[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 123 (Tuesday, June 28, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37060-37063]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-12690]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21680; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-48-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
206A, A-1, B, B-1, L, L-1, L-3, L-4 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 the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) model 
helicopters. This proposal would require, before the first flight of 
each day, checking the tail rotor blade (blade) root doublers 
(doublers) for an edge void or de-bond on both sides of each blade, and 
if an edge void or de-bond is found, replacing the unairworthy blade 
with an airworthy blade. This proposal would also require replacing any 
affected serial-numbered blade with an airworthy blade. This proposal 
is prompted by reports of de-bond of the doublers due to inadequate 
surface preparation resulting in poor adherence of the doublers. The 
actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of a 
blade, loss of tail rotor control, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 29, 2005.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     DOT Docket Web Site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow 
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
     Government-wide Rulemaking Web Site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your 
comments electronically;
     Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401, 
Washington, DC 20590;
     Fax: 202-493-2251; or
     Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the 
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Bell Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800 Rue

[[Page 37061]]

de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4, telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 
363-8023, fax (450) 433-0272.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 222-
5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2005-
21680, Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-48-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov, including any personal information you provide. We will 
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA 
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search 
function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the comments to 
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or 
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act 
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR 
19477-78), or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management 
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of 
Transportation NASSIF Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, 
SW., Washington, DC. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after the DMS receives them.

Discussion

    Transport Canada, the airworthiness authority for Canada, notified 
the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on Model 206A, B, and L 
series helicopters. Transport Canada advises that an inadequate surface 
preparation on a limited number of blades resulted in two reported 
instances of blade root doubler de-bond. They also advise that to 
ensure blade integrity all suspected blades are to be checked daily 
until removed from service.
    BHTC has issued Alert Service Bulletin Nos. 206-04-101 and 206L-04-
131, both dated September 13, 2004, which specify a daily check of the 
doubler area to verify integrity of the doubler by a pilot as part of 
the daily pre-flight check. The service bulletins also specify a 
retirement from service of affected blades, which constitutes 
terminating action. Transport Canada classified these service bulletins 
as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2004-25, dated November 23, 2004, to 
ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in Canada.
    These helicopter models are now 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 us informed 
of the situation described above. We have 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 previously described unsafe condition is likely to exist or 
develop on other helicopters of these same type designs registered in 
the United States. Therefore, the proposed AD would require the 
following:
     Before the first flight of each day, clean each blade and 
check the doublers for an edge void or de-bond on both sides of each 
blade. An owner/operator (pilot) holding at least a private pilot 
certificate may perform the checks. Pilots may perform these checks 
because they require no tools, can be done by observation, and can be 
done equally well by a pilot or a mechanic. However, the pilot must 
enter compliance with these requirements into the helicopter 
maintenance records by following 14 CFR 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v).
     If an edge void or de-bond is found, before further 
flight, replace the affected blade with an airworthy blade with a 
serial number other than those to which this AD applies.
     Within 100 hours time-in-service, replace all affected 
blades with airworthy blades with a serial number other than those to 
which this AD applies.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 2194 helicopters of 
U.S. registry. The proposed actions would:
     Take about \1/4\ work hour to do a daily check for blade 
edge voids and de-bonds; and
     Take about 4 work hours to replace a blade at an average 
labor rate of $65 per work hour.
     Cost about $5848 for a replacement blade.
    Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $201,058, assuming 26 blades are 
affected and replaced and assuming 100 daily checks are done.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed 
AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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. 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.
    We prepared a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. Subtitle VII, Aviation Programs, 
describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
subtitle VII, part A, subpart III, section 44701, ``General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority

[[Page 37062]]

because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to exist or 
develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

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. FAA-2005-21680; 
Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-48-AD.

    Applicability: Model 206A, A-1, B, B-1, L, L-1, L-3, L-4 
helicopters, with tail rotor blade (blade), part number (P/N) 206-
016-201-131, serial numbers with a prefix of ``CS'' and 4820 through 
4845, installed, certificated in any category.
    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of a blade, loss of tail rotor control, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Before the first flight of each day, clean each blade and 
visually check the blade root doublers for an edge void or de-bond 
on both sides of each blade as depicted in Figure 1 of this AD. An 
owner/operator (pilot), holding at least a private pilot 
certificate, may perform this visual check and must enter compliance 
with this paragraph into the helicopter maintenance records by 
following 14 CFR sections 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v).
[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP28JN05.000

    (b) If an edge void or a de-bond is found, before further flight, 
replace the blade with an airworthy blade with a serial number other 
than those to which this AD applies.
    (c) Within 100 hours time-in-service, replace all affected, serial-
numbered blades with airworthy blades with a serial number other than 
those to which this AD applies.

    Note 1: Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin Nos. 206-
04-101 and 206L-04-131, both dated September 13, 2004, pertain to 
the subject of this AD.

    (d) Replacing an affected, serial-numbered blade with an airworthy 
blade without an affected serial number contained in the applicability 
section of this AD constitutes terminating action for the requirements 
of this AD for that blade.
    (e) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, for 
information about previously approved alternative methods of 
compliance.
    (f) 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 
blade may be replaced provided that no doubler edge void or de-bond is 
found during any check or inspection.

    Note 2: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada, 
Canada AD No. CF-2004-25, dated November 23, 2004.



[[Page 37063]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 20, 2005.
S. Frances Cox,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-12690 Filed 6-27-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P