[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 3, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 17641]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-8147]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
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 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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  Federal Register / Vol. 66, No. 64 / Tuesday, April 3, 2001 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 17641]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2000-SW-60-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Model 412 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

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SUMMARY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) 
that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 412 high landing gear aft 
crosstube assembly (crosstube assembly) that would have required 
determining the number of landings, inspecting for damage, vibro-
etching a part number (P/N) and a serial number (S/N), creating a 
component history card or equivalent record, establishing a retirement 
life, and replacing each unairworthy crosstube assembly. Since the 
issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has determined that the NPRM contained 
incorrect part numbers. Also, the FAA is conducting a more thorough 
review of the service history to determine whether a yearly inspection 
of the crosstube assembly is a better corrective action. Accordingly, 
the proposed rule is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5447, fax (817) 222-
5783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: A proposal to amend 14 CFR part 39 to adopt 
a new AD for BHTI Model 412 helicopters was published in the Federal 
Register on November 15, 2000 (65 FR 68953). The proposed rule would 
have contained the following requirements for certain crosstube 
assemblies:
     Reviewing the aircraft maintenance records to determine 
the number of landings;
     Inspecting for damage and replacing any unairworthy 
crosstube assembly;
     Vibro-etching a P/N on the crosstube assembly;
     Vibro-etching a S/N on the crosstube assembly;
     Creating a component history card or equivalent record; 
and
     Establishing a retirement life of 10,000 landings for 
crosstube assemblies, P/N 412-050-010-101 and 412-050-011-107 FM, and a 
retirement life of 20,000 landings for crosstube assemblies, P/N 412-
050-045-107.
    That action was prompted by reports of failures indicating that a 
retirement life should be assigned to the crosstube assembly. The 
proposed actions were intended to detect damage that could lead to a 
fatigue crack and failure of the crosstube assembly and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter during landing.
    Since the issuance of that NPRM, the FAA has received new data from 
the manufacturer indicating that the NPRM contained incorrect part 
numbers. The FAA has also gathered more failure data and service 
history of certain crosstube assemblies.
    Upon further consideration and review of this new data, the FAA has 
determined that the NPRM contained incorrect part numbers. Also, after 
reviewing the service history, the FAA has determined that assigning a 
retirement life to the crosstube assembly might not adequately address 
the unsafe condition. However, the FAA is still reviewing the failure 
data and service history to determine whether to require yearly 
inspections of certain crosstube assemblies to more adequately address 
the unsafe condition. Accordingly, we have decided to withdraw the 
proposed rule.
    Withdrawal of this NPRM constitutes only such action and does not 
preclude the agency from issuing another notice in the future, nor does 
it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.
    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
nor a final rule and, therefore, is not covered under Executive Order 
12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the NPRM, Docket No. 2000-SW-60-AD, published in the 
Federal Register on November 15, 2000 (65 FR 68953), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 22, 2001.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-8147 Filed 4-2-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U