[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 221 (Friday, November 19, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64832-64835]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-25205]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1003; Project Identifier AD-2021-01141-R]
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 supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2021-15-51, which applies to Bell Textron Inc. (type certificate 
previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) Model 204B, 205A, 
205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters. AD 2021-15-51 requires removing 
certain main rotor hub strap pins (pin) from service and prohibits 
installing them on any helicopter. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-15-51, 
it was determined that a defective pin could also be installed on Bell 
Textron Inc. Model 210 helicopters. This proposed AD would continue to 
require the actions in AD 2021-15-51 and expand the applicability to 
add Model 210 helicopters. 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 December 
20, 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

[[Page 64833]]

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 (450) 437-
2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (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-2021-1003; 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: David Wilson, Aerospace Engineer, DSCO 
Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5786; 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-2021-1003; Project Identifier 
AD-2021-01141-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 
the 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 proposed AD.

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 David 
Wilson, Aerospace Engineer, DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
(817) 222-5786; 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 issued Emergency AD 2021-15-51 on July 6, 2021, and it 
published as a Final rule; request for comments on August 9, 2021 as 
Amendment 39-21678 (86 FR 43406) (AD 2021-15-51). AD 2021-15-51 applies 
to Bell Textron Inc., Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 
helicopters with a pin part number (P/N) 204-012-104-005 with a serial 
number (S/N) prefix ``FNFS'' installed. AD 2021-15-51 requires removing 
from service all P/N 204-012-104-005 pins with an S/N prefix ``FNFS'' 
before further flight and prohibits installing an affected pin on any 
helicopter as of the effective date of the AD. AD 2021-15-51 was 
prompted by a fatal accident of a Model 212 helicopter in which a pin 
P/N 204-012-104-005 with an S/N prefix ``FNFS'' sheared off during 
flight, which resulted in the main rotor blade and the main rotor head 
detaching from the helicopter. The pin had accumulated only 20 total 
hours time-in-service (TIS). An inspection of a different Model 212 
helicopter revealed that another pin installed, and made by the same 
manufacturer and with the same S/N prefix, was deformed; this pin had 
accumulated only 29 total hours TIS. Pins of the same P/N can also be 
installed on Bell Textron Inc., Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 210 
helicopters. Failure of the pin could result in the main rotor blade 
detaching from the helicopter and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

Actions Since AD 2021-15-51 Was Issued

    Since the FAA issued AD 2021-15-51, it was determined that pin P/N 
204-012-104-005 with S/N prefix ``FNFS'' can also be installed on Model 
210 helicopters. Additionally, the FAA discovered that an incorrect 
U.S. fleet count was provided in the Costs of Compliance section of AD 
2021-15-51. This proposed AD corrects that count and adds Model 210 
helicopters to that count. Additionally, while AD 2021-15-51 was 
initially issued as an emergency AD and then published in the Federal 
Register as a Final rule; request for comments, the FAA has determined 
that an NPRM is appropriate to add the Model 210 helicopter to the 
applicability. Even though the unsafe condition exists, the four Model 
210 helicopters on the U.S. Registry do not currently have an affected 
pin installed making immediate adoption of an AD to add the Model 210 
helicopter to the applicability without providing an opportunity for 
public comments prior to adoption unnecessary.
    Lastly, service information discussed in AD 2021-15-51 has been 
revised to include updated warranty information and additional 
accomplishment instructions for disposing of the affected pins, 
therefore, this proposed AD discusses this revised service information.
    The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on 
these products.

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 designs.

Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed the following Bell Alert Service Bulletins (ASBs), 
each Revision A and dated July 22, 2021:
     ASB 204B-21-74 for Model 204B helicopters, S/Ns 2001 
through 2070 and 2196 through 2199;
     ASB 205-21-117 for Model 205A and 205A-1 helicopters, S/Ns 
30001 through 30065, 30067 through 30165, 30167 through 30187, 30189 
through 30296, and 30298 through 30332;
     ASB 205B-21-71 for Model 205B helicopters, S/Ns 30066, 
30166, 30188 and 30297;
     ASB 210-21-14 for all Model 210 helicopters, and

[[Page 64834]]

     ASB 212-21-165 for Model 212 helicopters, S/Ns 30501 
through 30999, 31101 through 31311, 32101 through 32142, and 35001 
through 35103.
    The ASBs specify removing all P/N 204-012-104-005 pins with an S/N 
prefix ``FNFS'' before further flight. The ASBs also specify that, 
although the investigation is still in progress, removing these pins 
from service is required. The ASBs state that these pins may not have 
been manufactured in accordance with the engineering design 
requirements and may therefore shear as a result of this 
nonconformance.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would retain all of the requirements of AD 2021-
15-51. This proposed AD would apply to all helicopters that were 
affected by AD 2021-15-51 and would add Model 210 helicopters to the 
applicability.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers that this proposed AD would be an interim action. 
If final action is later identified, the FAA might consider further 
rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would 
affect 155 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 up to four pins would take about 20 work-hours and parts 
would cost about $1,756 for four pins for an estimated cost of up to 
$3,456 per helicopter, and up to $535,680 for the U.S. fleet.
    The FAA has included all known costs in its cost estimate. 
According to the manufacturer, however, some of the costs of this 
proposed AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost 
impact on affected individuals.

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 that the 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:
0
a. Removing Airworthiness Directive AD 2021-15-51, Amendment 39-21678 
(86 FR 43406, August 9, 2021); and
0
b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive:

Bell Textron Inc. (Type Certificate Previously Held By Bell 
Helicopter Textron Inc.): Docket No. FAA-2021-1003; Project 
Identifier AD-2021-01141-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) action by December 20, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD replaces AD 2021-15-51, Amendment 39-21678 (86 FR 43406, 
August 9, 2021) (AD 2021-15-51).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Inc. (type certificate 
previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Inc.) Model 204B, 205A, 
205A-1, 205B, 210, and 212 helicopters, certificated in any 
category, with an outboard main rotor hub strap pin (pin) part 
number 204-012-104-005 with a serial number prefix ``FNFS'' 
installed.

(d) Subject

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

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a fatal accident in which a pin sheared 
off during flight, which resulted in the main rotor blade and the 
main rotor head detaching from the helicopter. The FAA is issuing 
this AD to address this unsafe condition and prevent loss of control 
of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters:
    (i) Before further flight from August 24, 2021 (the effective 
date of AD 2021-15-51), remove from service any pin that is 
identified in paragraph (c) of this AD.
    (ii) After August 24, 2021 (the effective date of AD 2021-15-
51), do not install any pin that is identified in paragraph (c) of 
this AD on any helicopter.
    (2) For Model 210 helicopters:
    (i) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD, 
remove from service any pin that is identified in paragraph (c) of 
this AD.
    (ii) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install any pin 
that is identified in paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter.

(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 
DSCO Branch, 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 David Wilson, 
Aerospace Engineer,

[[Page 64835]]

DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5786; 
email [email protected].

    Issued on November 14, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-25205 Filed 11-18-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P