[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 178 (Thursday, September 13, 2001)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47600-47601]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-22947]



[[Page 47600]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 81-ASW-27]


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 
206A, 206B, 206A-1, 206B-1, 206L, and 206L-1 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of Proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to revise an existing airworthiness 
directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 206A, 
206B, 206A-1, 206B-1, 206L, and 206L-1 helicopters that currently 
establishes a retirement life for the main rotor trunnion (trunnion) 
based on hours time-in-service (TIS). This action would retain those 
requirements but would revise the AD to remove the trunnion, part 
number (P/N) 206-011-120-103, from the applicability. This proposal is 
prompted by the issuance of another AD for the BHTI Model 206L and 
206L-1 helicopters that requires a different method of calculating the 
retirement life for the trunnions. The actions specified by this AD are 
intended prevent failure of the trunnion due to fatigue cracks and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received by November 13, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 81-ASW-27, 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].

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 will 
be considered before taking action on the proposed rule. The proposals 
contained in this document 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 proposal must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 81-ASW-27.'' 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. 81-ASW-27, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    The FAA issued AD 81-18-01, Amendment 39-4192 (46 FR 42651, August 
24, 1981), to require a retirement life on the trunnions installed on 
BHTI Model 206A, 206B, 206A-1, 206B-1, 206L, and 206L-1 helicopters. 
That action was prompted by the FAA's determination that a retirement 
life should be imposed on the trunnion based on fatigue testing, 
fatigue analysis, and service experience. That condition, if not 
corrected, could result in failure of the trunnion due to fatigue 
cracks and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    Since the issuance of AD 81-18-01, the FAA has issued AD 99-17-19 
(64 FR 45433, August 20, 1999) that required a different method of 
calculating the retirement life for the trunnion, part number (P/N) 
206-011-120-103, installed on BHTI Model 206L series helicopters. AD 
81-18-01 established a retirement life for certain trunnions based on 
hours TIS. AD 99-17-19 requires a retirement life based on a Retirement 
Index Number (RIN) for the trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-103, installed on 
the Model 206L series helicopters. This AD revises AD 81-18-01 to 
remove the trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-103, from the applicability of 
that AD so that the trunnions for those models will only be affected by 
the RIN retirement life as required by AD 99-17-19. However, the model 
206L and 206L-1 helicopters must be included in this AD because the 
other trunnions affected by the AD may be installed on these 
helicopters.
    Since we have identified an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on other BHTI Model 206A, 206B, 206A-1, 206B-1, 206L, 
and 206L-1 helicopters of the same type designs, the proposed AD would 
revise AD 81-18-01. This AD would contain the same requirements as AD 
81-18-01 but would remove trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-103, from the 
applicability of that AD.
    The FAA estimates that since the requirements of the AD are not 
changed and fewer helicopters of U.S. registry will be affected by this 
proposed AD revision, there will be no additional cost impact from the 
AD revision on U.S. operators.
    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); 
(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 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.

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:

[[Page 47601]]

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 removing Amendment 39-4192 (46 FR 
42651, August 24, 1981), and by adding a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) to read as follows:

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Docket No. 81-ASW-27. Revises AD 81-
18-01, Amendment 39-4192, Docket No. 81-ASW-27.

Applicability

    Model 206A, 206B, 206A-1, 206B-1, 206L, and 206L-1 helicopters, 
with main rotor (trunnion), part number (P/N) 206-010-104-3, 206-
011-113-001, 206-011-120-001, or 206-011-113-103, 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 (i) 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 failure of the trunnion due to fatigue cracks, 
accomplish the following:
    (a) Any trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-001, with 1100 or more hours 
time-in-service (TIS) must be retired from service within the next 
100 hours TIS.
    (b) Any trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-001, with less than 1100 hours 
TIS must be retired from service on or before attaining 1200 hours 
TIS.
    (c) Any trunnion, P/N 206-010-104-3, and 206-011-113-001, with 
2300 or more hours TIS must be retired from service within the next 
100 hours TIS.
    (d) Any trunnion, P/N 206-010-104-3, and 206-011-113-001, with 
less than 2300 hours TIS must be retired from service on or before 
attaining 2400 hours TIS.
    (e) Any trunnion, P/N 206-011-113-103, with 4700 or more hours 
TIS must be retired from service within the next 100 hours TIS.
    (f) Any trunnion, P/N 206-011-113-103, with less than 4700 hours 
TIS must be retired from service on or before attaining 4800 hours 
TIS.
    (g) The retirement times, for the trunnions, established by this 
AD, are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Service
                            P/N                               life hours
                                                                 TIS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
206-011-120-001............................................         1200
206-010-104-3..............................................         2400
206-011-113-001............................................         2400
206-011-113-103............................................         4800
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 2: The FAA issued AD 99-17-19 (64 FR 45433, August 20, 
1999) to establish a retirement life for trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-
103.

    (h) This AD revises the Limitations section of the maintenance 
manual by establishing a retirement life of 1200 hours TIS for 
trunnion, P/N 206-011-120-001; 2400 hours TIS for P/N 206-010-104-3 
and 206-011-113-001; and 4800 hours TIS for P/N 206-011-113-103.

    Note 3: Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletins 206-80-7 
and 206L-80-9, both Revision B, and dated October 15, 1980, pertain 
to the subject of this AD.

    (i) 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 4: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Regulations Group.

    (j) Special flight permits may be issued in accordance with 14 
CFR 21.197 and 21.199 to operate the helicopter to a location where 
the requirements of this AD can be accomplished.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 4, 2001.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 01-22947 Filed 9-12-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U