[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 62 (Thursday, March 31, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18467-18468]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06906]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3942; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-064-AD; 
Amendment 39-18446; AD 2016-07-01]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-07-04R1 
for certain Model S-92A helicopters. AD 2014-07-04R1 required 
repetitive inspections in the upper deck area for incorrectly installed 
clamps and chafing between the electrical wires and the hydraulic lines 
and replacing any unairworthy wires or hydraulic lines. This new AD 
requires altering the wiring system in the upper deck area to correct 
the unsafe condition described in AD 2014-07-04R1. We are issuing this 
AD to prevent a fire in an area of the helicopter without extinguishing 
capability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective May 5, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 5, 2016.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service Engineering, 
124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-
416-4299; email [email protected]. You may review service 
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest 
Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, Texas 76177. It 
is also on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3942.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov in Docket No. FAA-2015-3942; or in person at the 
Docket Management Facility between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, any 
incorporated-by-reference information, the economic evaluation, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket 
Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, U.S. 
Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building 
Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 
20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian Lucas, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone 
(781) 238-7757; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to remove AD 2014-07-04R1, Amendment 39-17964 (79 FR 54893, 
September 15, 2014) and add a new AD. AD 2014-07-04R1 applied to 
certain serial-numbered Sikorsky S92A helicopters and required 
repetitively inspecting the upper deck area for incorrectly installed 
clamps and for chafing between the electrical wires and hydraulic 
lines.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2015 
(80 FR 57751). The NPRM was prompted by an alteration developed by 
Sikorsky that separates and re-routes the engine inlet feeder lines. 
The NPRM proposed to require this alteration to prevent chafing between 
the electrical lines and hydraulic hoses, which could result in a fire 
in an area of the helicopter without extinguishing capability and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
    Since the NPRM was issued, the mailing address for the Boston 
Aircraft Certification Office has changed. We have revised this contact 
information in this final rule to reflect the new mailing address.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (80 FR 57751, 
September 25, 2015).

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 
helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the 
public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Sikorsky has issued Special Service Instructions SSI No. 92-070A, 
Revision A, dated April 25, 2014 (SSI 92-070A), which contains 
procedures to alter the wiring system in the upper deck area to prevent 
chafing. This service information is reasonably available because the 
interested parties have access to it through their normal course of 
business or by means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

Other Related Service Information

    We also reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin ASB 92-20-003, 
Basic Issue, dated May 5, 2014 (ASB 92-20-003). ASB 92-20-003 specifies 
a one-time modification of the upper deck wiring harnesses to prevent 
possible chafing by complying with SSI 92-070A.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The service information provides a compliance date of November 5, 
2015; this AD requires a compliance time of 150 hours time-in-service. 
Also, the service information requires submitting

[[Page 18468]]

certain documentation to the manufacturer, and this AD does not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 20 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. 
Rerouting the upper deck wiring system and replacing and installing new 
parts will take 58 work-hours and $8,000 in required parts, for a total 
cost of $12,930 per helicopter and $258,600 for the fleet.

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

    We have determined that 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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.

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:

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


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
2014-07-04R1, Amendment 39-17964 (79 FR 54893, September 15, 2014), and 
adding the following new AD:

2016-07-01 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-18446; Docket 
No. FAA-2015-3942; Directorate Identifier 2014-SW-064-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model S-92A helicopters, serial number 920006 
through 920084, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an incorrectly installed 
clamp that does not provide adequate clearance to prevent chafing 
between the high voltage electrical lines and the hydraulic hoses. 
This condition could result in a fire in an area of the helicopter 
without extinguishing capability and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 2014-07-04R1, Amendment 39-17964 (79 FR 
54893, September 15, 2014).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective May 5, 2016.

(e) 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.

(f) Required Actions

    Within 150 hours time-in-service, reroute the left hand and 
right hand upper deck wiring system by complying with the 
Instructions, paragraph B, of Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Special 
Service Instructions SSI No. 92-070A, Revision A, dated April 25, 
2014.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Ian Lucas, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 
238-7757; 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) Additional Information

    Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Alert Service Bulletin ASB 92-20-
003, Basic Issue, dated May 5, 2014, which is not incorporated by 
reference, contains additional information about the subject of this 
AD. For service information identified in this final rule, contact 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service Engineering, 124 
Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-
416-4299; email [email protected]. You may review a copy of 
this service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 
76177.

(i) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2910 Main 
Hydraulic System.

(j) 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 Aircraft Corporation Special Service Instructions 
SSI No. 92-070A, Revision A, dated April 25, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service Engineering, 
124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 
203-416-4299; email [email protected].
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. 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 March 21, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-06906 Filed 3-30-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P