[Federal Register Volume 64, Number 241 (Thursday, December 16, 1999)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 70201-70202]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 99-32585]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 98-SW-70-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) 
Model 407 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) that is applicable to BHTC Model 407 helicopters. This 
proposal would require modifying the door latch assemblies on all four 
crew and passenger doors. This proposal is prompted by an incident that 
occurred during a manufacturer's flight test, in which a door latch 
assembly broke, preventing occupants in the helicopter from opening the 
door. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent 
a door latch rod assembly from disengaging from the door handle and 
preventing helicopter occupants from opening the door.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before February 14, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-SW-70-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas. Comments may be inspected at this location between 
9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, 
Mirabel, Quebec JON1LO, telephone (800) 463-3036, fax (514) 433-0272. 
This information may be examined at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth, Texas 
76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    Interested persons are invited to participate in the making of the 
proposed rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as 
they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number 
and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified above. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments, 
specified above, will be considered before taking action on the 
proposed rule. The proposals contained in this notice may be changed in 
light of the comments received.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed rule. All 
comments submitted will be available, both before and after the closing 
date for comments, in the Rules Docket for examination by interested 
persons. A report summarizing each FAA-public contact concerned with 
the substance of this proposal will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this notice must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 98-SW-70-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.

[[Page 70202]]

Availability of NPRMs

    Any person may obtain a copy of this NPRM by submitting a request 
to the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 98-SW-70-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    Transport Canada, which is the airworthiness authority for Canada, 
has notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on BHTC Model 
407 helicopters. Transport Canada advises that a door latch rod 
assembly can disengage from the door handle and prevent the helicopter 
occupants from opening the door.
    BHTC has issued Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 
407-98-18, dated May 27, 1998 (ASB), which specifies modifying the 
attachment of two rod assemblies in the door latch assemblies on all 
four crew and passenger doors within the next 100 hours time-in-
service. Transport Canada classified this alert service bulletin as 
mandatory and issued AD No. CF-98-19, dated July 28, 1998, in order to 
assure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in Canada.
    This helicopter model is manufactured in Canada and is type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
section 21.29 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.29) and 
the applicable bilateral airworthiness agreement. Pursuant to this 
bilateral airworthiness agreement, Transport Canada has kept the FAA 
informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the 
findings of the Transport Canada, reviewed all available information, 
and determined that AD action is necessary for products of this type 
design that are certificated for operation in the United States.
    Since an unsafe condition has been identified that is likely to 
exist or develop on other BHTC Model 407 helicopters of the same type 
design registered in the United States, the proposed AD would require 
modifying each door latch assembly, part number (P/N) 20898-401, -402, 
-405, and -406. The actions would be required to be accomplished in 
accordance with the alert service bulletin described previously.
    The FAA estimates that 146 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 6 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish the modification, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Required parts would cost 
approximately $210. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of 
the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $83,220.
    The regulations proposed herein would not impose substantial direct 
compliance costs on state and local governments or 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 13132, the FAA has not consulted with 
state or local authorities prior to publication of this proposed rule.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this proposed 
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) if promulgated, 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 copy of the draft 
regulatory evaluation prepared for this action is contained in the 
Rules Docket. A copy of it may be obtained by contacting 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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Docket No. 98-SW-70-AD.

    Applicability: Model 407 helicopters, serial numbers 53000 
through 53228, with door latch assemblies, part number (P/N) 20898-
401, -402, -405, and -406, 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 helicopter 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 (b) 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 within 100 hours time-in-service, unless 
accomplished previously.
    To prevent a door latch rod assembly from disengaging from the 
door handle and preventing helicopter occupants from opening the 
door, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify each door latch assembly, P/N 20898-401, -402, -405, 
and -406, in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions in Bell 
Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 407-98-18, dated May 
27, 1998.
    (b) An alternative method of compliance or adjustment of the 
compliance time that provides an acceptable level of safety may be 
used if approved by the Manager, Regulations Group, Rotorcraft 
Directorate, FAA. Operators shall submit their requests through an 
FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector, who may concur or comment and 
then send it to the Manager, Regulations Group.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (c) 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.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
(Canada) AD No. CF-98-19, dated July 28, 1998.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on December 9, 1999.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 99-32585 Filed 12-15-99; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P