[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 236 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 70725-70728]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-27008]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1066; Project Identifier AD-2021-01189-R; 
Amendment 39-21859; AD 2021-26-01]
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 Model 505 helicopters. This AD was 
prompted by a report of chafing of the right forward tail rotor (T/R) 
control cable. This AD requires inspecting the right forward T/R cable 
and, depending on the results, removing the cable assembly from 
service. This AD also requires measuring the clearance between the 
right forward T/R control cable and the roller bracket cut out and, 
depending on the results, adjusting the height of the roller bracket 
assembly position. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective December 28, 2021.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of December 28, 
2021.
    The FAA must receive comments on this AD by January 27, 2022.

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 https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For Bell service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Bell Textron

[[Page 70726]]

Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J 1R4, 
Canada; telephone 1-450-437-2862 or 1-800-363-8023; fax 1-450-433-0272; 
email [email protected]; or at https://www.bellflight.com/support/contact-support. For S-TEC Corporation service information 
identified in this final rule, contact S-TEC Corporation, One S-TEC 
Way, Mineral Wells Municipal Airport, Mineral Wells, TX 76067; 
telephone (817) 215-7600. 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 (812) 222-5110. Service 
information that is incorporated by reference is also available at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2021-1066.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1066; 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 street address for the 
Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hye Yoon Jang, Aerospace Engineer, 
Delegation Oversight Section, DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 
(817) 222-5190; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    The FAA is adopting a new AD for certain serial-numbered Bell 
Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters that have S-TEC 
Corporation HeliSAS stability augmentation system and autopilot 
installed under Supplemental Type Certificate SR09758DS. The FAA 
received a report that, during an inspection, chafing was discovered on 
the right forward T/R control cable due to contact with the autopilot 
yaw servo bracket, which is part of the HeliSAS stability augmentation 
system. Additional review revealed that the installation instructions 
did not include a minimum clearance limit between the right forward T/R 
control cable and the autopilot yaw servo bracket, which allowed the 
positioning of the autopilot yaw servo bracket such that it did not 
prevent contact and chafing. Since this discovery, S-TEC revised the 
installation instructions to specify a minimum cable clearance limit.
    This condition, if not addressed, could result in failure of the 
right forward T/R control cable, loss of T/R control, and subsequent 
loss of control of the helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency has determined the 
unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop in 
other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Bell Alert Service Bulletin 505-21-27, dated 
October 7, 2021 (ASB). This ASB specifies inspecting the right forward 
T/R control cable in the area of the roller bracket assembly for any 
signs of contact and ensuring there is minimum clearance between the 
right forward T/R control cable and the roller bracket cut out. 
Depending on the results, this ASB specifies reporting information to 
Bell, replacing the cable assembly, and adjusting the height of the 
roller bracket assembly position.
    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 ADDRESSES.

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed S-TEC Corporation Installation Instructions ST-
974-II-0001, Revision 2, dated October 6, 2021. This service 
information contains information necessary for installing a HeliSAS 
stability augmentation system and autopilot, including information for 
adjusting the height of the roller bracket assembly position.

AD Requirements

    This AD requires inspecting the right forward T/R control cable in 
the area of the roller bracket assembly for any signs of chafing and, 
if there is any chafing, removing the cable assembly from service. This 
AD also requires measuring the clearance between the right forward T/R 
control cable and the roller bracket cut out and, depending on the 
results, adjusting the height of the roller bracket assembly position.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    If there is chafing, the ASB specifies reporting certain 
information to Bell, whereas this AD does not.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective 
Date

    Section 553(b)(3)(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 foregoing notice and comment prior to adoption of this rule 
because the affected components are part of an assembly that is 
critical to the control of a helicopter. In addition, chafing could 
lead to instantaneous failure before detection. As the FAA has no 
information pertaining to the extent of chafing of the right forward T/
R control cable that may currently exist in helicopters or how quickly 
the condition may propagate to failure, the actions required by this AD 
must be accomplished within 25 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)(3)(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 forego notice and 
comment.

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-2021-1066 and Project Identifier 
AD-2021-01189-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

[[Page 70727]]

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 
https://www.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 Hye 
Yoon Jang, Aerospace Engineer, Delegation Oversight Section, DSCO 
Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 
Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5190; email 
[email protected]. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is 
not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket 
for this rulemaking.

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 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 up to 76 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.
    Inspecting the T/R control cable and measuring the clearance takes 
about 1 work-hour, for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and up 
to $6,460 for the U.S. fleet. Replacing the cable assembly, if 
required, takes about 8 work-hours and parts cost about $427 for an 
estimated cost of $1,107 per helicopter. If required, adjusting the 
height of the roller bracket assembly position takes about 1 work hour 
for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter.

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

0
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]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive:

2021-26-01 Bell Textron Canada Limited: Amendment 39-21859; Docket 
No. FAA-2021-1066; Project Identifier AD-2021-01189-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 28, 
2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 
helicopters, serial numbers 65011 through 65234 inclusive, 65236 
through 65348 inclusive, 65350, and 65352 through 65359 inclusive, 
with an S-TEC Corporation HeliSAS stability augmentation system and 
autopilot installed under Supplemental Type Certificate SR09758DS.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6720, Tail Rotor 
Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by a report of chafing of the right forward 
tail rotor (T/R) control cable caused by contact with an autopilot 
yaw servo bracket. The FAA is issuing this AD to detect and prevent 
chafing of the T/R control cable. The unsafe condition, if not 
addressed, could result in failure of the right forward T/R control 
cable, loss of T/R control, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    Within 25 hours time-in-service or 30 days, whichever occurs 
first after the effective date of this AD, accomplish the following:
    (1) Using a flashlight, visually inspect the right forward T/R 
control cable assembly part number M207-20M489-041 in the area of 
the roller bracket assembly for signs of chafing. Move the T/R 
pedals through the full range of motion and inspect the T/R control 
cable for chafing. If there is any chafing, before further flight, 
remove cable assembly part number M207-20M489-041 from service.
    (2) Measure the clearance between the right forward T/R control 
cable and the roller bracket cut out as shown in Figure 1 of Bell 
Alert Service Bulletin 505-21-27, dated October 7, 2021. If the 
clearance is less than 0.3'' (7.6 mm), before further flight, adjust 
the height of the roller bracket assembly position until the 
clearance is a minimum of 0.3'' (7.6 mm).

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, DSCO Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve 
AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14

[[Page 70728]]

CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to 
your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, 
as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of 
the certification office, send it to the attention of the person 
identified in paragraph (i) of this AD. Information may be emailed 
to: [email protected].
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Hye Yoon Jang, 
Aerospace Engineer, Delegation Oversight Section, DSCO Branch, 
Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort 
Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5190; email 
[email protected].

(j) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Bell Alert Service Bulletin 505-21-27, dated October 7, 
2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Bell service information identified in this AD, contact 
Bell Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de l'Avenir, Mirabel, Quebec 
J7J 1R4, Canada; telephone 1-450-437-2862 or 1-800-363-8023; fax 1-
450-433-0272; email [email protected]; or at https://www.bellflight.com/support/contact-support.
    (4) You may view this service information at 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.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on December 6, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-27008 Filed 12-9-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P


