This AD revises the helicopter Airworthiness Limitations 
section of the maintenance manual by establishing a new retirement 
life for the carrier of 60,000 high-power events. However, for 
carriers with 59,400 or more high-power events on the effective date 
of this AD, those carriers need not be retired until on or before 
the accumulation of an additional 600 high-power events.
    (e) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used when approved by the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate. Operators shall submit their requests 
through an FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or 
comment and then send it to the Manager, Rotorcraft Certification 
Office.

    Note: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Rotorcraft Certification Office.

    (f) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 
sections 21.197 and 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199) to operate the helicopter to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.
    (g) This amendment becomes effective on July 28, 1994.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 6, 1994.

Larry M. Kelly,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 94-15147 Filed 6-22-94; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P