[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 33 (Thursday, February 17, 2000)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 8032-8034]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-3793]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 99-SW-79-AD; Amendment 39-11579; AD 2000-02-12]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
407 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment 
adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2000-02-12, which was sent 
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of Bell Helicopter 
Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 407 helicopters by individual letters. This 
AD requires

[[Page 8033]]

inspecting engine oil cooler blower shaft bearings (bearings) for 
roughness at specified time intervals and replacing any rough bearings 
before further flight. This amendment is prompted by several bearing 
failures. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent 
bearing failure, loss of tail rotor drive, and a subsequent forced 
landing.

DATES: Effective March 3, 2000, to all persons except those persons to 
whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD 2000-02-12, 
issued on January 21, 2000, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before April 17, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 99-SW-79-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Madej, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort Worth, Texas 
76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5125, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On January 21, 2000, the FAA issued 
Emergency AD 2000-02-12, applicable to BHTC Model 407 helicopters, 
which requires inspecting bearings for roughness at specified time 
intervals and replacing any rough bearings before further flight. That 
action was prompted by several bearing failures. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in loss of tail rotor drive and a subsequent 
forced landing.
    Transport Canada, the airworthiness authority for Canada, notified 
the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on BHTC Model 407 
helicopters. Transport Canada advises that failure of a bearing, part 
number (P/N) 407-340-339-101 or -103, may lead to failure in the power 
train. Transport Canada issued AD CF-2000-02, dated January 14, 2000, 
applicable to BHTC Model 407 helicopters.
    The FAA has reviewed Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin 
No. 407-98-23, dated December 11, 1998, which describe procedures for 
replacing the oil cooler blower fan bearings, introduces the use of a 
new grease with better high temperature properties, and specifies 
adding a warning decal advising that only a certain type of grease 
should be used.
    Since the unsafe condition described is likely to exist or develop 
on other BHTC Model 407 helicopters of the same type design, the FAA 
issued Emergency AD 2000-02-12 to prevent bearing failure, loss of tail 
rotor drive, and a subsequent forced landing. The AD requires the 
following: Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect the bearings, 
P/N 407-340-339-101 or -103, for roughness by hand-rotating the 
driveshaft with the oil cooler drive shaft connected. Within 25 hours 
TIS, inspect for bearing roughness by hand-rotating the driveshaft with 
the oil cooler driveshaft disconnected at both ends and lubricate the 
bearings with grease after the inspection. At intervals not to exceed 
25 hours TIS, inspect for bearing roughness by hand-rotating the 
driveshaft with the oil cooler drive shaft connected and lubricate the 
bearings with grease after each recurring inspection. Replace any rough 
bearing before further flight. The short compliance time involved is 
required because the previously described critical unsafe condition can 
adversely affect the structural integrity and controllability of the 
helicopter. Therefore, inspecting the bearings for roughness is 
required within 10 and 25 hours TIS and thereafter, at intervals not to 
exceed 25 hours TIS and replacing any rough bearing is required before 
further flight, and this AD must be issued immediately.
    Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest, and good cause 
existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters 
issued on January 21, 2000, to all known U.S. owners and operators of 
BHTC Model 407 helicopters. These conditions still exist, and the AD is 
hereby published in the Federal Register as an amendment to section 
39.13 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 39.13) to make it 
effective to all persons.
    The FAA estimates that 350 helicopters of U.S. registry will be 
affected by this AD, that it will take approximately 0.5 work hour per 
helicopter for the initial 10-hour TIS inspection; 1.5 work hours per 
helicopter for the 25-hour TIS inspection; 0.5 work hour for the 
repetitive inspections; and 4 work hours per helicopter to replace the 
bearing, if necessary. The average labor rate is $60 per work hour. 
Required parts will cost approximately $1,926 per helicopter to replace 
the bearing, if necessary. Based on these figures, the total cost 
impact of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $462,000, 
assuming one 10-hour TIS inspection, one 25-hour TIS inspection, 40 
repetitive inspections per helicopter, and no bearing replacements.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments 
received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be 
needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the 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 that 
summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this 
AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their comments 
submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, 
stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: ``Comments 
to Docket No. 99-SW-79-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and 
returned to the commenter.
    The regulations adopted herein 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, it 
is determined that this final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and that it is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further 
that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory 
Policies and Procedures (44

[[Page 8034]]

FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that this emergency 
regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures, a final regulatory evaluation will be prepared and 
placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, 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. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec. 39.13  [Amended]

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

AD 2000-02-12  Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Amendment 39-11579, 
Docket No. 99-SW-79-AD.

    Applicability: Model 407 helicopters, with oil cooler blower 
shaft bearing (bearing), part number (P/N) 407-340-339-101 or -103, 
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 
otherwise 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 request approval for an 
alternative method of compliance in accordance with paragraph (d) of 
this AD. The request should include an assessment of the effect of 
the modification, alteration, or repair on the unsafe condition 
addressed by this AD; and, if the unsafe condition has not been 
eliminated, the request should include specific proposed actions to 
address it.

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent bearing failure, loss of tail rotor drive, and a 
subsequent forced landing, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspect the forward 
and aft bearings for roughness by hand-rotating the driveshaft with 
the oil cooler driveshaft connected. Replace any rough bearing 
before further flight.
    (b) Within 25 hours TIS, inspect the forward and aft bearings 
for roughness by hand-rotating the driveshaft with the oil cooler 
driveshaft disconnected at both ends. Replace any rough bearing 
before further flight. After the inspection, lubricate the bearings 
with MIL-G-25013 grease.
    (c) Following the inspection of paragraph (b) and at intervals 
not to exceed 25 hours TIS, repeat the inspection of paragraph (a). 
Replace any rough bearing before further flight. After each 
recurring inspection, lubricate the bearings with MIL-G-25013 
grease.
    (d) 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.

    (e) Special flight permits will not be issued.
    (f) This amendment becomes effective on March 3, 2000, to all 
persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately 
effective by Emergency AD 2000-02-12, issued January 21, 2000, which 
contained the requirements of this amendment.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
(Canada) AD CF-2000-02, dated January 14, 2000.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on February 10, 2000.
Larry M. Kelly,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-3793 Filed 2-16-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P