[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 207 (Wednesday, October 26, 2011)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 66207-66209]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-27670]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2011-1115; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-011-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
(Sikorsky) Model S-92A Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. This proposal would 
require revising the Operating Limitations section of the Sikorsky 
Model S-92A Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This proposal is prompted 
by the manufacturer's analysis of engine data that revealed the data 
was inaccurate in dealing with available above specification engine 
power margin. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to 
prevent the use of inaccurate engine performance data in calculating 
maximum gross weight by revising the Operating Limitations section of 
the RFM.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 2011.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://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: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Coffey, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7173, fax (781) 238-7170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments 
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed 
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2011-1115, 
Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-011-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the 
proposed AD in light of those comments.
    We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We 
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the 
search function of our docket web site, you can find and read the 
comments to any of our dockets, including the name of the individual 
who sent or signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete 
Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 
2000 (65 FR 19477-78).

Examining the Docket

    You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any 
comments, and other information 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 Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is 
located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor of the West Building at the 
street address stated in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be 
available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

[[Page 66208]]

Discussion

    This document proposes adopting a new AD for the Sikorsky Model S-
92A helicopters. This proposal would require revising the Operating 
Limitations section, Part 1, Section 1, Weight Limits, of the Sikorsky 
Model S-92A RFM with the following statement ``Performance credit for 
above specification engine power margin is prohibited.'' Engine power 
margin is determined through power assurance checks. Previous flight 
manual revisions allowed for the use of above specification engine 
power margin as shown in the circled area of Figure 1 of this AD. The 
use of above-specification engine power margin is now being prohibited. 
Sikorsky has published various RFM revisions correcting the charts in 
Parts I and IV of the RFM. If those revisions have previously been 
incorporated into the RFM, the RFM revision specified by this proposed 
AD would not be required. The RFM revisions, all dated April 9, 2008, 
are as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Affected RFM                Revision with  correct charts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S92A-RFM-002...........................  Revision 8.
S92A-RFM-003...........................  Revision 7.
S92A-RFM-004...........................  Revision 6.
S92A-RFM-005...........................  Revision 5.
S92A-RFM-006...........................  Revision 6.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

     This proposal is prompted by the manufacturer's analysis of engine 
data that revealed the data was inaccurate in dealing with available 
engine power margin. The actions specified by this proposed AD are 
intended to prevent the use of inaccurate performance data in 
calculating maximum gross weight by revising the Operating Limitations 
section of the RFM.
    This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other 
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would 
require inserting a limitation into the Operating Limitation section of 
the RFM prohibiting the use of power margin percentage credit in 
calculating gross weight and inserting the revisions into the Operating 
Limitations, Part 1, Section 1, of Sikorsky RFM SA S92A-RFM-002, -003, 
-004, -005, and -006.
    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 37 helicopters of 
U.S. registry, and the proposed actions would take about 1 work hour 
per helicopter to insert the revisions into the RFM at an average labor 
rate of $85 per work hour. Parts costs are not associated with this AD. 
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the 
proposed AD on U.S. operators would be $3,145.

Regulatory Findings

    We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed 
AD would 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 the proposed 
regulation:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979);
    3. Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent that 
it justifies making a regulatory distinction; and
    4. 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.
    We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply 
with this proposed AD. See the AD docket to examine the draft economic 
evaluation.

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.
    We are 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as 
follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

    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]

    2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive 
to read as follows:

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2011-1115; Directorate 
Identifier 2010-SW-011-AD.

    Applicability: Model S-92A helicopters, certificated in any 
category.
    Compliance: Within 90 days, unless accomplished previously.
    To prevent the use of inaccurate performance data in calculating 
the maximum gross weight, revise the Operating Limitations section 
of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) as follows:
    (a) By making pen and ink changes, insert into the Operating 
Limitations section, Part 1, Section 1, Weight Limits, of RFM SA 
S92A-RFM-002, -003, -004, -005, and -006 the following limitation 
``Performance credit for above specification engine power margin is 
prohibited.''
    (b) If the RFM already contains the revisions appropriate for 
your helicopter as listed in the following Table 1, all dated April 
9, 2008, with the correct performance charts, without the 
performance credit as depicted in the circled area of Figure 1 of 
this AD, the operating limitation required by paragraph (a) of this 
AD does not need to be inserted into the RFM.

                                 Table 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
              Affected RFM                Revision with  correct charts
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S92A-RFM-002...........................  Revision 8.
S92A-RFM-003...........................  Revision 7.
S92A-RFM-004...........................  Revision 6.
S92A-RFM-005...........................  Revision 5.
S92A-RFM-006...........................  Revision 6.
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Note 1: Previous RFM revisions allowed for the use of above-
specification engine power margin as depicted in the circled area of 
Figure 1 of this AD.


[[Page 66209]]


[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP26OC11.066

    (c) To request a different method of compliance or a different 
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19. 
Contact the Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Attn: John Coffey Aviation Safety Engineer, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7173, fax (781) 238-
7170, for information about previously approved alternative methods 
of compliance.
    (d) The Joint Aircraft System/Component (JASC) Code is 7200: 
Engine (Turbine/Turboprop).

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 7, 2011.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2011-27670 Filed 10-25-11; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P