Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 160 (Friday, August 17, 2012)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49710-49712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-20102]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-0517; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-73-AD; 
Amendment 39-17137; AD 2012-15-08]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
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 Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-76A helicopters to 
require modifying the electric rotor brake (ERB) and inserting changes 
into the ``Normal Procedures'' and ``Emergency Procedures'' sections of 
the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by a fire in 
the main gearbox area as a result of a hot electric rotor brake (ERB). 
The actions are intended to prevent overheating of the ERB, ignition of 
the ERB hydraulic fluid, a fire in the main gearbox area, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective September 21, 2012.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of September 21, 
2012.

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. You may review 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

[[Page 49711]]

Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Caspar Wang, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 
238-7799; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    A number of service documents and ADs have been issued relating to 
the ERB on this and similar model helicopters. AD 82-17-03, issued July 
30, 1982 (47 FR 35469, August 16, 1982), requires a puck-to-disc 
inspection of rotor brake, P/N 76363-09101-101, and modification of the 
ERB system including, among other modifications, installation of a 
warning relay by following Sikorsky Customer Service Bulletin No. 76-
66-10B, Revision 2, dated November 25, 1981 (pages 1 and 9 through 13 
of the service bulletin are dated November 25, 1981 and pages 2 through 
8 are dated July 30, 1981). AD 2003-04-15, issued February 14, 2003 (68 
FR 8994, February 27, 2003), requires inspecting certain rotor brake 
discs for cracks that resulted from improper heat treating of the disc.
    On October 26, 2011, at 76 FR 66205, 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 
helicopters with a different part-numbered ERB, part number (P/N) 
76363-09100-012, installed. That NPRM proposed to require, within 120 
days, modifying the ERB by installing and operationally testing the 
parts contained in an ERB warning relay kit (P/N 76070-55023-011), an 
ERB circuit modification kit (P/N 76070-55033-012), and an ERB 
modification kit (P/N 76070-55207-011). That NPRM was prompted by a 
reported incident of a fire occurring in an ERB installed on a Model S-
76A helicopter in Brazil. The proposed requirements were intended to 
prevent overheating of the ERB assembly, ignition of the ERB hydraulic 
fluid, fire in the main gearbox area, and subsequent loss of control of 
the helicopter.

Related Service Information

    We have reviewed the following documents from Sikorsky:
    <bullet> Customer Service Bulletin No. 76-66-10B, Revision 2, dated 
November 25, 1981 (pages 1 and 9 through 13 of the service bulletin are 
dated November 25, 1981 and pages 2 through 8 are dated July 30, 1981), 
which specifies installing an ERB warning relay kit;
    <bullet> Customer Service Notice No. 76-113, dated June 1, 1983, 
which specifies installing an ERB circuit breaker and modification kit;
    <bullet> Alert Service Bulletin No. 76-66-48B, Revision B, dated 
July 8, 2009, which specifies a one-time installation of an ERB 
modification kit containing two other kits and several modifications; 
and
    <bullet> RFM Supplement No. 41, Part 1, approved September 6, 2005, 
which revises the information in the basic RFM normal and emergency 
procedures sections when the ERB system is modified.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

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 the same type design and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed, except for 
editorial changes. These editorial changes are consistent with the 
intent of the proposals and will not increase the economic burden on 
any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 180 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. It will take about 38 work-hours per 
helicopter to perform the modifications and operational tests at an 
average labor rate of $85 per work-hour. Required parts will cost 
$13,300 per helicopter. Based on these figures, we estimate the total 
cost impact of the AD on U.S. operators to be $2,975,400 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

    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:

    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):

2012-15-08 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky): Amendment 39-
17137; Docket No. FAA-2010-0517; Directorate Identifier 2009-SW-73-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model S-76A helicopters, with an electric 
rotor brake

[[Page 49712]]

(ERB), part number (P/N) 76363-09100-012, installed, certificated in 
any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as an overheated ERB. This 
condition could result in ignition of hydraulic fluid, fire in the 
main gearbox area, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective September 21, 2012.

(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

    (1) Within 120 days, modify the ERB by installing:
    (i) Warning relay system parts contained in modification kit, P/
N 76070-55023-011, and operationally testing the ERB system in 
accordance with paragraphs 2.A. through 2.F., of Sikorsky Customer 
Service Bulletin No. 76-66-10B, Revision 2, dated November 25, 1981 
(pages 1 and 9 through 13 of the service bulletin are dated November 
25, 1981 and pages 2 through 8 are dated July 30, 1981);
    (ii) Circuit breaker and diodes contained in ERB circuit 
modification kit, P/N 76070-55033-012, and operationally testing the 
ERB system in accordance with paragraph B. through F. of Sikorsky 
Customer Service Notice 76-113, dated June 1, 1983; and
    (iii) Manifold, relay box, junction box, right-hand relay panel, 
and wiring harness parts contained in ERB modification kit, P/N 
76070-55207-011, and operationally testing the ERB system in 
accordance with paragraphs 3.B. through 3.I. of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No. 76-66-48B, 
Revision B, dated July 8, 2009.
    (2) After accomplishing paragraph (e)(1) of this AD, insert into 
the Sikorsky Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) the changes to the 
``Normal Procedures (Part 1, Section II)'' and ``Emergency 
Procedures (Part 1, Section III)'' contained in Sikorsky RFM, 
Supplement No. 41, approved September 6, 2005.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Caspar Wang, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7799; 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.

(g) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6321, Main Rotor 
Brake.

(h) Material Incorporated by Reference

    (1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the 
incorporation by reference (IBR) 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 Customer Service Bulletin No. 76-66-10B, Revision 
2, dated November 25, 1981 (pages 1 and 9 through 13 of the service 
bulletin are dated November 25, 1981 and pages 2 through 8 are dated 
July 30, 1981);
    (ii) Sikorsky Customer Service Notice No. 76-113, dated June 1, 
1983;
    (iii) Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No. 76-66-48B, Revision B, 
dated July 8, 2009; and
    (iv) Sikorsky Rotorcraft Flight Manual Supplement No. 41, Part 
1, approved September 6, 2005.
    (3) For Sikorsky 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 the FAA, Office of 
the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 
663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.
    (5) You may also view this service information 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/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on July 20, 2012.
Kim Smith,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2012-20102 Filed 8-16-12; 8:45 am]
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