[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 69 (Wednesday, April 10, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 17305-17306]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-8597]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-41-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-
1B, UH-1E, UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P; and Southwest Florida 
Aviation Model SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 Helicopters, 
Manufactured by Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. for the Armed Forces of 
the United States

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for specified restricted category helicopters. The proposed AD 
would require updating the product identification, extending the 
application of the AD to other models, continuing the existing 
retirement time for certain main rotor tension-torsion (TT) straps, and 
adding the TT strap part numbers to the applicability. This proposal is 
prompted by the need to expand the applicability to additional 
restricted category helicopters and to add two part numbers to the 
applicability. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to 
prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before June 10, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2001-SW-41-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: 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:

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. 2001-SW-41-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. 2001-SW-41-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

Discussion

    On July 31, 1980, the FAA issued AD 80-17-09, Amendment 39-3876 (45 
FR 54014, August 14, 1980), Docket No. 80-ASW-25, for BHTI Model 204B, 
205A-1, 212, 214B, and 214B-1 helicopters and for Model UH-1 series 
helicopters. AD 80-17-09 reduced the retirement time of the TT straps, 
part number (P/N) 204-012-122-1 and -5 from 2,400 hours to 1,200 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) or 24 months for the affected model helicopters.
    The FAA has decided to propose that the current requirements of AD 
80-17-09 and the expanded requirements proposed in this AD be separated 
into two proposals. The FAA intends to propose superseding AD 80-17-09 
when it next proposes changes to that AD for ``nonmilitary surplus''

[[Page 17306]]

helicopters. The intent of this action is to propose replacing the 
requirements of AD 80-17-09 for the ``military UH-1 series'' 
helicopters, certificated in all categories, with the proposed 
requirements in this document. This document proposes continuing the 
existing retirement time for the TT straps, expanding the applicability 
to additional model helicopters, and adding two part numbers to the 
applicability.
    This proposal is prompted by the need to expand the applicability 
to additional restricted category helicopters and to add two part 
numbers to the applicability. The actions specified by the proposed AD 
are intended to prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor 
blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of these type designs. Therefore, the FAA has determined 
that a reduced retirement life for certain TT straps of 1,200 hours TIS 
or 24 months since the initial installation on any helicopter, 
whichever occurs first, is required for these restricted category 
helicopters.
    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 75 helicopters 
of U.S. registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take 8 work 
hours to replace the TT straps and that the average labor rate is $60 
per work hour. The TT straps would cost approximately $10,484 per 
helicopter. Based on these figures, the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $822,300.
    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:

Arrow Falcon Exporters, Inc. (previously Utah State University); 
Firefly Aviation Helicopter Services (previously Erickson Air-Crane 
Co.); Garlick Helicopters, Inc.; Global Helicopter Technology, Inc.; 
Hagglund Helicopters, Llc (previously Western International 
Aviation, Inc.; Hawkins and Powers Aviation, Inc.; International 
Helicopters, Inc.; Robinson Air Crane, Inc.; Smith Helicopters; 
Southern Helicopter, Inc.; Southwest Florida Aviation; Tamarack 
Helicopters, Inc. (previously Ranger Helicopter Services, Inc.); 
U.S. Helicopter, Inc.; and Williams Helicopter Corporation 
(previously Scott Paper Co.): Docket No. 2001-SW-41-AD.
    Applicability: Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, 
UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P; and Southwest Florida Aviation Model 
SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 helicopters, manufactured by 
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) for the Armed Forces of the 
United States, with main rotor tension-torsion (TT) strap, part 
number (P/N) 204-012-122-1, 204-012-122-5, 2601399, or 2606650, 
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 (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 before further flight, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor blade, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Remove and replace any TT strap with 1,200 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or 24 months since the initial installation, whichever 
occurs first.
    (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, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
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, Rotorcraft Certification 
Office.

    Note 2: Information concerning the existence of approved 
alternative methods of compliance with this AD, if any, may be 
obtained from the Rotorcraft Certification Office.

    (c) Special flight permits will not be issued.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 2, 2002.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-8597 Filed 4-9-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U