[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 223 (Tuesday, November 20, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 65221-65224]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-22416]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2007-0179; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-36-AD; 
Amendment 39-15264; AD 2007-19-52]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 
407, 427, and 430 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 Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-19-52, which was sent 
previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) model helicopters by 
individual letters. This AD requires replacing each affected tail

[[Page 65222]]

rotor blade (blade) with an airworthy blade with a serial number not 
listed in the Rotor Blades, Inc. (RBI), attachment to the BHTC Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB), listed in the applicability section of this AD. 
This amendment is prompted by three incidents in which blade tip 
weights were slung from blades during flight causing significant 
vibration. The actions specified are intended to prevent loss of a 
blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

DATES: Effective December 5, 2007, to all persons except those persons 
to whom it was made immediately effective by Emergency AD 2007-19-52, 
issued on September 14, 2007, which contained the requirements of this 
amendment.
    The incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in 
the regulations is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as 
of December 5, 2007.
    Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or 
before January 22, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    You may get the service information identified in this AD from Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec 
J7J1R4, telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023, fax (450) 433-0272.
    Examining the Docket: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet 
at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management 
Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except 
Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the economic 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the 
ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly 
after receipt.

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: On September 14, 2007, the FAA issued 
Emergency AD 2007-19-52 for the specified BHTC model helicopters, which 
requires replacing each affected part-numbered and serial-numbered 
blade with an airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the 
RBI attachment to the BHTC ASB, listed in the applicability section of 
this AD. That action was prompted by three incidents in which blade tip 
weights were slung from the blades during flight causing significant 
vibration. The failures have occurred on blades being returned to 
service from RBI, from as short as 12 minutes since repair to as long 
as 400 hours time-in-service. An investigation indicates that the tip 
weights were missing the adhesive that should have been applied during 
the weight-and-balance process on these blades. This condition, if not 
corrected, could result in loss of a blade tip weight, loss of a blade, 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    Transport Canada, the airworthiness authority for Canada, notified 
the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on these helicopter models. 
Transport Canada advises of three reports of balance weights departing 
from the blades during flight. They also advise that they determined in 
the investigation that the unsafe condition results from the loss of 
the tip weights and that the failure can occur at any time.
    BHTC has issued the following Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs):
     No. 206-07-116, dated September 11, 2007, for BHTC Model 
206 A/B series helicopters;
     No. 206L-07-148, dated September 11, 2007, for BHTC Model 
206L series helicopters;
     No. 222-07-106, Revision A, dated September 13, 2007, for 
BHTC Model 222 and 222B helicopters;
     No. 222U-07-77, Revision A, dated September 13, 2007, for 
BHTC Model 222U helicopters;
     No. 230-07-38, Revision A, dated September 13, 2007, for 
BHTC Model 230 helicopters;
     No. 407-07-81, dated September 11, 2007, for BHTC Model 
407 helicopters;
     No. 427-07-18, dated September 11, 2007, for BHTC Model 
427 helicopters; and
     No. 430-07-41, Revision A, dated September 13, 2007, for 
BHTC Model 430 helicopters.
    All of the ASBs contain a letter from RBI indicating that certain 
blades processed by RBI may be missing the adhesive applied to the tip 
weight screws during the weight and balance process. Transport Canada 
classified the ASBs as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2007-21, dated 
September 13, 2007, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these 
helicopters in Canada.
    Paragraph (a) of the AD states that you must replace any affected 
blade with an airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the 
applicability section of this AD. The serial numbers are not directly 
listed in the applicability section of this AD. The ASBs for the 
various model helicopters are listed in the applicability section. The 
affected part and serial numbers are listed in the RBI attachment to 
each of the BHTC ASBs listed in the applicability section of this AD. 
We have clarified that language in the AD and have determined that this 
change will neither increase the economic burden on any operator nor 
increase the scope of the AD.
    These helicopter models are 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 the FAA 
informed of the situation described above. The FAA has 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.
    Since the unsafe condition described is likely to exist or develop 
on other BHTC model helicopters of these same type designs, the FAA 
issued Emergency AD 2007-19-52 to prevent loss of a blade tip weight, 
loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. The 
AD requires before further flight, removing and replacing each affected 
blade with an airworthy blade. The actions must be accomplished for the 
blade part numbers with serial numbers listed in the RBI attachment to 
the ASBs described previously. 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, removing and replacing each affected blade with 
an airworthy blade is required before further flight, and this AD must 
be issued immediately.
    Since it was found that immediate corrective action was required, 
notice

[[Page 65223]]

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 September 14, 
2007, to all known U.S. owners and operators of the specified BHTC 
model 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 3741 helicopters of U.S. 
registry, and it will take about 2 hours to determine if a blade is 
affected per helicopter at an average labor rate of $80 per work hour. 
The ASB contains a warranty statement that owners or operators of Bell 
helicopters who comply with the instructions in the ASB will be 
eligible to return defective blades identified by serial number in the 
compliance section to their nearest RBI facility for inspection and 
repair at no cost. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
impact of the AD on U.S. operators to be $589,560, assuming all 
shipping, inspection, and repair costs are paid by RBI or Bell.

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements that affect 
flight safety and was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for 
public comment; however, we invite you to submit any written data, 
views, or arguments regarding this AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2007-0179; Directorate 
Identifier 2007-SW-36-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. We 
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, 
environmental, and energy aspects of the AD. We will consider all 
comments received by the closing date and may amend the AD in light of 
those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this AD. Using the search function of the 
docket web site, you can find and read the comments to any of our 
dockets, including the name of the individual who sent 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).

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this AD will not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. This AD 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.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify that the 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 an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this AD. See the AD docket to examine the 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 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, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
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

0
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]

0
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:

2007-19-52 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-
15264. Docket No. FAA-2007-0179; Directorate Identifier 2007-SW-36-
AD.

    Applicability: Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, 
222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, and 430 helicopters, with a tail 
rotor blade (blade) having a part number and serial number as listed 
in the following Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletins 
(ASBs), installed, certificated in any category.

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             ASB No.                    Revision               Date                   Helicopter model
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
206-07-116......................  ....................  September 11, 2007  206A and 206B.
206L-07-148.....................  ....................  September 11, 2007  206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4.
222-07-106......................  A...................  September 13, 2007  222 and 222B.
222U-07-77......................  A...................  September 13, 2007  222U.
230-07-38.......................  A...................  September 13, 2007  230.
407-07-81.......................  ....................  September 11, 2007  407.
427-07-18.......................  ....................  September 11, 2007  427.
430-07-41.......................  A...................  September 13, 2007  430.
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    Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished 
previously.
    To prevent loss of a blade tip weight, loss of a blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Before further flight, replace any affected blade with an 
airworthy blade with a serial number not listed in the Rotor Blade, 
Inc. (RBI), attachment to an ASB listed in the applicability section 
of this AD.
    (b) 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 Manager, Regulations and Guidance Group, FAA, ATTN: 
Sharon Miles,

[[Page 65224]]

Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 
222-5961, for information about previously approved alternative 
methods of compliance.
    (c) Special flight permits will not be issued.
    (d) Each affected blade is identified by serial number as listed 
in the Rotor Blade, Inc., letter attached to Bell Helicopter Textron 
Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) Nos. 206-07-116, 206L-07-148, 407-07-
81, and 427-07-18, all dated September 11, 2007; and ASB Nos. 222-
07-106, 222U-07-77, 230-07-38, and 430-07-41, all Revision A, all 
dated September 13, 2007. The Director of the Federal Register 
approved this incorporation by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Copies may be obtained from Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec 
J7J1R4, telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023, fax (450) 433-
0272. Copies may be inspected at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 
Texas or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). 
For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 
202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Note: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
(Canada) AD No. CF-2007-21, dated September 13, 2007.
    (e) This amendment becomes effective on December 5, 2007, to all 
persons except those persons to whom it was made immediately 
effective by Emergency AD 2007-19-52, issued September 14, 2007, 
which contained the requirements of this amendment.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 31, 2007.
David A. Downey,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-22416 Filed 11-19-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P