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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2025-0740; Project Identifier MCAI-2024-00775-R;
Amendment 39-23022; AD 2025-09-01]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Textron Canada Limited Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.
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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Bell Textron Canada Limited (BTCL) Model 505 helicopters. This AD
was prompted by reports of possible chafing in certain locations
between the basic and supplemental helicopter wiring and the
structure. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the wire harnesses
at certain locations for damage, and if any wire damage is found,
repairing the damaged wire/bundles, as specified in a Transport
Canada AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective May 13, 2025.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 13, 2025.
The FAA must receive comments on this AD by June 12, 2025.
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 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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0740; 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 final rule, the mandatory continuing airworthiness
information (MCAI), any comments received, and other information. The
street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Material Incorporated by Reference:
For Transport Canada material identified in this AD,
contact Transport Canada, Transport Canada National Aircraft
Certification, 159 Cleopatra Drive, Nepean, Ontario, K1A 0N5, Canada;
phone: (888) 663-3639; email: TC.AirworthinessDirectives-Consignesdenavigabilite.TC
@tc.gc.ca; website: tc.canada.ca/en/aviation. You may find the Transport
Canada material on the Transport Canada website at
wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/Saf-Sec-Sur/2/cawis-swimn/ad_qs1.aspx.
You may view this material 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 under Docket No. FAA-2025-0740.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Yeshiambel, Aviation Safety
Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite 410, Westbury, NY 11590;
phone: (316) 946-4133; email: michael.m.yeshiambel@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include "Docket No. FAA-2025-0740; Project Identifier MCAI-
2024-00775-R" at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The
agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this final rule.
Confidential Business Information
CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as "PROPIN." The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Michael
Yeshiambel, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1600 Stewart Avenue, Suite
410, Westbury, NY 11590. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket
for this rulemaking.
Background
Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, has
issued Transport Canada AD CF-2024-44, dated December 19, 2024
(Transport Canada AD CF-2024-44) (also referred to as the MCAI), to
correct an unsafe condition on certain serial-numbered BTCL Model 505
helicopters.
The MCAI states that BTCL was made aware of possible harness
chafing in certain locations between basic and supplemental helicopter
wiring and the structure. Potential fouling occurs under the floor
starting at the forward canted bulkhead station (STA) 65 to the aft
bulkhead at STA 180, including all structural frames and areas in
between (STA 65, 82, 98, 109, 127, 146, 155, and 180). Chafing of the
subject wiring could lead to a short to ground, which would command the
engine to idle and could result in loss of control of the helicopter.
The MCAI also states that the AD is considered an interim action and
further AD action will follow once a final corrective action has been
released by BTCL. The MCAI requires repetitively inspecting the wire
harnesses at specified locations for damage, and if any wire damage is
found, repairing the damaged wire/bundles as specified in Transport
Canada AD CF-2024-44. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products.
You may examine the MCAI in the AD docket at regulations.gov under
Docket No. FAA-2025-0740.
Material Incorporated by Reference Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed Transport Canada AD CF-2024-44, which specifies
procedures for repetitively inspecting the wire harnesses at certain
locations for damage, and if any wire damage is found, repairing the
damaged wire/bundles. This material 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.
FAA's Determination
These products have been approved by the aviation authority of
another country and are approved for operation in the United States.
Pursuant to the FAA's bilateral agreement with this State of Design
Authority, it has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition described in
the MCAI referenced above. The FAA is issuing this AD after determining
that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or
develop on other products of the same type design.
Requirements of This AD
This AD requires accomplishing the actions specified in the MCAI
already described, except for any differences identified as exceptions
in the regulatory text of this AD.
Explanation of Required Compliance Information
In the FAA's ongoing efforts to improve the efficiency of the AD
process, the FAA developed a process to use some civil aviation
authority (CAA) ADs as the primary source of information for compliance
with requirements for corresponding FAA ADs. The FAA has been
coordinating this process with manufacturers and CAAs. As a result,
Transport Canada AD CF-2024-44 is incorporated by reference in this AD.
This AD requires compliance with Transport Canada AD CF-2024-44 in its
entirety through that incorporation, except for any differences
identified as exceptions in the regulatory text of this AD. Material
required by Transport Canada AD CF-2024-44 for compliance will be
available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2025-0740 after this
AD is published.
Interim Action
The FAA considers that this AD is an interim action. The
manufacturer is currently developing a terminating action that will
address the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once the
modification is developed, approved, and available, the FAA might
consider additional rulemaking.
Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective Date
Section 553(b) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5 U.S.C.
551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and comment
procedures for rules when the agency, for "good cause," finds that
those procedures are "impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to the
public interest." Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
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 forgoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule
because chafing of the subject wiring could lead to a short to ground,
which could cause the engine to idle in-flight and could lead to loss
of control of the helicopter. Because this situation can happen at any
time and without warning, an inspection is necessary within 50 hours
time-in-service or 30 days, whichever occurs first. This compliance
time is shorter than the time necessary for the public to comment and
for publication of the final rule. Accordingly, notice and opportunity
for prior public comment are impracticable and contrary to the public
interest pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b).
In addition, the FAA finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5
U.S.C. 553(d) for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days,
for the same reasons the FAA found good cause to forgo notice and
comment.
Regulatory Flexibility Act
The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because the FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this AD affects 174 helicopters of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:
Estimated Costs
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ACTION
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LABOR COST
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PARTS COST
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COST PER PRODUCT
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COST ON U.S. OPERATORS
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| Inspection of wire harness for damage. |
8 work-hours x $85 per hour = $680 per inspection cycle. |
$0
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$680 per inspection cycle. |
$118,320 per inspection cycle. |
The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary repairs
that would be required based on the results of the inspection. The
agency has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might
need this repair:
On-Condition Costs
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ACTION
|
LABOR COST
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PARTS COST
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COST PER PRODUCT
|
| Repair auto flight--wire harness. |
1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85 |
$0
|
$85
|
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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.
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:
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