Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 2014 / Proposed Rules 74037 

116, Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA; or 

the European Aviation Safety Agency 

(EASA); or Airbus’s EASA Design 

Organization Approval (DOA). If approved by 

the DOA, the approval must include the 

DOA-authorized signature. 

(j) Related Information 

(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information (MCAI) European 

Aviation Safety Agency Airworthiness 

Directive 2014–0176, dated July 25, 2014, for 

related information. This MCAI may be 

found in the AD docket on the Internet at 

http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2014–0922. 

(2) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness 

Office—EAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice Bellonte, 

31707 Blagnac Cedex, France; telephone +33 

5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61 93 44 51; email 

account.airworth-eas@airbus.com; Internet 

http://www.airbus.com. You may view this 

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. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

December 3, 2014. 

Michael Kaszycki, 

Acting Manager, Transport Airplane 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29233 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–1020; Directorate 

Identifier 2013–SW–078–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation (Type Certificate 

Previously Held by Schweizer Aircraft 

Corporation) Helicopters 

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 (type 

certificate previously held by Schweizer 

Aircraft) (Sikorsky) Model 269D and 

Model 269D Configuration A 

helicopters. This proposed AD would 

require reducing the life limit of the ring 

gear carrier assembly. This proposed AD 

is prompted by cracks in the ring gear 

carrier assembly. The proposed 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: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by February 13, 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. 

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: 

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 269D and Model 269D 

Configuration A helicopters with a 

certain part-numbered ring carrier 

assembly installed. This proposed AD 

would 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. This 

proposed AD is prompted by the 

discovery of a crack in the ring gear 

carrier assembly discovered during 

unscheduled maintenance after black 

discoloration of the main transmission 

oil was observed. The crack 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 actions 

to reduce the life of the ring gear carrier 

assembly are intended to prevent failure 

of the main rotor transmission, loss of 

engine power to the main rotor, and 

subsequent loss of control of the 

helicopter. 

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 

the same type design. 

Related Service Information 

Sikorsky issued 269D Helicopter Alert 

Service Bulletin No. ASB DB–040A, 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
74038 Federal Register / Vol. 79, No. 240 / Monday, December 15, 2014 / Proposed Rules 

Revision A, dated December 4, 2012, to 

implement a reduction in service life of 

the ring gear carrier assembly, part 

number (P/N) 269A5194, from 6,000 

flight hours to 5,000 flight hours. 

Proposed AD Requirements 

This proposed AD would require 

reducing the life limit of the ring gear 

carrier assembly, P/N 269A5194, from 

6,000 hours TIS to 5,000 hours TIS by 

revising the Airworthiness Limitations 

section of the applicable maintenance 

manual. This proposed AD would also 

require replacing each ring gear carrier 

assembly with an airworthy ring gear 

carrier assembly on or before reaching 

5,000 hours TIS. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 16 helicopters of U.S. 

Registry. 

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 

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. Amend § 39.13 by adding the 

following new airworthiness directive 

(AD): 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Type 

Certificate Previously Held By 

Schweizer Aircraft Corporation): 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) Comments Due Date 

We must receive comments by February 

13, 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 

(AMOC) 

(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 December 

8, 2014. 

Lance T. Gant, 

Acting Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2014–29260 Filed 12–12–14; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2014–0921; Directorate 

Identifier 2014–NM–073–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; the Boeing 

Company Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS