Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Inc., Helicopters, 48078-48080 [2021-18383]
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 164 / Friday, August 27, 2021 / Proposed Rules
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)
Code 2841, Fuel Quantity Indicator.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of fuel
quantity disparities between the amount of
fuel indicated and the actual amount of fuel.
The FAA is issuing this AD to ensure that the
amount of fuel indicated is the amount of
fuel available. The unsafe condition, if not
addressed, could result in fuel starvation and
engine shutdown with consequent loss of
airplane control.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance
(AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Wichita ACO 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 Related Information.
(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.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD,
contact Kevin Marks, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, 1801
Airport Road, Wichita, KS 67209; phone:
(316) 946–4153; fax: (316) 946–4107; email:
kevin.marks@faa.gov or Wichita-COS@
faa.gov.
(2) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Garmin International,
Garmin Aviation Support, 1200 E 151st
Street, Olathe, KS 66062; phone: (866) 739–
5687; email: avionics@garmin.com; website:
https://fly.garmin.com/fly-garmin/support/.
You may view this referenced service
information at the FAA, Airworthiness
Products Section, Operational Safety Branch,
901 Locust, Kansas City, MO 64106. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (816) 329–4148.
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
VerDate Sep<11>2014
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Jkt 253001
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron
Inc., Helicopters
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
(g) Action
Within 100 hours time-in-service after the
effective date of this AD or within 12 months
after the effective date of this AD, whichever
occurs first, modify the fuel probe interface
by following the Modification Instructions in
Garmin Mandatory STC Service Bulletin No.
2134, Revision A, or Garmin Mandatory STC
Service Bulletin No. 2135, Revision A, both
dated April 23, 2021, whichever is
applicable.
[FR Doc. 2021–18385 Filed 8–26–21; 8:45 am]
[Docket No. FAA–2021–0713; Project
Identifier AD–2021–00180–R]
AGENCY:
(f) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the
compliance times specified, unless already
done.
Issued on August 20, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
14 CFR Part 39
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.
SUMMARY:
The FAA must receive comments
on this proposed AD by October 12,
2021.
DATES:
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
productsupport@bellflight.com; 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.
ADDRESSES:
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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
haytham.alaidy@faa.gov.
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
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 164 / Friday, August 27, 2021 / Proposed Rules
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 haytham.alaidy@
faa.gov. 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.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
Proposed AD Requirements in This
NPRM
16:25 Aug 26, 2021
Jkt 253001
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
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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
Differences Between This Proposed AD
and the Service Information
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:
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48079
(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
1. The authority citation for part 39
continues to read as follows:
■
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
§ 39.13
[Amended]
2. The FAA amends § 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
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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 164 / Friday, August 27, 2021 / Proposed Rules
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.
lotter on DSK11XQN23PROD with PROPOSALS1
(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: 9-ASW-190COS@faa.gov.
(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.
VerDate Sep<11>2014
16:25 Aug 26, 2021
Jkt 253001
(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
haytham.alaidy@faa.gov.
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
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA–2021–0661; Project
Identifier AD–2020–01349–E]
RIN 2120–AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt &
Whitney Turbofan Engines
Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking
(NPRM).
AGENCY:
The FAA proposes to
supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2011–07–02, which applies to all Pratt
& Whitney (P&W) JT8D–209, JT8D–217,
JT8D–217A, JT8D–217C, and JT8D–219
model turbofan engines. AD 2011–07–
02 requires initial and repetitive torque
inspections of the 3rd-stage and 4thstage low-pressure turbine (LPT) blades.
AD 2011–07–02 also requires
replacement of the LPT blade if wear
limits are exceeded, replacement of the
LPT-to-exhaust case bolts and nuts, and
installation of crushable sleeve spacers
on the bolts. Since the FAA issued AD
2011–07–02, the FAA received a report
of an MD–82 airplane, equipped with a
JT8D–217 engine, experiencing an
engine surge that resulted in the fracture
of an LPT blade. This proposed AD
would retain certain requirements of AD
2011–07–02, while revising the
inspection thresholds and replacement
intervals for the 3rd-stage and 4th-stage
LPT blades. 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:
SUMMARY:
PO 00000
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Fmt 4702
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• 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 Pratt & Whitney,
400 Main Street, East Hartford, CT
06118; phone: (800) 565–0140; email:
help24@prattwhitney.com; website:
https://fleetcare.prattwhitney.com. You
may view this service information at the
FAA, Airworthiness Products Section,
Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For
information on the availability of this
material at the FAA, call (781) 238–
7759.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket at
https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA–2021–0661; 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:
Nicholas Paine, Aviation Safety
Engineer, ECO Branch, FAA, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803;
phone: (781) 238–7116; fax: (781) 238–
7199; email: nicholas.j.paine@faa.gov.
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–2021–0661; Project Identifier AD–
2020–01349–E’’ 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://
E:\FR\FM\27AUP1.SGM
27AUP1
]]>Agencies
[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
