[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 152 (Wednesday, August 7, 2002)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 51068-51069]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-19875]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2002-SW-24-AD; Amendment 39-12839; AD 2002-09-51]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

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 Emergency Airworthiness Directive (EAD) 2002-09-51, sent 
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of specified Bell 
Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) model helicopters by individual 
letters. This AD requires cleaning and inspecting the tail rotor (T/R) 
grip to determine if the grip is made of steel and replacing any grip 
not made of steel with an airworthy, steel TR grip. This AD is prompted 
by reports of a certain timed-out life limited T/R grips being 
improperly identified and reinstalled on Bell Model 204B, 205A, A-1, 
and B helicopters. The actions specified by this AD are intended to 
prevent failure of the T/R grip and subsequent loss of helicopter 
control.

DATES: Effective August 22, 2002, to all persons except those persons 
to whom it was made immediately effective by EAD 2002-09-51, issued on 
May 9, 2002, which contained the requirements of this amendment.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before October 7, 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-24-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SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 9, 2002, the FAA superseded EAD 2002-
08-53, issued April 22, 2002, with EAD 2002-09-51, issued May 9, 2002. 
EAD 2002-08-53 required, before further flight, cleaning and inspecting 
certain T/R grips and removing each unairworthy grip not made of steel. 
EAD 2002-09-51 retains those requirements and in addition corrects a 
statement in the preamble that T/R grip, part number (P/N) 205-011-711-
101, has an unlimited life. That T/R grip has a life limit of 2,500 
hours time-in-service. Also, EAD 2002-09-51 adds the Bell Model 204B 
helicopter to the applicability and clarifies the inspection 
requirements by specifying that the magnet be placed on the T/R grip 
body and not on the steel bushing or steel interior liner to determine 
if the grip is made of steel. EAD 2002-08-53, was prompted by reports 
that T/R grips, P/N 204-011-728-019, required to be removed from 
service by AD 73-17-04 (38 FR 22223, August 17, 1973), were being re-
marked as P/N 205-011-711-101 and installed on certain Bell model 
helicopters. EAD 2002-09-51 was prompted by information from the 
manufacturer stating that the Bell Model 204B helicopter should be 
added to the applicability because the unairworthy grips could be 
installed on that model. This condition, if not detected, could result 
in failure of the T/R grip and subsequent loss of helicopter control.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other Bell 
model helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, this AD requires 
cleaning and inspecting the T/R grip to determine if the grip is made 
of steel by placing a magnet on the exterior of the main body of the T/
R grip. If the T/R grip is not made of steel, it must be removed from 
service. The short compliance time involved is required because the 
previously described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the 
controllability of the helicopter. Therefore, this AD requires, before 
further flight, that you clean and inspect the T/R grip to determine if 
the grip is made of steel and remove any grip that is not made of 
steel, 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 May 9, 2002, to all known U.S. owners and operators of Bell 
Model 204B, 205A, A-1, and B helicopters. 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 269 helicopters of U.S. 
registry, that the required actions will take approximately 2 work 
hours per helicopter to accomplish, and that the average labor rate is 
$60 per work hour. Required parts will cost approximately $4864 per 
helicopter. Based on these figures, the FAA estimates the total cost 
impact of the AD on U.S. operators will be $1,340,696 to clean, 
inspect, and replace one T/R grip on each helicopter in 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-24-AD.'' The postcard will be date

[[Page 51069]]

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:

2002-09-51  Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.: Amendment 39-12839. 
Docket No. 2002-SW-24-AD. Supersedes Emergency AD 2002-08-53, Docket 
No. 2002-SW-23-AD.

    Applicability: Model 204B, 205A, A-1, and B helicopters, with 
tail rotor (T/R) grip, part number (P/N) 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 
helicopter control, 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.
    (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 22, 2002, to all 
persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately 
effective by Emergency AD 2002-09-51, issued May 9, 2002, which 
contained the requirements of this amendment.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 26, 2002.
Eric Bries,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 02-19875 Filed 8-6-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P