AD 2013-18-07

AD Final Rules - 2013-18-07.pdf
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AD Number:
2013-18-07
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2013-0379
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Helicopters
Subject:
Tail Rotor Control System
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 78, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2013)
Citation Publish Date:
09/13/2013
Effective Date:
10/18/2013
Make:
Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.
Model:
204B | 205A-1
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
76-12-07
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 178 (Friday, September 13, 2013)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 56592-56594]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2013-22188]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2013-0379; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-26-AD; Amendment 39-17580;


AD 2013-18-07]


RIN 2120-AA64


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


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are superseding revised Airworthiness Directive (AD) 76-12-07 for all Bell Model


204B and certain serial-numbered Model 205A-1 helicopters with a certain tail rotor pitch control


chain (chain) installed. AD 76-12-07 required visually inspecting the chain to detect a crack in the


link segments and, for affected Model 205A-1 helicopters, replacing the chain and cable control


system with a push-pull control system. This new AD requires, for Bell Model 204B, inspecting


certain chains at specified intervals, revising the inspection procedures, installing a tail rotor cable


and chain damper kit (damper kit), and revising the maintenance manual or Instructions for


Continued Airworthiness (ICAs) to include the inspection intervals. This new AD also requires, for


certain Bell Model 205A-1 helicopters, replacing the chain and cable control system with an


airworthy tail rotor push-pull control system kit. This AD was prompted by the rapid growth of a


crack leading to premature chain failure. The actions are intended to prevent failure of the chain, loss


of tail rotor blade pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


DATES:
 
This AD is effective October 18, 2013.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain


publication listed in this AD as of October 18, 2013.


ADDRESSES:
 
For service information identified in this AD, contact Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc.,


P.O. Box 482, Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone (817) 280-3391; fax (817) 280-6466; or at


http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/.


You may review a copy of the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional


Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
2


Examining the AD Docket


You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov or in person at


the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal


holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the foreign authority's AD, any incorporated-by-reference


service information, the economic evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The


street address for the Docket Operations Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is U.S. Department of


Transportation, Docket Operations Office, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140,


1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety Engineer,


Rotorcraft Certification Office, Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth,


Texas 76137; telephone (817) 222-5170; email 7-AVS-ASW-170@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Discussion


On June 3, 1976, we issued AD 76-12-07, Amendment 39-2640 (41 FR 23939, June 14, 1976),


Docket No. 76-SW-19, which required repetitive inspections at specified intervals for a certain part-


numbered chain installed on Model 204B and 205A-1 helicopters. AD 76-12-07 also required, before


further flight, replacing chains with cracked or broken links or segments.


On September 12, 1979, we revised AD 76-12-07 by issuing Amendment 39-3569 (44 FR


55555, September 27, 1979). The revised AD 76-12-07 limited the applicability for the Model 205A-


1 helicopter to certain serial numbers; decreased the inspection interval of the chain; and required


replacing the existing chain and cable control system with a push-pull control system.


Both amendments were prompted by several chain failures occurring in flight and reports of


cracked chain links on Model 205A-1 helicopters. Those actions were intended to detect cracks in the


chain link segments to prevent failure of a chain and subsequent loss of directional control of the


helicopter.


On April 25, 2013, at 78 FR 24368, the Federal Register published our notice of proposed


rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would


supersede original and revised AD 76-12-07. The NPRM proposed to expand the applicability of AD


76-12-07 to a newly-produced, similarly-designed chain; reduce the inspection interval for the Model


204B; and require installing a push-pull control system on Model 205A-1 helicopters. Specifically,


the NPRM proposed to apply to Model 204B helicopters with a chain, part number (P/N) 204-001-


739-003 or -105, installed, and Model 205A-1 helicopters with a serial number 30001 through 30228.


The NPRM proposed to require, for certain Model 205A-1 helicopters, before further flight, replacing


the chain and cable control system by installing an improved tail rotor hub and blade assembly kit


and then installing a certain push/pull anti-torque retrofit kit. The NPRM also proposed, for Model


204B helicopters, visually inspecting certain part-numbered chains at specified intervals using a 10-


power or higher magnifying glass and a light; revising the inspection procedures; installing a damper


kit; and revising the maintenance manual or ICAs to include the inspection intervals. The proposed


requirements were intended to prevent failure of the chain, loss of tail rotor blade pitch control, and


subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


Comments


We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we did not receive


any comments on the NPRM (78 FR 24368, April 25, 2013).