DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2022-0286; Project Identifier AD-2021-01081-R;
Amendment 39-22223; AD 2022-22-08]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited (Type
Certificate Previously Held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited)
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Bell Textron Canada Limited (type certificate previously held by Bell
Helicopter Textron Canada Limited) Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and
206L-4 helicopters with a certain part-numbered main rotor (M/R) blade
installed under Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) SR02684LA. This AD
was prompted by delamination of M/R blades. This AD requires a
repetitive inspection for delamination, and depending on the results,
removing the M/R blade from service and reporting certain information.
The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 23, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 23,
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact Dean Rosenlof, Van Horn Aviation, LLC, 1510 West Drake Drive,
Tempe, AZ, 85283, United States; phone: (480) 483-4202; email:
dean@vanhornaviation.com. You may view this service information at the
FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood
Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110. It is
also available at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket
No. FAA-2022-0286.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by searching for
and locating Docket No. FAA-2022-0286; 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, any comments
received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations 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: Payman Soltani, Aerospace Engineer,
Airframe Section, Los Angeles ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness
Division, FAA, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; telephone
(562) 627-5313; email payman.soltani@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Textron Canada
Limited Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters with a
certain part-numbered M/R blade installed under STC SR02684LA. The NPRM
published in the Federal Register on March 24, 2022 (87 FR 16652). The
NPRM was prompted by testing by Van Horn Aviation, LLC (Van Horn),
which revealed the potential for delamination in M/R blade part number
(P/N) 20633000-101. Delaminations were then confirmed by inspection of
in-service M/R blades. Testing by Van Horn confirmed that the 90[deg]
plies fail in spanwise tension (normal to the fiber
direction) at the inboard end of the weight receptacle near M/R blade
station 186.0. Delamination then propagates outboard from M/R blade
station 186.0 at the interface between the 0[deg] and 90[deg] plies.
According to Van Horn, fatigue testing has shown that the delamination
initiates almost immediately and progresses slowly in a stable,
predictable manner. The delamination has been found to develop first on
the lower surface and grow outboard from the inboard end of the weight
receptacle and forward of the balance weight pocket. After
approximately 4 to 6 inches growth of the delamination on the lower
surface, a similar delamination becomes detectable on the M/R blade
upper surface. Should the delaminations continue to grow to the point
of static overload, the receptacle could depart the M/R blade. In the
NPRM, the FAA proposed to require, at specified intervals, removing the
affected M/R blade, drawing rectangular inspection areas ``Zone 1'' and
``Zone 2'' with a permanent marker, tap inspecting the inspection areas
for delamination, marking and measuring the length of any delamination,
and depending on the results, removing the M/R blade from service. The
NPRM also proposed to require reporting certain information to Van
Horn. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on
these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received comments from one commenter, Van Horn. The
following presents the comments received on the NPRM and the FAA's
response to each comment.

Request for Changes to the Measurements of Inspection Areas

Van Horn stated that the M/R blade stations indicated for
inspections are incorrect in the proposed AD and requested the FAA
revise the required actions to change the M/R blade stations for ``Zone
1'' and ``Zone 2.'' However, the measurements Van Horn included in the
comment in the AD docket to correct the M/R blade stations for ``Zone
1'' and ``Zone 2'' were also incorrect. Van Horn then contacted the FAA
to correct these measurements; a record of this ex parte contact is
included in the AD docket. For information on locating the docket, see
``Examining the AD Docket.'' According to Van Horn's revised comments,
``Zone 1'' described in the NPRM as M/R blade stations 186.0 and 191.0,
beginning 1.1 inches from the leading edge of the M/R blade to 4.9
inches from the leading edge of the M/R blade should be revised to M/R
blade stations 185.75 and 192.75, or measured from the tip end of the
M/R blade between 36.25 inches and 29.25 inches beginning 1.2 inches
from the leading edge of the M/R blade to 5.0 inches from the leading
edge of the M/R blade. ``Zone 2'' described in the NPRM as M/R blade
stations 186.0 and 191.0 should be revised to M/R blade stations 185.9
and 192.9, or measured from the tip end of the M/R blade between 36.1
inches and 29.1 inches.
The FAA agrees and has revised this AD accordingly.

Request for a Change to the Service Bulletin Cited in Note 1

Van Horn proposed that Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2)(i) cite Van Horn
Service Bulletin Notice No. 33000-4R4, dated March 31, 2022 (SB33000-
4R4) rather than Van Horn Service Bulletin Notice No. 33000-4R3, dated
November 8, 2021 (SB 33000-4R3).
The FAA partially agrees. The FAA appreciates that the latest
revision of that service bulletin is SB33000-4R4; however, the portions
of that service bulletin that are specified in the proposed AD are
identical in SB33000-4R3 and SB33000-4R4. Accordingly, the FAA has made
updates throughout the Required Actions paragraph to allow both
SB33000-4R3 and SB33000-4R4 in this final rule.

Request for a Reference to Additional Service Information in Note 1

Van Horn proposed edits in Note 1 to paragraph (g)(2)(i) to refer
to the Van Horn Instructions for Continued Airworthiness, ICA Manual
No. VMM-MR-206L-501, Revision N/C, dated May 24, 2018, for a blade
configuration drawing.
The FAA disagrees because it does not provide information that
could be helpful for operators to comply with this AD.

Request for Additional Tap Hammer Tool

Van Horn also requested the FAA revise the list of tap hammers in
paragraph (g)(2)(iii) of the proposed AD to add Van Horn Aviation Tap
Hammer P/N VHACS0003 to the list of tap hammers.
The FAA agrees and has revised this AD as requested.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, and
any other changes described previously, this AD is adopted as proposed
in the NPRM. None of the changes will increase the economic burden on
any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed SB 33000-4R3 and SB 33000-4R4. This service
information specifies procedures to identify ``Zone 1'' and ``Zone 2''
inspection areas, accomplish repetitive visual and tap inspections of
the zones to detect and monitor the growth of any delamination, and
depending on the results, remove the M/R blade from service and contact
Van Horn. SB 33000-4R3 applies to M/R blade P/N 20633000-101 serial
numbers A012 through A104. SB 33000-4R4 expanded the applicability to
include M/R blade P/N 20633000-101 with serial numbers A007, A008, and
A009; these serial-numbered parts were included in the NPRM's
applicability.
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.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

This AD requires using certain part-numbered composite tap hammers,
whereas SB 33000-4R3 and SB 33000-4R4 do not. SB 33000-4R3 and SB
33000-4R4 specify procedures to visually inspect the M/R blade, whereas
this AD does not. If there is any delamination in the upper surface
inspection zone (``Zone 1''), this AD requires removing the M/R blade
from service, whereas SB 33000-4R3 and SB 33000-4R4 do not specify
procedures for this condition.

Interim Action

The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. The inspection
reports that are required by this AD will enable the FAA to obtain
better insight into the unsafe condition. If final action is later
identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD will affect 23 helicopters of U.S.
registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on
these numbers, the FAA estimates the following costs to comply with
this AD.
Removing, tap inspecting, and re-installing an M/R blade will take
about 4.5 work-hours for an estimated cost of $383 per M/R blade, per
inspection cycle and up to $8,809 for the U.S. fleet per M/R blade, per
inspection cycle. Replacing an M/R blade will take about 4 work-hours
and parts will cost about $71,500 per M/R blade for a total of $71,840
per M/R blade. Reporting information to Van Horn will take about 1
work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per report.

Paperwork Reduction Act

A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to take
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and
maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the
collection of information. All responses to this collection of
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate
or any other aspect of this collection of information, including
suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information Collection
Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood
Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

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.
The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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.

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: