DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0254; Product Identifier 2017-SW-116-AD; Amendment
39-19473; AD 2018-21-15]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-13-03 for
Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 429 helicopters. AD
2017-13-03 required 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 new AD retains the
requirements of AD 2017-13-03 and revises the Applicability paragraph
by adding that rod end. The actions of this AD are intended to address
an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 27, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of July 27,
2017 (82 FR 28397, June 22, 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 this 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-2018-0254.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.
gov in 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 AD, the Transport Canada
AD, any incorporated-by-reference service information, the economic
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address
for Docket Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is Docket Operations, 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: 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:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2017-13-03, Amendment 39-18933 (82 FR 28397, June
22, 2017) (AD 2017-13-03) and add a new AD. AD 2017-13-03 applied to
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
required cleaning and marking each forward rod end with the S/N of the
spring assembly. AD 2017-13-03 also prohibited the installation of
forward rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 on any helicopter unless it had
been marked.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2018 (83 FR
14606). The NPRM was prompted by AD No. CF-2015-15R1, Revision 1, dated
July 28, 2017, issued by Transport Canada, which is the Technical Agent
for the Member States of Canada, 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 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.
Accordingly, the NPRM proposed to continue to retain the
requirements of AD 2017-13-03 and revise the Applicability paragraph by
adding aft rod end P/N 427-010-210-109 since it is also affected by the
same unsafe condition. The proposed requirements were intended to
prevent a rod end from remaining in service after reaching its life
limit, which could result in failure of the rod end and subsequent loss
of control of a helicopter.

Comments

After our NPRM was published, we received a comment from one
commenter.

Request

Bell noted a typographical error in the ``Actions Since AD 2017-13-
03 Was Issued'' section of the preamble, which incorrectly referred to
rod end P/N 427-010-210-105 instead of P/N 427-010-210-109.
We agree with the comment. However, since the text with the error
is not restated in the preamble of this Final Rule, no change is
necessary.

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 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

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.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 75 helicopters of U.S. Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to
comply with this AD.
Marking the rod ends takes 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 takes about 3 work-hours and
required parts 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
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

We have determined that 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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.

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