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2019-08-10 BELL HELICOPTER TEXTRON CANADA LIMITED (BELL): Amendment 39-19631; Docket No. FAA-2018-0740; Product Identifier 2016-SW-045-AD.
(a) APPLICABILITY

    This AD applies to Bell Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4
    and 407 helicopters, certificated in any category.

(b) UNSAFE CONDITION

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a blocked oil line restrictor.
    This condition could  cause failure of  the freewheel assembly,  which
    could result in failure of the main rotor mast and subsequent loss  of
    control of the helicopter.

(c) EFFECTIVE DATE

    This AD becomes effective June 24, 2019.

(d) COMPLIANCE

    You are  responsible for  performing each  action required  by this AD
    within  the  specified  compliance time  unless  it  has already  been
    accomplished prior to that time.

(e) REQUIRED ACTIONS

    Within 100 hours time-in-service:

(1) For all helicopters:

(i) Inspect the oil line restrictor for blockage. If there is any blockage
    in  the  restrictor,  before  further  flight,  inspect  the freewheel
    assembly  clutch, inner  shaft, outer  shaft, forward  seal, cap,  and
    bearings  for  wear,  corrosion,  nicks,  scratches,  and  cracks; the
    splines for wear, cracks, chipped teeth, and broken teeth; the housing
    for flaking; and  for free rotation  and engagement of  the clutch and
    bearing. If there  is any damage  that exceeds allowable  limits or if
    the clutch or bearing does not engage or freely rotate, before further
    flight, repair or replace the freewheel assembly.

(ii) Clean, inspect and flush each removed fitting, restrictor, tube, hose
     and filter with  dry cleaning solvent.  Do not approve  for return to
     service until each restrictor is free from contamination.

(2) For Model 206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3 and 206L-4 helicopters with
    a reducer, replace the reducer with a filter part number 50-075-1.

(f) SPECIAL FLIGHT PERMITS

    Special flight permits are prohibited.

(g) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE (AMOCS)

(1) The Manager,  Safety Management Section,  Rotorcraft Standards Branch,
    FAA,  may approve AMOCs for this AD.  Send  your  proposal  to:  David
    Hatfield,  Aviation Safety Engineer, Safety Management Section, Rotor-
    craft Standards Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Fort Worth, TX 76177
    telephone (817) 222-5110; email 9-ASW-FTW-AMOC-Requests@faa.gov.

(2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating certificate
    or under 14 CFR  part 91, subpart K,  we suggest that you  notify your
    principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager  of
    the  local flight  standards district  office  or  certificate holding
    district office, before operating any aircraft complying with this  AD
    through an AMOC.

(h) ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

(1) Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 206-14-132,  ASB 206L-14-
    174,  and  ASB 407-14-106,  all Revision A and dated February 9, 2016,
    which are not incorporated by reference,  contain  additional informa-
    tion about the subject of this AD.  For service information identified
    in this AD, 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 a copy of the service information at the FAA, Office of
    the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-
    321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

(2) The subject of this AD is addressed in Transport Canada AD No. CF-2016
    -13, dated May 2, 2016.  You  may  view the Transport Canada AD on the
    internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2018-0740.

(i) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft Service Component  (JASC) Code: 6300,  Main Rotor Drive
    System.

Issued  in  Fort Worth, Texas,  on  May 3, 2019.  Lance T. Gant, Director,
Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: David Hatfield, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Safety Management Section,  Rotorcraft Standards Branch,  FAA, 10101 Hill-
wood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177;  telephone (817) 222-5110;  email david.
hatfield@faa.gov.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0740; Product Identifier 2016-SW-045-AD; Amendment
39-19631; AD 2019-08-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: We are adopting 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 AD requires inspecting and
cleaning the oil supply restrictor (restrictor) to the freewheel
assembly. This AD was prompted by reports of a blocked oil line
restrictor in the freewheel lubrication system. The actions of this AD
are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 24, 2019.

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.

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 AD, the Transport Canada AD, 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: 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:

Discussion

On August 21, 2018, at 83 FR 42232, 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 206A, 206B,
206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, 206L-4, and 407 helicopters. The NPRM proposed to
require inspecting and cleaning the freewheel oil supply system, and if
there is blockage in the restrictor, disassembling and inspecting the
freewheel assembly for condition and wear. Additionally, for Model
206A, 206B, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters, the NPRM
proposed to require replacing the reducer with a filter, part number
50-075-1. The proposed requirements were intended to detect blockage in
the restrictor, which could cause failure of the freewheel assembly,
failure of the main rotor mast, and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.
The NPRM was prompted by Transport Canada AD No. CF-2016-13, dated
May 2, 2016 (AD No. CF-2016-13), issued by Transport Canada, which is
the aviation authority for Canada, 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 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, and depending on helicopter model, replacing
the reducer with a filter. Additionally, AD No. CF-2016-13 requires a
repetitive on-condition cleaning and inspection of the freewheel oil
supply system.
The NPRM stated the incorrect date of May 16, 2016, for AD No. CF-
2016-13. The correct issue date is May 2, 2016. We have corrected the
date throughout this Final Rule.
In addition, the ``Costs of Compliance'' section in the preamble of
the NPRM incorrectly provides the estimated cost ``per inspection
cycle.'' However, the inspection and cleaning requirements are one-time
requirements. ``Per inspection cycle'' has been removed in this section
of the Final Rule. In this regard, we have added a section titled
``Differences Between this AD and the Transport Canada AD'' to this
Final Rule to advise that the Transport Canada AD contains repetitive
requirements and this AD does not.

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 of the
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 includes a repetitive on-condition cleaning
and inspection of the freewheel oil supply system any time the
freewheel oil supply system is opened upstream of the restrictor. This
AD does not require this type of repetitive on-condition cleaning and
inspection because it could be difficult to track.

Related Service Information

Bell has issued 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 contain procedures for replacing the reducer with
a filter if not already installed.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 2,227 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in
order to comply with this AD.
At an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, inspecting and
cleaning the freewheel oil supply system requires about 1 work-hour,
for a cost per helicopter of $85 and $189,295 for the U.S. fleet.
If required, inspecting the freewheel assembly requires about 1
work-hour, for a cost per helicopter of $85.
If required, replacing a restrictor with a filter requires about 1
work-hour and required parts 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 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, 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):