[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 128 (Wednesday, July 6, 2005)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 38817-38818]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-13237]


 ========================================================================
 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. 70, No. 128 / Wednesday, July 6, 2005 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 38817]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-21725; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-45-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Model 47D1, 
47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-
3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A and Coastal Helicopters, Inc. Model 
OH-13H (Tomcat Mark 5A, 6B, 6C) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 47D1, 47G, 47G-2, 47G-2A, 
47G-2A-1, 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1, 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4, 47G-4A, 
47G-5, 47G-5A and Coastal Helicopters, Inc. Model OH-13H (Tomcat Mark 
5A, 6B, 6C) helicopters that have a certain scissors assembly or weld 
assembly scissors bracket installed. The AD would require, within 60 
days, determining and recording the total hours time-in-service (TIS) 
for each Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA)-produced scissors assembly 
and weld assembly scissors bracket and would establish a life limit for 
each affected part. This proposal is prompted by the need to establish 
a life limit on scissors assemblies and weld assembly scissors brackets 
produced under PMA No. PQ808SW or installed per Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) No. SH2772SW. The actions specified by the proposed 
AD are intended to establish a life limit to prevent using a scissors 
assembly or weld assembly scissors bracket past its life limit, which 
could result in failure of the part and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before September 6, 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 Texas Helicopter Co., Inc., PO Box 177686, Irving, Texas 75017, 
phone (972) 399-1045, fax (972) 790-6397.
    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: Marc Belhumeur, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0170, telephone (817) 222-5177, fax (817) 222-
5783.

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-
21725, Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-45-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

    During FAA surveillance we discovered that an operator did not know 
the life limit for the weld assembly scissors bracket that was 
installed on his helicopter. The operator assumed that his assembly had 
the same life limit as the one built by the original equipment 
manufacturer; we discovered that when the PMA and STC were granted, the 
life limit was not established. We propose to correct that oversight by 
this AD action.
    We have reviewed Texas Helicopter Co., Inc. (THC) Service Bulletin 
No. SB 003, dated December 1, 2002. THC holds STC No. SH2772SW and 
produces parts under PMA No. PQ808SW. That service bulletin was issued 
to clarify maintenance inspections and retirement schedules. The 
service bulletin specifies maintaining Bell Model 47 series and all 
other helicopters utilizing a 74-150-259-1M or 74-150-259-3M control 
installation per STC SH2772SW or 74-150-117-13M scissors bracket weld 
assembly as PMA replacement, in accordance with THC Instructions For 
Continued Airworthiness (ICA), Doc. No. THC 2002-22 Rev. 0, dated 
December 1, 2002. Those ICAs refer to STC SH2772SW and contain the 
mandatory retirement times for the scissors assembly and weld assembly

[[Page 38818]]

scissors bracket in the Airworthiness Limitations section.
    An unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design if the proposed life limits are not 
followed. Therefore, the proposed AD would require, within 60 days, 
determining and recording on the component service record or equivalent 
record the total hours TIS of each affected part. If the hours TIS 
cannot be determined, replacing the part with an airworthy part with 
known hours TIS would be required before further flight. The proposed 
AD would also establish a life limit for scissors assemblies and weld 
assembly scissors brackets produced by THC PMA No. PQ808SW or installed 
per THC STC No. SH2772SW.
    Based on the manufacturer's production estimate, this proposed AD 
would affect 350 helicopters of U.S. registry. Determining and 
recording the initial hours TIS of each scissors assembly would take 1 
hour, replacing a scissors assembly would take 2 hours, and replacing a 
weld assembly scissors bracket would take 8 hours. The average labor 
rate is $65 per work hour. Required parts would cost approximately 
$1,300 for the 2 scissors assemblies required per helicopter and $2,500 
for each weld assembly scissors bracket required per helicopter. Based 
on these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S. 
operators would be $1,580,250, assuming all operators determine and 
record the hours TIS once, and replace the scissors assembly and weld 
assembly scissors bracket once.
    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 analysis of the estimated costs to 
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic 
analysis.

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 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 (Bell) and Coastal Helicopters, Inc. (CCI) 
(formerly Continental Copters, Inc.; and Tom-Cat Helicopters, Inc.): 
Docket No. FAA-2005-21725; Directorate Identifier 2004-SW-45-AD.

    Applicability: The following helicopter models with the 
referenced Texas Helicopter Co., Inc. (THC) scissors assembly part 
number (P/N) or weld assembly scissors bracket P/N installed as a 
Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) replacement part or as part of the 
modification in accordance with Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) 
No. SH2772SW, certificated in any category.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  With scissors       Or weld assembly
            Model                 assembly P/N      scissors bracket P/N
------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Bell Model 47D1, 47G,     74-150-949-9 or 74-   74-150-117-13M
 47G-2, 47G-2A, 47G-2A-1,      150-949-5 or 74-150-
 47G-3, 47G-3B, 47G-3B-1,      249-5M.
 47G-3B-2, 47G-3B-2A, 47G-4,
 47G-4A, 47G-5, 47G-5A; and
(2) CHI OH-13H (Tomcat Mark
 5A, 6B, or 6C).
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent using a scissors assembly or weld assembly scissors 
bracket past it's life limit, which could result in failure of the 
part and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish 
the following:
    (a) Within 60 days, determine and record on the service record 
or equivalent record the total hours time-in-service (TIS) of each 
affected part. If the TIS hours cannot be determined, replace the 
part with an airworthy part with known hours TIS before further 
flight.
    (b) Thereafter, replace each affected part before it accumulates 
5,000 hours TIS.

    Note: Texas Helicopter Co., Inc. Service Bulletin No. SB 003, 
dated December 1, 2002, pertains to the subject of this AD.

    (c) This AD establishes a life limit of 5,000 hours TIS for each 
affected PMA-produced scissors assembly and each affected PMA-
produced weld assembly scissors bracket.
    (d) 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 Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, 
FAA, for information about previously approved alternative methods 
of compliance.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on June 24, 2005.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 05-13237 Filed 7-5-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P[FEDREG][VOL]*[/VOL][NO]*[/NO][DATE]*[/
DATE][PRORULES]