[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 160 (Monday, August 23, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 47041-47043]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-17948]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0689; Project Identifier AD-2020-01589-R]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; 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 certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A 
helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a cracked main rotor 
stationary swashplate assembly (swashplate assembly). This proposed AD 
would require visually inspecting the swashplate assembly at specified 
intervals and depending on the results, removing the swashplate 
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 October 7, 
2021.

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 your local 
Sikorsky Field Representative or Sikorsky's Service Engineering Group 
at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; 
telephone 1-800-946-4337 (1-800-Winged-S); email 
[email protected]. Operators may also log on to the 
Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360.com. 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 at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0689; 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: Jared Hyman, Aerospace Engineer,

[[Page 47042]]

Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone 781-238-
7799; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0689; Project Identifier 
AD-2020-01589-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 proposal because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) 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 NPRM.

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 Jared 
Hyman, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 
Massachusetts 01803; telephone 781-238-7799; email: 
[email protected]. 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 was notified of an in-service crack in a swashplate 
assembly inner ring. The crack, discovered during a routine inspection, 
extended between the uniball bore and near the right-hand trunnion to 
servo attach bolt hole. This condition, if not detected and corrected, 
could result in fretting wear on the shoulder that supports the clamp-
up of the uniball outer race, failure of the swashplate assembly, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe 
condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Alert Service 
Bulletin ASB 92-62-009, Basic Issue, dated February 6, 2019 (ASB). The 
ASB specifies a one-time visual inspection of the swashplate assembly 
to determine if there are any cracks. If cracks are found, the ASB 
specifies replacing the swashplate assembly. If there is any other 
damage such as nicks, dents, or scratches, the ASB specifies providing 
that damage information to Sikorsky. The ASB also specifies returning 
the swashplate assembly, uniball bearing, trunnions, and all attachment 
hardware to Sikorsky for investigation if cracks are found. 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 ADDRESSES.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require, within 50 hours time-in-service 
(TIS), and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS, visually 
inspecting the upper and lower surfaces of the swashplate assembly for 
a crack, nick, dent, and scratch. If there is a crack, nick, dent, or 
scratch that exceeds allowable limits, this proposed AD would require 
removing the swashplate assembly from service before further flight.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The ASB specifies a one-time visual inspection of the swashplate 
assembly; this proposed AD would require repetitive visual inspections 
of the swashplate assembly to determine if any crack, nick, dent, or 
scratch develops over time. This proposed AD would not require 
returning parts to or contacting Sikorsky, while the ASB specifies 
performing those actions.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD would affect 89 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry and that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this proposed AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per 
work-hour.
    Visually inspecting a swashplate assembly would take about 0.5 
work-hour, for an estimated cost of $43 per helicopter and $3,827 for 
the U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle.
    Replacing the swashplate assembly, if required, would take about 16 
work-hours and parts would cost about $389,720, for an estimated cost 
of $391,080 per 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.
    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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) Would not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

[[Page 47043]]

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:

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2021-0689; Project 
Identifier AD-2020-01589-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by October 7, 2021.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-92A 
helicopters, certificated in any category, with a main rotor 
stationary swashplate assembly (swashplate assembly) part number (P/
N) 92104-15011-042 or P/N 92104-15011-043 that has accumulated 1,600 
or more total hours time-in-service, installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code/Air Transport 
Association (ATA) of America Code 6230, Main Rotor Mast/Swashplate.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the discovery of a crack on the 
swashplate assembly inner ring. This condition, if not detected and 
corrected, could result in fretting wear on the shoulder that 
supports the clamp-up of the uniball outer race, failure of the 
swashplate assembly, and subsequent loss of control of the 
helicopter.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours 
TIS, visually inspect the swashplate assembly for a crack, nick, 
dent, and scratch, by following the Accomplishment Instructions, 
Section 3, paragraph B. (except paragraphs B.(2)(a) through (c)) of 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Alert Service Bulletin ASB 92-62-009, 
Basic Issue, dated February 6, 2019.
    (2) If there is a crack, nick, dent, or scratch that exceeds the 
allowable limits, before further flight, remove the swashplate 
assembly from service.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, 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 Related 
Information.
    (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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Jared Hyman, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 
01803; telephone 781-238-7799; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact your 
local Sikorsky Field Representative or Sikorsky's Service 
Engineering Group at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 124 Quarry Road, 
Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-946-4337 (1-800-Winged-S); email 
[email protected]. Operators may also log on to 
the Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360.com. You may 
view this referenced service information at the FAA, 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 August 16, 2021.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-17948 Filed 8-20-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P