This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains regulatory documents having general

applicability and legal effect, most of which

are keyed to and codified in the Code of

Federal Regulations, which is published under

50 titles pursuant to 44 U.S.C. 1510.

The Code of Federal Regulations is sold by

the Superintendent of Documents. Prices of

new books are listed in the first FEDERAL

REGISTER issue of each week.

Rules and Regulations Federal Register

17591 

Vol. 78, No. 56 

Friday, March 22, 2013 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–0085; Directorate 

Identifier 2011–SW–004–AD; Amendment 

39–17389; AD 2013–05–17] 

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 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 

Model S–61A, D, E, L, N, NM, R, and 

V helicopters to require replacing each 

forward and aft fuel system 40 micron 

fuel filter element with a 10 micron 

nominal (40 micron absolute) fuel filter 

element. This AD was prompted by a 

National Transportation Safety Board 

(NTSB) review of in-service events 

where engine performance degradation 

occurred, and the review determined 

that some of these events were caused 

by contaminants larger than 10 microns 

present in the engine fuel control units 

(FCUs). The actions are intended to 

prevent particulate contamination in the 

FCU, which could lead to malfunction 

of an internal valve, power loss at a 

critical phase of flight, and loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 26, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, 

Commercial Technical Support, 

mailstop s581a, 6900 Main St., 

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

email 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, Boston 

Aircraft Certification Office, Engine and 

Propeller Directorate, FAA, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; telephone (781) 238–7190; email 

kirk.gustafson@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On February 3, 2012, at 77 FR 5418, 

the Federal Register published our 

notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM 

or the proposed rule), which proposed 

to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an 

AD that would apply to Sikorsky Model 

S–61A, D, E, L, N, NM, R, and V 

helicopters with a fuel system 40 

micron fuel filter element, part number 

(P/N) 52–0505–2 or 52–01064–1. That 

NPRM proposed to require replacing 

each forward and aft fuel system 40 

micron fuel filter element with a 10 

micron fuel filter element. The proposed 

requirements were intended to prevent 

malfunction of an internal valve, power 

loss at a critical phase of flight, and loss 

of control of the helicopter. 

Comments 

After our NPRM (77 FR 5418, 

February 3, 2012) was published, we 

received comments from two 

commenters. 

Requests 

Sikorsky stated that the description of 

the applicable replacement fuel filter is 

inaccurate and requested that the 

proposed rule (77 FR 5418, February 3, 

2012) be changed to include both 

nominal and absolute ratings (‘‘10 

micron nominal (40 micron absolute) 

fuel filter element’’) when referencing 

fuel filter, P/N 52–01064–1. We agree. 

We have included this information in 

the summary and required action 

sections of the AD. 

Sikorsky also stated that the proposed 

rule (77 FR 5418, February 3, 2012) 

incorrectly indicates that the effect of 

the alleged fuel contamination would be 

a power loss, because GE and the NTSB 

characterize the potential effect as 

slowing or degrading throttle changes 

(either increasing or decreasing). 

Sikorsky further stated that an unsafe 

condition does not exist because a 

contaminated FCU will not cause a 

reduction in power, and that the NPRM 

inaccurately indicated that a loss of 

power will lead to a loss of control of 

the aircraft because as long as the main 

rotor speed is maintained between 91% 

and 111% Nr, the pilot may experience 

a loss of altitude but will have full 

control authority and the ability to land 

without injury or damage. Sikorsky 

requested that we modify the 

description of the effect of a 

contaminated FCU and the overall effect 

on the helicopter’s operation in the 

proposed rule, and change our 

determination that an unsafe condition 

exists or is likely to exist to instead 

reflect an opportunity to improve safety 

to prevent possible added pilot 

workload. 

We disagree. Fuel contamination in 

the FCU can result in abnormal 

operation of specific internal 

components, which, depending on the 

exact circumstances of the 

contamination condition and the 

operating condition of the engine, could 

result in a reduced or erratic engine 

acceleration rate. A slow acceleration 

rate to a higher power level at a critical 

phase of flight where the expected 

aircraft performance is dependent on a 

normal engine acceleration rate to a 

higher power level is an unsafe 

condition. Fuel contamination in the 

FCU can also result in the pressure 

regulating valve becoming stuck during 

acceleration or deceleration, causing the 

engine to continue to accelerate or 

decelerate to an unintended power 

condition. If the engine were to 

accelerate to the overspeed trip or 

decelerate to an unintended low power 


pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
17592 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 56 / Friday, March 22, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 

condition, this would result in a 

significant power loss. Consequently, a 

power shortfall during a critical phase 

of flight due to a slow or erratic 

acceleration of the engine can result in 

the inability to sustain continued safe 

flight. Therefore, we determined that 

this AD is necessary because an unsafe 

condition does exist. 

To the extent Sikorsky supports its 

request with data from an NTSB 

accident report, we note that the actions 

proposed by the NPRM (77 FR 5418, 

February 3, 2012) were not directly 

associated with a specific accident 

investigation. We reviewed the specific 

accident investigation mentioned by the 

commenter and several service 

incidents, and found several situations 

in which anomalous engine 

performance was attributed to internal 

FCU contamination. Based on these 

incidents, we determined it necessary to 

impose this action to further reduce the 

potential for anomalous engine 

performance during critical flight 

phases. 

The second commenter, the NTSB, 

commented that it supports the NPRM 

(77 FR 5418, February 3, 2012). 

FAA’s Determination 

We have reviewed the relevant 

information, considered the comments 

received, and determined that an unsafe 

condition exists and is likely to exist or 

develop on other helicopters of these 

same type designs and that air safety 

and the public interest require adopting 

the AD requirements as proposed with 

the change in the description of the 

replacement fuel filter described 

previously. This change is consistent 

with the intent of the NPRM’s proposals 

and will not increase the economic 

burden on any operator nor increase the 

scope of the AD. 

Related Service Information 

We reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service 

Bulletin (ASB) No. 61B30–16, dated 

February 2, 2010 (ASB No. 61B30–16), 

which supersedes ASB No. 61B28–1, 

dated January 15, 2010 (ASB No. 

61B28–1). ASB No. 61B28–1 specified 

replacing the forward and aft fuel 

system 40 micron fuel filter elements 

with 10 micron fuel filter elements at 

the next scheduled inspection or within 

150 flight hours from the issuance of the 

ASB. ASB 61B30–16 retains the same 

instructions as ASB 61B28–1, but 

deletes the compliance time ‘‘at the next 

scheduled preventative maintenance 

inspection.’’ Also, ASB No. 61B30–16 

was issued because ASB No. 61B28–1 

was incorrectly numbered. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

78 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We 

estimate that operators may incur the 

following costs in order to comply with 

this AD. It will take approximately 4 

work-hours to replace the fuel system 

fuel filters and re-identify the fuel tank 

fuel filter and fuel control assembly 

bracket. The average labor rate is $85 

per work-hour and required parts will 

cost about $370 per helicopter. Based on 

these figures, we estimate the cost of the 

AD on U.S. operators to be $710 per 

helicopter and the total cost of this AD 

on U.S. operators to be $55,380. 

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 

■ 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): 

2013–05–17 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: 

Amendment 39–17389; Docket No. 

FAA–2012–0085; Directorate Identifier 

2011–SW–004–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation Model S–61A, D, E, L, N, NM, 

R, and V helicopters with a fuel system 40 

micron fuel filter element, part number (P/N) 

52–0505–2 or 52–01064–1, certificated in any 

category. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as 

contaminants present in the engine fuel 

control units (FCUs). This AD was prompted 

by a National Transportation Safety Board 

review of in-service events where engine 

performance degradation occurred. This 

condition could result in particulate 

contamination in the FCU, which could lead 

to malfunction of an internal valve, power 

loss at a critical phase of flight, and loss of 

control of the helicopter. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective April 26, 2013. 

(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 150 hours time-in-service, do 

the following: 

(i) Replace each forward and aft fuel 

system 40 micron fuel filter element with a 

10 micron nominal (40 micron absolute) fuel 

filter element, P/N AM52–01064–1. 

(ii) Re-identify the fuel filter, P/N 52– 

2145–009, and fuel control assembly bracket 

as follows: 

(A) On the fuel filter identification plate, 

cross out the last two digits (‘‘09’’) of the 


pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 56 / Friday, March 22, 2013 / Rules and Regulations 17593 

existing fuel filter P/N 52–2145–009, and 

replace those last two digits with ‘‘14’’ to reidentify the fuel filter as P/N 52–2145–014. 

(B) Change the existing fuel control 

assembly part number on the fuel control 

assembly bracket to re-identify it as follows: 

(1) Change fuel control assembly P/N 

S6130–63209–001 to P/N S6130–63209–041. 

(2) Change fuel control assembly P/N 

S6130–63209–002 to P/N S6130–63209–042. 

(3) Change fuel control assembly P/N 

S6130–63209–003 to P/N S6130–63209–043. 

(4) Change fuel control assembly P/N 

S6130–63209–004 to P/N S6130–63209–044. 

(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, Boston 

Aircraft Certification Office, Engine and 

Propeller Directorate, FAA, 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) Additional Information 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Alert Service 

Bulletin No. 61B30–16, dated February 2, 

1010, which is not incorporated by reference, 

contains additional information about the 

subject of this AD. For this service 

information, contact Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial 

Technical Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 

Main St., Stratford, CT; telephone (203) 383– 

4866; email tsslibrary@sikorsky.com, or at 

http://www.sikorsky.com. You may review a 

copy of this service 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: 2821, Aircraft Fuel Filter/Strainer. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 6, 

2013. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–05874 Filed 3–21–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2012–1016; Directorate 

Identifier 2010–SW–009–AD; Amendment 

39–17386; AD 2013–05–14] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Bell 

Helicopter Textron, Inc. 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell 

Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell), Model 

412 and 412EP helicopters. This AD 

requires establishing a lower life limit 

on certain swashplate outer ring 

assemblies (outer ring), revising the 

retirement life on the components’ 

history card or equivalent record, and 

revising the maintenance manual or 

Instructions for Continued 

Airworthiness (ICA). This AD also 

prohibits installing these outer rings on 

any helicopter. This AD was prompted 

by reports of cracking in the outer rings. 

The actions are intended to prevent 

failure of an outer ring because of 

cracking, which could lead to the loss 

of main rotor (M/R) blade pitch control 

and subsequent loss of helicopter 

control. 

DATES: This AD is effective April 26, 

2013. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this AD, contact Bell 

Helicopter Textron, Inc., P.O. Box 482, 

Fort Worth, TX 76101; telephone (817) 

280–3391; fax (817) 280–6466; or at 

http://www.bellcustomer.com/files/. 

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: 

Michael Kohner, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Rotorcraft Certification Office, 

Rotorcraft Directorate, FAA, 2601 

Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, TX 76137; 

telephone (817) 222–5447; email 7-avsasw-170@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion 

On September 24, 2012, at 77 FR 

58794, 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 Bell Model 412 and 

412EP helicopters, with an outer ring, 

part number (P/N) 412–010–407–105. 

That NPRM proposed to require 

establishing a lower life limit on certain 

outer rings, revising the retirement life 

on the components’ history card or 

equivalent record, and revising the 

maintenance manual or ICA. The 

proposal also proposed prohibiting the 

installation of these outer rings on any 

helicopter. The outer rings had a life 

limit of 10,000 hours TIS, but Bell has 

recommended reducing that limit to 

2,500 hours TIS because of reports of 

cracking in the outer rings. The 

proposed requirements were intended to 

prevent failure of an outer ring, which 

could lead to the loss of M/R blade pitch 

control and subsequent loss of 

helicopter control. 

Comments 

We gave the public the opportunity to 

participate in developing this AD, but 

we received no comments on the NPRM 

(77 FR 58794, September 24, 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 

these same type designs and that air 

safety and the public interest require 

adopting the AD requirements as 

proposed with minor editorial changes. 

These changes are consistent with the 

intent of the proposals in the NPRM (77 

FR 58794, September 24, 2012) and will 

not increase the economic burden on 

any operator nor increase the scope of 

the AD. 

Related Service Information 

We have reviewed Bell Helicopter 

Alert Service Bulletin No. 412–08–131, 

Revision B, dated October 29, 2009 

(ASB), which describes procedures for 

establishing a new retirement life for the 


pmangrum on DSK3VPTVN1PROD with RULES