[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 121 (Monday, June 28, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 33918-33920]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-13644]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0513; Project Identifier 2018-SW-116-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) 
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 certain Bell Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. 
This proposed AD was prompted by reports of tail rotor gearbox 
assemblies found loose on the gearbox support. This proposed AD would 
require repetitive torque checks of the tail rotor gearbox attachment 
hardware, and corrective action if necessary. 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 August 12, 
2021.

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 between 9 a.m. and 
5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Bell 
Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J 
1R4, Canada; telephone 1-450-437-2862 or 1-800-363-8023; fax 1-450-433-
0272; email [email protected]; or at https://www.bellflight.com/support/contact-support. 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. For 
information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 
222-5110.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0513; 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, the 
Transport Canada AD, any comments received, and other information. The 
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, 
COS Program Management Section, FAA, Operational Safety Branch, 
Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, 
Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; 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-2021-0513; Project Identifier 
2018-SW-116-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 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 NPRM.

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

[[Page 33919]]

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 Darren Gassetto, Aerospace Engineer, COS Program 
Management Section, FAA, Operational Safety Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 
11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; 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.

Background

    Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation 
authority for Canada, has issued Canadian AD CF-2018-35, dated December 
19, 2018 (Canadian AD CF-2018-35), to correct an unsafe condition for 
Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 429 helicopters. Transport Canada 
advises that there have been reports of tail rotor gearbox assemblies 
found loose on the gearbox support. Transport Canada issued Emergency 
Canadian Airworthiness Directive CF-2018-18, dated July 11, 2018, which 
corresponds to FAA AD 2018-16-51, Amendment 39-19421 (83 FR 53171, 
October 22, 2018), to address the immediate safety concern. An ongoing 
investigation determined that this condition-loose tail rotor gearbox 
assemblies-could return even after the corrective actions by the 
previous AD have been completed. This condition, if not addressed, 
could result in structural damage and possible loss of control of the 
helicopter.
    Accordingly, Canadian AD CF-2018-35 requires repetitive torque 
checks of the tail rotor gearbox attachment hardware and corrective 
actions if necessary. The corrective action is doing additional 
repetitive torque checks at intervals of 10 to 25 hours air time until 
the torque stabilizes on all the nuts.

FAA's Determination

    The helicopter has been approved by the aviation authority of 
Canada and is 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 of the unsafe condition 
described in its AD. The FAA is proposing this AD after evaluating all 
known relevant information and determining that the unsafe condition 
described previously is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters 
of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin 429-18-41, dated July 
24, 2018. This service information specifies procedures for repetitive 
torque checks of the tail rotor gearbox attachment hardware.
    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 in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified 
in the service information already described, except as discussed under 
``Differences Between this Proposed AD and the Transport Canada AD.''

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Transport Canada AD

    Where Canadian AD CF-2018-35 refers to ``200-hour'' inspections and 
``10 to 25 hours air time'' for the torque checks, for this proposed AD 
use ``time-in-service'' instead.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 98 helicopters of U.S. Registry. The FAA estimates the following 
costs to comply with this proposed AD:

                                      Estimated Costs for Required Actions
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                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
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Torque check..........................  1 work-hour x $85 per                 $0             $85          $8,330
                                         hour = $85.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary on-
condition actions that would be required based on the results of any 
required actions. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
helicopters that might need these on-condition actions:

                                     Estimated Costs of On-Condition Actions
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                Action                        Labor cost          Parts cost            Cost per product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Repetitive torque check..............  1 work-hour x $85 per                $0  $85, per cycle.
                                        hour = $85, per cycle.
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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:

[[Page 33920]]

    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would 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 Canada Limited (Type Certificate Previously Held by 
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited): Docket No. FAA-2021-0513; 
Project Identifier 2018-SW-116-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by August 12, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Canada Limited (type certificate 
previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) Model 429 
helicopters, certificated in any category, serial numbers 57001 and 
subsequent.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6500, Tail Rotor 
Drive System; and 6520, Tail Rotor Gearbox.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports of tail rotor gearbox assemblies 
found loose on the gearbox support. The FAA is issuing this AD 
address tail rotor gearbox assemblies found loose on the gearbox 
support. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
structural damage and possible loss of control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    Within 12 months after the effective date of this AD; or at the 
next scheduled 200-hours time-in-service (TIS) or 12-month 
inspection, whichever occurs first, do a torque check of the tail 
rotor gearbox attachment hardware, in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 2., of Bell Alert Service 
Bulletin 429-18-41, dated July 24, 2018. Repeat the torque check 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 200 hours TIS or 12 months, 
whichever occurs first.

(h) Corrective Actions

    If, during any torque check required by paragraph (g) of this 
AD, any tail rotor gearbox attachment moves during any torque check, 
repeat the torque check specified in paragraph (g) of this AD at 
intervals no less than 10 hours TIS and not to exceed 25 hours TIS 
until the torque stabilizes on all the nuts. Stabilization has 
occurred when, at the next torque check, the value has remained 
within the specified acceptable limits (160 to 200 inch-pounds (in-
lbs) or 19 to 22 newton meters (Nms), inclusive), preventing 
movement of the gearbox housing. After the torque stabilizes on all 
the nuts, the repetitive torque checks specified in paragraph (g) of 
this AD are still required.

(i) Credit for Previous Actions

    This paragraph provides credit for the initial torque check 
required by paragraph (g) of this AD, if that action was done before 
the effective date of this AD as required by paragraph (f)(2) of AD 
2018-16-51, Amendment 39-19421 (83 FR 53171, October 22, 2018).

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, International Validation 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 International Validation Branch, send 
it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of 
this AD. 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.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Darren Gassetto, 
Aerospace Engineer, COS Program Management Section, FAA, Operational 
Safety Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 1600 Stewart 
Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590; telephone (516) 228-7323; 
email [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell 
Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J 
1R4, Canada; telephone 1-450-437-2862 or 1-800-363-8023; fax 1-450-
433-0272; email [email protected]; or at https://www.bellflight.com/support/contact-support. You may view this 
referenced service information at the 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.
    (3) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD 
CF-2018-35, dated December 19, 2018. You may view the Transport 
Canada AD on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in Docket 
No. FAA-2021-0513.

    Issued on June 21, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-13644 Filed 6-25-21; 8:45 am]
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