22436 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

SBA should collect to make a 

determination on the applicant’s ability 

to fundraise. 

Finally, in addition to the specific 

issues raised above, SBA invites 

comments on other aspects of the WBC 

program that the public believes should 

be evaluated and revised where 

possible. We ask that you provide a brief 

justification for any suggested changes. 

Maria Contreras-Sweet, 

Administrator. 

[FR Doc. 2015–09391 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 8025–01–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–1008; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–SW–064–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Schweizer Aircraft 

Corporation) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 

Model 269A, 269A–1, 269B, 269C, 

269C–1, 269D, and TH–55A helicopters. 

This proposed AD would require 

repetitively inspecting and lubricating 

the tail rotor (T/R) driveshaft splined 

fittings. This proposed AD is prompted 

by a report that the T/R driveshaft can 

disconnect due to deterioration of the 

splined coupling. The proposed actions 

are intended to detect and prevent 

excessive wear of the splined coupling, 

which could lead to failure of the T/R 

driveshaft and subsequent loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 22, 2015. 

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 

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 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 proposed AD, 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 proposed AD, contact Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service 

Engineering, 124 Quarry Road, 

Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1–800- 

Winged-S or 203–416–4299; email 

sikorskywcs@sikorsky.com. You may 

review the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort 

Worth, Texas 76137. It is also available 

on the Internet at http:// 

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2015– 

1008. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Stephen Kowalski, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, New York Aircraft 

Certification Office, Engine & Propeller 

Directorate, 1600 Stewart Ave., suite 

410, Westbury, New York 11590; 

telephone (516) 228–7327; email 

stephen.kowalski@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

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 might result 

from adopting the proposals in this 

document. The most helpful comments 

reference a specific portion of the 

proposal, 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 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 proposed rulemaking. 

Before acting on this proposal, we will 

consider all comments we receive on or 

before the closing date for comments. 

We will consider comments filed after 

the comment period has closed if it is 

possible to do so without incurring 

expense or delay. We may change this 

proposal in light of the comments we 

receive. 

Discussion 

We propose to adopt a new AD for 

Sikorsky Model 269A, 269A–1, 269B, 

269C, 269C–1, 269D, and TH–55A 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require a one-time inspection and 

lubrication of the T/R driveshaft splined 

fittings and replacing a splined fitting 

and the T/R driveshaft if the fitting has 

excessive wear. This proposed AD 

would also require repetitively 

inspecting the driveshaft for 

straightness, twists, and scratches, 

repetitively inspecting the internal 

coupling splines, internal stops, and 

coupling drive splines for wear, and 

repetitively correcting the torque of each 

main transmission aft pinion nut 

(pinion nut). 

This proposed AD is prompted by a 

report of excessive spline wear on the 

forward and aft T/R driveshaft splined 

fittings installed on Sikorsky Model 

269A, 269A–1, 269B, 269C, 269C–1, 

269D, and TH–55A helicopters. This 

abnormal spline wear can lead to the T/ 

R driveshaft disconnecting. An 

investigation has determined that 

insufficient lubrication of the splined 

fittings can result in deterioration of the 

splined teeth and subsequent failure of 

the T/R driveshaft coupling. The 

proposed actions are intended to detect 

excessive wear of the splined coupling 

and prevent failure of the T/R driveshaft 

and subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

Sikorsky has developed a one-time 

inspection that requires cleaning, 

inspecting, and lubricating the 

driveshaft splines. Sikorsky has also 

developed a repetitive 100-hour time-inservice (TIS) requirement for inspecting 

the T/R driveshaft for straightness, 

twists, and scratches; each coupling and 

internal stop for wear; each coupling 

drive spline for wear; and each pinion 

nut for correct torque. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

evaluated all known relevant 

information and determined that an 

unsafe condition exists and is likely to 

exist or develop on other helicopters of 

these same type designs. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules 22437 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

We reviewed Sikorsky 269 Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) B–299.1 for 

Model 269A, 269A–1, 269B, 269C, and 

TH–55A helicopters; 269C–1 ASB C1B– 

036.1 for Model 269C–1 helicopters; and 

269D ASB DB–041.1 for Model 269D 

helicopters, each Revision 1 and dated 

February 24, 2012. Each ASB describes 

procedures for cleaning, inspecting, and 

lubricating the forward and aft T/R 

driveshaft splined fittings and returning 

to Sikorsky any parts that exceed wear 

limits. Each ASB also requires 

implementing a 100 hour TIS recurring 

inspection of the T/R driveshaft, 

coupling and internal stop, coupling 

drive splines, and the pinion nut by 

following the procedures in each model 

helicopter’s Handbook of Maintenance 

Instructions. 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 of this NPRM. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require, 

within 100 hours TIS, inspecting for 

wear and lubricating the forward and aft 

T/R driveshaft splines by following 

certain procedures in the Sikorsky ASBs 

for each model helicopter. If there is 

excessive wear of the T/R driveshaft 

splines, the proposed AD would require 

replacing the driveshaft fitting before 

further flight. If the helicopter has a T/ 

R driveshaft grease fitting installed, the 

proposed AD would also require 

inspecting each grease fitting for certain 

conditions and replacing the grease 

fitting if necessary. The proposed AD 

would also require, at intervals not 

exceeding 100 hours TIS, inspecting the 

T/R driveshaft for straightness, twists, 

and scratches; inspecting each forward 

and aft T/R driveshaft splines for wear; 

and correcting the torque of each pinion 

nut. 

Differences Between This Proposed AD 

and the Service Information 

The Sikorsky ASBs require returning 

any splined fittings that exceed wear 

limits to Sikorsky, while this proposed 

AD requires replacing those fittings and 

the T/R driveshaft. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 1,085 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. We estimate that operators 

may incur the following costs in order 

to comply with this AD. At an average 

labor rate of $85 per work-hour, 

inspecting and lubricating the T/R 

driveshaft splined fittings would require 

1.8 hours, for a cost per helicopter of 

$153 and a total cost of $166,005 for the 

fleet. Inspecting the grease fittings 

would require 0.25 hour, for a cost of 

$21 per helicopter and a total cost of 

$22,785 for the fleet. Inspecting the 

driveshaft, fittings, internal stops, and 

drive spines would require 1.8 hours, 

for a cost per helicopter of $153 and a 

total cost of $166,005 for the fleet, per 

inspection cycle. 

If required, replacing the T/R driving 

spline and driveshaft would require 1.6 

work-hours, and required parts would 

cost about $14,853, for a cost per 

helicopter of $14,989. 

If required, replacing a T/R driven 

spline and driveshaft would require 1.5 

work-hours, and required parts would 

cost about $14,836, for a cost per 

helicopter of $14,964. 

If required, replacing a grease fitting 

would require about .25 work-hour, and 

required parts would cost about $5, for 

a cost per helicopter of $26. 

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 proposed AD 

would not have federalism implications 

under Executive Order 13132. This 

proposed AD would 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 

this proposed regulation: 

1. Is not a ‘‘significant regulatory 

action’’ under Executive Order 12866; 

2. Is not a ‘‘significant rule’’ under the 

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 proposed 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. 

The Proposed Amendment 

Accordingly, under the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

the FAA proposes to amend 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): 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Type 

Certificate Previously Held by 

Schweizer Aircraft Corporation) 

Helicopters: Docket No. FAA–2015– 

1008; Directorate Identifier 2013–SW– 

064–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation (Sikorsky) Model 269A, 269A–1, 

269B, 269C, 269C–1, 269D, and TH–55A 

helicopters, certificated in any category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

insufficient lubrication of a tail rotor (T/R) 

driveshaft splined fitting. This condition 

could result in excessive wear of the T/R 

driveshaft splines, which could lead to 

failure of the T/R driveshaft and subsequent 

loss of control of the helicopter. 

(c) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by June 22, 

2015. 

(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 

(1) Within 100 hours time-in-service (TIS): 

(i) Inspect each T/R driveshaft splined 

fitting for a crack, a break, excessive wear, 

galling, spalling, chipping, corrosion, heat 

discoloration, and distortion by following the 


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22438 Federal Register / Vol. 80, No. 77 / Wednesday, April 22, 2015 / Proposed Rules 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 

3.B.(1) through 3.B.(2), of Sikorsky 269 Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) B–299.1 for Model 

269A, 269A–1, 269B, 269C, and TH–55A 

helicopters; 269C–1 ASB C1B–036.1 for 

Model 269C–1 helicopters; or 269D ASB DB– 

041.1 for Model 269D helicopters, each 

Revision 1 and dated February 24, 2012. If 

there is a crack, a break, excessive wear, 

galling, spalling, chipping, corrosion, heat 

discoloration, or distortion on any T/R 

driveshaft splined fitting, before further 

flight, replace the affected splined fitting and 

the T/R driveshaft. 

(ii) If installed, inspect each T/R driveshaft 

grease fitting for looseness, presence of a 

check ball inside each fitting, and for proper 

operation and seating of each check ball. If 

any grease fitting is loose, missing a check 

ball, fails to properly operate, or if a check 

ball fails to seat, before further flight, replace 

the grease fitting. 

(iii) Lubricate each driveshaft fitting by 

following the Accomplishment Instructions, 

paragraph 3.B.(6), of Sikorsky 269 ASB B– 

299.1 for Model 269A, 269A–1, 269B, 269C, 

and TH–55A helicopters; 269C–1 ASB C1B– 

036.1 for Model 269C–1 helicopters; or 269D 

ASB DB–041.1 for Model 269D helicopters, 

each Revision 1 and dated February 24, 2012. 

(2) Within 100 hours TIS after the 

inspections required by paragraph (e)(1) of 

this AD, and thereafter at intervals not 

exceeding 100 hours TIS: 

(i) Remove the driveshaft from the gearbox 

and clean any grease from each end fitting. 

(ii) Inspect the driveshaft for straightness, 

a twist, and a scratch. If the driveshaft has 

any bends, twists, or scratches, before further 

flight, replace the driveshaft. 

(iii) Inspect the internal splines of each 

forward and aft fitting and each internal stop 

for wear. If there is any wear, before further 

flight, replace the fitting. 

(iv) Inspect the drive splines of each 

splined drive fitting for wear. If there is any 

wear, before further flight, replace the 

splined drive fitting. 

(v) Loosen the aft frame clamp and apply 

a torque of 750 to 1,000 inch-pounds to each 

main transmission aft pinion nut. 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOC) 

(1) The Manager, New York Aircraft 

Certification Office, FAA, may approve 

AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: 

Stephen Kowalski, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

New York Aircraft Certification Office, 

Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1600 Stewart 

Ave., suite 410, Westbury, New York 11590; 

telephone (516) 228–7327; email 

stephen.kowalski@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) Additional Information 

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 

sikorskywcs@sikorsky.com. You may review 

a copy of information at the FAA, Office of 

the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, 

Texas 76137. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 6500: Tail Rotor Drive. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 14, 

2015. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2015–09098 Filed 4–21–15; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13P– 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2015–0927; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–NM–172–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Zodiac 

Aerotechnics (Formerly Intertechnique 

Aircraft Systems) 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Zodiac Aerotechnics (formerly 

Intertechnique Aircraft Systems) 

flightcrew oxygen mask regulators as 

installed on, but not limited to, various 

transport and small airplanes. This 

proposed AD was prompted by a report 

that improper maintenance on oxygen 

mask regulators was found. This 

proposed AD would require the 

identification and replacement of all 

potentially affected units. This proposed 

AD also would require installation of a 

placard and revision of the airplane 

flight manual to include an operational 

procedure for use in case of 

depressurization. We are proposing this 

AD to detect and correct affected oxygen 

mask regulators, which could lead to 

inadequate protection to the affected 

flightcrew against hypoxia. Hypoxia can 

start from a headache and drowsiness 

and lead eventually to unconsciousness 

with severe consequence in terms of 

airplane controllability. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by June 8, 2015. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

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

instructions for submitting comments. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Mail: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC 20590. 

• Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Zodiac 

Services, Technical Publication 

Department, Zodiac Aerotechnics, 

Oxygen Systems Europe, 61 Rue Pierre 

Curie—CS20001, 78373 Plaisir Cedex, 

France; phone: (33) 01 61 24 23 23; fax: 

(33) 01 30 55 71 61; email: yann.laine@

zodiacaerospace.com; Internet: http://

www.zodiacaerospace.com. You may 

view this referenced service information 

at the FAA, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., 

Renton, WA. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call 425–227–1221. 

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–2015– 

0927; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

regulatory 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 FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Ian 

Lucas, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 

Aircraft Certification Office (ACO) 

ANE–150, FAA, Engine and Propeller 

Directorate, 12 New England Executive 

Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 

781–238–7757; fax: 781–238–7170; 

email: ian.lucas@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

We invite you to send any written 

relevant data, views, or arguments about 

this proposed AD. Send your comments 

to an address listed under the 

ADDRESSES section. Include ‘‘Docket No. 

FAA–2015–0927; Directorate Identifier 

2013–NM–172–AD’’ at the beginning of 


Rmajette on DSK2VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS