[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 98 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35763-35764]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-12702]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 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.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 67, No. 98 / Tuesday, 
May 21, 2002 / Proposed Rules  

[[Page 35763]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2001-SW-42-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. Model 
204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 214B, and 214B-1 Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness 
directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 204B, 
205A-1, 212, 214B, and 214B-1 helicopters. That AD 
currently requires reducing the retirement time for certain main rotor 
tension-torsion (TT) straps on those models and on the Model UH-1 
series helicopters. This document would contain the same requirements 
but would remove the Model UH-1 series restricted category 
helicopters and would add the BHTI Model 205A and 205B helicopters to 
the applicability. This proposal is prompted by the issuance of a 
separate AD for the Model UH-1 series helicopters and the need to 
add the BHTI Model 205A and 205B helicopters to the applicability 
because the affected straps are eligible for installation on these 
model helicopters. 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 5, 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-42-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-42-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-42-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. That AD requires replacing certain TT straps on 
or before attaining 1,200 hours TIS or 24 calendar months, whichever 
occurs first, for the BHTI Model 204B, 205A-1, 212, 214B, 
214B-1, and the Model UH-1 series military helicopters. 
That action was prompted by an offshore accident of a Bell Model 212 
helicopter in which a TT strap reportedly failed in flight after 2,140 
hours TIS with resulting loss of the main rotor blade. The requirements 
of that AD are intended to prevent failure of a TT strap, loss of a 
main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    Since the issuance of that AD, a separate NPRM has been issued (67 
FR 17305, April 10, 2002) for the military surplus restricted category 
helicopters that includes the Model UH-1 series hence the removal 
of the Model UH-1 series helicopters from the applicability of 
this proposed AD. Also, further review indicates that the affected TT 
straps are eligible for installation on the BHTI Model 205A and 205B 
helicopters. Therefore, this proposed AD includes those models in the 
applicability.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of these same type designs. The proposed AD would supersede 
AD 80-17-09 to contain the same requirements but would 
change the applicability by removing the restricted category Model 
UH-1 series helicopters and adding the BHTI Model 205A and 205B 
helicopters.
    The FAA estimates that this AD would affect 168 helicopters of U.S. 
registry. The FAA also estimates that it would take 8 work hours to 
replace the TT straps at an average labor rate of $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 $1,840,352.
    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

[[Page 35764]]

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), 40114, 44701.


 39.13  [Amended]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by removing Amendment 39-3876 (45 
FR 54014, dated August 14, 1980), and by adding a new airworthiness 
directive (AD), to read as follows:

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Docket No. 2001-SW-42. 
Supersedes AD 80-17-09, Amendment 39-3876, Docket 
No. 80-ASW-25.

    Applicability: Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, 212, 214B, 
and 214B-1 helicopters, with main rotor tension-torsion (TT) 
strap, part number (P/N) 204-012-122-1, -5, 
or 214-010-179-1, 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 (d) 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 separation of a TT strap, loss of a main rotor blade, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Before further flight, remove and replace any TT strap with 
1,200 or more hours time-in-service (TIS) or 24 or more months since 
initial installation on any helicopter, whichever occurs first.
    (b) This AD revises the limitations section of the maintenance 
manual by establishing a life limit for the TT straps, P/N 
204-012-122-1, -5, or 
214-010-179-1, of 1200 hours TIS or 24 months 
since initial installation on any helicopter, whichever occurs 
first.
    (c) Special flight permits will not be issued.
    (d) 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.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 9, 2002.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-12702 Filed 5-20-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P