Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 201 (Tuesday, October 18, 2016)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 71591-71593]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-24738]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-6640; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-084-AD; 
Amendment 39-18683; AD 2016-21-02]
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)

[[Page 71592]]

Model S-92A helicopters. This AD requires altering the fire bottle 
inertia switch wiring and performing a cartridge functional test of the 
fire extinguishing system. This AD was prompted by the inadvertent 
tripping of inertia-switches that has led to unintentional discharging 
of the fire bottles, leaving the helicopter's auxiliary power unit and 
engines without fire protection. The actions are intended to prevent 
unintentional and undetected fire bottle discharges and subsequent 
unavailability of fire suppression in case of a fire.

DATES: This AD is effective November 22, 2016.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of November 22, 
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 a 
copy of the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, 
Fort Worth, TX 76177. It is also available on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
6640.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2016-
6640; 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 Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kris Greer, Aviation Safety Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 
238-7799; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    On May 13, 2016, at 81 FR 29817, the Federal Register published our 
notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered 
Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. Sikorsky has informed us that the 
inadvertent tripping of inertia switches has caused several engine and 
auxiliary power unit fire bottle discharges during taxi, flight, and 
landing operations. Because these discharges are undetected, the fire 
bottles remain unavailable in the event of a fire.
    The NPRM proposed to require altering the fire bottle inertia 
switch wiring to disable the automatic feature of the fire 
extinguishing system and performing a cartridge functional test. The 
proposed requirements were intended to prevent an unintentional and 
undetected fire bottle discharge and subsequent unavailability of fire 
suppression in the event of a fire.
    Since the NPRM was issued, the email address for Sikorsky has 
changed. We have revised this email address throughout this final rule.

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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005A, Revision A, 
dated June 27, 2014 (ASB 92-26-005A). ASB 92-26-005A specifies 
performing a one-time alteration of the fire bottle inertia switch 
wiring to disable the automatic actuation feature of the fire 
extinguishing system. ASB 92-26-005A includes figures that depict the 
wiring and electrical connector pin changes.
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    We also reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005, Basic 
Issue, dated June 18, 2014 (ASB 92-26-005). ASB 92-26-005 contains the 
same procedures as ASB 92-26-005A. However, ASB 92-26-005A contains an 
additional figure.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    This AD has a compliance date within 90 days, and the service 
information has a calendar date, which has already passed. This AD does 
not require performing a cartridge functional test prior to alteration. 
The service information does specify performing a cartridge functional 
test prior to alteration.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 80 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs to comply 
with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Altering 
the fire bottle switch and performing a cartridge functional test will 
take about 2 work-hours. No parts are needed for an estimated cost of 
$170 per helicopter and $13,600 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.
    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;

[[Page 71593]]

    (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):

2016-21-02 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-18683; Docket 
No. FAA-2016-6640; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-084-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model S-92A helicopters, serial number 920006 
through 920250, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as inadvertent tripping of 
a fire bottle inertia-switch. This condition results in an 
unintentional and undetected fire bottle discharge and subsequent 
unavailability of fire suppression in the event of a fire.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 22, 2016.

(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

    Within 90 days:
    (1) Alter each fire bottle inertia switch by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B., of Sikorsky Alert 
Service Bulletin 92-26-005A, Revision A, dated June 27, 2014.
    (2) Perform a cartridge functional test.

(f) Credit for Actions Previously Completed

    Compliance with Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005, Basic 
Issue, dated June 18, 2014, before the effective date of this AD is 
considered acceptable for compliance with the actions specified in 
paragraph (e) of this AD.

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Kris Greer, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate,1200 District Avenue, Burlington, 
Massachusetts 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.

(h) Additional Information

    Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005, Basic Issue, dated 
June 18, 2014, which is not incorporated by reference, contains 
additional information about the subject of this final rule. 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: 2621 Fire Bottle, 
Fixed.

(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 Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005A, Revision A, 
dated June 27, 2014.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Sikorsky 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 October 3, 2016.
Lance T. Gant,
Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-24738 Filed 10-17-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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