[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 21 (Friday, January 31, 2014)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 5249-5251]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-01466]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0525; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-063-AD; 
Amendment 39-17730; AD 2014-02-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
(Bell) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 
Model 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters. This AD requires measuring 
each main rotor (M/R) blade spar space to determine whether it is 
oversized and reidentifying the M/R blade and

[[Page 5250]]

reducing the life limit of the blade if the spar spacer is oversized. 
This AD was prompted by the manufacture of certain blades with an 
oversized spar spacer and the determination to reduce the life limits 
of those blades. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure 
of an M/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective March 7, 2014.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of March 7, 2014.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell 
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, 
Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450) 
433-0272; 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.

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 AD, the Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation (TCCA) AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information, 
the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. 
The street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-
5527) is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, 
M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Sharon Miles, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 
Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 2601 Meacham 
Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5110, email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On June 20, 2013, at 78 FR 37152, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Model 206L, L-1, 
L-3, and L-4 helicopters. The NPRM proposed measuring the M/R blade 
spar spacer. If a blade is fitted with an oversized spacer, the NPRM 
proposed reidentifying the blade, reducing the life limit for the blade 
from 3,600 hours time-in-service (TIS) to 2,300 hours TIS, and making 
an entry on the component history card or equivalent record. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure of an M/R blade 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2011-43, dated November 10, 
2011, issued by TCCA, which is the aviation authority for Canada, to 
correct an unsafe condition for Bell Model 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 
helicopters. TCCA advises that, during manufacturing, some M/R blades 
were inadvertently fitted with oversized spar spacers, which reduces 
the life of the blades from 3600 to 2300 hours ``air time.'' As a 
result, TCCA has mandated procedures to reidentify blades that have 
oversized spar spacers with new part numbers and reduce the life limit 
for such blades.

Comments

    After our NPRM (78 FR 37152, June 30, 2013), was published, we 
received comments from one commenter.

Request

    The one commenter stated that Bell has released Revision A of Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-09-163, dated April 19, 2012, and 
requested that both the original ASB and Revision A be included in the 
final AD.
    We agree that the AD should reference Revision A of the ASB. This 
revision only updates Bell's warranty information and does not change 
the technical aspects or the corrective actions. Thus, performing the 
actions in either the original ASB or Revision A before the effective 
date of this AD would constitute prior compliance with this AD.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by TCCA and are approved for 
operation in the United States. Pursuant to our bilateral agreement 
with Canada, TCCA, its technical representative, has notified us of the 
unsafe condition described in the TCCA AD. We are issuing this AD 
because we evaluated all information provided by TCCA, reviewed the 
relevant information, considered the comment received, and determined 
the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed with 
the change previously described. Also, under paragraph (f) of the NPRM, 
the TCCA AD is incorrectly referenced as No. ``CF-2011-41.'' We have 
corrected paragraph (f) in this AD to correctly identify the TCCA AD as 
``CF-2011-43.'' These changes are consistent with the intent of the 
proposals in the NPRM and will not increase the economic burden on any 
operator nor increase the scope of this AD.

Differences Between this AD and the TCCA AD

    TCCA requires compliance time within 100 hours air time or 30 days. 
This AD requires compliance within 100 hours TIS.

Related Service Information

    Bell issued ASB No. 206L-09-163, dated November 13, 2009, which 
specifies inspecting certain M/R blades for oversized spar spacers and 
reidentifying and reducing the life limit of any blade with an 
oversized spar spacer from 3600 to 2300 flight hours. On April 19, 
2012, Bell issued ASB No. 206L-09-163, Revision A, dated April 19, 
2012, to update the warranty information.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 688 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. It will take about 2.5 work hours to measure 
the spar spacer and reidentify the blade at $85 per work hour for a 
total cost of $213 per helicopter.
    According to Bell's service information some of the costs of this 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost to affected 
individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Bell. Accordingly, 
we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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

[[Page 5251]]

helicopters identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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 this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA amends 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):

    2014-02-02 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-
17730; Docket No. FAA-2013-0525; Directorate Identifier 2011-SW-063-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 206L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters 
with a main rotor (M/R) blade, part number (P/N) 206-015-001-115, -
117, -119, or -121, with a serial number (S/N) listed in Table 1 or 
2 of Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin [No. 206L-09-163, 
Revision A, dated April 19, 2012 (ASB), certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as the manufacture of an M/
R blade with an oversized spar spacer. This condition could result 
in failure of an M/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective March 7, 2014.

(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) Actions Required

    Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) For each M/R blade with an S/N listed in Table 1 of the ASB, 
measure the M/R blade spar spacer by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part II A), paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 
spar spacer measures more than 1.018 inches (25.86 millimeters), 
reidentify the blade by following Part II A, paragraph 5.a. and 
Table 3, of the ASB.
    (2) For each M/R blade with an S/N listed in Table 2 of the ASB, 
measure the M/R blade spar spacer by following the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Part II B, paragraphs 1 through 3, of the ASB. If the 
spar spacer measures more than 1.018 inches (25.86 millimeters), 
reidentify the blade by following Part II B, paragraph 5 and Table 
4, of the ASB.
    (3) For each reidentified blade, reduce the life limit from 
3,600 hours TIS to 2,300 hours TIS, and make an entry on the 
component history card or equivalent record.
    (4) Before further flight, remove any blade that exceeds the new 
retirement life of 2,300 hours TIS.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Sharon Miles, Aerospace 
Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Policy Group, 
2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-
5110, 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) Additional Information

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada Civil 
Aviation (TCCA) AD CF-2011-43, dated November 10, 2011. You may view 
the TCCA AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2013-0525.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6210 Main Rotor 
Blades.

 (i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed 
in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 206L-09-163, 
Revision A, dated April 19, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Bell Helicopter service information identified in this 
AD, contact Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de 
l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 
363-8023; fax (450) 433-0272; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference 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/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on January 15, 2014.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-01466 Filed 1-30-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P