AD 2021-20-02

This AD is effective October 28, 2021.

Kuethe Harmon, Safety Management Program Manager, Certification & Program Management Section, DSCO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone (817) 222-5198; email kuethe.harmon@faa.gov.

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 Inc. Model 205B helicopters with grip assembly part number (P/N) 204-011-121-005, P/N 204-011-121-113, or P/N 204-011-121-117 installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 10, 2021 (86 FR 30824). The NPRM was prompted by a notification from Bell of established life limits for certain part numbered grip assemblies that were not included in Chapter 4, Airworthiness Limitations Schedule (ALS) of Bell Helicopter 205B Maintenance Manual BHT-205B-MM-1, Revision 1, dated July 15, 1993. Bell states the life limit of 9,000 hours TIS for grip assembly part number (P/N) 204-011-121-005, P/N 204-011-121-113, and P/N 204-011-121-117 was left out of the ALS for Model 205B helicopters. Bell states this may suggest that these part numbers have an unlimited life when installed on Model 205B helicopters, whereas the retirement life is 9,000 hours TIS. This condition, if not addressed, could result in fatigue and failure of the grip assembly and loss of control of the helicopter.

Accordingly, Bell specifies updating the existing ALS to establish a life limit of 9,000 hours TIS for grip assembly P/N 204-011-121-005, P/N 204-011-121-113, and P/N 204-011-121-117. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA received comments from one commenter. The following presents the comment received on the NPRM and the FAA's response.

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency requested the FAA revise references made to a certain grip assembly P/N, which is listed incorrectly in two instances in the Background section of the NPRM. The FAA agrees. The Background section of the NPRM contained two typographical errors in which the FAA incorrectly stated the affected grip assemblies with life limits omitted from the ALS for Model 205B helicopters are grip assembly P/N 204-011-121-005, P/N 204-011-121-113, and P/N 204-011-121-005. However, the affected grip assembly part numbers are P/N 204-011-121-005, P/N 204-011-121-113, and P/N 204-011-121-117. The FAA has revised the Background paragraph of this final rule accordingly.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 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 the minor editorial change described above, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. This change, which corrects a typographical error in the Background section of the NPRM, does not increase the scope of the AD.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 2 helicopters of U.S. registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following costs to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour.

Determining the total hours TIS of each grip assembly and updating the helicopter records takes about 1 work-hour for each grip assembly, for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and $170 for the U.S fleet.

Replacing each grip assembly takes about 16 work-hours and parts cost about $50,000, for an estimated cost of $51,360 per grip assembly.

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.

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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

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