[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]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P