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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 110 (Tuesday, June 9, 2015)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 32460-32461]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-13846]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2014-1020; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-078-AD; 
Amendment 39-18172; AD 2015-11-09]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Type 
Certificate Previously Held by Schweizer 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 (type certificate previously held by 
Schweizer Aircraft Corporation) (Sikorsky) Model 269D and Model 269D 
Configuration A helicopters. This AD requires reducing the life limit 
of the ring gear carrier assembly. This AD was prompted by cracks in 
the ring gear carrier assembly. The actions are intended to reduce the 
life of the ring gear carrier assembly to prevent failure of the main 
rotor transmission, loss of engine power to the main rotor, and 
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

DATES: This AD is effective July 14, 2015.

ADDRESSES: 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 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, 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: Norman Perenson, Aviation Safety 
Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification Office, Propulsion & Services 
Branch, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., Westbury, New York; telephone (516) 
228-7337; email Norman.Perenson@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    On December 15, 2014, at 79 FR 74037, 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 
269D and Model 269D Configuration A helicopters with a certain part-
numbered ring carrier assembly installed. The NPRM proposed to require 
reducing the life limit of the ring carrier assembly from 6,000 hours 
time-in-service (TIS) to 5,000 hours TIS by revising the Airworthiness 
Limitations Section of the applicable maintenance manual and by 
removing from service any ring carrier assembly that exceeded the new 
life limit. The NPRM was prompted by the discovery of a crack in the 
ring gear carrier assembly, which extended around the entire 
circumference of the flange and intersected some of the bolt holes but 
did not propagate ``bolt hole to bolt hole.'' A metallurgical 
evaluation determined that fretting caused multiple origin fatigue 
cracking on the ring gear carrier assembly. The proposed requirements 
were intended to reduce the life of the ring gear carrier assembly to 
prevent failure of the main rotor transmission, loss of engine power to 
the main rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (79 FR 74037, 
December 15, 2014).

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

    Sikorsky issued 269D Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB DB-
040A, Revision A, dated December 4, 2012, to implement a reduction in 
service life of the ring gear carrier assembly, part number 269A5194, 
from 6,000 flight hours to 5,000 flight hours.

[[Page 32461]]

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 16 helicopters of U.S. 
Registry.
    We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order 
to comply with this AD. We estimate a minimal cost to change the life 
limit of the ring gear. If required, we estimate it would take 27.5 
hours to replace a ring gear carrier assembly at $85 per work hour. 
Required parts would cost $7,591 for a total of $9,929 per helicopter.

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):

2015-11-09 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Type Certificate 
Previously Held By Schweizer Aircraft Corporation): Amendment 39-
18172; Docket No. FAA-2014-1020; Directorate Identifier 2013-SW-078-
AD.

(a) Applicability

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model 269D and 
Model 269D Configuration A helicopters with ring gear carrier 
assembly, part number (P/N) 269A5194, installed, certificated in any 
category.

(b) Unsafe Condition

    This AD defines the unsafe condition as a fatigue crack in a 
ring gear carrier assembly. This condition could result in failure 
of the main rotor transmission, loss of engine power to the main 
rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

 (c) Effective Date

    This AD becomes effective July 14, 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

    Before further flight:
    (1) Revise the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the 
applicable maintenance manual by reducing the life limit of the ring 
gear carrier assembly, P/N 269A5194, from 6,000 hours time-in-
service (TIS) to 5,000 hours TIS.
    (2) Remove from service any ring gear carrier assembly, P/N 
269A5194, with 5,000 or more hours TIS.

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, New York Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Norman 
Perenson, Aviation Safety Engineer, New York Aircraft Certification 
Office, Propulsion & Services Branch, FAA, 1600 Stewart Ave., 
Westbury, New York; telephone (516) 228-7337; email 
Norman.Perenson@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

    Sikorsky 269D Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin No. ASB DB-040A, 
Revision A, dated December 4, 2012, 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 
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: 6300 Main Rotor 
Drive System.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on May 29, 2015.
Lance T. Gant,
Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-13846 Filed 6-8-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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