Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Schweizer Aircraft Corporation)

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33778-33780]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15032]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-6968; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-020-AD; 
Amendment 39-18950; AD 2017-14-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
Helicopters (Type Certificate Previously Held by Schweizer Aircraft 
Corporation)

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 93-17-13 for 
Schweizer Aircraft Corporation and Hughes Helicopters, Inc. (now 
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation) (Sikorsky) Model TH55A, 269A, 269A-1, 
269B, and 269C helicopters. AD 93-17-13 required installing tachometer 
markings and inspecting the lower coupling driveshaft (driveshaft). 
This new AD requires repetitive inspections of the driveshaft and 
expands the applicability to include Model 269C-1 helicopters. This AD 
is prompted by reports of accidents because of driveshaft failures. The 
actions of this AD are intended to prevent the unsafe condition on 
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 25, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of August 25, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of 
October 20, 1993 (58 FR 51770, October 5, 1993).

ADDRESSES: For Schweizer or 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]. 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-2016-6968.

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-
6968; 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: Blaine Williams, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 
238-7161; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to remove AD 93-17-13, Amendment 39-8684 (58 FR 51770, October 
5, 1993) and add a new AD. AD 93-17-13 applied to Schweizer Aircraft 
Corporation and Hughes Helicopters, Inc. (now Sikorsky) Model TH55A, 
269A, 269A-1, 269B, and 269C helicopters. AD 93-17-13 required within 
30 days or 100 hours time-in-service (TIS), whichever occurs first and 
thereafter every 300 hours TIS, visually inspecting for cracks, 
machining steps, manufacturing tool marks, surface defects, and lack of 
cleanup during the production grinding operation. AD 93-17-13 also 
required installing engine and rotor tachometer markings and replacing 
any unairworthy driveshaft before further flight.
    The NPRM published in the Federal Register on January 5, 2017 (82 
FR 1267) and was prompted by a safety analysis by Sikorsky that 
determined the initial and recurrent inspection intervals and 
inspection method required by AD 93-17-13 were not adequate to detect 
all corrosion, pits, nicks, scratches, dents, and cracks. Accidents due 
to driveshaft failures continued to occur after AD 93-17-13 was issued. 
Therefore, the NPRM proposed to require, within 25 hours TIS and 
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 150 hours TIS, visually 
inspecting the driveshaft. If there are no cracks, corrosion, or other 
damage, the NPRM proposed performing a magnetic particle inspection. If 
there is a crack or

[[Page 33779]]

other damage, the NPRM proposed to require replacing the driveshaft 
before further flight. The NPRM also proposed adding tachometer 
markings if not previously performed. Expanding the applicability to 
include Model 269C-1 helicopters was also proposed because these 
helicopters were not manufactured when AD 93-17-13 was issued but have 
the applicable driveshafts installed. Finally, the NPRM proposed to 
include specific part-numbered driveshafts to the applicability because 
Sikorsky is developing a new driveshaft that we do not expect to be 
subject to this AD.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we received no 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 these same type designs and that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD to be an interim action. The design approval 
holder is developing a replacement driveshaft that will address the 
unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once the replacement driveshaft 
is developed, approved, and available, we might consider additional 
rulemaking.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Sikorsky 269C Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin B-307, 
Basic Issue, dated December 18, 2014, and Sikorsky 269C-1 Helicopter 
Alert Service Bulletin C1B-043, Basic Issue, dated December 18, 2014 
(ASBs). The ASBs call for a one-time visual and magnetic particle 
inspection of the driveshaft and driveshaft assembly for damage. The 
ASBs advise that the driveshaft be sent to Sikorsky and replaced if 
damaged. The inspection is to be accomplished within 25 hours TIS or 
within 180 days from the ASBs' issue date, whichever comes first. 
Sikorsky has since revised its maintenance manual to incorporate these 
inspections every 150 hours TIS.
    We also reviewed Schweizer Aircraft Service Bulletin B-257.1, dated 
May 21, 1993 (ASB B-257.1). ASB B-257.1 calls for a one-time inspection 
to look for drive-shaft defects; installing declutched limit markings 
on the engine/rotor tachometer to reinforce operating limits; and 
prohibiting engine declutched operations above 1600 RPM.
    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.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

    The Sikorsky service information calls for the initial inspection 
to be completed within 180 days or 25 hours TIS. This AD requires that 
the initial inspection to be completed within 25 hours TIS only. The 
service information requires contacting Sikorsky if a certain part-
numbered driveshaft is installed, emailing information to Sikorsky, and 
returning damaged parts to Sikorsky; this AD does not.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 619 helicopters of U.S. Registry 
and that labor costs average $85 per work hour. Based on these 
estimates, we expect the following costs:
    <bullet> We estimate that the visual and magnetic particle 
inspections of the driveshaft requires 11 work hours for a cost of $935 
per helicopter and $578,765 for the U.S. fleet per inspection cycle.
    <bullet> Replacing the driveshaft, if needed, costs about $4,574 
for parts. No additional labor costs are necessary.
    <bullet> Installing engine and rotor tachometer markings requires 
0.5 work-hour for a labor cost of about $43. The cost of parts is 
minimal.

Interim Action

    We consider this AD to be an interim action. The design approval 
holder is developing a replacement driveshaft that will address the 
unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once the replacement driveshaft 
is developed, approved and available, we might consider additional 
rulemaking.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 
93-17-13, Amendment 39-8684 (58 FR 51770, October 5, 1993) and adding 
the following new AD:

2017-14-06 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Type Certificate 
Previously Held By Schweizer Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-
18950; Docket No. FAA-2016-6968; Directorate Identifier 2015-SW-020-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model TH55A, 269A, 269A-1, 269B, 269C and 
269C-1 helicopters,

[[Page 33780]]

with a lower coupling driveshaft (driveshaft) part number (P/N) 269-
5412, 269A5504, 269A5504-003, 269A5504-005, 269A5559, or 269A5559-
003 installed, certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as failure of a driveshaft. 
This condition could result in loss of power to the rotor system and 
subsequent loss of helicopter control.

(c) Affected ADs

    This AD supersedes AD 93-17-13, Amendment 39-8684 (58 FR 51770, 
October 5, 1993).

(d) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 25, 2017.

(e) 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.

(f) Required Actions

    (1) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), install engine and 
rotor tachometer markings in accordance with Part II of Schweizer 
Aircraft Service Bulletin B-257.1, dated May 21, 1993.
    (2) Within 25 hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to 
exceed 150 hours TIS:
    (i) Visually inspect the driveshaft for corrosion, a pit, a 
nick, a scratch, a dent, and a crack in accordance with the 
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B.(1) through 3.B.(6) of 
Sikorsky 269C Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin B-307, Basic Issue, 
dated December 18, 2014 (269C ASB), or Sikorsky 269C-1 Helicopter 
Alert Service Bulletin C1B-043, Basic Issue, dated December 18, 2014 
(269C-1 ASB), whichever is applicable for your model helicopter, 
except we do not require that you use a Sikorsky recommended vendor 
list. If there is any corrosion, a pit, a nick, a scratch, a dent, 
or a crack, replace the driveshaft before further flight.
    (ii) If there is no corrosion and no pits, nicks, scratches, 
dents, and cracks, magnetic particle inspect the driveshaft for a 
crack in accordance with paragraph 3.C.(1) of the 269C ASB or 269C-1 
ASB, whichever is applicable for your model helicopter. This 
magnetic particle inspection must be performed by a Level II or 
higher technician with the National Aerospace Standard 410 or 
equivalent certification who has performed a magnetic particle 
inspection within the last 12 months. If there is a crack, replace 
the driveshaft before further flight.

(g) Credit for Actions Previously Completed

    Compliance with paragraph (a)(1) of AD 93-17-13, Amendment 39-
8684 (58 FR 51770, October 5, 1993) before the effective date of 
this AD is considered acceptable for compliance with the actions 
specified in paragraph (f)(1) of this AD.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Blaine Williams, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 
Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7161; 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.

(i) Additional Information

    For Schweizer or Sikorsky service information identified in this 
AD, 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 information at the FAA, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 
Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

(j) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6300, Main Rotor 
Drive System.

(k) 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.
    (3) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
August 25, 2017.
    (i) Sikorsky 269C Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin B-307, Basic 
Issue, dated December 18, 2014.
    (ii) Sikorsky 269C-1 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin C1B-043, 
Basic Issue, dated December 18, 2014.
    (4) The following service information was approved for IBR on 
October 20, 1993 (58 FR 51770, October 5, 1993).
    (i) Schweizer Aircraft Corporation Service Bulletin B-257.1, 
dated May 21, 1993.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (5) For Schweizer or Sikorsky service information identified in 
this AD, 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].
    (6) 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.
    (7) 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 July 3, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-15032 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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