Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 49095 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2017–0946; Product 

Identifier 2017–SW–045–AD; Amendment 

39–19081; AD 2017–22–01] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky 

Aircraft Corporation Helicopters 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for 

Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) 

Model S–92A helicopters. This AD 

requires adding operating limitations to 

a rotorcraft flight manual (RFM). This 

AD is prompted by test results showing 

decoupling of the flight director (FD) in 

certain flight conditions. The actions of 

this AD are intended to address an 

unsafe condition on these products. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

November 8, 2017. 

The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 

of a certain document listed in this AD 

as of November 8, 2017. 

We must receive comments on this 

AD by December 26, 2017. 

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 by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0946; 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 (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 final rule, contact Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation, Customer Service 

Engineering, 124 Quarry Road, 

Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1–800– 

Winged–S or 203–416–4299; email wcs_

cust_service_eng.gr-sik@lmco.com. You 

may review the referenced service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 

10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N–321, 

Fort Worth, TX 76177. It is also 

available on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2017– 

0946. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Nick 

Rediess, Aviation Safety Engineer, 

Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and 

Airworthiness Division, 1200 District 

Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 

telephone (781) 238–7159; email 

nicholas.rediess@faa.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety, and 

we did not provide you with notice and 

an opportunity to provide your 

comments prior to it becoming effective. 

However, 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 resulted from 

adopting this AD. The most helpful 

comments reference a specific portion of 

the AD, 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 them 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 

rulemaking during the comment period. 

We will consider all the comments we 

receive and may conduct additional 

rulemaking based on those comments. 

Discussion 

We are adopting a new AD for 

Sikorsky Model S–92A helicopters with 

a Flight Control Computer (FCC) part 

number 92900–01802–112 installed. 

The FCC is part of the Search and 

Rescue (SAR) Automatic Flight Control 

System (AFCS). During laboratory 

testing, Sikorsky discovered a defect in 

the FCC software that results in the FD 

decoupling in all three axes when pilot 

input is made to transition between two 

SAR AFCS modes. When the AFCS is 

engaged in SAR Approach 2 (APP2) 

with an indicated airspeed below VMINI

(50 KIAS), the decoupling will occur if 

the pilot initiates a transition to Velocity 

Hover Hold (VHLD) mode by pressing 

the VHLD button on the Mode Select 

Panel (MSP). The decoupling is 

annunciated to the pilot but only after 

a three-second delay. During the delay, 

the rotorcraft may pitch up with the rate 

of descent increases to as much as 450 

fpm. Because of this, the pilot must take 

immediate manual control of the 

rotorcraft after decoupling. This 

condition could result in loss of control 

of the helicopter and flight into terrain. 

According to Sikorsky, the root cause of 

the failure is under investigation. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are issuing this AD because we 

evaluated all the relevant information 

and determined the unsafe condition 

described previously is likely to exist or 

develop in other products of the same 

type design. 

Related Service Information Under 1 

CFR Part 51 

Sikorsky has issued SA S92A–RFM– 

003 RFM Supplement (RFMS) No. 4 

(Sikorsky SA S92A–RFM–003 RFMS 

No. 4), Revision 1, approved October 6, 

2017, for the Model S–92A helicopter 

SAR AFCS. This revision of the RFMS 

prohibits engaging VHLD during 

coupled SAR APP2 mode via MSP soft 

key, adds a warning explaining the 

decoupling event and subsequent 

aircraft behavior, and adds a note 

regarding correctly activating VHLD 

mode with the cyclic trim release switch 

or selecting VHLD during Mark-On-Top 

(MOT). 

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. 

Other Related Service Information 

Sikorsky has issued letter CCS–92– 

APL–17–0001, dated July 31, 2017, for 

Model S–92A helicopters, which 

describes the conditions that result in 

the FD decoupling and provides 

instructions on how to avoid it. This 

service information further provides 

instructions for re-engaging the FD if 

decoupling occurs. 


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49096 Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 

AD Requirements 

This AD requires revising the 

Operating Limitations section of 

Sikorsky SA S92A–RFM–003 RFMS No. 

4 by prohibiting engaging VHLD via 

either MSP soft key during coupled SAR 

APP2 mode, adding a warning 

describing the decoupling event and 

subsequent AFCS and aircraft behavior, 

and adding a note regarding correctly 

activating VHLD mode with the cyclic 

trim release switch or selecting VHLD 

during MOT. 

Interim Action 

We consider this AD to be an interim 

action. The design approval holder is 

currently developing a modification that 

will address the unsafe condition 

identified in this AD. Once this 

modification is developed, approved, 

and available, we might consider 

additional rulemaking. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this AD will affect 

87 helicopters of U.S. Registry. We 

estimate that operators may incur the 

following costs in order to comply with 

this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 

per work-hour. 

Revising the RFMS will take about 0.5 

work-hour for an estimated cost of $43 

per helicopter and $3,741 for the U.S. 

fleet. 

FAA’s Justification and Determination 

of the Effective Date 

Providing an opportunity for public 

comments prior to adopting these AD 

requirements would delay 

implementing the safety actions needed 

to correct this known unsafe condition. 

Therefore, we find that the risk to the 

flying public justifies waiving notice 

and comment prior to the adoption of 

this rule because the required corrective 

actions must be completed within 10 

hours time-in-service. 

Since an unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD, we determined that notice and 

opportunity for public comment before 

issuing this AD are impracticable and 

that good cause exists for making this 

amendment effective in less than 30 

days. 

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 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, 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): 

2017–22–01 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: 

Amendment 39–19081; Docket No. 

FAA–2017–0946; Product Identifier 

2017–SW–045–AD. 

(a) Applicability 

This AD applies to Model S–92A 

helicopters, certificated in any category, with 

a Search and Rescue (SAR) Automatic Flight 

Control System installed with a Flight 

Control Computer (FCC) part number 92900– 

01802–112. 

(b) Unsafe Condition 

This AD defines the unsafe condition as a 

software defect in the FCC. This condition 

could result in unintended decoupling of the 

flight director in all three axes and flight into 

terrain. 

(c) Effective Date 

This AD becomes effective November 8, 

2017. 

(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 

Within 10 hours time-in-service, revise the 

operating limitations section of the Rotorcraft 

Flight Manual by adding the information in 

Figure 1 to paragraph (e) of this AD as 

paragraph 4, System Limits, in Section 1 of 

Sikorsky SA S92A–RFM–003 Rotorcraft 

Flight Manual Supplement (RFMS) No. 4 for 

the SAR AFCS (Sikorsky SA S92A–RFM–003 

RFMS No. 4). This action may be done by: 

(1) Inserting a copy of this AD; 

(2) Making pen-and-ink changes; or 

(3) Inserting pages 1–2 and 1–3/1–4 of 

Sikorsky SA S92A–RFM–003 RFMS No. 4, 

Revision 1, approved October 6, 2017. Using 

a different Sikorsky SA S92A–RFM–003 

RFMS No. 4 revision with information 

identical to that in paragraph 4, System 

Limits, from Section 1 of Sikorsky SA S92A– 

RFM–003 RFMS No. 4, Revision 1, approved 

October 6, 2017, is acceptable for compliance 

with the requirements of this AD. 


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Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 204 / Tuesday, October 24, 2017 / Rules and Regulations 49097 

(f) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

(1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, 

FAA, may approve AMOCs for this AD. Send 

your proposal to: Nick Rediess, Aviation 

Safety Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, 

Compliance and Airworthiness Division, 

1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; 

telephone (781) 238–7159; email 

nicholas.rediess@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 letter CCS–92–APL–17–0001, 

dated July 31, 2017, 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 wcs_cust_service_eng.gr-sik@

lmco.com. You may review this service 

information at the FAA, Office of the 

Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 

Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N–321, Fort Worth, 

TX 76177. 

(h) Subject 

Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) 

Code: 2210, Autopilot System. 

(i) Material Incorporated by Reference 

(1) The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference 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) Pages 1–2 and 1–3/1–4 of Sikorsky SA 

S92A–RFM–003 RFMS No. 4 Sikorsky Model 

S–92A Part 1, Revision 1, approved October 

6, 2017. 

(ii) Reserved. 

(3) For Sikorsky service information 

identified in this AD, Sikorsky Aircraft 

Corporation, Customer Service Engineering, 

124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; 

telephone 1–800–Winged–S or 203–416– 

4299; email wcs_cust_service_eng.gr-sik@

lmco.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, call 

(202) 741–6030, or go to: http://

www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibrlocations.html. 

Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 16, 

2017. 

James A. Grigg, 

Acting Director, Compliance & Airworthiness 

Division, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2017–22951 Filed 10–23–17; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 


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