[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 140 (Thursday, July 20, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 44994-44995]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-18404]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-24-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
407 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes the adoption of a new airworthiness 
directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 407 
helicopters. This proposal would require inspecting the brackets that 
attach each horizontal stabilizer slat (slat) to the stabilizer for a 
crack and replacing the slat assembly if a crack is found. Installing 
airworthy segmented slat assemblies would be required prior to flight 
after December 31, 2000 and would constitute terminating action for the 
requirements of this AD. This proposal is prompted by an incident in 
which a slat separated from a helicopter. The actions specified by the 
proposed AD are intended to prevent a slat from separating, impact with 
a main or tail rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 18, 2000.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2000-SW-24-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically 
to the Rules Docket at the following address: [email protected]. 
Comments may be inspected at the Office of the Regional Counsel between 
9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations Group, Fort Worth, 
Texas 76193-0111, 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 mailed 
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. 2000-SW-24-AD.'' The postcard will be date 
stamped and returned to the commenter.

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. 2000-SW-24-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    Transport Canada, which is the airworthiness authority for Canada, 
notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on BHTC Model 407 
helicopters. Transport Canada advises that a slat could depart, contact 
one of the rotors, and lead to loss of control of the helicopter. To 
ensure that there is no pre-load condition on the brackets that secure 
the slats to the stabilizer, BHTC has introduced segmented slat 
assemblies, P/N 407-023-001-101.
    BHTC has issued Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 
407-99-32, dated December 7, 1999, which specifies replacing the slat 
assemblies. Transport Canada classified this service bulletin as 
mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2000-09, dated March 21, 2000, to ensure 
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 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.
    The FAA has identified an unsafe condition 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 visually 
inspecting the brackets, part number (P/N) 206-023-119-109 or -110, or 
P/N 407-023-801-127 or -128, for a crack. The inspections must occur 
within the next 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS until the installation of 
airworthy segmented slat assemblies, P/N 407-023-001-101, is 
accomplished. Installing airworthy segmented slat assemblies would be 
required prior to flight after December 31, 2000 and would constitute 
terminating action for the requirements of this AD. The actions would 
be required to be accomplished in accordance with the service bulletin 
described previously.
    The FAA estimates that 348 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 0.5 work 
hour per helicopter to perform the visual inspections, 1 work hour to 
replace a slat assembly, and that the average labor rate is $60 per 
work hour. Required parts would cost approximately $2,364 per segmented 
slat assembly. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $1,697,544, assuming 1 
inspection per helicopter and replacement of the 2 slat assemblies on 
each helicopter.
    The regulations proposed herein would not have a substantial direct

[[Page 44995]]

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 proposal would not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132.
    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. 2000-SW-24-AD.

    Applicability: Model 407 helicopters, serial numbers 53000 
through 53347, 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 (c) 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 a horizontal stabilizer slat (slat) from separating, 
impact with a main or tail rotor blade, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) and thereafter at 
intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS, visually inspect the 
brackets, part number (P/N) 206-023-119-109 or -110 or P/N 407-023-
801-127 or -128, that attach the slats, P/N 407-023-002-117, to the 
horizontal stabilizer for a crack.
    (1) If any crack is found, replace the slat assembly, P/N 407-
023-002-117, with an airworthy segmented slat assembly, P/N 407-023-
001-101, before further flight. Replace the slat assembly in 
accordance with Part II of the Accomplishment Instructions in Bell 
Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB 407-99-32, dated 
December 7, 1999.
    (2) If no crack is found, replace each slat assembly, P/N 407-
023-002-117, with an airworthy segmented slat assembly, P/N 407-023-
001-101, prior to flight after December 31, 2000.
    (b) Installing airworthy segmented slat assemblies, P/N 407-023-
001-101, constitutes terminating action for the requirements of this 
AD.
    (c) 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.

    (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.

    Note 3: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
(Canada) AD CF-2000-09, dated March 21, 2000.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 12, 2000.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-18404 Filed 7-19-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U