[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 235 (Friday, December 6, 2019)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 66838-66840]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-26298]


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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; Amendment 
39-19803; AD 2019-23-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 427 helicopters. 
This AD requires inspecting the inboard skin of the vertical fin around 
the four tailboom attachment points. This AD was prompted by reports of 
cracked vertical fin skins that resulted from metal fatigue. The 
actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these 
products.

DATES: This AD is effective January 10, 2020.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of January 10, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: 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

[[Page 66839]]

https://www.bellcustomer.com. 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. It is 
also available on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-1105.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://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 AD, the Transport Canada AD, any service information that is 
incorporated by reference, the economic evaluation, any comments 
received, and other information. The street address for Docket 
Operations is listed above. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

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:

Discussion

    On June 1, 2018, at 83 FR 25408, the Federal Register published the 
FAA's notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to BHTC Model 427 
helicopters with a vertical fin part number (P/N) 427-035-840-105 or P/
N 427-035-840-109 installed. The NPRM proposed to require inspecting 
the inboard skin of the vertical fin around the four tailboom 
attachment points. The proposed requirements were intended to detect 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.
    The NPRM was prompted by Canadian AD No. CF-2017-03, dated January 
31, 2017 (Transport Canada AD CF-2017-03), issued by Transport Canada, 
which is the aviation authority for Canada, to correct an unsafe 
condition for BHTC Model 427 helicopters with vertical fin 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.

Comments

    After the NPRM was published, the FAA received comments from one 
commenter. However, the comment addressed neither the proposed actions 
nor the determination of the cost to the public. Therefore, the FAA has 
made no changes to this AD.

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 
the FAA's bilateral agreement with Canada, Transport Canada, its 
technical representative, has notified the FAA about the unsafe 
condition described in the Transport Canada AD. The FAA is issuing this 
AD after evaluating all known relevant information and determined that 
an 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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 427-15-38, 
Revision A, dated November 14, 2016, which specifies repetitive 
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 serial numbers are to 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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 27 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following 
costs in order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 
per work-hour.
     Performing the visual inspection requires about 2.25 work-
hours for an estimated cost of $191 per helicopter and $5,157 for the 
U.S. fleet.
     Replacing the fin requires about 4 work-hours, and parts 
cost about $10,000, for an estimated cost of $10,340 per helicopter.
     Assigning a serial number to the fin takes about 0.5 work-
hours for an estimated 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.
    The FAA is 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 helicopters identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.
    The FAA 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.

[[Page 66840]]

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):

2019-23-09 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-
19803; 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) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective January 10, 2020.

(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, the FAA suggests 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 https://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2017-1105.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 55, Empennage 
Structure.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 427-15-38, Revision 
A, dated November 14, 2016.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited 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 
https://www.bellcustomer.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the availability of 
this material at the FAA, call 817-222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on November 19, 2019.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2019-26298 Filed 12-5-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P