[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 9, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48645-48646]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20182]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-22-AD]


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
430 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 430 
helicopters. This proposal would require modifying the electrical 
system. This proposal is prompted by the loss of electrical power due 
to design deficiencies discovered during single-pilot Instrument Flight 
Rules (IFR) flight testing. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent loss of electrical power and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before October 10, 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-22-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: Robert McCallister, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Standards Staff, Fort 
Worth, Texas 76193-0110; telephone (817) 222-5121, 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-22-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-22-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    Transport Canada, the airworthiness authority for Canada, notified 
the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on BHTC Model 430 
helicopters. Transport Canada advises that an evaluation during the 
single-pilot IFR evaluation of the electrical system revealed several 
areas that did not comply with the Canadian Aviation Regulations.
    BHTC has issued Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 
430-99-10, dated December 16, 1999 (ASB), which specifies implementing 
electrical power distribution system improvements at the next annual 
(600-hour) inspection but not later than December 31, 2000. Transport 
Canada classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2000-08, 
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 
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.
    We have identified an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 
develop on other BHTC Model 430 helicopters of the same type design 
registered in the United States. The proposed AD would require 
implementing the following electrical system changes in accordance with 
the ASB:

     Modify the electrical bus distribution system to 
include emergency, essential and nonessential busses. Relocate 
electrical system circuit breakers accordingly.
     Add a second redundant aircraft DC power supply with 
associated circuit breaker for each full authority digital engine 
control electronic control unit.
     Modify AC inverter switching logic to prevent 
inadvertent loss of AC power.
     Modify electrical bonding of the DC generator ground 
circuits by increasing the size of the hardware securing the ground 
shunt bus bar to the airframe structure.

    The FAA estimates that 3 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 140 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. The manufacturer states in the 
ASB that they will provide the 100 percent warranty credit for the 
parts and will allow a maximum

[[Page 48646]]

warranty credit of $7700 for labor costs. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $2100 assuming the stated credit for parts and labor.
    The regulations proposed herein would 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 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-22-AD.

    Applicability: Model 430 helicopters, serial numbers 49002, 
49004 through 49006, 49008 through 49016, 49018 through 49025, and 
49027 through 49036, 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 (b) 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 at the next 600-hour inspection or before 
further flight after December 31, 2000, whichever occurs first, 
unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent loss of electrical power and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Modify the electrical system in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 1 through 6, of Bell 
Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 430-99-10, dated 
December 16, 1999.
    (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 
Secs. 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-2000-08, dated March 21, 2000.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 1, 2000.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20182 Filed 8-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U