[Federal Register Volume 60, Number 102 (Friday, May 26, 1995)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 27873-27874]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 95-12957]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 94-SW-08-AD; Amendment 39-9247; AD 95-11-14]


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 
206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), 
applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 
206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters, that requires removal and 
replacement of certain crosstube assemblies (crosstubes). This 
amendment is prompted by two accidents attributed to crosstube failures 
and 27 field reports that indicated corrosion or metal fatigue may 
cause a failure of the affected crosstubes. The actions specified by 
this AD are intended to prevent failure of the crosstubes and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATE: Effective June 30, 1995.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Tony Nguyen, Aerospace Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5177, fax (817) 222-5959.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend part 39 of the Federal 
Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) to include an airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. 
Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters was 
published in the Federal Register on November 14, 1994 (59 FR 56438). 
That action proposed to require removal and replacement of certain 
crosstubes within the next 90 calendar days.
    Interested persons have been afforded an opportunity to participate 
in the making of this amendment. Due consideration has been given to 
the one comment received.
    The commenter states that the FAA should require an annual skid 
gear inspection rather than requiring the more costly replacement of 
the crosstubes. The FAA does not concur. The FAA has determined that, 
due to the location of the potential crack and the speed at which a 
crack could propagate, an annual inspection would not be a sufficient 
interval to detect a potentially critical crack. The economic impact of 
a repetitive inspection at an interval short enough to detect the crack 
would have a greater adverse economic impact on owners/operators than 
the [[Page 27874]] economic impact which would be incurred by replacing 
the crosstubes.
    After careful review of the available data, including the comment 
noted above, the FAA has determined that air safety and the public 
interest require the adoption of the rule as proposed, except for 
editorial changes and adding explanatory Note 1, relating to the scope 
of the applicability statement when modifications, alterations, or 
repairs have been made in the area subject to the requirements of the 
AD.
    The FAA estimates that 5,700 helicopters of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 10 work hours per 
helicopter to accomplish the required actions, and that the average 
labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately 
$6,400 per helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of 
the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $39,900,000 to replace two 
crosstubes per helicopter.
    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 adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

95-11-14  Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc (BHTI): Amendment 39-9247 
Docket No. 94-SW-08-AD.

    Applicability: Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-
4 helicopters, with crosstube assemblies (crosstubes), BHTI part 
numbers (P/N) 206-050-107, 206-050-119, 206-050-134, 206-050-157, 
206-050-169, 206-053-109, 206-053-119, and 206-053-129 (all dash 
numbers), or Airborne Supply, Inc. P/N AB206-050-107, AB206-050-119, 
or AB206-053-109 (all dash numbers), installed, certificated in any 
category.

    Note 1: This AD applies to each helicopter identified in the 
preceding applicability provision, regardless of whether it has been 
modified, altered, or repaired in the area subject to the 
requirements of this AD. For helicopters that have been modified, 
altered, or repaired so that the performance of the requirements of 
this AD is affected, the owner/operator must use the authority 
provided in paragraph (c) to request approval from the FAA. This 
approval may address either no action, if the current configuration 
eliminates the unsafe condition, or different actions necessary to 
address the unsafe condition described in this AD. Such a request 
should include an assessment of the effect of the changed 
configuration on the unsafe condition addressed by this AD. In no 
case does the presence of any modification, alteration, or repair 
remove any helicopter from the applicability of this AD.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously. To prevent failure of the crosstubes and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 90 calendar days after the effective date of this AD, 
remove any affected crosstube and replace it with an airworthy 
crosstube in accordance with the appropriate maintenance manual or 
service instructions. Any crosstubes removed as a result of this AD 
shall be permanently marked as unairworthy.

    Note 2: For BHTI P/N 206-053-109 and 206-053-119, the P/N are 
vibro-etched on the upper cuff of the crosstube on the aft side on 
both forward and aft crosstubes; for BHTI P/N 206-053-129, the P/N 
is vibro-etched on the bottom of the cuff on the aft side on both 
forward and aft crosstubes; for BHTI P/N 206-050-107, 206-050-119, 
206-050-134, 206-050-157, and 206-050-169, the P/N are stamped in 
ink on the crosstube, which is shipped without paint (once the 
helicopter is painted, the P/N are covered); and for Airborne 
Supply, Inc., P/N AB206-050-107, AB206-050-119, and AB206-053-109, 
the P/N are rubber stamped at the bottom end of the crosstube.
    (b) If the crosstubes' P/N cannot be determined by reference to 
the crosstubes, if possible, determine the P/N by reference to the 
maintenance records or other aircraft records. If the crosstubes' P/
N cannot be determined, replace the crosstubes with airworthy 
crosstubes within 90 calendar days after the effective date of this 
AD in accordance with the appropriate maintenance manual or service 
instructions.
    (c) 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 3: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Rotorcraft Certification Office.

    (d) 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.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on June 30, 1995.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 19, 1995.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 95-12957 Filed 5-25-95; 8:45 am]
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