DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0254; Product Identifier 2017-SW-116-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-13-
03 for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429
helicopters. AD 2017-13-03 requires adding an identification number to
life-limited rod ends that do not have a serial number (S/N). Since we
issued AD 2017-13-03, an additional life-limited rod end was identified
that is affected by the same unsafe condition. This proposed AD would
retain the requirements of AD 2017-13-03 and revise the Applicability
paragraph by adding that rod end. The actions of this proposed AD are
intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by June 4, 2018.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:

Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
online instructions for sending your comments electronically.

Fax: 202-493-2251.

Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001.

Hand Delivery: Deliver to the "Mail" address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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-2018-0254;
or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this proposed AD, the Transport Canada AD, the economic evaluation, any
comments received and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments
will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

For service information identified in this proposed 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 this referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321,
Fort Worth, TX 76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Matt Fuller, Senior Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email matthew.fuller@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

We invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting
written comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to
the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To
ensure the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters
should send only one copy of written comments, or if comments are filed
electronically, commenters should submit only one time.

We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as
a report summarizing each substantive public contact with FAA personnel
concerning this proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

We issued AD 2017-13-03, Amendment 39-18933 (82 FR 28397, June 22,
2017) (AD 2017-13-03) for Bell Model 429 helicopters, S/N 57001 through
57260, with a pylon restraint spring assembly (spring assembly) forward
rod end assembly (rod end) part number (P/N) 427-010-210-105 installed.
AD 2017-13-03 requires cleaning and marking each forward rod end with
the S/N of the spring assembly. AD 2017-13-03 also prohibits the
installation of forward rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 on any helicopter
unless it has been marked. The requirements of AD 2017-13-03 are
intended to prevent a forward rod end from remaining in service after
reaching its life limit which could result in failure of the forward
rod end and subsequent loss of control of a helicopter.

Actions Since AD 2017-13-03 Was Issued

Since we issued AD 2017-13-03, an additional life-limited rod end
P/N has been identified that is affected by the same unsafe condition.
Aft rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 also needs to be marked with the S/N of
the spring assembly since it does not have a S/N.

Accordingly, Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for
Canada, issued AD No. CF-2015-15R1, Revision 1, dated July 28, 2017, to
correct this 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 spring assembly rod end P/Ns 427-
010-210-105 and -109 have a life limit of 5,000 hours; however, they
are not serialized, causing difficulties in tracking 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.

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 proposing this AD because we evaluated all known
relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition is likely
to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429-15-19, dated
February 26, 2015, for Model 429 helicopters. 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 Helicopter Maintenance Manual BHT-429-MM-1,
Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, Revision 26, approved
September 9, 2016, which specifies airworthiness life limits and
inspection intervals for parts installed on Model 429 helicopters.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require cleaning and marking each forward
and aft rod end with the S/N of the spring assembly. This proposed AD
would also prohibit installing forward rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 and
aft rod end P/N 427-010-210-109 on any helicopter unless it has been
marked in accordance with this proposed AD.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 75 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 would take about 0.5 work-hour for an
estimated cost of $43 per helicopter and $3,225 for the U.S. fleet.
Replacing a rod end that has exceeded its life limit would take about 3
work-hours and required parts will cost about $4,100 for an estimated
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 products identified in this rule-
making action.

Regulatory Findings

We 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. Is not a "significant rule" under the 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 proposed 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-13-03, Amendment 39-18933 (82 FR 28397, June 22, 2017), and adding
the following new AD: