DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0740; Product Identifier 2016-SW-045-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 adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 206A, 206B, 206L,
206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, and 407 helicopters. This proposed AD would
require inspecting and cleaning the oil supply restrictor (restrictor)
to the freewheel assembly. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of a
blocked oil line restrictor in the freewheel lubrication system. The
proposed actions are intended to address an unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 22, 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-
0740; 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 the 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: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch, FAA,
10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5110;
email david.hatfield@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

Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued Canadian AD No. CF-2016-13, dated May 16, 2016 (AD No. CF-2016-
13), to correct an unsafe condition for Bell Model 206A, 206B, 206L,
206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, and 407 helicopters. Transport Canada advises
that they have received two reports of torsional overload failure of
the main rotor mast caused by a blocked oil line restrictor in the
freewheel lubrication system. Transport Canada states the restrictor
may become contaminated during maintenance, causing blockage. Transport
Canada further states that a blocked restrictor could cause the
freewheel assembly to malfunction and result in failure of the main
rotor mast and loss of control of the helicopter.

Additionally, the Canadian AD advises that although certain later
versions of these helicopters are equipped with a filter in the
freewheel lubrication system that is designed to trap contaminants and
prevent blockage of the restrictor, installation of the filter does not
guarantee the restrictor will remain free of contaminants. According to
Transport Canada, one occurrence of restrictor blockage resulted from
contaminants being introduced downstream from the filter, which
subsequently caused failure of the freewheel assembly. For these
reasons, AD No. CF-2016-13 requires inspecting and cleaning the
restrictors and filters to reduce the risk of freewheel failure.

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 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 206-14-132 for Model
206A/B and TH-67 helicopters; ASB 206L-14-174 for Model 206L, 206L-1,
206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters; and ASB 407-14-106 for Model 407
helicopters. Each ASB is Revision A and dated February 9, 2016. This
service information specifies removing, cleaning, inspecting, and
reinstalling certain freewheel assembly components. ASB 206-14-132 and
ASB 206L-14-174 also describe procedures for replacing the reducer with
a filter if not already installed.

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

For all affected models, this AD would require, within 100 hours
time-in-service, inspecting and cleaning the freewheel oil supply
system. If there is blockage in the restrictor, disassembling and
inspecting the freewheel assembly for condition and wear would be
required before further flight. Additionally, for Model 206A, 206B,
206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters, this proposed AD would
require replacing the reducer with a filter, part number 50-075-1.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 2,227 helicopters of
U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs
in order to comply with this proposed AD. At an average labor rate of
$85 per hour, inspecting and cleaning the freewheel oil supply system
would require about 1 work-hour, for a cost per helicopter of $85 and
$189,295 for the U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle.

If required, inspecting the freewheel assembly would require about
1 work-hour, for a cost per helicopter of $85.

If required, replacing a restrictor with a filter would require
about 1 work-hour and required parts would cost $125, for a cost per
helicopter of $210.

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

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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):