[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 139 (Thursday, July 19, 2018)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 34074-34076]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-15305]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0647; Product Identifier 2017-SW-083-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
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 Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. 
This proposed AD would revise the life limit for the nose landing gear 
(NLG) assembly. This proposed AD is prompted by revised airworthiness 
limitations determined by Bell. The actions of this proposed AD are 
intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these helicopters.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by September 17, 
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-2018-
0647; 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

[[Page 34075]]

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-2016-07, dated March 4, 2016, to correct an 
unsafe condition for Bell Model 429 helicopters with wheeled landing 
gear. Transport Canada advises that Bell has replaced the airworthiness 
limitations for the NLG main fitting to bell crank bolt part number (P/
N) M084-20H125-101 and NLG main fitting P/N M084-20H011-107 with an 
airworthiness limitation for the next higher assembly, NLG assembly P/N 
429-336-100-101. According to Transport Canada, the NLG assembly's life 
limit is reduced to 50,000 retirement index number (RIN) or 4,500 hours 
time-in-service (TIS). Transport Canada advises that failure to replace 
components prior to established airworthiness limitations could result 
in an unsafe condition.

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 helicopters of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin No. 429-15-24, Revision A, 
dated September 23, 2015, which specifies updating the Bell 429 
maintenance manual with Revision 24 to incorporate the revised 
airworthiness limitations for the NLG assembly, NLG main fitting to 
bellcrank bolt, and the NLG main fitting.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would revise the life limit of the NLG assembly by 
requiring, before further flight, removing from service any NLG 
assembly P/N 429-336-100-101 that has reached or exceeded 4,500 hours 
TIS or 50,000 RIN. Thereafter, this proposed AD would require removing 
from service each NLG assembly P/N 429-336-100-101 before it 
accumulates 4,500 hours TIS or 50,000 RIN, whichever occurs first.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Transport Canada AD

    The Transport Canada AD applies to certain serial-numbered 
helicopters, whereas this proposed AD would apply to all Bell Model 429 
helicopters with the affected NLG assembly installed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect less than 75 
helicopters of U.S. Registry (as this proposed AD would not apply to 
Bell Model 429 helicopters with skid landing gear). At an average labor 
rate of $85 per hour, replacing a NLG assembly would require 10 work-
hours, and required parts would cost $104,648, for a cost of $105,498 
per helicopter and up to $7,912,350 for the U.S. fleet.

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-2018-0647; 
Product Identifier 2017-SW-083-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 
429 helicopters with a nose landing gear (NLG) assembly part number 
(P/N) 429-336-100-101 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as fatigue failure of an 
NLG assembly, which could result in subsequent damage to and loss of 
control of the helicopter.

(c) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by September 17, 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

    Before further flight, remove from service any NLG assembly P/N 
429-336-100-101 that has reached or exceeded 4,500 hours time-in-
service (TIS) or 50,000 retirement index number (RIN). Thereafter, 
remove from service each NLG assembly P/N 429-336-100-101 before 
accumulating 4,500 hours

[[Page 34076]]

TIS or 50,000 RIN, whichever occurs first. For purposes of this AD, 
for every normal retraction or extension of the wheeled landing gear 
system, add one RIN.

(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

    (1) Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. 429-15-24, 
Revision A, dated September 23, 2015, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains 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 
the referenced 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-2016-07, dated March 4, 2016. 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: 3200 Nose Landing 
Gear.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 9, 2018.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2018-15305 Filed 7-18-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P