Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited (Type Certificate Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) Helicopters

Published date08 April 2021
Record Number2021-07184
SectionProposed rules
CourtFederal Aviation Administration,Transportation Department
Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 66 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)
[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 66 (Thursday, April 8, 2021)]
                [Proposed Rules]
                [Pages 18218-18221]
                From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
                [FR Doc No: 2021-07184]
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                DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
                Federal Aviation Administration
                14 CFR Part 39
                [Docket No. FAA-2021-0267; Project Identifier 2017-SW-110-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 Bell Textron Canada Limited (type certificate previously held by
                Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) (Bell) Model 429 helicopters.
                This proposed AD was prompted by the identification of certain parts
                needing life limits and certification maintenance requirement (CMR)
                tasks. This proposed AD would require establishing life limits and CMR
                tasks for various parts. Depending on the results of the CMR tasks,
                this proposed AD would require corrective action. 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 May 24,
                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 proposed rule, contact
                Bell Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec
                J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450) 433-0272;
                or at https://www.bellcustomer.com. You may review 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-2021-0267; 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: Matt Fuller, AD Program Manager,
                General Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, Airworthiness Products Section,
                Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX
                76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email [email protected].
                SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
                Comments Invited
                 The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or
                [[Page 18219]]
                arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
                under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0267; Project Identifier
                2017-SW-110-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 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 Matt
                Fuller, AD Program Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit,
                Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101
                Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; 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, which is the aviation authority of Canada, has
                issued Canadian AD CF-2017-16, dated May 17, 2017, to correct an unsafe
                condition for Bell Model 429 helicopters, serial numbers 57001 and
                subsequent. Transport Canada advises that Bell has established life
                limits and CMR tasks for various parts and accordingly revised Chapter
                4--Airworthiness Limitations Schedule of Bell Helicopter 429
                Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1 to Revision 26, dated September 9, 2016
                (BHT-429-MM-1). Transport Canada states that failure to replace life-
                limited parts or perform CMR tasks as specified could result in an
                unsafe condition.
                 Accordingly, the Transport Canada AD requires updating the
                maintenance schedule for the parts affected with the airworthiness life
                limits and CMR tasks in Revision 26 of BHT-429-MM-1.
                FAA's Determination
                 These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
                Canada and are 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
                 The FAA reviewed Chapter 4--Airworthiness Limitations Schedule of
                BHT-429-MM-1. This service information specifies airworthiness life
                limits, inspection intervals, and CMR requirements for parts installed
                on Model 429 helicopters. Revision 26 of this service information
                establishes life limits for a certain part-numbered tail rotor flapping
                outboard bearing and hoist kit cartridge cable cutter and CMR
                requirements for a certain part-numbered wheeled landing gear system,
                float/life raft kit, and hoist kit.
                 Additionally, the FAA reviewed Chapter 96-47--600-Pound External
                Hoist Electrical System--Operational Check, of Bell 429 Maintenance
                Manual Supplement For 600-Pound External Hoist Kit, BHT-429-MMS-4,
                Revision 1, dated March 14, 2014. This service information specifies
                inspection procedures and corrective action for various components of
                the hoist system.
                 Lastly, the FAA reviewed Testing and Fault Isolation, pages 101-
                117/118, Cleaning, pages 401-405/406, and Scheduled Maintenance, pages
                609-611/612, of Goodrich Rescue Hoist System Component Maintenance
                Manual 25-00-38-1, dated July 15, 2009, for rescue hoist assembly part
                number 44316-12-102. This service information specifies maintenance
                procedures and lists replacement parts for this part-numbered Goodrich
                rescue hoist assembly.
                Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM
                 This proposed AD would require establishing a life limit for
                certain part-numbered tail rotor outboard flapping bearings and a
                certain part-numbered hoist kit cable cutter cartridge. This proposed
                AD would also require establishing recurring CMR tasks for a certain
                part-numbered wheeled landing gear system, float/life raft kit, and
                hoist kit. Depending on the results of the CMR tasks, this proposed AD
                would also require corrective action.
                Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Transport Canada AD
                 This proposed AD would require corrective action for failed CMR
                tasks, whereas the Transport Canada AD does not. The Transport Canada
                AD requires accomplishing an operational check of the hoist cable anti-
                foul assembly daily after the last flight, whereas this proposed AD
                would require this action before the first flight of the day involving
                a hoist operation instead.
                Costs of Compliance
                 The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would
                affect 110 helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor costs are estimated at
                $85 per work-hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA estimates the
                following costs in order to comply with this proposed AD.
                 Replacing a tail rotor outboard flapping bearing would take about 4
                work-hours and parts would cost about $7,500 for an estimated cost of
                $7,840 per helicopter and $862,400 for the U.S. fleet, per replacement
                cycle. Replacing a hoist kit cable cutter cartridge would take about 3
                work-hours and parts would cost about $5,200 for an estimated cost of
                $5,455 per helicopter and $600,050 for the U.S. fleet, per replacement
                cycle.
                 Performing a functional check of the wheeled landing gear system
                would take about 4 work-hours for an estimated cost of $340 per
                helicopter and $37,400 for the U.S. fleet, per cycle. Performing a
                functional check of the float/life raft kit would take about 2 work-
                hours for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and $18,700 for the
                U.S. fleet, per cycle.
                 Performing an operational check of the hoist kit cable anti-foul
                assembly would take about 2 work-hours for an estimated cost of $170
                per helicopter and $18,700 for the U.S. fleet, per cycle. Cleaning,
                visually inspecting, and lubricating the rescue hoist cable would take
                about 2 work-hours for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and
                $18,700 for the U.S. fleet, per cycle. Performing an operational check
                of the
                [[Page 18220]]
                hoist kit speed limit switches and the electrical system would take
                about 0.5 work-hour for an estimated cost of $43 per helicopter and
                $4,730 for the U.S. fleet, per cycle. Performing a functional check of
                the cable cutter cartridge electrical system would take about 3 work-
                hours for an estimated cost of $255 per helicopter and $28,050 for the
                U.S. fleet, per cycle.
                 The FAA has no way of determining the estimated costs to do
                allowable repairs based on the results of the CMR tasks. If required,
                replacing the float/life raft would take about 2 work-hours and parts
                would cost about $5,000 for an estimated cost of $5,170. Replacing the
                anti-foul assembly would take about 3 work-hours and parts would cost
                about $1,500 for an estimated cost of $1,755. Replacing a rescue hoist
                cable would take about 3 work-hours and parts would cost about $3,150
                for an estimated cost of $3,405. Overhauling a rescue hoist assembly
                would cost about $83,000 and it would take about 8 work-hours to remove
                and reinstall the hoist for a labor cost of $680, for a total estimated
                cost of $83,680 per helicopter, per overhaul cycle. Alternatively,
                replacing a hoist would take about 8 work-hours and parts would cost
                about $200,000 for an estimated cost of $200,680 per helicopter, per
                replacement cycle.
                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) 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-2021-0267;
                Project Identifier 2017-SW-110-AD.
                (a) Comments Due Date
                 The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive
                (AD) by May 24, 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: 3200, Landing Gear
                Systems, and 2560, Emergency Equipment.
                (e) Unsafe Condition
                 This AD was prompted by parts remaining in service beyond their
                fatigue life or beyond maintenance intervals required by the
                certification maintenance requirements (CMRs) of the Instructions
                for Continued Airworthiness. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent
                failure of a part, which could result in loss of control of the
                helicopter.
                (f) Compliance
                 Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
                unless already done.
                (g) Required Actions
                 (1) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD,
                remove from service any part that has reached or exceeded its life
                limit as follows. Thereafter, remove from service each part on or
                before reaching its life limit as follows:
                 (i) Tail rotor outboard flapping bearing part number (P/N) 429-
                312-103-117 and 429-312-103-119: 15,000 total hours time-in-service
                (TIS).
                 (ii) Hoist kit cable cutter cartridge P/N 42315-281: 5 years
                since date of manufacture.
                 (2) Before further flight after the effective date of this AD,
                perform the following CMR tasks for any part that has reached or
                exceeded its CMR interval as follows. Thereafter, perform the
                following CMR tasks for each part on or before reaching its CMR
                interval as follows:
                 Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2): Chapter 4--Airworthiness
                Limitations Schedule of Bell Helicopter 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-
                429-MM-1 to Revision 26, dated September 9, 2016, contains
                additional information about the CMR tasks.
                 (i) Wheeled Landing Gear System P/N 429-705-001-101: 800 hours
                TIS or 1 year, whichever occurs first, perform a functional check of
                the Emergency Gear Release. If the functional check fails, before
                further flight, repair in accordance with FAA-approved procedures.
                 (ii) Float/Life Raft Kit P/N 429-706-069-101: 1,600 hours TIS,
                perform a functional check of the float/life raft kit electrical
                system to determine if there are any dormant failures including:
                Manual inflation switch, water immersion switch, auto-activation
                relay, manual activation relay, raft activation relay, test
                activation relay, and the fuse disc elements. If there is a failure,
                before next flight over water, replace the float/life raft.
                 (iii) Hoist Kit P/N 429-706-001-101:
                 (A) Before the first flight of the day involving a hoist
                operation, perform an operational check of the hoist cable anti-foul
                assembly. If the operational check fails, before next flight
                involving a hoist operation, repair or replace the anti-foul
                assembly.
                 (B) 3 hoist operating hours, clean, visually inspect the rescue
                hoist cable for damage, which may be indicated by a broken wire,
                kink, bird caging, flattened area, abrasion, or necking. If there is
                any damage, before further flight, replace the rescue hoist cable.
                If there is no damage, before further flight, lubricate the rescue
                hoist cable. For purposes of this AD, hoist operating hours are
                counted anytime the hoist motor is operating.
                 Note 2 to paragraph (g)(2)(iii)(B): Bell Helicopter service
                information refers to hoist operating hours as hoisting hours.
                 (C) 800 hours TIS or 1 year, whichever occurs first, perform an
                operational check of the speed limit switches and perform an
                operational check of the 600-pound external hoist electrical system
                to inspect operation of the HOIST HOT caution light. If an
                [[Page 18221]]
                operational check fails, before next flight involving a hoist
                operation, repair in accordance with FAA-approved procedures or
                replace the hoist.
                 (D) 2,200 hours TIS or 111 hoist operating hours, whichever
                occurs first, perform a functional check of the cable cutter
                cartridge electrical system to inspect for correct functioning of
                the cable cutter switches (hoist pendant, pilot cyclic, and copilot
                cyclic) and associated wiring. If a functional check fails, before
                next flight involving a hoist operation, repair in accordance with
                FAA-approved procedures or replace the hoist.
                 (E) 111 hoist operating hours, overhaul or replace the hoist.
                (h) 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 (i)(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.
                (i) Related Information
                 (1) For more information about this AD, contact Matt Fuller, AD
                Program Manager, General Aviation & Rotorcraft Unit, Airworthiness
                Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood
                Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
                [email protected].
                 (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell
                Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec
                J7J1R4; telephone (450) 437-2862 or (800) 363-8023; fax (450) 433-
                0272; or at https://www.bellcustomer.com. You may review 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-2017-16, dated May 17, 2017. You may view the Transport Canada AD
                on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov in the AD Docket.
                 Issued on April 2, 2021.
                Lance T. Gant,
                Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
                Service.
                [FR Doc. 2021-07184 Filed 4-7-21; 8:45 am]
                BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
                

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