DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0953; Product Identifier 2018-SW-079-AD; Amendment
39-19636; AD 2019-09-02]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell)
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-17-01 for
Bell Model 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. AD 2018-17-01
required replacing certain oil and fuel check valves and prohibited
installing these valves on any helicopter. This AD retains the
requirements of AD 2018-17-01 but expands those requirements for all
model helicopters. This AD was prompted by the discovery that we
omitted a helicopter model from one of the required actions. We are
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective June 4, 2019.
We must receive any comments on this AD by July 5, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions
for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590, 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-
0953; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations (phone: 800-647-5527) is listed above. Comments will be
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jurgen E. Priester, Aviation Safety
Engineer, DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101
Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5159; email
jurgen.e.priester@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued AD 2018-17-01 (83 FR 42205, August 21, 2018) (``AD 2018-
17-01''), for Bell Model 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters with an
engine oil check valve part number (P/N) 209-062-520-001 or fuel check
valve P/N 209-062-607-001 manufactured by Circor Aerospace, marked
``Circle Seal'' and with a manufacturing date code of ``10/11''
(October 2011) through ``03/15'' (March 2015), except a check valve
marked ``TQL'' next to the manufacturing date code, installed. AD 2018-
17-01 resulted from a report that certain P/N 209-062-520-001 check
valves manufactured by Circor Aerospace as replacement parts have been
found cracked or leaking on several Bell Model 427 and Model 429
helicopters. At the time we issued AD 2018-17-01, we understood that
these check valves may also be installed as engine oil check valves on
Bell Model 212, 412CF and 412EP helicopters. Similar check valves, P/N
209-062-607-001, may be installed as fuel check valves on Bell Model
212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. These check valves may have a
condition induced during assembly that can cause the valve body to
crack, resulting in oil or fuel leakage. This condition could result in
loss of lubrication or fuel to the engine, failure of the engine or a
fire, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Consequently,
AD 2018-17-01 required replacing the engine oil check valves on Model
212, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters and replacing the fuel check valves
on Model 212, 412, 412CF, and 412EP helicopters. AD 2018-17-01 also
prohibited installing an affected check valve on any helicopter.

Ex Parte Contact

On August 27, 2018, before the comment period for AD 2018-17-01
closed, we received a comment from the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau
(JCAB). We responded to the JCAB and briefly discussed AD 2018-17-01 by
email. The JRCB's comment during these discussions is addressed below.
A copy of each email contact can be found in the rulemaking docket for
AD 2018-17-01 at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2018-
0738.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to comment on AD 2018-17-01
after it became effective. We received comments from one commenter.
The JCAB requested that we clarify why the requirement in AD 2018-
17-01 to replace the engine oil check valves does not apply to Model
412 helicopters, when the Bell service information requires replacing
the engine oil check valve in that model.
The omission of Model 412 helicopters from the requirement to
replace the engine oil check valve was an error. We are issuing this AD
to correct that error and to require replacing the engine oil check
valve in all applicable model helicopters.

Related Service Information

We reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 212-15-153, Revision
A, dated October 6, 2017 (212-15-153), and Bell ASB 212-15-155,
Revision A, dated October 6, 2017 (212-15-155), for Model 212
helicopters; Bell ASB 412-15-165, Revision A, dated October 6, 2017
(412-15-165), and Bell ASB 412-15-168, Revision A, dated October 6,
2017 (ASB 412-15-168), for Model 412 and 412 EP helicopters; and Bell
ASB 412CF-15-57, Revision A, dated October 6, 2017 (412CF-15-57), and
Bell ASB 412CF-15-59, Revision A, dated October 6, 2017 (412CF-15-59),
for Model 412CF helicopters. ASB 212-15-153, ASB 412-15-165, and ASB
412CF-15-57 contain procedures for inspecting and replacing engine oil
check valve P/N 209-062-520-001. ASB 212-15-155, ASB 412-15-168, and
ASB 412CF-15-59 contain procedures for inspecting and replacing fuel
check valve P/N 209-062-607-001. Revision A of the service information
clarifies that check valves identified with ``TQL'' are not affected by
the ASB procedures.

FAA's Determination

We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of these same type
designs.

AD Requirements

This AD requires within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), replacing
each fuel check valve and each engine oil check valve. This AD also
prohibits installing on any helicopter a check valve P/N 209-062-520-
001 or P/N 209-062-607-001 manufactured by Circor Aerospace, marked
``Circle Seal'' and with a manufacturing date code of ``10/11''
(October 2011) through ``03/15'' (March 2015), except for a check valve
marked ``TQL'' next to the manufacturing date code.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

An unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate adoption of
this AD without providing an opportunity for public comments prior to
adoption. The FAA has found that the risk to the flying public
justifies waiving notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because we believe action is needed within 25 hours TIS, a short
interval for helicopters used in firefighting and logging operations.
Therefore, we find good cause that notice and opportunity for prior
public comment are impracticable. In addition, for the reasons stated
above, we find that good cause exists for making this amendment
effective in less than 30 days.

Comments Invited

This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to
provide your comments before it becomes effective. However, we invite
you to send any written data, views, or arguments about this final
rule. Send your comments to an address listed under the ADDRESSES
section. Include the docket number FAA-2018-0953 and product identifier
2018-SW-079-AD at the beginning of your comments. We specifically
invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic, environmental, and
energy aspects of this final rule. We will consider all comments
received by the closing date and may amend this final rule because of
those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this final rule.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 186 (93 Model 212 and 93 Model
412) helicopters of U.S. Registry. We estimate that operators will
incur the following costs to comply with this AD:
At an average labor rate of $85 per work-hour, replacing one check
valve (engine oil or fuel) will require about 1 work-hour and a parts
cost of $85. For replacing four valves (two engine oil valves and two
fuel valves), we estimate a total cost of $680 per helicopter and $126,480
for the U.S. fleet. According to Bell's service information some of the costs of
this AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Bell.
Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

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

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.

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 part 39 of the Federal Aviation
Regulations (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)
2018-17-01, Amendment 39-19355 (83 FR 42205) and adding the following
new AD: