[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 111 (Tuesday, June 9, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 35227-35229]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-12338]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0561; Product Identifier 2019-SW-019-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Inc. (Type Certificate 
Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Bell Textron Inc. (Type Certificate previously held by Bell 
Helicopter Textron Inc.) (Bell), Model 204B, 205A-1, and 212 
helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of corrosion on 
main rotor hub tension-torsion strap (TT strap) assemblies. This 
proposed AD would require reducing the life limit of a certain part-
numbered TT strap assembly and prohibit installing this TT strap 
assembly on any helicopter. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the 
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 24, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Bell 
Textron Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone 817-280-
3391; fax 817-280-6466; or at https://www.bellcustomer.com. You may 
view the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, 
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

[[Page 35228]]

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-2020-
0561; 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 NPRM, 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: Kuethe Harmon, Safety Management 
Program Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 
76177; telephone 817-222-5198; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0561; 
Product Identifier 2019-SW-019-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. 
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal 
contact the FAA receives about this NPRM.

Discussion

    The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD for Bell Model 204B, 205A-1, and 
212 helicopters with TT strap assembly part-number (P/N) 204-012-112-
005 installed. This proposed AD was prompted by three incidents of 
fatigue cracking in TT strap assembly P/N 206-010-105-3 installed on 
Model 206 helicopters.
    These TT strap assemblies have stainless steel filament windings 
(wires) encased in a urethane cover, which was manufactured using 
Caytur 21 (also known as Cature 21) as the urethane-curing accelerator. 
Caytur 21 contains chlorides, which are retained in the urethane cover 
after curing and result in premature failure of the urethane cover and 
subsequent corrosion and failure of the encased wires of the TT strap 
assemblies. As a result, Bell changed the curing accelerator in the 
manufacturing process.
    Due to manufacturing process similarities of the urethane cover, TT 
strap assembly P/N 204-012-112-005, which is installed on Model 204B, 
205A-1, and 212 helicopters, is affected by the same unsafe condition 
and is therefore included in this NPRM.
    Accordingly, this proposed AD would require reducing the life limit 
of the TT strap assembly from 2,400 total hours time-in-service (TIS) 
to 1,200 total hours TIS or 18 months since initial installation on any 
helicopter, whichever occurs first, and creating a component history 
card or equivalent record. This proposed AD would also prohibit 
installing the affected TT strap assembly on any helicopter.
    The proposed actions are intended to prevent the TT strap assembly 
from remaining in service beyond its fatigue life. This condition, if 
not addressed, could result in failure of a TT strap, loss of a main 
rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin 
(ASB) No. 204-78-3 for Model 204B helicopters, ASB No. 205-78-2 for 
Model 205A-1 helicopters, and ASB No. 212-78-4 for Model 212 
helicopters, all dated April 19, 1978. This service information 
specifies replacing TT strap assembly P/N 204-012-112-005 at 1,200 
hours TIS but no later than January 1, 1979. For any TT strap assembly 
P/N 204-012-112-005 that already has accumulated 1,200 hours TIS, this 
service information specifies replacing it no later than September 1, 
1978.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because the FAA evaluated all the 
relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same 
type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    Within 25 hours TIS, this proposed AD would require determining the 
total hours TIS and the total months since initial installation on any 
helicopter of each TT strap assembly P/N 204-012-112-005. If the TT 
strap assembly has reached or exceeded the new life limit by 
accumulating 1,200 or more total hours TIS or reaching 18 months since 
initial installation on any helicopter, whichever occurs first, this 
proposed AD would require removing the affected TT strap assembly from 
service before further flight. If the new life limit has not been 
reached, this proposed AD would require creating a component history 
card or equivalent record indicating the new life limit and removing 
the TT strap assembly from service before reaching the new life limit. 
This proposed AD would also prohibit the installation of TT strap 
assembly P/N 204-012-112-005 on any helicopter.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The service information specifies replacing TT strap assemblies 
with less than 1,200 hours TIS no later than January 1, 1979, and 
replacing TT strap assemblies with more than 1,200 hours TIS no later 
than September 1, 1978. This proposed AD would require reducing the 
life limit of the TT strap assembly to 1,200 total hours TIS or 18 
months since initial installation on any helicopter, whichever occurs 
first, instead. This proposed AD would also prohibit installing the TT 
strap assembly on any helicopter after the effective date of this 
proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 143 
helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that operators may 
incur the following costs in order to comply with this proposed AD. 
Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour.
    Determining the total hours TIS and the total months since initial 
installation of each TT strap assembly would take about .5 work-hours 
for an estimated cost of $43 per helicopter.
    Replacing each TT strap assembly would take about 10 work-hours and 
parts would cost about $9,000, for an estimated cost of $9,850 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

[[Page 35229]]

that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely 
to exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA 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 above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (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.

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 Textron Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bell 
Helicopter Textron Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2020-0561; Product 
Identifier 2019-SW-019-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by July 24, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Inc. (Type Certificate 
previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.), Model 204B, 205A-
1, and 212 helicopters, certificated in any category, with main 
rotor hub tension-torsion strap (TT strap) assembly part number (P/
N) 204-012-112-005 installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 6200, Main Rotor.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of corrosion detected on TT 
strap assemblies. The FAA is issuing this AD to reduce the life 
limit of and subsequently remove affected TT strap assemblies from 
service. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
failure of the TT strap assembly causing loss of a main rotor blade 
and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), determine the total 
hours TIS and the total months since initial installation of each TT 
strap assembly.
    (i) If the TT strap assembly has accumulated 1,200 or more total 
hours TIS or reached 18 or more months since initial installation on 
any helicopter, whichever occurs first, before further flight, 
remove from service the TT strap assembly.
    (ii) If the TT strap assembly has accumulated less than 1,200 
total hours TIS and reached less than 18 months since initial 
installation on any helicopter, create a component history card or 
equivalent record establishing the new life limit of 1,200 total 
hours TIS or 18 months since initial installation on any helicopter, 
whichever occurs first.
    (2) After the effective date of this AD, do not install TT strap 
assembly P/N 204-012-112-005 on any helicopter.

(h) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

 (i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your 
principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as 
appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the 
certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (j)(1). Information may be emailed to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

 (j) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Kuethe Harmon, 
Safety Management Program Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5198; email 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell 
Textron Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone 817-280-
3391; fax 817-280-6466; or at https://www.bellcustomer.com. You may 
view this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional 
Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort 
Worth, TX 76177.

    Issued on June 2, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-12338 Filed 6-8-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P