[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 15 (Wednesday, January 23, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 3889-3891]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-1026]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0039; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-13-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 
222, 222B, 222U, 230 and 430 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 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 222, 222B, 222U, 
230 and 430 helicopters. This proposal would require rewiring and 
testing the fuel valve switch on each engine and testing the ignitor 
system. This proposal is prompted by an in-flight incident in which a 
fuel valve switch failed, causing the fuel valve to inadvertently 
close. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent interruption of the fuel supply caused by failure of the fuel 
switch, which could result in loss of engine power and subsequent loss 
of control of the helicopter.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before March 24, 2008.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed 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 proposed 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.
    You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket 
on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Carroll Wright, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0110, telephone (817) 222-5120, 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-2008-0039, 
Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-13-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://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 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://www.regulations.gov.

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Operations 
office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for the following BHTC 
helicopters:

[[Page 3890]]



------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Model No.                           Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
222................................  47006 through 47089.
222B...............................  47131 through 47156.
222U...............................  47501 through 47574.
230................................  23001 through 23038.
430................................  49001 through 49101.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

This proposal would require, within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), 
rewiring the switches that control the operation of the No. 1 and No. 2 
engines' fuel valves, and testing the switches and the ignitor system. 
This proposal is prompted by an in-flight incident in which a fuel 
valve switch failed. The manufacturer reports that there is a 
possibility that a switch may fail during flight due to vibration, 
causing the switch to open and then causing the fuel valve to close, 
resulting in inadvertent shut down of an engine. The actions specified 
by this proposed AD are intended to prevent interruption of the fuel 
supply caused by failure of the fuel switch, which could result in loss 
of engine power 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 BHTC Model 222, 222B, 
222U, 230 and 430 helicopters. Transport Canada advises of an 
investigation into an incident involving a BHTC Model 222 helicopter, 
in which the fuel shut-off switch, part number (P/N) 10648BH1-1, failed 
during flight causing the fuel valve to close and the engine to shut 
down. Review of the Service Difficulty Report database identified two 
other incidents of switch failure.
    Bell Helicopter Textron has issued the following technical 
bulletins, all dated June 11, 2003, which specify rewiring the fuel 
valve switch:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Technical  bulletin              Helicopter models affected
------------------------------------------------------------------------
No. 222-03-171........................  Model 222 and 222B helicopters.
No. 222U-03-96........................  Model 222U helicopters.
No. 230-03-35.........................  Model 230 helicopters.
No. 430-03-33.........................  Model 430 helicopters.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Transport Canada classified these technical bulletins as mandatory and 
issued AD No. CF-2006-03, dated February 28, 2006, to ensure the 
continued airworthiness of these helicopters in Canada. That AD 
requires compliance no later than May 3, 2006. This proposal would 
require compliance within 50 hours TIS.
    This helicopter model is manufactured in Canada and is 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, within 50 
hours TIS, rewiring the switches, P/N 10648BH1-1, located in the 
cockpit overhead console, that control the operation of the No. 1 and 
No. 2 engines' fuel valves. The actions would be required to be 
accomplished by following the specified portions of the technical 
bulletins described previously.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 165 helicopters of 
U.S. registry and the proposed actions would take approximately four 
work hours per helicopter to rewire the 2 fuel valve switches, and test 
those switches and the ignitor system at an average labor rate of $80 
per work hour. Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost 
impact of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $52,800 ($320 per 
helicopter).

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 AD docket 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 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-2008-0039; 
Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-13-AD.

    Applicability: The following model helicopters, certificated in 
any category:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
             Model No.                           Serial Nos.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
222................................  47006 through 47089.
222B...............................  47131 through 47156.
222U...............................  47501 through 47574.
230................................  23001 through 23038.
430................................  49001 through 49101.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Compliance: Required within 50 hours time-in-service, unless 
accomplished previously.
    To prevent interruption of the fuel supply caused by failure of 
the fuel switch, which could result in loss of engine power and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the 
following:
    (a) Rewire the No. 1 and No. 2 engines' fuel valve switch, part 
number 10648BH1-1, and test the fuel valve switches and the ignitor 
system, in accordance with the

[[Page 3891]]

Accomplishment Instructions in Bell Helicopter Textron Technical 
Bulletin (TB) No. 222-03-171, Part 1, applicable to Model 222 
helicopters, serial number (S/N) 47006-47038, and Part 2, applicable 
to Model 222 helicopters, S/N 47039-47089, and Model 222B 
helicopters, S/N 47131-47156; TB No. 222U-03-96, applicable to Model 
222U helicopters; TB No. 230-03-35, applicable to Model 230 
helicopters; and TB No. 430-03-33, applicable to Model 430 
helicopters. All of the technical bulletins are dated June 11, 2003.
    (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 Policy Group, FAA, ATTN: 
Carroll Wright, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0110, 
telephone (817) 222-5120, fax (817) 222-5961, for information about 
previously approved alternative methods of compliance.

    Note: The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
(Canada) AD CF-2006-03, dated February 28, 2006.


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 8, 2008.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
 [FR Doc. E8-1026 Filed 1-22-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P