[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 154 (Wednesday, August 9, 2000)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48643-48645]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-20184]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-11-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 calibration of the fuel 
quantity indicating system. This proposal is prompted by an operator 
report of an inaccurate fuel quantity indicating system. The actions 
specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent an inaccurate fuel 
quantity indicating system reading, engine flameout due to fuel 
starvation, and a subsequent forced landing.

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-11-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically 
to the Rules Docket at [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.
    The service information referenced in the proposed rule may be 
obtained from Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800

[[Page 48644]]

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, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul Madej, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Standards Staff, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-
0111, telephone (817) 222-5125, 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 mailed 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-11-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-11-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 of the potential for an error in 
the fuel quantity indicating system.
    BHTC has issued Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 
430-99-13, dated December 13, 1999 (ASB), which introduces a new fuel 
quantity indicating system calibration procedure to provide increased 
accuracy for the fuel quantity indicating system. Transport Canada 
classified this ASB as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2000-04, dated 
February 8, 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 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.
    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 
calibrating the fuel quantity indicating system installed in 
helicopters with a serial number (S/N) 49001 through 49059. The actions 
would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the ASB 
described previously.
    The FAA estimates that 50 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 2 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $60 per work hour. Based on these figures, the 
total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to 
be $6,000.
    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-11-AD.

    Applicability: Model 430 helicopters, serial numbers 49001 
through 49059, 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 at the next scheduled fuel system 
calibration or at the next annual inspection, whichever occurs 
first, unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent an inaccurate fuel quantity indicating system 
reading, engine flameout due to fuel starvation, and a subsequent 
forced landing, accomplish the following:
    (a) Calibrate the fuel quantity indicating system in accordance 
with steps 1 through 21 of the Accomplishment Instructions, Bell 
Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 430-99-13, dated 
December 13, 1999 (ASB).

[[Page 48645]]

    (b) Insert BHT-430-MM-10, Chapter 95, Revision 2, dated December 
10, 1999, into the Maintenance Manual.
    (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 
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 No. CF-2000-04, dated February 8, 2000.



    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 1, 2000.
Henry A. Armstrong,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 00-20184 Filed 8-8-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U