[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 236 (Tuesday, December 8, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 78977-78979]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-26856]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0270; Product Identifier 2019-SW-018-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: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM); reopening 
of comment period.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an earlier proposed Airworthiness 
Directive (AD) for Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 205B helicopters 
which proposed to require reducing the life limit of certain tail rotor 
(T/R) blades and re-identifying certain T/R blades with a new part 
number (P/N). The notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) was prompted by 
flight testing and fatigue analysis results. This action revises the 
NPRM by adding additional T/R part numbers (P/Ns) to the proposed 
applicability. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an 
additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is reopening the 
comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these 
changes.

DATES: The comment period for the NPRM published in the Federal 
Register on March 25, 2020 (85 FR 16916), is reopened.
    The FAA must receive comments on this SNPRM by January 22, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to https://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.
    For service information identified in this SNPRM, contact Bell 
Helicopter 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.

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-
0270; 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 SNPRM, 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0270; Product Identifier 
2019-SW-018-AD'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful 
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the 
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in 
the following paragraph, and other

[[Page 78978]]

information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all 
comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, 
including any personal information you provide. The agency will also 
post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received 
about this proposal.

Confidential Business Information

    CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily 
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of 
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public 
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial 
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that 
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to 
this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted 
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing 
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public 
docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to 
Kuethe Harmon, Safety Management Program Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, 
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817-222-5198; 
email [email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which 
is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public 
docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    The FAA issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD 
that would apply to Bell Model 205B helicopters with a T/R blade P/N 
212-010-750-009 or 212-010-750-105 installed. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on March 25, 2020 (85 FR 16916). The NPRM proposed to 
require reducing the life limit of each affected T/R blade; re-
identifying the T/R blade P/N on its data plate by vibro-etching to 
change the last three digits of the existing P/N; creating a component 
history card or equivalent record; revising the Airworthiness 
Limitations section of the existing maintenance manual for your 
helicopter to annotate the new P/N and revised life limit; and prohibit 
installing any affected T/R blade that has not met the AD requirements. 
The proposed NPRM was prompted by flight testing and fatigue analysis 
by Bell which indicated that the affected part-numbered T/R blades 
sustain greater loads when installed on Bell Model 205B helicopters 
compared to their use on other model helicopters. The proposed actions 
were intended to prevent a T/R blade remaining in service beyond its 
fatigue life, resulting in failure of the T/R blade and subsequent loss 
control of the helicopter.

Actions Since Previous NPRM Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued the NPRM, further research by Bell has 
identified additional T/R blade P/Ns, which are also subject to the 
unsafe condition and would require re-identification and reduced life 
limits. Accordingly, Bell has revised its service information to 
include the additional part numbered T/R blades. The FAA has determined 
the NPRM must be revised by revising the applicability to include these 
additional part numbered T/R blades and the service information must be 
updated to include the revised service information with the newly 
identified T/R blade P/Ns.

Comments

    The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in 
developing this proposed AD. The following presents the comment 
received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to that comment.

Request To Add Additional T/R Blade Part Numbers

    Bell requested the Applicability paragraph be updated to include 
the newly identified T/R blade P/Ns and that the FAA update the 
corrective actions to include those newly identified T/R blade P/Ns. 
Bell stated that it is revising the service information to address the 
additional T/R blade P/Ns and the re-identification and life limit 
requirements of those additional T/R blades. Accordingly, the commenter 
requested the FAA postpone the release of the AD until the part numbers 
are disclosed to the FAA.
    The FAA agrees the NPRM should be revised to include the additional 
T/R blade P/Ns and the re-identification and life limit requirements of 
those additional T/R blade P/Ns.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this SNPRM after evaluating all known relevant 
information and determining that an unsafe condition is likely to exist 
or develop on other helicopters of the same type design. Certain 
changes described above expand the scope of the original NPRM. As a 
result, the FAA has determined that it is necessary to reopen the 
comment period to provide additional opportunity for the public to 
comment on this SNPRM.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 
205B-20-70, dated August 6, 2020, for Model 205B helicopters. This 
service information specifies reducing the life limit of T/R blade P/N 
212-010-750-109, 212-010-750-111, 212-010-750-113, 212-010-750-117, 
212-010-750-133, 212-010-750-135, 212-010-750-117FM, and 212-010-750-
135FM to 2,500 hours time-in-service (TIS). This service information 
also specifies re-identifying certain T/R blade P/Ns by assigning new 
dash number by vibro-etching a new P/N on the T/R blade data plate and 
annotating the historical record card.
    The FAA also reviewed Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service 
Bulletin No. 205B-98-27, dated June 1, 1998, for Model 205B 
helicopters. This service information specifies reducing the life limit 
of T/R blade P/N 212-010-750-009 and 212-010-750-105 to 2,500 hours TIS 
and assigning these T/R blades a new dash number by vibro-etching a new 
P/N on the T/R blade data plate and annotating the historical record 
card.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require, before further flight, reducing the 
life limit of each affected T/R blade from 5,000 hours TIS to 2,500 
hours TIS; re-identifying certain part numbered T/R blades by vibro-
etching to change the last three digits of the existing P/N; creating a 
component history card or equivalent record; and revising the 
Airworthiness Limitations section of the existing maintenance manual 
for your helicopter to annotate the new P/N and revised life limit. 
Finally, this SNPRM would prohibit installing any affected T/R blade 
that has not met the proposed AD requirements.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 2 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.
    Determining the total hours TIS of a T/R blade, re-identifying the 
P/N, and updating the helicopter records would take about 1 work-hour 
for each T/R blade for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and 
$340 for the U.S fleet.
    Replacing a T/R blade would take about 8 work-hours and parts would 
cost about $29,110 for an estimated cost of $29,790 per T/R blade.

[[Page 78979]]

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 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, 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:

Bell Textron Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bell 
Helicopter Textron Inc.) Helicopters: Docket No. FAA-2020-0270; 
Product Identifier 2019-SW-018-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by January 22, 2021.

(b) Affected Airworthiness Directives (AD)

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Inc. (Bell) Model 205B 
helicopters, certificated in any category, with a tail rotor (T/R) 
blade part number (P/N) 212-010-750-009, 212-010-750-105, 212-010-
750-109, 212-010-750-111, 212-010-750-113, 212-010-750-117, 212-010-
750-133, 212-010-750-135, 212-010-750-117FM, or 212-010-750-135FM 
installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6410 Tail Rotor 
Blades.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by flight testing and fatigue analysis that 
indicates that these part-numbered T/R blades sustain greater loads 
when used on Bell Model 205B helicopters compared to their use on 
other model helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent a T/R 
blade from remaining in service beyond its fatigue life, resulting 
in failure of the T/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) 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.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Before further flight:
    (i) Determine the total hours time-in-service (TIS) of each T/R 
blade and remove from service each T/R blade that has accumulated 
2,500 or more hours TIS. For each T/R blade that has accumulated 
less than 2,500 hours TIS, do the following:
    (ii) Re-identify the P/N on the T/R blade data plate by vibro-
etching to change the last three digits of the existing P/N as 
follows:
    (A) For T/R blade P/N 212-010-750-009, re-identify the P/N as 
212-010-750-111.
    (B) For T/R blade P/N 212-010-750-105, re-identify the P/N as 
212-010-750-109.
    (C) For T/R blade P/N 212-010-750-113, re-identify the P/N as 
212-010-750-117FM.
    (D) For T/R blade P/N 212-010-750-133, re-identify the P/N as 
212-010-750-135FM.
    (iii) Create a component history card or equivalent record to 
reflect the change in P/N for each T/R blade, and establish a life 
limit of 2,500 hours TIS.
    (iv) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 
existing maintenance manual or the Instructions for Continued 
Airworthiness for your helicopter to establish a life limit of 2,500 
hours TIS for each T/R blade P/N 212-010-750-109, P/N 212-010-750-
111, P/N 212-010-750-117, P/N 212-010-750-135, P/N 212-010-750-
117FM, and P/N212-010-750-135FM.
    (2) Thereafter, except as provided in paragraph (i), no 
alternative life limits may be approved for T/R blade P/N 212-010-
750-009, P/N 212-010-750-105, P/N 212-010-750-113, or P/N 212-010-
750-133.
    (3) After the effective date of this AD, do not install a T/R 
blade P/N 212-010-750-009, P/N 212-010-750-105, P/N 212-010-750-113, 
or P/N 212-010-750-133 on any Model 205B helicopter unless the part 
number has been changed and the life limit reduced in accordance 
with this AD.
    (4) After the effective date of this AD do not install a T/R 
blade P/N 212-010-750-109, P/N 212-010-750-111, P/N 212-010-750-117, 
P/N 212-010-750-135, P/N 212-010-750-117FM, or P/N 212-010-750-
135FM, on any Model 205B helicopter unless the life limit has been 
reduced in accordance with this AD.

(h) Special Flight Permits

    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) of this AD. Information may be 
emailed to: [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 
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.

(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 service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 
76177.

    Issued on November 12, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-26856 Filed 12-7-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P