Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 221 / Thursday, November 15, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 68057 

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/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 26, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–27059 Filed 11–14–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0340; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–073–AD; Amendment 

39–17250; AD 2012–22–13] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 

Model S–76C helicopters. This AD 

requires installing an improved throttle 

stop and a wider trigger on the engine 

control levers (ECL). This AD was 

prompted by a bird-strike to the 

windshield that resulted in unintended 

movement of the engine control levers 

from the forward position and towards 

the flight-idle position, which reduced 

power on both engines. These actions 

are intended to prevent unintended 

movement of the ECLs, resulting in 

main rotor speed decay and subsequent 

loss of control of the aircraft. 

DATES: This AD is effective December 

20, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of December 20, 2012. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, 

Commercial Technical Support, 

mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, 

Stratford, CT, telephone (203) 383–4866, 

email address tsslibrary@sikorsky.com, 

or at http://www.sikorsky.com. You may 

review a copy of the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137. 

Examining The AD Docket: You may 

examine the AD docket on the Internet 

at http://www.regulations.gov 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: Kirk 

Gustafson, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 

Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 

New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 

238–7190; email kirk.gustafson@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On March 29, 2012, at 77 FR 18969, 

the Federal Register published our 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), 

which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 

39 to include an AD that would apply 

to Sikorsky Model S–76C helicopters 

with serial numbers 760506 and 760607 

through 760812. That NPRM proposed 

to require within 6 months after the 

effective date of the AD, installing an 

improved throttle stop and a wider 

trigger on each ECL as specified in 

Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 

No. 76–76–6A, Revision A, dated May 

18, 2011. 

The proposed requirements were 

intended to prevent unintended in-flight 

movement of the ECLs from the normal 

‘‘FLY’’ position towards the ‘‘IDLE’’ 

position, which significantly reduces 

engine power, resulting in an 

unrecoverable loss of main rotor speed 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

Comments 

Two commenters, one anonymous 

and one from the National 

Transportation Safety Board, 

commented that they support the NPRM 

(77 FR 18969, March 29, 2012). 

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 

We reviewed ASB 76–76–6A, which 

describes procedures for partially 

disassembling the engine control 

quadrant assembly, removing the 

existing throttle stop, and installing a 

new airworthy throttle stop. The ASB 

also describes procedures to remove the 

existing trigger assembly from each ECL 

and install a new airworthy wide trigger 

assembly. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

52 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We 

estimate that operators may incur the 

following costs in order to comply with 

this AD. To replace the engine control 

lever stop and trigger assemblies will 

require 2 work-hours at an average labor 

cost of $85 per hour. Required parts will 

cost about $939. Based upon these costs, 

we estimate a total cost of $1,109 per 

helicopter and a total cost of $57,668 for 

the entire U.S. operator 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; 


wreier-aviles on DSK5TPTVN1PROD with 
68058 Federal Register / Vol. 77, No. 221 / Thursday, November 15, 2012 / Rules and Regulations 

(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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive (AD): 

2012–22–13 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: 

Amendment 39–17250; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0340; Directorate Identifier 

2011–SW–073–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S–76C 

helicopters, serial numbers 760506 and 

760607 through 760812, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

unintended movement of the engine control 

levers due to an external force to the 

windshield or canopy. This condition could 

result in significantly reduced engine power, 

unrecoverable loss of main rotor speed, and 

subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective December 20, 

2012. 

(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 Action 

Within 6 months, replace the throttle stop 

and trigger assembly on each engine control 

lever and perform a throttle position check as 

specified in the Accomplishment 

Instructions, Sections 3.A and 3.B, of 

Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin No. 76–76– 

6A Revision A, dated May 18, 2011. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 

Kirk Gustafson, Aerospace Engineer, FAA, 

Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine 

and Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; 

telephone (781) 238–7190; email 

kirk.gustafson@faa.gov. 

(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) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 7600: Engine Controls. 

(h) 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 Alert Service Bulletin No. 76– 

76–6A Revision A, dated May 18, 2011. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For Sikorsky service information 

identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, 

Commercial Technical Support, mailstop 

s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT, 

telephone (203) 383–4866, email address 

tsslibrary@sikorsky.com, or at http:// 

www.sikorsky.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., 

Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137. 

(5) You may also view this service 

information 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 30, 

2012. 

Kim Smith, 

Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2012–27049 Filed 11–14–12; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1182; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–SW–062–AD; Amendment 

39–17251; AD 2012–22–14] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are superseding an 

existing Emergency airworthiness 

directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S–70, S– 

70A, S–70C, S–70C(M), and S–70C(M1) 

helicopters with a certain partnumbered intermediate gearbox (IGB). 

The existing Emergency AD requires a 

one-time inspection of the internal oil 

passages of the IGB for an obstruction. 

That Emergency AD was prompted by 

an accident that resulted from blockage 

of oil in the IGB by a plug that was 

inadvertently left in the IGB during the 

coating of the IGB housing. We are 

issuing this supersedure to that 

Emergency AD to include two 

additional part numbers of affected IGBs 

and identify a specific date since new or 

overhaul of the affected IGBs. The 

actions specified by this AD are 

intended to detect a plug in the IGB and 

prevent overheating and seizing of the 

IGB, failure of the tail rotor drive output 

shaft, loss of tail rotor drive, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

November 30, 2012. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of November 30, 2012. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by January 14, 2013. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to 

http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 

online instructions for sending your 

comments electronically. 

• Fax: 202–493–2251. 

• 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. 

• Hand Delivery: Deliver to the 

‘‘Mail’’ address between 9 a.m. and 5 


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