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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 87 / Friday, May 7, 2021 / Rules and Regulations
was prompted by a manufacturing flaw that could cause low fuel level detector switch units switch units to hang in the high position and fail to indicate a low fuel condition. This AD requires removing certain switch units from service and prohibits installing those switch units. This AD also requires accomplishing an operational test of certain other switch units, and depending on the results, removing the switch unit from service. This AD also prohibits installing those certain other switch units unless they pass an operational test. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: This AD is effective June 11, 2021.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, contact Bell Textron Canada Limited, 12,800 Rue de lAvenir, Mirabel, Quebec J7J1R4;
telephone 450 4372862 or 800 363
8023; fax 450 4330272; or at https
www.bellcustomer.com. You may view the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N321, Fort Worth, TX
76177.
Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket at https www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA200625084; 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 Transport Canada AD, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is U.S.
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC
20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Hal Jensen, Aerospace Engineer, Operational Safety Branch, FAA, 950 LEnfant Plaza N SW, Washington, DC 20024;
telephone 202 2679167; email hal.jensen@faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background The FAA issued a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking SNPRM
to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Bell Textron Canada Limited type certificate previously held by Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited Model 206L, 206L1, 206L3, and 206L4
helicopters, with certain switch units part number P/N 206063613003

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installed. The SNPRM published in the Federal Register on March 12, 2021 86
FR 14020. The FAA preceded the SNPRM with a notice of proposed rulemaking NPRM that published in the Federal Register on June 22, 2006
71 FR 35836.
The NPRM was prompted by Canadian AD CF200424, dated November 24, 2004, issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, to correct an unsafe condition for Model 206L series helicopters. Transport Canada advised that eight low fuel level detectors of listed serial numbers S/Ns may have been installed on Model 206L series helicopters. These detectors could hang in the high position and fail to indicate the low fuel condition. Accordingly, Transport Canada advised removing the affected switch units from service.
The SNPRM was prompted by a significant lapse of time since publication of the NPRM. The SNPRM
also revised the NPRM by updating the type certificate holders name, updating the estimated cost information, clarifying and expanding the applicability, clarifying the requirements, adding a compliance time, adding parts installation prohibitions, and updating the AD
format.
The SNPRM proposed to require removing switch unit P/N 206063
613003 with S/N 1413, 1414, 1415, 1424, 1428, 1430, 1432, and 1433 from service and prohibit installing those switch units. The SNPRM proposed to require accomplishing an operational test of switch unit P/N 206063613
003 with a missing or illegible switch unit S/N or with an S/N that cannot be determined, and if the operational test fails, removing the switch unit from service. The SNPRM also proposed to prohibit installing switch unit P/N 206
063613003 with a missing or illegible switch unit S/N or with an S/N that cannot be determined unless it passes an operational test.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive Comments The FAA received no comments on the SNPRM or on the determination of the costs.
Conclusion These helicopters have been approved by the aviation authority of Canada and are approved for operation in the United States. Pursuant to the FAAs bilateral agreement with Canada, Transport Canada, its technical representative, has notified the FAA of the unsafe condition
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described in its AD. 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 helicopters.
Related Service Information The FAA reviewed Bell Helicopter Textron Alert Service Bulletin No.
206L04132, Revision A, dated October 4, 2004. This service information specifies procedures for determining whether any of eight specified serial-numbered detector switch units are installed because they may fail to indicate a low fuel condition. If the S/N is missing or unreadable, the service information specifies inspecting the switch unit to determine if it is an affected switch unit.
The service information also specifies removing each affected switch unit.
Differences Between This AD and the Transport Canada This AD applies to switch units with a missing or illegible S/N or with an S/N that cannot be determined, and requires certain actions for those switch units, whereas the Transport Canada AD
does not.
Costs of Compliance The FAA estimates that this AD
affects up to 558 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.
Replacing a switch unit takes about 4
work-hours and parts cost about $921
for an estimated cost of $1,261 per switch unit and up to $703,638 for the U.S. fleet. Accomplishing an operational test takes about 4 work-hours for an estimated cost of $340 per switch unit and up to $189,720 for the U.S. fleet.
Authority for This Rulemaking Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAAs 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 Agencys 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
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