Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 204 (Tuesday, October 24, 2017)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 49095-49097]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-22951]



[[Page 49095]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2017-0946; Product Identifier 2017-SW-045-AD; Amendment 
39-19081; AD 2017-22-01]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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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 adding operating limitations to a rotorcraft flight manual 
(RFM). This AD is prompted by test results showing decoupling of the 
flight director (FD) in certain flight conditions. The actions of this 
AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD becomes effective November 8, 2017.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of November 8, 
2017.
    We must receive comments on this AD by December 26, 2017.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
    <bullet> Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions for sending your 
comments electronically.
    <bullet> Fax: 202-493-2251.
    <bullet> Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of 
Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, 
Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-0001.
    <bullet> Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ``Mail'' address between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.

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-2017-
0946; 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 (telephone 800-647-
5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD 
docket shortly after receipt.
    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 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-2017-
0946.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick Rediess, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7159; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight 
safety, and we did not provide you with notice and an opportunity to 
provide your comments prior to it becoming effective. However, we 
invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written 
comments, data, or views. We also invite comments relating to the 
economic, environmental, energy, or federalism impacts that resulted 
from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific 
portion of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and 
include supporting data. To ensure the docket does not contain 
duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written 
comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should 
submit them only one time. We will file in the docket all comments that 
we receive, as well as a report summarizing each substantive public 
contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the 
comment period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may 
conduct additional rulemaking based on those comments.

Discussion

    We are adopting a new AD for Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters with 
a Flight Control Computer (FCC) part number 92900-01802-112 installed. 
The FCC is part of the Search and Rescue (SAR) Automatic Flight Control 
System (AFCS). During laboratory testing, Sikorsky discovered a defect 
in the FCC software that results in the FD decoupling in all three axes 
when pilot input is made to transition between two SAR AFCS modes. When 
the AFCS is engaged in SAR Approach 2 (APP2) with an indicated airspeed 
below V<INF>MINI</INF> (50 KIAS), the decoupling will occur if the 
pilot initiates a transition to Velocity Hover Hold (VHLD) mode by 
pressing the VHLD button on the Mode Select Panel (MSP). The decoupling 
is annunciated to the pilot but only after a three-second delay. During 
the delay, the rotorcraft may pitch up with the rate of descent 
increases to as much as 450 fpm. Because of this, the pilot must take 
immediate manual control of the rotorcraft after decoupling. This 
condition could result in loss of control of the helicopter and flight 
into terrain. According to Sikorsky, the root cause of the failure is 
under investigation.

FAA's Determination

    We are issuing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant 
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is 
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Sikorsky has issued SA S92A-RFM-003 RFM Supplement (RFMS) No. 4 
(Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 RFMS No. 4), Revision 1, approved October 6, 
2017, for the Model S-92A helicopter SAR AFCS. This revision of the 
RFMS prohibits engaging VHLD during coupled SAR APP2 mode via MSP soft 
key, adds a warning explaining the decoupling event and subsequent 
aircraft behavior, and adds a note regarding correctly activating VHLD 
mode with the cyclic trim release switch or selecting VHLD during Mark-
On-Top (MOT).
    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

    Sikorsky has issued letter CCS-92-APL-17-0001, dated July 31, 2017, 
for Model S-92A helicopters, which describes the conditions that result 
in the FD decoupling and provides instructions on how to avoid it. This 
service information further provides instructions for re-engaging the 
FD if decoupling occurs.

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AD Requirements

    This AD requires revising the Operating Limitations section of 
Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 RFMS No. 4 by prohibiting engaging VHLD via 
either MSP soft key during coupled SAR APP2 mode, adding a warning 
describing the decoupling event and subsequent AFCS and aircraft 
behavior, and adding a note regarding correctly activating VHLD mode 
with the cyclic trim release switch or selecting VHLD during MOT.

Interim Action

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

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 87 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry. We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in 
order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per 
work-hour.
    Revising the RFMS will take about 0.5 work-hour for an estimated 
cost of $43 per helicopter and $3,741 for the U.S. fleet.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

    Providing an opportunity for public comments prior to adopting 
these AD requirements would delay implementing the safety actions 
needed to correct this known unsafe condition. Therefore, we find that 
the risk to the flying public justifies waiving notice and comment 
prior to the adoption of this rule because the required corrective 
actions must be completed within 10 hours time-in-service.
    Since an unsafe condition exists that requires the immediate 
adoption of this AD, we determined that notice and opportunity for 
public comment before issuing this AD are impracticable and that good 
cause exists for making this amendment effective in less than 30 days.

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

    We determined that 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, 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):

2017-22-01 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-19081; Docket 
No. FAA-2017-0946; Product Identifier 2017-SW-045-AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Model S-92A helicopters, certificated in any 
category, with a Search and Rescue (SAR) Automatic Flight Control 
System installed with a Flight Control Computer (FCC) part number 
92900-01802-112.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a software defect in the 
FCC. This condition could result in unintended decoupling of the 
flight director in all three axes and flight into terrain.

(c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective November 8, 2017.

(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 10 hours time-in-service, revise the operating 
limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual by adding the 
information in Figure 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD as paragraph 4, 
System Limits, in Section 1 of Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 Rotorcraft 
Flight Manual Supplement (RFMS) No. 4 for the SAR AFCS (Sikorsky SA 
S92A-RFM-003 RFMS No. 4). This action may be done by:
    (1) Inserting a copy of this AD;
    (2) Making pen-and-ink changes; or
    (3) Inserting pages 1-2 and 1-3/1-4 of Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 
RFMS No. 4, Revision 1, approved October 6, 2017. Using a different 
Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 RFMS No. 4 revision with information 
identical to that in paragraph 4, System Limits, from Section 1 of 
Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 RFMS No. 4, Revision 1, approved October 6, 
2017, is acceptable for compliance with the requirements of this AD.

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(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, may approve AMOCs for 
this AD. Send your proposal to: Nick Rediess, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-
7159; 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 letter CCS-92-APL-17-0001, dated July 31, 2017, which 
is not incorporated by reference, contains 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 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: 2210, Autopilot 
System.

(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) Pages 1-2 and 1-3/1-4 of Sikorsky SA S92A-RFM-003 RFMS No. 4 
Sikorsky Model S-92A Part 1, Revision 1, approved October 6, 2017.
    (ii) Reserved.
    (3) For Sikorsky service information identified in this AD, 
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 16, 2017.
James A. Grigg,
Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017-22951 Filed 10-23-17; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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