[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 161 (Tuesday, August 20, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 51126-51127]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-20248]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Bell Model 204B helicopters. This proposed AD would require inspecting 
the tail rotor (T/R) cable assembly for an incorrectly machined body. 
This proposed AD is prompted by a report from Bell that a defective 
body on the cable prevents the barrel assembly from fully engaging in 
the body cavity. The proposed actions are intended to prevent 
disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the T/R pitch 
control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 21, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this proposed AD, the economic 
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for the Docket Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; 
telephone (817) 280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review the referenced service 
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helene Gandy, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5413; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting 
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to 
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might 
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To 
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters 
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed 
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.
    We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as 
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel 
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we 
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for 
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has 
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay. 
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

    We received a report from Bell that a number of cable assemblies, 
part number (P/N) 205-001-720-001, were manufactured with a defective 
body, P/N 205-001-742-001. Bell states the bodies were incorrectly 
machined with a ``false cut,'' preventing the barrel assembly, P/N 
0301245, from fully engaging with the body cavity. This condition, 
combined with a failure of the lockwire securing the barrel and the 
cable, could result in disengagement of the cable, T/R pitch control 
failure in a fixed position, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known relevant 
information and determined that an unsafe condition exists and is 
likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type 
design.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 204B-12-68, dated 
October 10, 2012, which describes procedures for inspecting the barrel 
assembly to determine if an incorrectly machined body is installed. If 
an incorrectly machined body is installed, the ASB specifies replacing 
the cable assembly. The ASB further specifies inspecting the barrel 
assembly and cable connection daily until the cable assembly is 
replaced.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require inspecting each cable assembly, 
within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), to determine if an incorrectly 
machined body is installed. If an incorrectly machined body is 
installed, the proposed AD would require replacing the cable assembly 
within 100 hours TIS. Until the cable assembly is replaced, this 
proposed AD would require inspecting the assembly for separation daily.

[[Page 51127]]

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The ASB specifies replacing any defective cable assembly within 100 
hours TIS or by January 31, 2013; the proposed AD specifies replacing 
the cable assembly within 100 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 9 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per 
hour, inspecting the barrel assembly would require about 1 work-hour, 
for a cost per helicopter of $85 and a total cost of $765 for the 
fleet. If required, replacing a defective cable assembly would require 
about 8 work-hours, and required parts would cost about $625, for a 
cost per helicopter of $1,305.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. 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, I certify this 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);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that 
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
    4. 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-
2013-0735; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-014-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 204B helicopters with a cable 
assembly, part number (P/N) 205-001-720-001 installed, certificated 
in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrectly machined 
body on the cable assembly, which could prevent the barrel assembly 
from fully engaging in the body cavity. This condition could result 
in disengagement of the cable from the barrel, failure of the tail 
rotor pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by October 21, 2013.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    (1) Within 25 hours time in service (TIS), inspect each cable 
assembly to determine if there is a false cut on the body of the 
barrel assembly, as depicted in Figure 1 of Bell Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 204B-12-68, dated October 10, 2012.
    (2) If there is a false cut, before the first flight of each 
day, inspect the cable assembly for separation of the barrel 
assembly from the body. If there is any separation, before further 
flight, replace the cable assembly.
    (3) Within 100 hours TIS, replace the cable assembly with an 
airworthy cable assembly that does not have a false cut in the body. 
Replacing the cable assembly is terminating action for the 
inspections required by paragraph (e)(2) of this AD.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Helene Gandy, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 
76137; telephone (817) 222-5413; email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6720: Tail Rotor 
Control System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 12, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-20248 Filed 8-19-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P