[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 190 (Friday, September 30, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67102-67104]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-23345]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-9144; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-014-AD; 
Amendment 39-18667; AD 2016-20-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 
Model 427 and Model 429 helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain 
engine and transmission oil check valves. This AD also prohibits 
installing the affected check valves on any helicopter. This AD is 
prompted by a report of several cracked or leaking check valves. These 
actions are intended to detect and prevent a cracked or leaking check 
valve which could result in loss of lubrication to the engine or 
transmission, failure of the engine or transmission, and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective October 17, 2016.
    We must receive comments on this AD by November 29, 2016.

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 by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
9144; 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 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 final rule, 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, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Rao Edupuganti, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective.

[[Page 67103]]

However, 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 
resulted from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a 
specific portion of the AD, 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 them 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 
rulemaking during the comment period. We will consider all the comments 
we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based on those 
comments.

Discussion

    On December 7, 2015, Transport Canada issued AD No. CF-2015-29 to 
correct an unsafe condition for certain serial-numbered Bell Model 427 
and Model 429 helicopters. Transport Canada advises that part numbered 
209-062-520-001 check valves manufactured by Circor Aerospace as 
replacement parts have been found cracked or leaking on several 
helicopters. According to Transport Canada, these check valves are used 
in the lubrication systems of the Model 429 engines and main rotor 
transmission and the Model 427 engines. Finally, Transport Canada 
advises that loss of lubrication may cause catastrophic failure of the 
transmission or the engine, which could result in loss of control of 
the helicopter.
    Transport Canada AD No. CF-2015-29 requires a one-time inspection 
of the transmission and engine check valves for cracks and leaks. If 
there is a crack or leaking fluid, the Transport Canada AD requires 
replacing the check valve before further flight. Otherwise, the 
Transport Canada AD requires replacing each check valve within 60 days 
for the main rotor transmission and one year for the engine with a 
check valve marked ``TQL'' as shown in the manufacturer's service 
bulletins. The Transport Canada AD also prohibits installing a part 
number (P/N) 209-062-520-001 check valve on any helicopter if the check 
valve was manufactured by Circor Aerospace, marked ``Circle Seal,'' and 
manufactured between October 2011 and March 2015.

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, Transport Canada, its technical 
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in 
its AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information 
provided by Transport Canada and determined the unsafe condition exists 
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same 
type designs.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 427-15-37 for Model 
427 helicopters and Bell ASB 429-15-23 for Model 429 helicopters, both 
dated September 4, 2015. Both ASBs describe procedures for inspecting 
and replacing the check valve, P/N 209-062-520-001, installed on 
certain serial-numbered Model 427 and Model 429 helicopters.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires, within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), replacing 
the transmission and engine oil check valves.
    This AD also prohibits installing a check valve P/N 209-062-520-001 
that was manufactured by Circor Aerospace, marked ``Circle Seal,'' and 
marked with a manufacturing date code of ``10/11'' (October 2011) 
through ``03/15'' (March 2015) on any helicopter.

Differences Between This AD and the Transport Canada AD

    The Transport Canada AD requires inspecting the valves for cracks 
and leaks to determine when they must be replaced. This AD requires 
replacing all check valves within 25 hours TIS.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 105 (29 Model 427 and 76 Model 
429) 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, replacing each 
check valve (transmission or engine) will require about 1 work-hour, 
and required parts will cost $85. For the Model 427, we estimate a 
total cost of $170 per helicopter and $4,930 for the U.S. fleet. For 
the Model 429, we estimate a total cost of $340 per helicopter and 
$25,840 for the U.S. fleet. According to Bell's service information 
some of the costs of this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby 
reducing the cost impact on affected individuals. We do not control 
warranty coverage by Bell. Accordingly, we have included all costs in 
our cost estimate.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because the actions required by this 
AD must be accomplished within 25 hours TIS, a very short interval for 
helicopters used in offshore transportation.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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 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, 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);

[[Page 67104]]

    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):

2016-20-01 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell): Amendment 
39-18667; Docket No. FAA-2016-9144; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-
014-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Model 427 and 429 helicopters, 
certificated in any category, with an engine and transmission oil 
check valve part number (P/N) 209-062-520-001 manufactured by Circor 
Aerospace, marked ``Circle Seal'' and with a manufacturing date code 
of ``10/11'' (October 2011) through ``03/15'' (March 2015), 
installed.

 (b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a cracked or leaking 
check valve. This condition, if not detected and corrected, could 
result in loss of lubrication to the engine or transmission, failure 
of the transmission or engine, and loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective October 17, 2016.

 (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:
    (i) Replace each transmission oil check valve.
    (ii) For Model 429 helicopters, replace each engine oil check 
valve.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
check valve P/N 209-062-520-001 manufactured by Circor Aerospace, 
marked ``Circle Seal'' and with a manufacturing date code of ``10/
11'' (October 2011) through ``03/15'' (March 2015), on any 
helicopter.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Group, FAA, may approve AMOCs 
for this AD. Send your proposal to: Rao Edupuganti, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Regulations and Policy Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 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.

(g) Additional Information

    (1) Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 427-15-37 for Model 427 
helicopters and Bell ASB 429-15-23 for Model 429 helicopters, both 
dated September 4, 2015, which are not incorporated by reference, 
contain additional information about the subject of this final rule. 
For service information identified in this final rule, 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, TX 76177.
    (2) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD 
No. CF-2015-29, dated December 7, 2015. You may view the Transport 
Canada AD on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching 
for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2016-9144.

 (h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300 Engine and 
Transmission Lubrication System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on September 16, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-23345 Filed 9-29-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P