[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 164 (Friday, August 27, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 48078-48080]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-18383]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0713; Project Identifier AD-2021-00180-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Inc., Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for Bell Textron Inc., Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters. This 
proposed AD was prompted by evaluation results showing flight loads 
that impact the collective lever fatigue life. This proposed AD would 
require adding a permanent life penalty for certain collective levers 
and prohibit installing those collective levers unless the permanent 
life penalty has been added. 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 October 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 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 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-2021-0713; 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.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Haytham Alaidy, Aerospace Engineer, 
Certification & Program Management Section, DSCO Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 
76177; telephone (817) 222-5224; 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-2021-0713; Project Identifier 
AD-2021-00180-R'' 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 marked submissions as 
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be

[[Page 48079]]

placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI 
should be sent to Haytham Alaidy, Aerospace Engineer, Certification & 
Program Management Section, DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
(817) 222-5224; 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

    The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD for Bell Textron Inc., Model 
412, 412EP, and 412CF helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by the 
results of an evaluation of BLR Aerospace Strake and FastFin system 
part number (P/N) 412-705-040-101. During the evaluation, additional 
flight loads were recorded that impact the collective lever fatigue 
life. Accordingly, this proposed AD would require adding a permanent 
life penalty for affected collective levers and prohibit installing 
those collective levers unless the permanent life penalty has been 
added. This condition, if not addressed, could result in fatigue damage 
and cracking, failure of the collective lever, and subsequent loss of 
control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 412-12-151, 
Revision A, dated July 8, 2014. This service information specifies 
procedures for adding a permanent flight hour penalty for collective 
levers installed or previously installed on helicopters with a Strake 
and FastFin system P/N 412-705-040-101.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require, depending on the configuration, 
adding a permanent life penalty of 5,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) or 
50% of the total hours TIS accumulated by the collective lever on the 
component history card or equivalent record for the collective lever. 
This proposed AD would also prohibit installing an affected collective 
lever unless the permanent life penalty has been added on its component 
history card or equivalent record.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The service information specifies adding the permanent life penalty 
at the next scheduled inspection, whereas this proposed AD would 
require that action within 50 hours TIS after the effective date of 
this AD instead. This proposed AD would require adding the permanent 
life penalty for helicopters without a Strake and FastFin system P/N 
412-705-040-101 installed, but with a collective lever P/N 412-010-408-
101 installed, whereas the service information does not specify this.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 96 helicopters of U.S. registry. Labor rates are estimated at 
$85 per work-hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA estimates the 
following costs to comply with this proposed AD.
    Replacing a collective lever would take about 2 work-hours and 
parts would cost about $18,237, for an estimated cost of $18,407 per 
helicopter and up to $1,767,072 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.
    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 above, I certify this proposed 
regulation:
    (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 Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2021-0713; Project Identifier AD-
2021-00180-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

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

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Inc., Model 412, 412EP, and 
412CF helicopters, certificated in any category.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 2700, Flight 
Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by evaluation results showing flight loads 
that impact the collective lever fatigue life. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to prevent fatigue damage and cracking, which could result 
in failure of the collective lever 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 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD:
    (i) For helicopters with a Strake and FastFin system part number 
(P/N) 412-705-040-101 installed since initial delivery from the 
manufacturer, add a permanent penalty

[[Page 48080]]

of 5,000 hours TIS to the total hours TIS indicated on the component 
history card or equivalent record for the collective lever P/N 412-
010-408-101.

    Note 1 to paragraph (g)(1)(i): Bell Helicopter service 
information identifies helicopters with serial numbers 36570, 36579, 
36587, and 36593 through 36602 inclusive, as helicopters originally 
delivered with a Strake and FastFin system installed.

    (ii) For helicopters with a Strake and FastFin system P/N 412-
705-040-101 installed after delivery from the manufacturer, add a 
permanent penalty of 50% of the total hours TIS accumulated by the 
collective lever P/N 412-010-408-101 on the component history card 
or equivalent record for the collective lever P/N 412-010-408-101.

    Note 2 to paragraph (g)(1)(ii): The Accomplishment Instructions, 
part II, paragraph 2., of Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 
412-12-151, Revision A, dated July 8, 2014, provides an example of 
calculating and adding a permanent penalty of 50%.

    (iii) For helicopters without a Strake and FastFin system P/N 
412-705-040-101 installed, but with a collective lever P/N 412-010-
408-101 installed, add a permanent penalty of 50% of the total hours 
TIS accumulated by the collective lever on the component history 
card or equivalent record for the collective lever.
    (2) Before further flight, remove from service any collective 
lever P/N 412-010-408-101 that has reached or exceeded its life 
limit of 10,000 total hours TIS. Thereafter, remove from service 
each collective lever P/N 412-010-408-101 on or before reaching its 
life limit of 10,000 total hours TIS.
    (3) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a new 
(zero total hours TIS) collective lever P/N 412-010-408-101 unless a 
permanent penalty of 5,000 hours TIS has been added to the total 
hours TIS on its component history card or equivalent record.
    (4) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a used 
collective lever P/N 412-010-408-101 unless a permanent penalty of 
50% of the total hours TIS accumulated by the collective lever has 
been added to the total hours TIS on its component history card or 
equivalent record.

(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) 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.

(j) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Haytham Alaidy, 
Aerospace Engineer, Certification & Program Management Section, DSCO 
Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5224; email 
[email protected].

    Issued on August 19, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-18383 Filed 8-26-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P