[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 161 (Thursday, August 20, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 50550-50551]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-20509]



[[Page 50550]]

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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; 
Amendment 39-18235; AD 2015-17-02]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2001-13-51 for 
Bell Model 206L-4, 407, and 427 helicopters. AD 2001-13-51 required 
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 required 
notifying the FAA within 10 days if a crack is found in the driveshaft. 
This new AD retains the inspection requirement of AD 2001-13-51, 
expands the applicability to include the Model 429 helicopter, and 
removes the reporting requirement. This AD is intended to prevent 
failure of a driveshaft, loss of drive to the main rotor system, and a 
subsequent emergency landing.

DATES: This AD is effective September 24, 2015.

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 
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, Texas 
76177.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov, by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2014-
0643, 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 Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD, the 
economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The 
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document 
Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matthew Fuller, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, Texas 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On August 22, 2014, we issued a notice of proposed rulemaking 
(NPRM) (79 FR 54922, September 15, 2014) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 
supersede AD 2001-13-51, Amendment 39-12443 (66 FR 48535, September 21, 
2001). AD 2001-13-51 applied to Bell Model 206L-4, 407 and 427 
helicopters. AD 2001-13-51 required 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 required 
notifying the FAA within 10 days if a crack is found in the driveshaft 
and prohibited interchanging a driveshaft between different models if 
the driveshaft has ever been installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter.
    After we issued AD 2001-13-51, the Model 429 helicopter was 
certificated. TCCA, which is the aviation authority for Canada, issued 
Canadian AD CF-2002-03R3, Revision 3, dated September 26, 2013, to add 
Model 429 helicopters to the applicability and to require removing any 
driveshaft, part number (P/N) 206-340-300-105, if it has ever been 
installed on a Bell Model 407 helicopter.
    The NPRM proposed to retain the inspection requirements of AD 2001-
13-51, expand the applicability to include the Model 429 helicopters, 
and remove the reporting requirement.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (79 FR 54922, 
September 15, 2014).

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 
the Canadian AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all 
information provided by TCAA 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.

Differences Between This 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 AD requires replacing the driveshaft before 
accumulating 1,250 hours TIS.

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, Revision 3, dated September 26, 2013, to ensure 
the continued airworthiness of these helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 970 helicopters of U.S. Registry. 
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this 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,

[[Page 50551]]

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 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 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.

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

2015-17-02 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell): Amendment 39-
18235; 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) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective September 24, 2015.

(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, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, Texas 76177; 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, Texas 76177.
    (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.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on August 6, 2015.
Larry M. Kelly,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-20509 Filed 8-19-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P