DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0078; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-026-AD;
Amendment 39-18933; AD 2017-13-03]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. This AD
requires adding an identification number to life-limited rod ends that
do not have a serial number (S/N). The actions of this AD are intended
to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective July 27, 2017.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of July 27, 2017.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Bell Helicopter 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 http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. You may
review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321,
Fort Worth, TX 76177. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.
regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0078.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov
by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2017-0078;
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, the Transport Canada 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: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Group, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110; email
matthew.fuller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On February 17, 2017, at 82 FR 10976, the Federal Register
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Model 429
helicopters, S/N 57001 through 57260, with a pylon restraint spring
assembly (spring assembly) forward rod end (rod end) part number (P/N)
427-010-210-105 installed. The NPRM proposed to require cleaning and
marking each rod end with the S/N of the spring assembly. The NPRM also
proposed prohibiting the installation of rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 on
any helicopter unless it has been marked in accordance with the
proposed requirements. The proposed requirements were intended to
prevent a rod end from remaining in service after reaching its life
limit. This condition could result in failure of a rod end and
subsequent loss of control of a helicopter.
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued AD No. CF-2015-15, dated June 25, 2015, to correct an unsafe
condition for Bell Model 429 helicopters, S/Ns 57001 through 57260.
Transport Canada advises that, per its regulations, life-limited parts
must be marked with their P/N and S/N. Transport Canada further states
that the spring assembly rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 has a life limit
of 5,000 hours; however, it is not serialized, causing difficulties in
tracking its accumulated air time. According to Transport Canada, this
condition could result in a rod end remaining in service beyond its
life limit. Therefore, the Transport Canada AD requires adding
identification markings on each spring assembly rod end.

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

These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of
Canada and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to
our bilateral agreement with Canada, Transport Canada, its technical
representative, has notified us of the unsafe condition described in
its AD. We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all information
provided by Transport Canada and determined the unsafe condition exists
and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of the same type
design and that air safety and the public interest require adopting the
AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

Bell Helicopter has issued Alert Service Bulletin 429-15-19, dated
February 26, 2015. This service information specifies procedures for
permanently marking each forward and aft rod end with the S/N of the
spring assembly. This service information applies to certain serial-
numbered helicopters, as subsequent helicopters will have these actions
performed during the manufacturing process.
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.

Other Related Service Information

We also reviewed Bell Model 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1,
Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, Revision 24, approved
June 12, 2015, which specifies airworthiness life limits and inspection
intervals for parts installed on Model 429 helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 70 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in
order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per
work-hour. Marking the rod ends will take about 0.5 work-hour for a
total estimated cost of $43 per helicopter and $3,010 for the U.S.
fleet. Replacing a rod end that has exceeded its life limit will take
about 3 work-hours and required parts will cost about $4,100 for an
estimated replacement cost of $4,355 per rod end.

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):