[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 83 (Tuesday, April 30, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 21185-21187]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-10533]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-73-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
222, 222B, 222U, 230, and 430 Helicopters

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 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, 222U, 
230, and 430 helicopters. This proposal would require removing sealant 
from the forward tooling hole in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure 
area. This proposal is prompted by the determination that fuel or water 
could accumulate in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure. The actions 
specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent accumulation of 
fuel in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure area, a fire, and a 
subsequent forced landing.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 1, 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-73-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: Paul Madej, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft

[[Page 21186]]

Standards Staff, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0110, 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 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-73-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-73-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 222, 222B, 
222U, 230, and 430 helicopters. Transport Canada advises that a 
condition exists that can result in an accumulation of fuel in the 
right-hand upper fuel enclosure area.
    BHTC has issued:
     Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 
222-01-89, for Model 222 helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 47006 
through 47089, and Model 222B helicopters, S/N 47131 through 47156;
     ASB No. 222U-01-60, for Model 222U helicopters, S/N 47501 
through 47574;
     ASB No. 230-01-20, for Model 230 helicopters, S/N 23001 
through 23038; and
     ASB No. 430-01-21, for Model 430 helicopters, S/N 49001 
through 49079.
    All of the ASB's are dated February 7, 2001. All of these ASB's 
specify procedures for removing the sealant from the existing forward 
tooling hole located in the panel assembly to provide enclosure 
drainage. Transport Canada classified these alert service bulletins as 
mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2001-22, dated May 24, 2001, to ensure 
the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in Canada.
    These helicopter models are manufactured in Canada and are type 
certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 
14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to the 
applicable bilateral 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 these type 
designs that are certificated for operation in the United States.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopter models of the same type designs registered in the United 
States. Therefore, the proposed AD would require removing sealant from 
the forward tooling hole in the right-hand upper fuel enclosure area. 
The actions would be required to be accomplished in accordance with the 
alert service bulletins described previously.
    The FAA estimates that 151 helicopters of U.S. registry would be 
affected by this proposed AD, that it would take approximately 5 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 $45,300.
    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:

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Docket No. 2001-SW-73-AD.
    Applicability: Model 222 helicopters, serial numbers (S/N) 47006 
through 47089; Model 222B helicopters, S/N 47131 through 47156; 
Model 222U helicopters, S/N 47501 through 47574; Model 230 
helicopters, S/N 23001 through 23038; and Model 430 helicopters, S/N 
49001 through 49079, 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 annual or 100-hour inspection, 
whichever occurs first, unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent accumulation of fuel in the right-hand upper fuel 
enclosure area, a fire, and a subsequent forced landing, accomplish 
the following:

[[Page 21187]]

    (a) Remove the sealant from the forward tooling hole in the 
right-hand upper fuel enclosure area in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions in Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) No. 222-01-89, for the Model 222 helicopters and 
Model 222B helicopters; ASB No. 222U-01-60, for the Model 222U 
helicopters; ASB No. 230-01-20, for the Model 230 helicopters; and 
ASB No. 430-01-21, for the Model 430 helicopters, all dated February 
7, 2001.
    (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 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-2001-22, dated May 24, 2001.



    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 18, 2002.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-10533 Filed 4-29-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P