DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0757; Product Identifier 2017-SW-022-AD; Amendment
39-19327; AD 2018-14-07]
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 certain
serial numbered Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (BHTC) Model 429
helicopters. This AD requires marking a serial number on life-limited
forward spars and actuator fitting assemblies. The actions of this AD
are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 16, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of August 16,
2018.

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-2017-0757.

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-
0757; 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 AD, the Transport Canada Civil Aviation (Transport Canada) AD, any
incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic evaluation,
any comments received, and other information. The street address for
Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor,
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Helene Gandy, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Regulations & Policy Section, Rotorcraft Standards Branch,
FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-
5413; email helene.gandy@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On January 26, 2018, at 83 FR 3628, 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, serial number (S/N) 57150, 57168, 57176, 57210 through
57216, 57265, 57266, 57267, and 57287, with a forward spar part number
(P/N) 429-031-213-103 or 429-031-213-104 or actuator fitting assembly
P/N 429-031-222-101 or 429-031-222-102 installed.
The NPRM proposed to require marking a serial number on life-
limited forward spars and actuator fitting assemblies. The proposed
requirements were intended to prevent the forward spar or actuator
fitting assembly from remaining in service after reaching its life
limit. This condition could result in failure of a forward spar or
actuator fitting assembly and subsequent collapse of the landing gear.
The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2017-02, dated January 16, 2017,
issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada,
to correct an unsafe condition for Bell Model 429 helicopters, S/N
57150, 57168, 57176, 57210, 57211 through 57216, 57265, 57266, 57267,
and 57287. Transport Canada advises that forward spars P/N 429-031-213-
103 and 429-031-213-104 and actuator fitting assembly P/N 429-031-222-
101 and 429-031-222-102 have life limits of 30,000 and 19,000
Retirement Index Numbers, respectively. However, Transport Canada
states these parts are not serialized, and therefore their accumulated
usage is difficult to track, which creates a risk that these parts
could remain in service beyond their life limits. This condition could
result in failure of the part.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no 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
the Transport Canada 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 these same type designs and that air safety and the public interest
require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Differences Between This AD and the Transport Canada AD

The Transport Canada AD requires compliance within 12 months from
its effective date, unless already accomplished. This AD requires
compliance within 800 hours time-in-service.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 429-16-34, dated
November 10, 2016, which specifies
procedures for permanently marking each forward spar and actuator
fitting assembly with the serial number of the helicopter.
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 Model 429 Maintenance Manual BHT-
429-MM-1, Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations Schedule, Revision 26,
dated September 9, 2016, which specifies airworthiness life limits and
inspection intervals for parts installed on Model 429 helicopters.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 6 helicopters of U.S. Registry and
that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. We estimate that marking
the forward spars and actuator fitting assemblies requires 1 work-hour,
and no parts are needed. Based on these estimates, we expect a total
cost of $85 per helicopter and $510 for the U.S. 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):