Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 206A, B, L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 Helicopters

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY:

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) model helicopters. This action requires an initial inspection and, at specified intervals, certain repetitive checks and inspections of the tail rotor blade (blade) for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed tail rotor weight (weight). Also, this action requires, before further flight, replacing each blade with an airworthy blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight is found. This amendment is prompted by three reports of skin cracks originating near the blade trailing edge balance weight. This condition, if not detected, could result in blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES:

Effective December 16, 2004.

Comments for inclusion in the Rules Docket must be received on or before January 31, 2005.

ADDRESSES:

Submit comments in triplicate to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, Attention: Rules Docket No. 2004-SW-12-AD, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. You may also send comments electronically to the Rules Docket at the following address: 9-asw-adcomments@faa.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Sharon Miles, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, Rotorcraft Directorate, Regulations and Guidance Group, Fort Worth, Texas 76193-0111, telephone (817) 222-5122, fax (817) 222-5961.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

This amendment adopts a new AD for the specified BHTC model helicopters. This action requires an initial inspection and certain repetitive checks and inspections of the blade, at specified intervals, for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight. Also, this action requires, before further flight, replacing each blade with an airworthy blade if a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight is found. This amendment is prompted by three reports of skin cracks originating near the blade trailing edge balance weight. In two reports, a loss of the weight and a strip of material along the trailing edge led to an imbalance and fracture of three of the four tail rotor gearbox attachment bolts. In one of these incidents the gearbox shifted resulting in failure of the drive shaft and loss of yaw control. This condition, if not detected, could result in blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

BHTC has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 206-04-100 for Model 206A and B and No. 206L-04-127 for Model 206L series helicopters, both Revision B, both dated May 28, 2004. These service bulletins specify checking and inspecting the blades for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight and a one-time inspection by Rotor Blades Inc. in Louisiana, USA, and if the blades pass the one-time inspection, adding a “V” at the end of the serial number. The service bulletins also specify replacing any blade with a deformation, a crack, or bent or deformed weight.

Transport Canada, the airworthiness authority for Canada, notified the FAA that an unsafe condition may exist on these helicopter models. Transport Canada advises of three reports of skin cracks originating near the blade trailing edge balance weight. Two of the occurrences caused a loss of the weight and a strip of material along the trailing edge leading to an imbalance, which caused the fracture of three of the four tail rotor gearbox attachments. One of these occurrences resulted in the gearbox shifting that caused failure of the drive shaft and resulting loss of yaw control. Transport Canada classified the alert service bulletins as mandatory and issued AD No. CF-2004-05R1, dated June 28, 2004, to ensure the continued airworthiness of these helicopters in Canada.

These helicopter models are manufactured in Canada and are type certificated for operation in the United States under the provisions of 14 CFR 21.29 and the applicable bilateral agreement. Pursuant to the applicable bilateral agreement, Transport Canada has kept the FAA informed of the situation described above. The FAA has examined the findings of Transport Canada, reviewed all available information, and determined that AD action is necessary for products of these type designs that are certificated for operation in the United States.

This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type designs registered in the United States. Therefore, the FAA is issuing this AD to detect a blade with a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight and to prevent blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. This AD requires the following for the specified BHTC helicopters with certain blade part numbers and serial numbers:

• Before further flight, unless accomplished previously, and before installing any blade with an affected part number and serial number, cleaning the blade. Then, using a 10X or higher magnifying glass, inspecting both sides of each blade for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight.
• Thereafter, cleaning both sides of each blade and using a 10X or higher magnifying glass, inspecting for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight as follows:

○ At intervals not to exceed 12 hours time-in-service (TIS), or

○ At intervals not to exceed 24 hours TIS and checking both sides of each blade for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight at intervals not to exceed 3 hours TIS between inspections. An owner/operator (pilot) may perform the 3-hour TIS check for deformed or cracked blades and for bent or deformed weights. Pilots may perform these checks because they require no tools, can be done by observation, and can be done equally well by a pilot or a mechanic. However, the pilot must enter compliance with these requirements into the helicopter maintenance records by following 14 CFR 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v).

• Before further flight, replacing each blade with an airworthy blade if you find a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight.

The short compliance time involved is required because the previously described critical unsafe condition can adversely affect the controllability and structural integrity of the helicopter. Therefore, inspecting the blade, for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight is required before further flight and at short specified time intervals, and this AD must be issued immediately.

Since a situation exists that requires the immediate adoption of this regulation, it is found that notice and opportunity for prior public comment hereon are impracticable, and that good cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

The FAA estimates that this AD will:

• Affect 2194 helicopters.
• Take about 1/4 work hour for a blade check or inspection and 3 work hours to replace one blade at an average labor rate of $65 per work hour.
• Required parts will cost about $5,848 per helicopter. (The service bulletin states that warranty credit will be given based on hour usage on the blade with remaining life hours and other restrictions.) Based on these figures, the total estimated cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators is $21,315,807, assuming 226 checks or inspections and replacing one blade on each helicopter in the fleet.

Comments Invited

Although this action is in the form of a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety and, thus, was not preceded by notice and an opportunity for public comment, comments are invited on this rule. Interested persons are invited to comment on this rule by submitting such written data, views, or arguments as they may desire. Communications should identify the Rules Docket number and be submitted in triplicate to the address specified under the caption ADDRESSES. All communications received on or before the closing date for comments will be considered, and this rule may be amended in light of the comments received. Factual information that supports the commenter's ideas and suggestions is extremely helpful in evaluating the effectiveness of the AD action and determining whether additional rulemaking action would be needed.

Comments are specifically invited on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the rule that might suggest a need to modify the rule. All comments submitted will be available in the Rules Docket for examination by interested persons. A report that summarizes each FAA-public contact concerned with the substance of this AD will be filed in the Rules Docket.

Commenters wishing the FAA to acknowledge receipt of their mailed comments submitted in response to this rule must submit a self-addressed, stamped postcard on which the following statement is made: “Comments to Docket No. 2004-SW-12-AD.” The postcard will be date stamped and returned to the commenter.

The regulations adopted herein will 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. Therefore, it is determined that this final rule does not have federalism implications under Executive Order 13132.

The FAA has determined that this regulation is an emergency regulation that must be issued immediately to correct an unsafe condition in aircraft, and that it is not a “significant regulatory action” under Executive Order 12866. It has been determined further that this action involves an emergency regulation under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). If it is determined that this emergency regulation otherwise would be significant under DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures, a final economic evaluation will be prepared and placed in the Rules Docket. A copy of it, if filed, may be obtained from the Rules Docket at the location provided under the caption ADDRESSES.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

• Air transportation
• Aircraft
• Aviation safety
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration amends part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.

2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to read as follows:

2004-24-08 Bell Helicopter Textron Canada: Amendment 39-13884. Docket No. 2004-SW-12-AD.

Applicability: Model 206A, B, L, L-1, L-3, and L-4 helicopters, with a tail rotor blade (blade) with the following part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) installed, certificated in any category.

Compliance: Required as indicated.

To prevent blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter, do the following:

(a) Before further flight, unless accomplished previously, and before installing any blade with a P/N and S/N listed in the applicability section of this AD, clean the blade. Using a 10X or higher magnifying glass, inspect both sides of each blade for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight in the area shown in Figure 1 of this AD.

Note 1:

Paint irregularities on the blade may indicate a crack.

(b) After doing paragraph (a) of this AD, at the following intervals, clean both sides of each blade and do either paragraph (1) or (2) as follows:

(1) At intervals not to exceed 12 hours time-in-service (TIS), using a 10X or higher magnifying glass, inspect both sides of each blade for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight in the area shown in Figure 1 of this AD, or

(2) Inspect and check both sides of each blade for a deformation, a crack, and a bent or deformed weight in the area shown in Figure 1 of this AD as follows:

(i) Using a 10X or higher magnifying glass, inspect at intervals not to exceed 24 hours TIS, and

(ii) Check at intervals not to exceed 3 hours TIS between the inspections required by paragraph (b)(2)(i) of this AD. An owner/operator (pilot), holding at least a private pilot certificate, may perform this visual check and must enter compliance with this paragraph into the helicopter maintenance records by following 14 CFR sections 43.11 and 91.417(a)(2)(v).

(c) Before further flight, replace any blade that has a deformation, a crack, or a bent or deformed weight with an airworthy blade.

Note 2:

Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No. 206-04-100 for Model 206A and B and No. 206L-04-127 for Model 206L series, both Revision B, both dated May 28, 2004, pertain to the subject of this AD.

(d) To request a different method of compliance or a different compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. Contact the Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, for information about previously approved alternative methods of compliance.

(e) This amendment becomes effective on December 16, 2004.

Note 3:

The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada (Canada) AD No. CF-2004-05R1, dated June 28, 2004.