Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

[Federal Register Volume 87, Number 28 (Thursday, February 10, 2022)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 7713-7714]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2022-02745]



[[Page 7713]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-1002; Project Identifier AD-2021-00332-R; 
Amendment 39-21926; AD 2022-03-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for 
certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-76D helicopters. This AD 
was prompted by reports that certain Thales global positioning system 
(GPS) satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) receivers provided, 
under certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. This 
AD requires replacing affected GPS receivers and prohibits installing 
those GPS receivers. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe 
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective March 17, 2022.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of March 17, 
2022.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule, 
contact your local Sikorsky Field Representative or Sikorsky's Service 
Engineering Group at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Mailstop K100, 124 
Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-946-4337 (1-800-
Winged-S); email [email protected]. Operators may 
also log on to the Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360.com. 
You may view this service information at the 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. It is also available at 
https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. 
FAA-2021-1002.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-1002; or in person at 
Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 
except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this final rule, any 
comments received, and other information. The address for Docket 
Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-
30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nicholas Rediess, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: (781) 238-7159; fax: (781) 238-7199; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background

    The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Sikorsky Aircraft 
Corporation Model S-76D helicopters with a GPS TopStar 200 LPV receiver 
part number (P/N) C17149HA01 installed. The NPRM published in the 
Federal Register on November 16, 2021 (86 FR 63322). The NPRM was 
prompted by reports that certain Thales GPS SBAS receivers provided, 
under certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in controlled flight 
into terrain and loss of control of the helicopter. Therefore, the NPRM 
proposed to require replacing each affected GPS receiver and prohibit 
installing an affected GPS receiver on any helicopter. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.
    The European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation 
Safety Agency) (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member 
States of the European Union, issued EASA AD 2019-0004, dated January 
11, 2019, and corrected on January 17, 2019 (EASA AD 2019-0004), to 
correct an unsafe condition for Thales AVS France SAS (Thales), 
formerly Thales Avionics SAS, GPS/SBAS receivers, Topstar 200 LPV, P/N 
C17149HA01 and C17149JA02, using SBAS, which are known to be installed 
on, but not limited to, certain Model ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A 
aeroplanes and Sikorsky Model S-76D helicopters. EASA advises of 
reports indicating that Thales GPS SBAS receivers provided, under 
certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. EASA AD 
2019-0004 requires actions to prevent compromise of the safety margins 
when the receiver is used for Localizer Performance with Vertical 
guidance (LPV) and/or RNP-AR (Required Navigation Performance--
Authorization Required) operations. Following the issuance of EASA AD 
2019-0004, the FAA issued AD 2020-08-02, Amendment 39-21108 (85 FR 
20586, April 14, 2020), to address the unsafe condition on these 
products.
    After the issuance of EASA AD 2019-0004, EASA issued related EASA 
AD 2021-0013, dated January 13, 2021, in response to a software update 
that was developed to ensure correct navigational performance of 
certain Thales GPS SBAS receivers installed on ATR-GIE Avions de 
Transport R[eacute]gional, formerly EADS ATR--Alenia, Aerospatiale 
Matra ATR--ALENIA, Aerospatiale--Alenia, Aerospatiale--Aeritalia, Model 
ATR 42-500 and ATR 72-212A aeroplanes. The FAA subsequently issued AD 
2021-19-13, Amendment 39-21731 (86 FR 54801, October 5, 2021), to 
address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

    The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of 
the costs.

Conclusion

    The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety 
requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. However, the 
FAA discovered an error in the U.S. fleet costs. The NPRM inadvertently 
stated the costs as $336,820; this final rule corrects those costs, 
which are $168,410 for the U.S. fleet. Except for the change to the 
U.S. fleet costs and minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as 
proposed in the NPRM.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-76D Helicopter Service Bulletin SB 76-
017, Basic Issue, dated May 11, 2021 (SB 76-017). SB 76-017 specifies 
procedures for removing, updating, and installing GPS TopStar 200 LPV 
receivers. SB 76-017 also provides instructions for sending the GPS 
receiver(s) to Thales Authorized Repair Stations for the software 
update.
    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.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this AD affects 22 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry and that operators may incur the following costs in order to 
comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour.

[[Page 7714]]

    Replacing two GPS receivers takes about 3 work-hours and parts cost 
about $7,400, for an estimated cost of $7,655 per helicopter and 
$168,410 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.
    The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (3) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

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:

2022-03-09 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-21926; Docket 
No. FAA-2021-1002; Project Identifier AD-2021-00332-R.

(a) Effective Date

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective March 17, 2022.

(b) Affected ADs

    This AD affects AD 2020-08-02, Amendment 39-21108 (85 FR 20586, 
April 14, 2020) (AD 2020-08-02).

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-76D 
helicopters, certificated in any category, with Thales Global 
Positioning System (GPS) TopStar 200 LPV receiver part number (P/N) 
C17149HA01 installed.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code: 3457, Global 
Positioning System.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by reports that certain Thales GPS 
satellite based augmentation system (SBAS) receivers provided, under 
certain conditions, erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. The 
unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in controlled 
flight into terrain and loss of control of the helicopter.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) Within 130 hours time-in-service after the effective date of 
this AD, replace each affected GPS receiver identified in paragraph 
(c) of this AD with GPS receiver P/N C17149RA01 in accordance with 
the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs A., C., and D., of 
Sikorsky S-76D Helicopter Service Bulletin SB 76-017, Basic Issue, 
dated May 11, 2021.
    (2) As of the effective date of this AD, do not install a GPS 
receiver identified in paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter.
    (3) Accomplishing paragraph (g)(1) of this AD terminates the 
requirements of AD 2020-08-02.

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if 
requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance 
with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or 
local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending 
information directly to the manager of the certification office, 
send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) 
of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(i) Related Information

    For more information about this AD, contact Nicholas Rediess, 
Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & 
Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803; telephone (781) 238-7159; email: [email protected].

(j) 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 S-76D Helicopter Service Bulletin SB 76-017, Basic 
Issue, dated May 11, 2021.
    (ii) [Reserved]
    (3) For Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation service information 
identified in this AD, contact your local Sikorsky Field 
Representative or Sikorsky's Service Engineering Group at Sikorsky 
Aircraft Corporation, Mailstop K100, 124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 
06611; telephone 1-800-946-4337 (1-800-Winged-S); email 
[email protected]. Operators may also log on to 
the Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360.com.
    (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, email: [email protected], or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued on January 20, 2022.
Ross Landes,
Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness 
Division, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2022-02745 Filed 2-9-22; 8:45 am]
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