Tdata AD

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2012-11-13	AERONAUTICAL ACCESSORIES, INC.: Amendment 39-17077; Docket No. FAA-2012-0083; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-022-AD.

(a) APPLICABILITY

    This  AD applies  to High  Landing Gear  Aft  Crosstube  Assembly (aft
    crosstube)  part  number   (P/N)  412-321-104  and   P/N  412-321-304,
    installed on Agusta S.p.A. Model AB412 and AB412EP and Bell Helicopter
    Textron, Inc., Model 412,  412CF, and 412EP helicopters,  certificated
    in any category.

(b) UNSAFE CONDITION

    This AD defines  the unsafe condition  as cracked aft  crosstube. This
    condition could result in collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent
    loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE

    This AD becomes effective July 30, 2012.

(d) COMPLIANCE

    You are  responsible for  performing each  action required  by this AD
    within  the  specified  compliance time  unless  it  has already  been
    accomplished prior to that time.

(e) REQUIRED ACTIONS

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) establish a life limit of 20,000
    takeoffs and landings for each aft crosstube P/N 412-321-304. For  the
    purposes of this  AD, a takeoff  and landing is  defined as the  cycle
    from when the helicopter gets  light on the skids (takeoff)  unloading
    the  aft  crosstube and  then  settles on  the  skids again  (landing)
    reloading  the  aft  crosstubes.  Either  the  number  of  landings or
    takeoffs may be counted.

(i) Create a component history card or equivalent record.

(ii) Determine  and  record  on  the history card or equivalent record the
     total number of takeoffs and landings for each aft crosstube. If  the
     takeoff and landing information  is unavailable, estimate the  number
     by multiplying the airframe hours by 10.

(2) Within  the  next  450  takeoffs and landings, if an aft crosstube has
    reached  20,000  or  more takeoffs  and landings,  replace it  with an
    airworthy aft crosstube.

(3) Before  reaching  2,500  takeoffs and landings or for an aft crosstube
    with  2,500 or  more takeoffs  and landings,  within 50  hours TIS  or
    within the  next 250  takeoffs and  landings, whichever  occurs first,
    prepare the aft crosstube inspection areas as depicted in Figure 1  of
    Aeronautical Accessories,  Inc. (AAI),  Alert Service  Bulletin No. AA
    -07109, dated  April 3,  2008 (ASB),  by following  the Accomplishment
    Instructions, Part B, paragraphs 1 through 4, of the ASB. Using a  10X
    or higher  magnifying glass,  inspect the  prepared areas  of each aft
    crosstube for  a crack.  If there  is a  crack, before further flight,
    replace the cracked aft crosstube with an airworthy aft crosstube.  If
    there are no  cracks, after completing  the aft crosstube  inspection,
    prime and paint  the inspection area  by following the  Accomplishment
    Instructions, Part B, paragraphs 6 and 7, of the ASB.

(4) Thereafter,  at  intervals  not  to  exceed 450 takeoffs and landings,
    clean the  inspection area.  Using a  10X or  higher magnifying glass,
    inspect the clear-coated area of the aft crosstube for a crack.

(5) If there is a crack, before further flight,  replace  the  cracked aft
    crosstube with an airworthy aft crosstube.

(6) Within  30  days  or  before  reaching  2,500  takeoffs  and landings,
    whichever  occurs later,  and thereafter  at intervals  not to  exceed
    2,500  takeoffs and  landings or  12 months,  whichever occurs  first,
    determine the  horizontal deflection  of each  aft crosstube  from the
    centerline of the helicopter (BL 0.0) to the outside of the skid tubes
    by following  the Accomplishment  Instructions, Part  D, paragraphs  1
    through  3,  of the  ASB.  If the  measured  aft crosstube  horizontal
    deflection depicted  in Figure  2 of  the ASB  is less  than 57 inches
    (1,448  mm) or  greater than  59 inches  (1,499 mm),  replace the  aft
    crosstube with an airworthy aft crosstube.

(7) Within 3 months or  on or before reaching 7,500 takeoffs and landings,
    whichever  occurs later,  and thereafter  at intervals  not to  exceed
    5,000 takeoffs and landings:

(i) Remove  the  aft  crosstube  assembly  by  removing  the aft crosstube
    support beam assembly, P/N  604-030-001, and both aft  crosstube clamp
    assemblies, P/N 604-027-002.

(ii) Remove paint and sealant from the aft crosstube outboard of the upper
     center support to top of saddles, both sides, as depicted in Figure 3
     of the ASB.

(iii) Fluorescent  penetrant  inspect  each  aft crosstube outboard of the
      upper center support as depicted in Figure 3 of the ASB for a crack.

(iv) If there is a crack,  before further flight,  replace the cracked aft
     crosstube with an airworthy aft crosstube.

(8) Revise  the   helicopter  Airworthiness  Limitations  section  of  the
    applicable  maintenance  manuals  or  the  Instructions  for Continued
    Airworthiness (ICA) by  establishing a new  retirement life of  20,000
    takeoff and landings for aft  crosstube P/N 412-321-304 by making  pen
    and ink changes or  inserting a copy of  this AD into the  maintenance
    manual or the ICAs.

(f) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE (AMOCS)

(1) The Manager, Rotorcraft Certification Office,  FAA,  may approve AMOCs
    for this AD. Send your  proposal to: Martin R. Crane,  Aviation Safety
    Engineer,  Rotorcraft  Directorate,  Rotorcraft  Certification Office,
    2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5170,
    email martin.r.crane@faa.gov.

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate
    or under 14 CFR part 119,  subpart K, we suggest that you  notify your
    principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager  of
    the  local flight  standards district  office  or  certificate holding
    district office before operating  any aircraft complying with  this AD
    through an AMOC.

(g) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

    The FAA-accepted AAI  Instructions for Continued  Airworthiness Report
    Number  AA-01136,  and  the  Bell  Helicopter  Textron  Alert  Service
    Bulletin  No.  412-08-129,   dated  May  12,   2008,  which  are   not
    incorporated  by  reference,  contain  additional  information   about
    inspecting  the  aft  crosstube  for  a  crack.  For  the  AAI service
    information, contact  Aeronautical Accessories,  Inc., P.O.  Box 3689,
    Bristol, Tennessee 37625-3689,  telephone (423) 538-5151  or 1-800-251
    -7094, fax (423) 538-8469,  or at http://www.aero-access.com. For  the
    Bell Helicopter Textron  service information, contact  Bell Helicopter
    Textron, Inc.,  P.O. Box  482, Fort  Worth, TX  76101, telephone (817)
    280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466, or at http://www.bellcustomer.com/files.

(h) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 32: Landing Gear.

(i) MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(1) The  Director  of  the  Federal Register approved the incorporation by
    reference (IBR) of  the following service  information under 5  U.S.C.
    552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You  must  use  the  following  service  information to do the actions
    required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(3) The  following  service  information  was approved for IBR on July 10,
    2012.

(i) Aeronautical Accessories, Inc.,  Alert Service Bulletin  No. AA-07109,
    dated April 3, 2008.

(4) For this service information,  contact Aeronautical Accessories, Inc.,
    P.O. Box 3689, Bristol, Tennessee 37625-3689, telephone (423) 538-5151
    or  1-800-251-7094,   fax  (423)   538-8469,  or   at  http://www.aero
    -access.com.

(5) You  may  review  a copy of this referenced service information at the
    FAA, Office of  the Regional Counsel,  Southwest Region, 2601  Meacham
    Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,  Texas 76137 or at the  National Archives
    and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability
    of  this   material  at   NARA,  call   (202)  741-6030,   or  go  to:
    http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/i
    br_locations.html.

Issued  in Fort  Worth, Texas,  on  May  25, 2012.  Lance T.  Gant, Acting
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.

FOR  FURTHER  INFORMATION  CONTACT:  Martin  R.  Crane,  Aviation   Safety
Engineer, Rotorcraft  Directorate, Rotorcraft  Certification Office,  2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort  Worth, Texas 76137,  telephone (817) 222-5170,  email
martin.r.crane@faa.gov.

PREAMBLE

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the
Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI), High Landing Gear Aft Crosstube
Assembly (aft crosstube) installed on certain Bell Helicopter Textron,
Inc. (Bell) and Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) model helicopters as an approved
Bell part installed during production or based on a Supplemental Type
Certificate (STC). This AD requires certain recurring visual,
dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant inspections of each aft
crosstube, and replacing any cracked crosstube. This AD also requires
establishing a life limit and creating a component history card or
equivalent record for one of the affected part-numbered aft crosstubes.
This AD was prompted by three reports of failed crosstubes because of
cracks. The actions are intended to prevent failure of a crosstube,
collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective July 30, 2012.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 30,
2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Aeronautical Accessories, Inc., P.O. Box 3689, Bristol, Tennessee
37625-3689, telephone (423) 538-5151 or 1-800-251-7094, fax (423) 538-
8469 or at http://www.aero-access.com. You may also get service
information from Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, Fort
Worth, TX 76101, telephone (817) 280-3391, fax (817) 280-6466, or at
http://www.bellcustomer.com/files. You may review a copy of the
referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional
Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth,
Texas 76137.
Examining the AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket on the
Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket
Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, any
incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department
of Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Martin R. Crane, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Rotorcraft Directorate, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 2601
Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, Texas 76137, telephone (817) 222-5170, email
martin.r.crane@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On Feb. 3, 2012, at 77 FR 5420, the Federal Register published our
Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to include an AD that would apply to aft crosstube part number
(P/N) 412-321-104 and P/N 412-321-304, installed on Agusta Model AB412
and AB412EP and Bell Model 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. The NPRM
proposed to require certain recurring visual, dimensional, and
fluorescent penetrant inspections of each aft crosstube. If there is a
crack, the NPRM proposed to require, before further flight, replacing
any cracked aft crosstube with an airworthy aft crosstube. The NPRM
also proposed to require establishing a life limit for one of the
affected part-numbered aft crosstubes (as the later part-numbered aft
crosstube already has limits established) and creating a component
history card or equivalent record for aft crosstube part number (P/N)
412-321-304. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent failure
of a crosstube, collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent loss of
control of the helicopter.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

FAA's Determination

We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other
products of the same type design and that air safety and the public
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed except for
minor editorial changes. These minor editorial changes are consistent
with the intent of the proposals in the NPRM and will not increase the
economic burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Related Service Information

We have reviewed AAI Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. AA-07109,
dated April 3, 2008, which specifies recurring inspections and
maintenance of each aft crosstube, P/N 412-321-104, installed as an
approved part by Bell during production, and P/N 412-321-304, installed
under STC SR01052AT, on Bell Model 412, 412EP, and 412CF and Agusta
Model AB412 and AB412EP helicopters. This ASB specifies establishing a
high aft crosstube, P/N 412-321-304, ``takeoff/landing'' life limit of
20,000. Also, this ASB specifies that operators should follow
helicopter towing instructions to prevent crosstube damage or failure
as a result of ground handling or towing.
We have also reviewed Bell ASB No. 412-08-129, dated May 12, 2008,
for Bell Model 412 and 412EP helicopters, serial numbers 33001 through
33213, 36001 and subsequent, with an aft crosstube P/N 412-321-104
installed. Bell issued its ASB ``to achieve complete distribution of
AA-07109 vendor bulletin to the current affected model distribution
list.''

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 115 helicopters of U.S.
Registry.
We also estimate that the required actions will take about:
1 hour to create a component history card or equivalent
record and determine and record the number of accumulated takeoffs and
landings for each affected aft crosstube;
3 hours to prepare the area for a visual inspection;
\1/2\ hour to do the repetitive visual inspections,
assuming 14 repetitive visual inspections per year;
1 hour to do a dimensional inspection of the skid gear,
assuming 3 inspections per year;
24 hours to prepare and fluorescent penetrant inspect the
aft crosstube, assuming 2 inspections per year; and
10 hours to replace an aft crosstube, if necessary,
assuming 3 aft crosstubes are replaced.

The average labor rate is $85 per work hour. Required parts will
cost about $9,315 per aft crosstube. Based on these figures, we
estimate the total cost impact of this AD on U.S. operators to be
$636,545.

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.
We are 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 AD will not have federalism implications under Executive Order
13132. This AD 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.
For the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD:
(1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive
Order 12866;
(2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
(4) Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply
with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA amends 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 (AD):