[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 178 (Monday, September 15, 2014)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 54922-54925]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-21919]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-0643; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-059-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2001-13-
51 for Bell Model 206L-4, 407, and 427 helicopters. AD 2001-13-51 
currently requires inspecting certain driveshafts for a crack, a loose 
bolt or nut, or red powder residue and replacing a driveshaft if there 
is a crack, a loose bolt or nut, or red powder residue. AD 2001-13-51 
also requires notifying the FAA within 10 days if a crack is found in 
the driveshaft. Since we issued AD 2001-13-51, the Model 429 helicopter 
has been certificated, and the reporting requirement is no longer 
necessary. This proposed AD would retain the inspection requirement of 
AD 2001-13-51, expand the applicability to include the Model 429 
helicopter, and remove the reporting requirement. These proposed 
actions are intended to prevent failure of a driveshaft, loss of drive 
to the main rotor system, and a subsequent emergency landing.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by November 14, 
2014.

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 foreign 
authority's 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 Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, 
Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or

[[Page 54923]]

(800) 363-8023; fax (450) 433-0272; or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may review 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: Matthew Fuller, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5110; 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

    On June 27, 2001, the FAA issued Emergency AD 2001-13-51, which we 
published by issuing a Final rule; request for comment on September 21, 
2001 (66 FR 48535 FR), for Bell Model 206L-4, 407 and 427 helicopters. 
AD 2001-13-51 requires visually inspecting driveshaft, part number (P/
N) 206-340-300-105, for a crack, a loose bolt or nut, or red powder 
residue and replacing a driveshaft if there is a crack, a loose bolt or 
nut, or red powder residue. AD 2001-13-51 also requires notifying the 
FAA within 10 days if a crack is found in the driveshaft, and prohibits 
interchanging a driveshaft between different models if the driveshaft 
has ever been installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter. AD 2001-13-51 
was prompted by a driveshaft failure on a Bell Model 407 helicopter 
that resulted in an engine shutdown and an emergency landing, as well 
as three other incidents of a cracked flex frame on the forward end of 
the driveshaft on other Model 407 helicopters. AD 2001-13-51 was 
prompted by AD No. CF-2001-24, dated June 11, 2001, issued by Transport 
Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation authority for 
Canada. TCCA AD No. CF-2001-24 required a one-time visual inspection of 
the driveshaft.

Actions Since AD 2001-13-51 Was Issued

    Since we issued AD 2001-13-51 (66 FR 48535, September 21, 2001), 
the Model 429 helicopter was certificated, and TCCA issued Revision 3, 
dated September 26, 2013, to AD No. CF-2001-24. Revision 3 adds Model 
429 helicopters to the applicability section and requires removing any 
driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, if it has ever been installed on a 
Bell Model 407 helicopter.
    This proposed AD would expand the applicability to include the Bell 
Model 429 helicopter because the driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, can 
also be installed on the Bell Model 429 helicopter. Also, we have 
removed the requirement to notify the FAA if a crack is found in the 
driveshaft because we did not receive any reports of driveshaft 
problems. This proposed AD would retain the one-time inspection, if not 
previously accomplished, for a crack, a loose bolt or nut, and red 
powder residue, and if there is a crack, a loose bolt or nut, or red 
powder residue, replacing each unairworthy driveshaft with an airworthy 
driveshaft before further flight. The one-time inspection is not 
required for Bell Model 429 helicopters because that model would have 
had the inspection done when it was certificated. Lastly, this proposed 
AD would require for all applicable models, within 1,250 hours time-in-
service (TIS), removing from service any driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-
105, if it has ever been installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of 
Canada and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to 
our bilateral agreement with Canada, TCAA, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
its AD. We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all known 
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition 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. 206L-01-123, 
Revision A, dated February 22, 2006, for Bell Model 206L-4 helicopters 
and ASB No. 427-01-04, Revision A, dated March 31, 2006, for Bell Model 
427 helicopters. Both ASBs describe inspecting the Historical Service 
Record of the engine-to-transmission driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, 
to determine whether the driveshaft has ever been installed on a Bell 
Model 407 helicopter and removing the driveshaft if it has ever been 
installed on a Model 407 helicopter. We also reviewed Bell ASB No. 407-
01-45, Revision B, dated April 23, 2013, for Bell Model 407 
helicopters, which describes an engine-to-transmission driveshaft 
1,250-Hour overhaul. TCCA classified these ASBs as mandatory and issued 
AD No. CF-2002-03R3, dated September 26, 2013, to ensure the continued 
airworthiness of these helicopters.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require:
     Within 50 hours TIS, determining whether driveshaft, P/N 
206-340-300-105, has ever been installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter 
and making a note on the component history card or equivalent record. 
If a driveshaft has ever been installed on a Model 407 helicopter:
    [cir] Within 25 hours TIS, inspecting each Model 206L-4, 407, and 
427 helicopter with an affected driveshaft installed for a crack, loose 
bolts or nuts, and red powder residue. If there is a crack, a loose 
bolt or nut, or red powder residue, replacing the driveshaft with an 
airworthy driveshaft before further flight.
    [cir] For each helicopter with an affected driveshaft installed, on 
or before accumulating 1,250 hours TIS, replacing the driveshaft with 
an airworthy driveshaft.
    This proposed AD would also prohibit installing driveshaft, P/N 
206-340-300-105, on any helicopter if it has ever been installed on a 
Bell Model 407 helicopter.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the TCCA AD

    The TCCA AD requires following the compliance time specified in the 
Bell ASBs, which allows more time, based on the hours TIS, for removing 
the driveshaft. This proposed AD would require replacing the driveshaft 
before accumulating 1,250 hours TIS. The proposed AD would also 
prohibit the

[[Page 54924]]

use of driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, on the Model 407 helicopter.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 970 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs 
in order to comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs are estimated at 
$85 per work-hour. We estimate 0.25 work-hour to determine whether the 
driveshaft has ever been installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter for a 
total cost of $22 per helicopter or $21,340 for the fleet. If a 
driveshaft has been installed on a Model 407 helicopter, we estimate 1 
work hour to inspect the driveshaft for a cost of $85 per helicopter, 
and 2 work hours and $39,724 for required parts to replace a driveshaft 
for a cost of $39,894 per helicopter.

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 proposed 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2001-13-51, Amendment 39-12443 (66 FR 48535, September 21, 2001), and 
adding the following new AD:

Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell): Docket No. FAA-2014-0643; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-059-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model 206L-4, 407, 427, and 429 helicopters 
with an engine-to-transmission driveshaft assembly (driveshaft), 
part number (P/N) 206-340-300-105, installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of a driveshaft 
due to cracking of the flex frame on the forward end of the 
driveshaft. This condition could result in loss of drive to the main 
rotor system and a subsequent emergency forced landing.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2001-13-51, Amendment 39-12443, Docket No. 
2001-SW-29-AD (66 FR 48535, September 21, 2001).

(d) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by November 14, 2014.

(e) 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.

(f) Required Actions

    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), determine whether 
driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, has ever been installed on a Bell 
Model 407 helicopter, and record this on the component history card 
or equivalent record. If driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, has ever 
been installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter:
    (i) For Bell Model 206L-4, 407, and 427 helicopters, within 25 
hours TIS, inspect each driveshaft for a crack, a loose bolt or nut, 
and red powder residue. If there is a crack, a loose bolt or nut, or 
red powder residue, replace the driveshaft with an airworthy 
driveshaft before further flight.
    (ii) For all affected Bell model helicopters, on or before 
accumulating 1,250 hours TIS, replace each driveshaft with an 
airworthy driveshaft.
    (2) Do not install driveshaft, P/N 206-340-300-105, on any 
helicopter if it has ever been installed on a Bell Model 407 
helicopter.

(g) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Matthew Fuller, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 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.

(i) Additional Information

    (1) Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 206L-01-123, Revision 
A, dated February 22, 2006; ASB No. 427-01-04, Revision A, dated 
March 31, 2006; and ASB No. 407-01-45, Revision B, dated April 23, 
2013, which are not incorporated by reference, contain additional 
information about the subject of this AD. 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 a copy of the service 
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 
Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada 
Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD No. CF-2002-03R3, Revision 3, dated 
September 26, 2013. You may view the TCCA AD on the Internet at 
http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2014-0643.

(j) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300 Main Rotor 
Drive System.


[[Page 54925]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 22, 2014.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2014-21919 Filed 9-12-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P