[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 218 (Tuesday, November 16, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 63322-63324]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-24956]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1002; Project Identifier AD-2021-00332-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 Model S-76D helicopters. This 
proposed AD was prompted by reports that certain Thales global 
positioning system (GPS) satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) 
receivers provided, under certain conditions, erroneous outputs on 
aircraft positions. This proposed AD would require replacing affected 
GPS receivers and prohibit installing those GPS receivers. 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 [January 3, 
2022.

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, Mailstop K100, 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-2021-1002; 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: Nicholas Rediess, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: (781) 238-7159; 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 ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-1002; Project Identifier 
AD-2021-00332-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

[[Page 63323]]

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 
Nicholas Rediess, Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7159; fax: 
(781) 238-7199; 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 European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation 
Safety Agency) (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union, has issued EASA AD 2019-0004, dated 
January 11, 2019, and corrected on January 17, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-
0004), to correct an unsafe condition for Thales AVS France SAS 
(Thales), formerly Thales Avionics SAS, GPS/SBAS receivers, Topstar 200 
LPV, part number (P/N) C17149HA01 and C17149JA02, using SBAS, which are 
known to be installed on, but not limited to, certain Model ATR 42-500 
and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes and Sikorsky Model S-76D helicopters. EASA 
advises of reports indicating that Thales GPS SBAS receivers provided, 
under certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. EASA 
AD 2019-0004 requires actions to prevent compromise of the safety 
margins when the receiver is used for Localizer Performance with 
Vertical guidance (LPV) and/or RNP-AR (Required Navigation 
Performance--Authorization Required) operations. Following the issuance 
of EASA AD 2019-0004, the FAA issued AD 2020-08-02, Amendment 39-21108 
(85 FR 20586, April 14, 2020), to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.
    After the issuance of EASA AD 2019-0004, EASA issued related EASA 
AD 2021-0013, dated January 13, 2021 (EASA AD 2021-0013), in response 
to a software update that was developed to ensure correct navigational 
performance of certain Thales GPS SBAS receivers installed on ATR-GIE 
Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional, formerly EADS ATR--Alenia, 
Aerospatiale Matra ATR--ALENIA, Aerospatiale--Alenia, Aerospatiale--
Aeritalia, Model ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes.
    This proposed AD would require replacing affected GPS TopStar 200 
LPV receivers installed on Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-76D 
helicopters. The FAA is proposing this AD to address erroneous aircraft 
position outputs from the GPS SBAS receivers, which could result in 
controlled flight into terrain, 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 S-76D Helicopter Service Bulletin SB 76-
017, Basic Issue, dated May 11, 2021 (SB 76-017). SB 76-017 specifies 
procedures for removing, updating, and installing GPS TopStar 200 LPV 
receivers. SB 76-017 also provides instructions for sending the GPS 
receiver(s) to Thales Authorized Repair Stations for the software 
update.
    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.

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

    This proposed AD would require replacing each affected GPS receiver 
and prohibit installing an affected GPS receiver on any helicopter.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    SB 76-017 requires returning the GPS receiver(s) to Thales 
Authorized Repair Stations for the software update, while this proposed 
AD would require replacing the GPS receiver(s) instead.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD would affect 22 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.
    Replacing a GPS receiver would take about 3 work-hours and parts 
would cost about $7,400, for an estimated cost of $7,655 per GPS 
receiver and $336,820 for the U.S. 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.
    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.

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-2021-1002; Project 
Identifier AD-2021-00332-R.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive 
(AD) by January 3, 2022.

[[Page 63324]]

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD affects AD 2020-08-02, Amendment 39-21108 (85 FR 20586, 
April 14, 2020) (AD 2020-08-02).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-76D 
helicopters, certificated in any category, with Thales Global 
Positioning System (GPS) TopStar 200 LPV receiver part number (P/N) 
C17149HA01 installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 3457, Global 
Positioning System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports that certain Thales GPS 
satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) receivers provided, under 
certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in controlled 
flight into terrain and 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 130 hours time-in-service after the effective date of 
this AD, replace each affected GPS receiver identified in paragraph 
(c) of this AD with GPS receiver P/N C17149RA01 in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs A., C., and D., of 
Sikorsky S-76D Helicopter Service Bulletin SB 76-017, Basic Issue, 
dated May 11, 2021.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a GPS 
receiver identified in paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter.
    (3) Accomplishing paragraph (g)(1) of this AD terminates the 
requirements of AD 2020-08-02.

((h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, 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 paragraph 
(i)(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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Nicholas 
Rediess, Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7159; fax: 
(781) 238-7199; 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, Mailstop K100, 
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, 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 November 8, 2021.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2021-24956 Filed 11-15-21; 8:45 am]
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