AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell
Helicopter Textron Canada (Bell) Model 206, 206A, 206A-1, 206B, 206B-1,
206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters, with Aviation Specialties
Unlimited, Inc. (ASU), Night Vision Imaging System (NVIS) lighting
modified by Supplemental Type Certificate SR01383SE (STC). This AD
requires determining the date of STC installation, determining if the
aircraft has an unfiltered turbine outlet temperature (TOT) internal
over-temperature warning light, and based on those findings, installing
an NVIS filter. This AD was prompted by the finding that an unfiltered
TOT indicator over-temperature warning light, when illuminated, created
glare and reflections that could degrade the pilot's view while using
night vision goggles thereby creating an unsafe condition. The actions
of this AD are intended to modify any unfiltered TOT indicator unit
over-temperature warning light by installing a filter to prevent
degradation of the pilot's vision while using night vision goggles and
to prevent subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective July 24, 2012.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Aviation Specialties Unlimited, Inc., 4632 Aeronca Street, Boise, Idaho
83705; telephone (208) 426-8117; fax (208) 426-8975; or http://www.asu-
nvg.com/. You may review 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: Kathleen Arrigotti, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Seattle Aircraft Certification Office, Transport Airplane
Directorate, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057; telephone
(425) 917-6426; email kathleen.arrigotti@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On February 3, 2012, at 77 FR 5423, 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 Bell Model 206, 206A,
206A-1, 206B, 206B-1, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters,
modified with ASU NVIS lighting installed per STC SR01383SE. That NPRM
proposed to require, within 30 days or 50 hours time-in-service,
whichever occurs first, determining the date of the STC installation.
If the date is on or before April 6, 2011, or is undocumented, the NPRM
proposed to require determining if the TOT indicator unit has an
internal over-temperature warning light. If the unit has an unfiltered
internal over-temperature warning light, the NPRM proposed to require
installing an NVIS filter, part number (P/N) ASU-TOTGAG-1. The proposed
requirements were intended to modify any unfiltered TOT indicator unit
over-temperature warning light by installing a filter to prevent
degradation of the pilot's vision while using night vision goggles and
to prevent 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
helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the
public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed except
for an editorial change. We have revised the ``Differences Between This
Proposed AD and the Service Information'' section to include a
statement about this AD applying to Model 206A-1 helicopters, whereas
the service information does not. This change is consistent with the
intent of the proposal and will not increase the economic burden on any
operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Related Service Information

We reviewed ASU Alert Service Bulletin No. ASU 206-2010-11-1, dated
November 4, 2010 (ASB) for the Bell Helicopter Textron 206 series
helicopters. The ASB states to visually inspect each helicopter to
determine if the TOT indicator/gauge has an internal over-temperature
warning light installed. If the over-temperature warning light is
internal, the ASB specifies notifying ASU. ASU states it will
immediately ship an NVIS filter, P/N ASU-TOTGAG-1.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

This AD does not apply to helicopters modified by the STC after
April 6, 2011, because a new design was approved for the STC on April
6, 2011, and contained instructions to install the NVIS over-
temperature indicator light filter. This AD applies to Model 206A-1
helicopters, whereas the service information does not. This AD does not
require you to notify ASU.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 34 helicopters of U.S.
Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD: Determining the date, inspecting for an
unfiltered, over-temperature TOT indicator light in the cockpit, and
installing a filter will take about 1.8 work-hours at $85 per work-
hour. A filter will cost about $300. The total cost will be $15,402
assuming the filter will be installed on the entire 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.
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 helicopters 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):