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Federal Register / Vol. 86, No. 171 / Wednesday, September 8, 2021 / Rules and Regulations contact-support. 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. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 817 2225110.
Examining the AD Docket You may examine the AD docket at https www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No.
FAA20210539; 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, M
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steven Warwick, Aerospace Engineer, Certification Section, Fort Worth ACO
Branch, FAA, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Fort Worth, TX 76177; telephone 817
2225225; email Steven.R.Warwick@
faa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

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Background 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 Canada Limited Model 206, 206A, 206A1 OH58A, 206B, 206B1, 206L, 206L1, 206L3, 206L4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, 429, and 430 helicopters with a comfort clip installed; or that have been modified per Supplemental Type Certificate STC SH2073SO
installation of shoulder harness restraint system or STC SH2751SO
installation of a passenger shoulder harness restraint system.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2021 86 FR 35410.
In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require, within 25 hours time-in-service TIS after the effective date of the proposed AD, removing from service each comfort clip and inspecting each shoulder harness seat belt for a rip and abrasion. If there is a rip or abrasion, the NPRM proposed to require removing the shoulder harness seat belt from service before further flight. The NPRM also proposed to prohibit installing a comfort clip on any helicopter as of the effective date of the proposed AD.
The NPRM was prompted by Transport Canada AD CF201816, dated June 14, 2018 Transport Canada
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AD CF201816, issued by Transport Canada, which is the aviation authority for Canada, to correct an unsafe condition for all serial-numbered Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited now Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 206, 206A, 206A1, 206B, 206B
1, 206L, 206L1, 206L3, 206L4, 222, 222B, 222U, 230, 407, 427, 429 and 430
helicopters. Transport Canada advises that Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited delivered comfort clips with some helicopters, and that these comfort clips, which were also sold as spare parts or accessories, were intended to improve occupant comfort by reducing shoulder harness tension. However, Transport Canada advises the comfort clip may interfere with the shoulder harness inertia reel, preventing the harness from locking and resulting in injury to the occupant during an emergency landing. To prevent this unsafe condition, Transport Canada AD
CF201816 requires, within 25 hours air time or 10 days, whichever occurs first, determining if the comfort clips are installed. If the comfort clips are installed, Transport Canada AD CF
201816 requires removing them from service within 100 hours air time or 30
days, whichever occurs first, and inspecting each shoulder harness seat belt for damage and replacing any shoulder harness seat belt that has damage that exceeds allowable limits before further flight. Transport Canada AD CF201816 also prohibits the installation of any comfort clip on any helicopter.
Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive Comments The FAA received no comments on the NPRM 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 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 the following Bell Helicopter Alert Service Bulletins ASBs, each dated January 11, 2016:
ASB 22215112 for Model 222, 222B, and 222U helicopters with serial
PO 00000

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numbers S/N 47006 through 47089, 47131 through 47156, and 47501
through 47574 ASB 22215112;
ASB 2301546 for Model 230
helicopters with S/N 23001 through 23038;
ASB 40715111 for Model 407
helicopters with S/N 53000 through 53900, 53911 through 54166, and 54300
through 54599;
ASB 4271539 for Model 427
helicopters with S/N 56001 through 56084, 58001 and 58002 ASB 42715
39;
ASB 4291527 for Model 429
helicopters with S/N 57001 through 57259 ASB 4291527; and ASB 4301556 for Model 430
helicopters with S/N 49001 through 49129.
The FAA also reviewed the following Bell Helicopter ASBs, both Revision A
and both dated February 5, 2016:
ASB 20615133 for Model 206A/B
and TH67 helicopters with S/N 4
through 4690 and 5101 through 5313
ASB 20615133; and ASB 206L15175 for Model 206L, 206L1, 206L3, and 206L4 helicopters with S/N 45001 through 45153, 46601
through 46617, 45154 through 45790, 51001 through 51612, and 52001
through 52455 ASB 206L15175.
All of the ASBs specify removing all variants of comforts clips from all seat belt assemblies. ASB 22215112, ASB
4271539, and ASB 4291527 also specify that although the helicopter models to which these ASBs apply were not affected by the original design at the time of certification and delivery of the helicopter, the affected parts may have been installed post-delivery to end owners/operators of those helicopters.
ASB 20615133 and ASB 206L15
175 also specify that helicopters that have been modified per STC SH2073SO
installation of shoulder harness restraint system are affected and therefore included in the ASB
applicability.
ASB 206L15175 also specifies that helicopters that have been modified per STC SH2751SO installation of a passenger shoulder harness restraint system are affected and therefore included in the ASB applicability.
Differences Between This AD and the Transport Canada AD
This AD requires removing the comfort clip and inspecting the shoulder harness seat belt within 25
hours TIS; Transport Canada AD CF
201816 requires inspecting for the presence of a comfort clip at 25 hours air time, or 10 days, whichever occurs first, and then requires removing the comfort clip, if installed. Transport
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