[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50347-50348]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19489]



[[Page 50347]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-SW-21-AD; Amendment 39-12836; AD 2002-13-51]
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 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: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment 
adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2002-13-51, sent previously to 
all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified helicopters by 
individual letters. This AD requires cleaning and inspecting a certain 
tail rotor (T/R) grip with a magnet to determine if it is made of 
steel. If it is not made of steel, this AD requires replacing each 
affected T/R grip with an airworthy, steel T/R grip. This AD is 
prompted by reports of timed-out T/R grips being improperly remarked 
and reinstalled on certain helicopters. This unsafe condition, if not 
detected, could result in failure of the T/R grip and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Effective August 19, 2002, to all persons except those persons 
to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD 2002-13-51, 
issued on June 27, 2002, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 1, 2002.

ADDRESSES: Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation 
Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 
Attention: Rules Docket No. 2002-SW-21-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].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kennedy Jones, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5148, fax (817) 222-
5783.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA issued Emergency AD (EAD) 2002-08-
53, Docket No. 2002-SW-23-AD, on April 22, 2002, and superseding EAD 
2002-09-51, Docket No. 2002-SW-24-AD, on May 9, 2002, for Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Model 204B, 205A, A-1, and B 
helicopters. That EAD requires cleaning and inspecting T/R grip, part 
number (P/N) 204-011-728-019, with a magnet to determine if it is made 
of steel. If it is not made of steel, the current EAD requires 
replacing the T/R grip with an airworthy steel T/R grip. According to 
reports, T/R grips, 
P/N 204-011-728-019, removed from service on the Bell Model 204B and 
205A-1 helicopters as required by AD 73-17-04 (38 FR 22223, August 17, 
1973), were re-marked as P/N 205-011-711-101 and may have been 
installed on Bell Model 204 and 205 helicopters. These T/R grips may 
also be installed on similar restricted category military surplus 
helicopters.
    On June 27, 2002, the FAA issued EAD 2002-13-51 for the specified 
model helicopters, which requires cleaning the T/R grip, determining if 
it is made of steel, and replacing the T/R grip with an airworthy T/R 
grip if the main body is not made of steel. That action was prompted by 
reports of timed-out T/R grips being improperly remarked and 
reinstalled on certain helicopters. This unsafe condition, if not 
detected, could result in failure of the T/R grip and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on certain 
restricted category helicopters of these same type designs. Therefore, 
the FAA issued EAD 2002-13-51 to prevent failure of the T/R grip and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The AD requires cleaning 
the affected T/R grip, inspecting the T/R grip by placing a magnet on 
the exterior of the main body of the T/R grip to determine if the T/R 
grip is made of steel, and replacing any T/R grip not made of steel. 
The short compliance time involved is required because the previously 
described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the structural 
integrity and controllability of the helicopter. Therefore, cleaning, 
inspecting, and determining if the T/R grip is made of steel and 
replacing any T/R grip not made of steel are required before further 
flight, and this AD must be issued immediately.
    Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, 
notice and opportunity for prior public comment thereon were 
impracticable and contrary to the public interest; and good cause 
existed to make the AD effective immediately by individual letters 
issued on June 27, 2002, to all known U.S. owners and operators of 
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 SW204, SW204HP, SW205, and 
SW205A-1 helicopters manufactured by Bell for the Armed Forces of the 
United States. These conditions still exist, and the AD is hereby 
published in the Federal Register as an amendment to 14 CFR 39.13 to 
make it effective to all persons.
    The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 75 helicopters of U.S. 
registry and will take approximately 2 work hours per helicopter to 
accomplish the required actions at an average labor rate of $60 per 
work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $4,864 per helicopter 
if the T/R is replaced. Based on these figures, the total cost impact 
of the AD on U.S. operators is estimated to be $373,800 assuming the T/
R is replaced on the entire fleet.

Comments Invited

    Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves 
requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by 
notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on 
this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this 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 under the caption ADDRESSES. All 
communications received on or before the closing date for comments will 
be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments 
received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and 
suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the 
AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be 
needed.
    Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might 
suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be 
available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A 
report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the 
substance of this AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.
    Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed 
comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-
addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: 
``Comments to Docket No. 2002-SW-

[[Page 50348]]

21-AD.'' The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the 
commenter.
    The regulations adopted herein will 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 final rule does not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132.
    The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency 
regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe 
condition in aircraft, and that it is not a ``significant regulatory 
action'' under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further 
that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory 
Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is 
determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be 
significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final 
regulatory evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. 
A copy of it, if filed, 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends 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:

2002-13-51  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 Helicopters 
Services, Inc.); U.S. Helicopter, Inc.; and Williams Helicopter 
Corporation (previously Scott Paper Co.): Amendment 39-12836. Docket 
No. 2002-SW-21-AD.

    Applicability: Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, 
UH-1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P; Southwest Florida Aviation SW204, 
SW204HP, SW205, and SW205A-1 helicopters manufactured by Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc. for the Armed Forces of the United States, 
with tail rotor (T/R) grip, part number 205-011-711-101, 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 (c) 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 the T/R grip and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
    (a) Clean the T/R grip.
    (b) Determine if the T/R grip is made of steel by placing a 
magnet on the exterior of the main body of the T/R grip. Do not make 
this determination by placing the magnet on the steel bushing or 
steel interior liner. If the main body of the T/R grip is not made 
of steel, replace it with an airworthy steel T/R grip. Only 
replacement T/R grips made of steel are eligible for installation.
    (c) 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, 
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.

    (d) 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.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on August 19, 2002, to all 
persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately 
effective by Emergency AD 2002-13-51, issued June 27, 2002, which 
contained the requirements of this amendment.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 25, 2002.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-19489 Filed 8-1-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-U