[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 106 (Friday, June 1, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 25408-25410]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-11445]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-1105; Product Identifier 2017-SW-023-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada 
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 Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) Model 427 helicopters. This 
proposed AD would require inspecting the inboard skin of the vertical 
fin around the four tailboom attachment points. This proposed AD is 
prompted by reports of cracked vertical fin skins that resulted from 
metal fatigue. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to prevent 
an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 31, 2018.

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-2017-
1105; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this proposed AD, the Transport Canada AD, the economic evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations (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 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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; 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

    Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has 
issued Canadian AD No. CF-2017-03, dated January 31, 2017, to correct 
an unsafe condition for BHTC Model 427 helicopters with vertical fin 
part number (P/N) 427-035-840-105 or P/N 427-035-840-109 installed. 
Transport Canada advises of three reports of cracked vertical fin skins 
that resulted from metal fatigue. If not detected, the crack may grow 
to a critical length, causing the fin to fail, separate from the 
helicopter and damage the main or tail rotor blades, leading to their 
in-flight failure. Loss of the fin may also adversely affect the 
helicopter's directional stability, leading to loss of directional 
control, Transport Canada advises.
    Transport Canada consequently requires repetitively inspecting the 
vertical fins for a crack, and if a crack is detected, replacing the 
fin before further flight.

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

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 427-15-38, 
Revision A, dated November 14, 2016, which specifies recurring 
inspections of the vertical fins every 100 hours time-in-service (TIS) 
once the vertical fin has accumulated 1,500 hours TIS. This inspection 
also was incorporated in Chapter 4 of the maintenance manual. This 
service information also specifies

[[Page 25409]]

that serial numbers be assigned to vertical fins that do not have a 
serial number.
    This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require within 25 hours TIS or before the 
helicopter has accumulated 1,500 hours TIS, whichever occurs later and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS:
     Removing and cleaning the vertical fin attachment area.
     Using a 10X magnifying glass, visually inspecting the 
inboard skin of the vertical fin around the four tailboom attachment 
points for a crack and replacing the fin before further flight if there 
is a crack.
     Assigning a serial number if the vertical fin does not 
have a serial number.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 27 helicopters of 
U.S. Registry and that labor costs average $85 a work hour. Based on 
these estimates, we expect the following costs:
     Performing the visual inspection would require 2.25 work-
hours and no parts for a cost of about $191 per helicopter and $5,157 
for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.
     Replacing the fin would require 4 work-hours, and parts 
would cost $10,000, for a cost of $10,340 per helicopter.
     Assigning a serial number to the fin would require 0.5 
work-hour for a cost of $43 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 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 Canada Limited: Docket No. FAA-2017-1105; 
Product Identifier 2017-SW-023-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 
427 helicopters with a vertical fin part number (P/N) 427-035-840-
105 or P/N 427-035-840-109 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack on the vertical 
fin skin. This condition could lead to structural failure of the 
fin, separation of the skin from the helicopter, damage to the main 
or tail rotor blades and loss of helicopter control.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 31, 2018.

(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

    Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS) or before the helicopter 
has accumulated 1,500 hours TIS, whichever occurs later, and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 100 hours TIS:
    (1) Remove the vertical fin and clean the vertical fin 
attachment area with a soap solution to remove all traces of dirt, 
stains, exhaust residue, and oil. Rinse the area with water and let 
dry.
    (i) Using a 10X power magnifying glass, visually inspect the 
inboard skin of the vertical fin for a crack around the four 
tailboom attachment points as depicted in Figure 1 of Bell 
Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 427-15-38, Revision A, dated 
November 14, 2016. Pay particular attention to the upper aft 
attachment point.
    (ii) If there is a crack, replace the vertical fin before 
further flight.
    (2) If the vertical fin does not have a serial number, assign a 
serial number using the helicopter serial number, and permanently 
mark the new serial number on the vertical fin data plate. Create a 
component history card or equivalent record and annotate the serial 
number.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards 
Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 
Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management 
Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, 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

    The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD No. 
CF-2017-03, dated January 31, 2017. You may view the Transport 
Canada AD on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov in the AD 
Docket.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 5300, Fuselage 
Structure (General).


[[Page 25410]]


    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 16, 2018.
Scott A. Horn,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-11445 Filed 5-31-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P