Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 139 (Friday, July 21, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 33780-33782]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-15033]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5443; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-021-AD; 
Amendment 39-18884; AD 2017-10-10]
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-92A helicopters. This 
AD requires installing an engine flame detector bracket assembly and 
harness assembly. This AD was prompted by reports of false fire 
warnings. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an 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.

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-
5443.

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-
5443; or in person at the Docket

[[Page 33781]]

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: Kristopher Greer, Aerospace 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 December 27, 2016, at 81 FR 95066, 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 Sikorsky Model 
S-92A helicopters, serial numbers 920006 through 920298. The NPRM 
proposed to require installing a No. 2 engine outboard flame detector 
bracket assembly (bracket) and a No. 2 engine flame detector harness 
assembly (harness), if not already installed or if the bracket was not 
installed before the harness. The proposed AD was prompted by reports 
of false fire indications from the No. 2 engine outboard flame 
detectors. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a false 
fire warning, which could result in an unnecessary emergency landing or 
ditching.

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.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    We reviewed Sikorsky S-92 Customer Service Notice 92-094, Revision 
B, dated June 14, 2016, which provides procedures for installing 
harness part number (P/N) 92310-04201-041.
    We also reviewed Sikorsky Special Service Instructions No. 92-107G, 
Revision G, dated February 25, 2016, (SSI No. 92-107G) which specifies 
installing new brackets, P/N 92070-30033-011, 92070-30033-014, and 
92070-30033-015, to increase the stability of the No. 2 engine outboard 
flame detector.
    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.

Other Related Service Information

    We reviewed Sikorsky S-92 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 92-26-006, 
Basic Issue, dated February 25, 2016. This service information provides 
instructions for installing a new bracket by complying with SSI No. 92-
107G. We also reviewed S-92 ASB 92-26-007, Basic Issue, dated June 14, 
2016. This service information specifies installing harness P/N 92310-
04201-041 after or concurrently with the new bracket.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD affects 50 helicopters of U.S. Registry 
and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these 
estimates, we expect that installing a new bracket and harness requires 
15.25 work hours for a labor cost of about $1,296. Parts cost $100 for 
a total cost of about $1,396 per helicopter and $69,800 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;
    (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):

2017-10-10 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-18884; Docket 
No. FAA-2016-5443; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-021-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 
Model S-92A helicopters, serial numbers 920006 through 920298, 
certificated in any category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a false fire warning. 
This condition could result in an unnecessary emergency landing or 
ditching.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective August 25, 2017.

(d) Compliance

    You are responsible for performing each action required by this 
AD within the

[[Page 33782]]

specified compliance time unless it has already been accomplished 
prior to that time.

(e) Required Actions

    Within 180 hours time-in-service:
    (1) For helicopters with a No. 2 engine outboard flame detector 
bracket assembly (bracket) (either part number (P/N) 92070-30033-
014, or both P/N 92070-30033-011 and 92070-30033-015) installed, and 
with a No. 2 engine flame detector harness assembly (harness) P/N 
92310-04201-041 installed: If the harness was installed before the 
bracket, replace the harness.
    (2) For helicopters with a bracket (either P/N 92070-30033-014, 
or both P/N 92070-30033-011 and 92070-30033-015) installed, and 
without a harness P/N 92310-04201-041 installed: Remove the harness 
and install harness P/N 92310-04201-041 by following the 
Accomplishment Instructions, section 3.C.1, of Sikorsky S-92 
Customer Service Notice 92-094, Revision B, dated June 14, 2016 (CSN 
92-094).
    (3) For helicopters without a bracket (either P/N 92070-30033-
014, or both P/N 92070-30033-011 and 92070-30033-015) installed, and 
with a harness P/N 92310-04201-041 installed:
    (i) Install a bracket P/N 92070-30033-014 by following the 
Instructions, paragraph D, of Sikorsky Special Service Instructions 
No. 92-107G, Revision G, dated February 25, 2016 (SSI 92-107G).
    (ii) Replace the harness.
    (4) For helicopters without a bracket (either P/N 92070-30033-
014, or both P/N 92070-30033-011 and 92070-30033-015) installed, and 
without a harness P/N 92310-04201-041 installed:
    (i) Install a bracket P/N 92070-30033-014 by following the 
Instructions, paragraph D, of SSI 92-107G.
    (ii) Remove the harness and install harness P/N 92310-04201-041 
by following the Accomplishment Instructions, section 3.C.1, of CSN 
92-094.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may 
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Kristopher Greer, 
Aerospace 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.

(g) Additional Information

    Sikorsky S-92 Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-006, Basic Issue, 
dated February 25, 2016, and Sikorsky S-92 Alert Service Bulletin 
92-26-007, Basic Issue, dated June 14, 2016, which are not 
incorporated by reference, contain additional information about the 
subject of this AD. For 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 this service information at the FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-
321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

(h) Subject

    Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 2612, Fire 
Detection.

(i) 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 S-92 Customer Service Notice 92-094, Revision B, 
dated June 14, 2016.
    (ii) Sikorsky Special Service Instructions No. 92-107G, Revision 
G, dated February 25, 2016.
    (3) For 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].
    (4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the 
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkw., 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 May 5, 2017.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-15033 Filed 7-20-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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