[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 207 (Monday, October 26, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67692-67694]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-23466]



[[Page 67692]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0920; Project Identifier AD-2020-00662-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft 
Corporation Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for all Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R 
helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S-
61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters. This proposed AD was 
prompted by the manufacturer determining that there may be arm 
assemblies in service that have accumulated 15,000 or more hours time-
in-service (TIS), which exceeds the service life limit for this 
component. This proposed AD would require reviewing the mixer unit 
component log card or equivalent record and, depending on the number of 
hours TIS, calculating the remaining life of the arm assembly or 
removing the arm assembly from service. The FAA is proposing this AD to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 
10, 2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://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: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Sikorsky 
Aircraft Corporation, 6900 Main Street, P.O. Box 9729, Stratford, CT 
06615; phone: 203-386-4000. You may view this service information at 
the 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.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0920; 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 NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street 
address for Docket Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Neil Doh, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 
781-238-7757; fax: 781-238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2020-0920; 
Project Identifier AD-2020-00662-R'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 
explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting 
data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date 
and may amend this NPRM because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the 
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each 
substantive verbal contact received about this proposal.

Confidential Business Information

    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to 
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you 
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page 
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat 
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will 
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing 
CBI should be sent to Neil Doh, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, 
FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any commentary that 
the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be 
placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

    The FAA proposes to adopt a new AD for Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-
61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft 
Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, and S-61V restricted category 
helicopters, with an arm assembly, part number S6140-62614-009, 
installed. The FAA learned from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation that 
Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 61B General-1, 
Revision No. Z, dated November 13, 2018, which is applicable to 
Sikorsky Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters, failed to 
include the life limit of the redesigned arm assembly. As a result, 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation determined that there may be arm 
assemblies in service with 15,000 or more hours TIS, which exceeds the 
service life limit for this component. The proposed actions are 
intended to prevent an arm assembly from remaining in service beyond 
its life limit. This condition, if not addressed, could result in 
reduced or loss of tail rotor control and reduced control of the 
helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM because the agency has determined that 
the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop 
in other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter ASB 61B40-11, Basic 
Issue, dated March 2, 2020 (``the ASB''). The ASB describes procedures 
for a one-time inspection of the mixer unit component log card to 
verify the arm assembly life limit and, if the life limit has been 
exceeded, to replace the arm assembly for Sikorsky Model S-61L, S-61N, 
and S-61NM helicopters. This service information is reasonably 
available because the interested parties have access to it through 
their normal course of business or by the means identified in the 
ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 67693]]

Other Related Service Information

    The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter ASB 61B General-1, 
Revision AA, dated February 24, 2020. This service information 
summarizes and lists parts with mandatory retirement times and 
inspections for Sikorsky Model S-61L, S-61N, and S-61NM helicopters.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require reviewing the mixer unit component 
log card or equivalent record and, depending on the hours time-in-
service of the arm assembly, calculating the remaining life of the arm 
assembly or removing the arm assembly from service.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The ASB is effective only for Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, 
and S-61NM helicopters. In addition to these helicopters, the 
applicability of this proposed AD also includes Sikorsky Aircraft Model 
S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, 
S-61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters. The FAA is proposing 
to expand the applicability to prevent the installation of arm 
assemblies that have exceeded their life limits on helicopters with a 
similar type design as those helicopters affected by the ASB.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD, as proposed, would affect 13 
helicopters of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
               Action                         Labor cost            Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Review mixer unit component log or   1 work-hour x $85 per hour               $0             $85          $1,105
 equivalent record.                   = $85.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary log entry 
or replacement that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed mixer unit component log or equivalent record review. The FAA 
has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might need 
this log entry or replacement:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                   Action                                 Labor cost                Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Add arm assembly entry and determine         1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85...              $0             $85
 remaining life.
Replace arm assembly.......................  9 work-hours x $85 per hour = $765.           5,035           5,800
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    According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed 
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on 
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for 
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in 
the cost estimate.

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.
    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 that 
authority because it addresses an unsafe condition that is likely to 
exist or develop on products identified in this rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism 
implications under Executive Order 13132. 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 this proposed 
regulation:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the 
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Sikorsky Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. FAA-
2020-0920; Project Identifier AD-2020-00662-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by December 10, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, 
and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

[[Page 67694]]

Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, and S-61V helicopters, certificated in 
any category including restricted, with an arm assembly, part number 
S6140-62614-009, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6720, Tail Rotor 
Control System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the manufacturer determining that there 
may be arm assemblies in service with 15,000 or more hours time-in-
service (TIS), which exceeds the life limit for this component. The 
FAA is issuing this AD to prevent reduced or loss of tail rotor 
control. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
reduced control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Action

    (1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, review 
the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record to determine 
if the affected arm assembly is entered with the appropriate 15,000 
hours TIS life limit.
    (2) If the affected arm assembly is not included on the mixer 
unit component log card or equivalent record, within 90 days after 
the effective date of this AD, add the arm assembly entry to the 
mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and determine the 
remaining life of the arm assembly using the Accomplishment 
Instructions, Section 3.A.(3) of Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter Alert 
Service Bulletin (ASB) 61B40-11, Basic Issue, dated March 2, 2020 
(``the ASB'').
    (3) If, based on the review required by paragraphs (g)(1) and 
(2) of this AD, the arm assembly has accumulated 15,000 or more 
hours TIS, before further flight, remove the arm assembly from 
service. If the hours TIS for the affected arm assembly cannot be 
determined, before further flight, remove the affected arm assembly 
from service.
    (4) For arm assemblies that have not accumulated 15,000 or more 
hours TIS, thereafter, continue to determine the remaining life of 
the arm assembly and remove the arm assembly from service before it 
accumulates 15,000 hours TIS.

(h) Credit for Previous Actions

    You may take credit for adding the arm assembly entry to the 
mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and determining 
the remaining life of the arm assembly required by paragraphs (g)(1) 
and (2) of this AD if you performed these actions before the 
effective date of this AD using Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter ASB 61B 
General-1, Revision AA, dated February 24, 2020.

(i) Special Flight Permit

    Special flight permits, as described in Section 21.197 and 
Section 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 
and 21.199), are subject to the requirements of paragraph (g)(3) of 
this AD. Operators who are prohibited from further flight due to 
exceeding the life limit in paragraph (g)(3) of this AD, may only 
perform a maintenance check or a one-time ferry flight to a location 
where the affected arm assembly can be removed from service. This 
ferry flight must be performed with only essential flight crew.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Neil Doh, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, 
Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7757; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 6900 Main Street, P.O. Box 9729, 
Stratford, CT 06615; phone: 203-386-4000. You may view this 
referenced service information at the 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.

    Issued on October 14, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-23466 Filed 10-23-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P