DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0865; Project Identifier 2010-SW-061-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

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

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)
that applied to certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (now
Bell Textron Canada Limited) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3,
and 206L-4 helicopters. This action revises the NPRM by revising the
format, rearranging certain paragraphs, converting a certain table to
paragraph format, and removing certain language. The FAA is proposing
this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on
these products. Since the NPRM was issued, a significant amount of time
has elapsed requiring the FAA to reopen the comment period to allow the
public a chance to comment on the proposed actions.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this SNPRM by June 21, 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 SNPRM, contact Bell
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel,
Quebec J7J1R4; phone: 450-437-2862 or 800-363-8023; fax: (450) 433-
0272; internet: https://www.bellcustomer.com. 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-2010-0865; or in person at
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains the NPRM, this SNPRM,
any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket
Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue
SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kathleen Arrigotti, Program Manager,
Large Aircraft Section, International Validation Branch, Compliance &
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA
98198; phone and fax: (206) 231-3218; email:
kathleen.arrigotti@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-2010-0865; Project Identifier
2010-SW-061-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 again
revise 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 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 SNPRM 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 SNPRM, 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 SNPRM. Submissions containing CBI should
be sent to Kathleen Arrigotti, Program Manager, Large Aircraft Section,
International Validation Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division,
FAA, 2200 South 216th St., Des Moines, WA 98198; phone and fax: (206)
231-3218; email: kathleen.arrigotti@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 issued an NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that
would apply to certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (now Bell
Textron Canada Limited) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and
206L-4 helicopters. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on
August 30, 2010 (75 FR 52914). In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require
determining if an affected part is installed (by doing a maintenance
records check or inspection), and if an affected part is found, replace-
ment with a non-affected part. The NPRM was prompted by a report that a
certain disc assembly, sold as an alternate part, does not conform to the
approved configuration.

Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA), which is the aviation
authority for Canada, issued Canadian AD CF-2010-07, dated February 24,
2010 (Canadian AD CF-2010-07), to correct an unsafe condition for
certain Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (now Bell Textron Canada
Limited) Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4
helicopters. TCCA advises that a certain tail rotor disc assembly, sold
through Bell Helicopter Spares beginning March 2009, as an alternate,
does not conform to the approved configuration. TCCA stated operating a
helicopter with the affected tail rotor disc assembly could result in
loss of control of the helicopter.

Accordingly, the Canadian AD requires determining if an affected
part is installed, and if an affected part is found, replacement with a
non-affected part.

Actions Since the NPRM Was Issued

Since the NPRM was issued, the AD format has been revised, and
certain paragraphs have been rearranged. As a result, the corresponding
paragraph identifiers have changed in this proposed AD (in the SNPRM),
as listed in the following table:

The FAA also has removed the table following paragraph (c) of the
proposed AD (in the NPRM), which identified the model and serial
numbers; instead, the model and serial numbers are included in
paragraphs (c)(1) through (6) of this proposed AD (in the SNPRM).

In addition, the text "no further action is required" is removed
from paragraph (g)(3) of this proposed AD (in the SNPRM) as the parts
installation prohibition specified in paragraph (h) of this proposed AD
(in the SNPRM) also applies to helicopters accomplishing the action in
paragraph (g)(3) of this proposed AD (in the SNPRM).

These changes do not affect the intent of the actions in the
proposed AD (in the NPRM). However, since a significant amount of time
has elapsed since the NPRM, the FAA is reopening the comment period to
allow the public a chance to comment on the proposed actions.

Comments

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of
the cost.

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, TCCA, its technical
representative, has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described
in its AD. The FAA is proposing this AD after determining the unsafe
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in other
helicopters of the same type design. Certain changes described above
expand the scope of the NPRM. As a result, it is necessary to reopen
the comment period to provide additional opportunity for the public to
comment on this SNPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed the following service information. This service
information specifies procedures to determine if an affected part is
installed, and if an affected part is found, replacement with a non-
affected part. These documents are distinct since they apply to
different helicopter models.

Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 206-09-123,
Revision A, dated June 10, 2009.

Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 206L-09-157,
Revision A, dated June 10, 2009.

This service information is reasonably available because the
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of
business or by the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Proposed AD Requirements in This SNPRM

This proposed AD would require accomplishing the actions specified
in the service information already described.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 1,493 helicopters
of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs for Required Actions

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

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]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive: