Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 28 / Thursday, February 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 7713 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2021–1002; Project 

Identifier AD–2021–00332–R; Amendment 

39–21926; AD 2022–03–09] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S– 

76D helicopters. This AD was prompted 

by reports that certain Thales global 

positioning system (GPS) satellite based 

augmentation system (SBAS) receivers 

provided, under certain conditions, 

erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. 

This AD requires replacing affected GPS 

receivers and prohibits installing those 

GPS receivers. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

DATES: This AD is effective March 17, 

2022. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain publication listed in this AD 

as of March 17, 2022. 

ADDRESSES: For service information 

identified in this final rule, contact your 

local Sikorsky Field Representative or 

Sikorsky’s Service Engineering Group at 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Mailstop 

K100, 124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 

06611; telephone 1–800–946–4337 (1– 

800–Winged–S); email wcs_cust_

service_eng.gr-sik@lmco.com. Operators 

may also log on to the Sikorsky 360 

website at https://

www.sikorsky360.com. You may view 

this service information at the FAA, 

Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood 

Pkwy., Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 

76177. For information on the 

availability of this material at the FAA, 

call (817) 222–5110. It is also available 

at https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–1002. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket at 

https://www.regulations.gov by 

searching for and locating Docket No. 

FAA–2021–1002; or in person at Docket 

Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 

Monday through Friday, except Federal 

holidays. The AD docket contains this 

final rule, any comments received, and 

other information. The address for 

Docket Operations is U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, 

Washington, DC 20590. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Nicholas Rediess, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: (781) 238–7159; fax: (781) 

238–7199; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACOCOS@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Background 

The FAA issued a notice of proposed 

rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 

part 39 by adding an AD that would 

apply to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 

Model S–76D helicopters with a GPS 

TopStar 200 LPV receiver part number 

(P/N) C17149HA01 installed. The 

NPRM published in the Federal 

Register on November 16, 2021 (86 FR 

63322). The NPRM was prompted by 

reports that certain Thales GPS SBAS 

receivers provided, under certain 

conditions, erroneous outputs on 

aircraft positions. The unsafe condition, 

if not addressed, could result in 

controlled flight into terrain and loss of 

control of the helicopter. Therefore, the 

NPRM proposed to require replacing 

each affected GPS receiver and prohibit 

installing an affected GPS receiver on 

any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this 

AD to address the unsafe condition on 

these products. 

The European Aviation Safety Agency 

(now European Union Aviation Safety 

Agency) (EASA), which is the Technical 

Agent for the Member States of the 

European Union, issued EASA AD 

2019–0004, dated January 11, 2019, and 

corrected on January 17, 2019 (EASA 

AD 2019–0004), to correct an unsafe 

condition for Thales AVS France SAS 

(Thales), formerly Thales Avionics SAS, 

GPS/SBAS receivers, Topstar 200 LPV, 

P/N C17149HA01 and C17149JA02, 

using SBAS, which are known to be 

installed on, but not limited to, certain 

Model ATR 42–500 and ATR 72–212A 

aeroplanes and Sikorsky Model S–76D 

helicopters. EASA advises of reports 

indicating that Thales GPS SBAS 

receivers provided, under certain 

conditions, erroneous outputs on 

aircraft positions. EASA AD 2019–0004 

requires actions to prevent compromise 

of the safety margins when the receiver 

is used for Localizer Performance with 

Vertical guidance (LPV) and/or RNP–AR 

(Required Navigation Performance— 

Authorization Required) operations. 

Following the issuance of EASA AD 

2019–0004, the FAA issued AD 2020– 

08–02, Amendment 39–21108 (85 FR 

20586, April 14, 2020), to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

After the issuance of EASA AD 2019– 

0004, EASA issued related EASA AD 

2021–0013, dated January 13, 2021, in 

response to a software update that was 

developed to ensure correct navigational 

performance of certain Thales GPS 

SBAS receivers installed on ATR–GIE 

Avions de Transport Re ́gional, formerly 

EADS ATR—Alenia, Aerospatiale Matra 

ATR—ALENIA, Aerospatiale—Alenia, 

Aerospatiale—Aeritalia, Model ATR 42– 

500 and ATR 72–212A aeroplanes. The 

FAA subsequently issued AD 2021–19– 

13, Amendment 39–21731 (86 FR 

54801, October 5, 2021), to address the 

unsafe condition on these products. 

Discussion of Final Airworthiness 

Directive 

Comments 

The FAA received no comments on 

the NPRM or on the determination of 

the costs. 

Conclusion 

The FAA reviewed the relevant data 

and determined that air safety requires 

adopting this AD as proposed. 

Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD 

to address the unsafe condition on these 

products. However, the FAA discovered 

an error in the U.S. fleet costs. The 

NPRM inadvertently stated the costs as 

$336,820; this final rule corrects those 

costs, which are $168,410 for the U.S. 

fleet. Except for the change to the U.S. 

fleet costs and minor editorial changes, 

this AD is adopted as proposed in the 

NPRM. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S–76D 

Helicopter Service Bulletin SB 76–017, 

Basic Issue, dated May 11, 2021 (SB 76– 

017). SB 76–017 specifies procedures for 

removing, updating, and installing GPS 

TopStar 200 LPV receivers. SB 76–017 

also provides instructions for sending 

the GPS receiver(s) to Thales 

Authorized Repair Stations for the 

software update. 

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. 

Costs of Compliance 

The FAA estimates that this AD 

affects 22 helicopters of U.S. Registry 

and that operators may incur the 

following costs in order to comply with 

this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 

per work-hour. 


jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with RULES1
7714 Federal Register / Vol. 87, No. 28 / Thursday, February 10, 2022 / Rules and Regulations 

Replacing two GPS receivers takes 

about 3 work-hours and parts cost about 

$7,400, for an estimated cost of $7,655 

per helicopter and $168,410 for the U.S. 

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. 

The FAA is 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska, and 

(3) 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. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

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: 

2022–03–09 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: 

Amendment 39–21926; Docket No. 

FAA–2021–1002; Project Identifier AD– 

2021–00332–R. 

(a) Effective Date 

This airworthiness directive (AD) is 

effective March 17, 2022. 

(b) Affected ADs 

This AD affects AD 2020–08–02, 

Amendment 39–21108 (85 FR 20586, April 

14, 2020) (AD 2020–08–02). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation Model S–76D helicopters, 

certificated in any category, with Thales 

Global Positioning System (GPS) TopStar 200 

LPV receiver part number (P/N) C17149HA01 

installed. 

(d) Subject 

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) 

Code: 3457, Global Positioning System. 

(e) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by reports that 

certain Thales GPS satellite based 

augmentation system (SBAS) receivers 

provided, under certain conditions, 

erroneous outputs on aircraft positions. The 

unsafe condition, if not addressed, could 

result in controlled flight into terrain and 

loss of control of the helicopter. 

(f) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(g) Required Actions 

(1) Within 130 hours time-in-service after 

the effective date of this AD, replace each 

affected GPS receiver identified in paragraph 

(c) of this AD with GPS receiver P/N 

C17149RA01 in accordance with the 

Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs A., 

C., and D., of Sikorsky S–76D Helicopter 

Service Bulletin SB 76–017, Basic Issue, 

dated May 11, 2021. 

(2) As of the effective date of this AD, do 

not install a GPS receiver identified in 

paragraph (c) of this AD on any helicopter. 

(3) Accomplishing paragraph (g)(1) of this 

AD terminates the requirements of AD 2020– 

08–02. 

(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 

has the authority to approve AMOCs for this 

AD, if requested using the procedures found 

in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 

39.19, send your request to your principal 

inspector or local Flight Standards District 

Office, as appropriate. If sending information 

directly to the manager of the certification 

office, send it to the attention of the person 

identified in paragraph (i) of this AD. 

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, 

notify your appropriate principal inspector, 

or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 

of the local flight standards district office/ 

certificate holding district office. 

(i) Related Information 

For more information about this AD, 

contact Nicholas Rediess, Aviation Safety 

Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & 

Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone 

(781) 238–7159; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACOCOS@faa.gov. 

(j) 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 S–76D Helicopter Service 

Bulletin SB 76–017, Basic Issue, dated May 

11, 2021. 

(ii) [Reserved] 

(3) For Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 

service information identified in this AD, 

contact your local Sikorsky Field 

Representative or Sikorsky’s Service 

Engineering Group at Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation, Mailstop K100, 124 Quarry 

Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1–800– 

946–4337 (1–800–Winged–S); email wcs_

cust_service_eng.gr-sik@lmco.com. Operators 

may also log on to the Sikorsky 360 website 

at https://www.sikorsky360.com. 

(4) You may view this service information 

at FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, 

Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., 

Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, TX 76177. For 

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, 

email: fr.inspection@nara.gov, or go to: 

https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ 

ibr-locations.html. 

Issued on January 20, 2022. 

Ross Landes, 

Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, 

Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2022–02745 Filed 2–9–22; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


jspears on DSK121TN23PROD with RULES1