[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67009-67011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26043]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0514; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-068-AD; 
Amendment 39-17647; AD 2013-22-15]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
(Sikorsky) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
Sikorsky Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters to require certain 
inspections of each spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly 
for a crack. If there is a crack, this AD requires replacing the 
cracked part. If there is no crack, this AD requires applying white 
paint to the inspection area to enhance the existing inspection 
procedure. This AD was prompted by discovery of cracks in the spindle 
cuffs. The actions are intended to prevent failure of a spindle cuff 
assembly or blade fold cuff assembly, loss of a rotor blade, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective December 13, 2013.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of December 13, 
2013.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial Technical 
Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06614; 
telephone (800) 562-4409; email [email protected]; or at http://www.sikorsky.com.http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may

[[Page 67010]]

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.

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, 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: Nicholas Faust, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller 
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 
01803; telephone (781) 238-7763; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On June 20, 2013, at 78 FR 37160, the Federal Register published 
our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 
CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to Sikorsky Model S-76A, 
B, and C helicopters. The NPRM proposed either a one-time 
nondestructive inspection (NDI) or a visual inspection of each spindle 
cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly for a crack and replacing any 
cracked part. If there was no crack in the part, the NPRM proposed 
applying white paint to a portion of each spindle cuff assembly or 
blade fold cuff assembly lower cuff plate to enhance the existing 
inspection procedure. The NPRM was prompted by the discovery of five 
cracked spindle cuffs found during aircraft overhaul. The proposed 
requirements were intended to prevent failure of a spindle cuff 
assembly or blade fold cuff assembly, loss of a rotor blade, 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 37160, 
June 20, 2013).

FAA's Determination

    We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an 
unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of these same type designs and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information

    Sikorsky issued S-76 Alert Service Bulletin ASB 76-65-67A, Revision 
A, dated July 18, 2012 (ASB), which specifies performing an NDI of the 
upper and lower cuff plate on each spindle cuff assembly or blade fold 
cuff assembly for a crack, either by eddy current, fluorescent 
penetrant, or ultrasonic inspection. If a crack indication is detected 
and not verified, the ASB specifies performing a different NDI to 
verify a crack. If there is a crack, the ASB specifies removing the 
spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly from service. If a 
crack cannot be verified, the ASB specifies contacting Sikorsky for 
further instruction. Finally, if no crack is found, the ASB specifies 
applying white paint to a portion of the spindle cuff assembly or blade 
fold cuff assembly lower cuff plate to enhance the existing inspection 
procedure.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The ASB specifies contacting the manufacturer if suspect cracks are 
not confirmed in the spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly; 
this AD does not require contacting the manufacturer. This AD applies 
to spindle cuff assembly, part number (P/N) 76102-08001-043, which was 
inadvertently omitted in the ASB. The manufacturer has since revised 
the ASB to apply to this spindle cuff assembly. The ASB applies to 
spare parts; this AD does not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 181 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD, based on an average labor cost of $85 per work 
hour: It will take 2.5 work hours to do an NDI and 2 work hours to 
apply the white paint. It will cost $15 in materials for the paint for 
each helicopter. Based on these estimates, it will cost a total of $398 
per helicopter and $72,038 for the fleet.
    If it is necessary to replace a spindle cuff assembly or a blade 
cuff assembly, it will take 2.5 work hours and an estimated parts cost 
of $54,000, for a total cost of $54,212 for each helicopter.

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.

Regulatory Findings

    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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 AD and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

Adoption of the Amendment

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

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:


[[Page 67011]]


    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

2013-22-15 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-17647; FAA-
2013-0514; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-068-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters 
with a serial number up to and including 760822 and with a spindle 
cuff assembly, part number (P/N) 76102-08001-043, -045 or -046, or a 
blade fold cuff assembly, P/N 76150-09601-041, installed, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in a spindle 
cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly. This condition could 
result in failure of a spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff 
assembly, loss of a rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective December 13, 2013.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the specified compliance time unless it has already been 
accomplished prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 150 hours time-in-service (TIS):
    (1) For each spindle cuff assembly or blade cuff assembly with 
1,900 or more hours TIS, conduct a nondestructive inspection (NDI) 
by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B., of 
Sikorsky S-76 Alert Service Bulletin ASB 76-65-67A, Revision A, 
dated July 18, 2012 (ASB), except this AD does not require you to 
contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. This inspection must be done 
by a level 2 or higher technician with National Aerospace Standard 
410 or equivalent certification.
    (2) For each spindle cuff assembly or blade cuff assembly with 
less than 1,900 hours TIS, visually inspect the area indicated in 
Figure 4 of the ASB as ``white paint application area'' for a crack 
by using a 5x or higher power magnifying glass.
    (3) If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the 
cracked part.
    (4) If there is no crack, apply white paint by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.D., of the ASB.
    (5) Do not install an affected spindle cuff assembly or blade 
fold cuff assembly on any helicopter unless it has been inspected in 
accordance with paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(4) of this AD.

(f) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits will not be issued.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Nicholas Faust, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone 
(781) 238-7763; email [email protected].
    (2) For operations conducted under a 14 CFR part 119 operating 
certificate or under 14 CFR part 91, subpart K, we suggest that you 
notify your principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, 
the manager of the local flight standards district office or 
certificate holding district office before operating any aircraft 
complying with this AD through an AMOC.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220 Main Rotor 
Head.

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference of the service information listed in this 
paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
    (2) You must use this service information as applicable to do 
the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.
    (i) Sikorsky S-76 Alert Service Bulletin ASB 76-65-67A, Revision 
A, dated July 18, 2012.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial Technical 
Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06614; 
telephone (800) 562-4409; email [email protected]; or at 
http://www.sikorsky.com.
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, 
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. For information on the availability of this 
material at the FAA, call (817) 222-5110.
    (5) You may view this service information that is incorporated 
by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration 
(NARA). For information on the availability of this material at 
NARA, call (202) 741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 24, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-26043 Filed 11-7-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P