[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 217 (Friday, November 8, 2013)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67009-67011]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-26043]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0514; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-068-AD;
Amendment 39-17647; AD 2013-22-15]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
(Sikorsky) 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 Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters to require certain
inspections of each spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly
for a crack. If there is a crack, this AD requires replacing the
cracked part. If there is no crack, this AD requires applying white
paint to the inspection area to enhance the existing inspection
procedure. This AD was prompted by discovery of cracks in the spindle
cuffs. The actions are intended to prevent failure of a spindle cuff
assembly or blade fold cuff assembly, loss of a rotor blade, and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
DATES: This AD is effective December 13, 2013.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of December 13,
2013.
ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial Technical
Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06614;
telephone (800) 562-4409; email [email protected]; or at http://www.sikorsky.com.http://www.eurocopter.com/techpub. You may
[[Page 67010]]
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: Nicholas Faust, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller
Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts
01803; telephone (781) 238-7763; email [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Discussion
On June 20, 2013, at 78 FR 37160, 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 Sikorsky Model S-76A,
B, and C helicopters. The NPRM proposed either a one-time
nondestructive inspection (NDI) or a visual inspection of each spindle
cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly for a crack and replacing any
cracked part. If there was no crack in the part, the NPRM proposed
applying white paint to a portion of each spindle cuff assembly or
blade fold cuff assembly lower cuff plate to enhance the existing
inspection procedure. The NPRM was prompted by the discovery of five
cracked spindle cuffs found during aircraft overhaul. The proposed
requirements were intended to prevent failure of a spindle cuff
assembly or blade fold cuff assembly, loss of a rotor blade, 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 (78 FR 37160,
June 20, 2013).
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 S-76 Alert Service Bulletin ASB 76-65-67A, Revision
A, dated July 18, 2012 (ASB), which specifies performing an NDI of the
upper and lower cuff plate on each spindle cuff assembly or blade fold
cuff assembly for a crack, either by eddy current, fluorescent
penetrant, or ultrasonic inspection. If a crack indication is detected
and not verified, the ASB specifies performing a different NDI to
verify a crack. If there is a crack, the ASB specifies removing the
spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly from service. If a
crack cannot be verified, the ASB specifies contacting Sikorsky for
further instruction. Finally, if no crack is found, the ASB specifies
applying white paint to a portion of the spindle cuff assembly or blade
fold cuff assembly lower cuff plate to enhance the existing inspection
procedure.
Differences Between This AD and the Service Information
The ASB specifies contacting the manufacturer if suspect cracks are
not confirmed in the spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly;
this AD does not require contacting the manufacturer. This AD applies
to spindle cuff assembly, part number (P/N) 76102-08001-043, which was
inadvertently omitted in the ASB. The manufacturer has since revised
the ASB to apply to this spindle cuff assembly. The ASB applies to
spare parts; this AD does not.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this AD will affect 181 helicopters of U.S.
Registry.
We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD, based on an average labor cost of $85 per work
hour: It will take 2.5 work hours to do an NDI and 2 work hours to
apply the white paint. It will cost $15 in materials for the paint for
each helicopter. Based on these estimates, it will cost a total of $398
per helicopter and $72,038 for the fleet.
If it is necessary to replace a spindle cuff assembly or a blade
cuff assembly, it will take 2.5 work hours and an estimated parts cost
of $54,000, for a total cost of $54,212 for each 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:
[[Page 67011]]
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):
2013-22-15 Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-17647; FAA-
2013-0514; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-068-AD.
(a) Applicability
This AD applies to Model S-76A, S-76B, and S-76C helicopters
with a serial number up to and including 760822 and with a spindle
cuff assembly, part number (P/N) 76102-08001-043, -045 or -046, or a
blade fold cuff assembly, P/N 76150-09601-041, installed,
certificated in any category.
(b) Unsafe Condition
This AD defines the unsafe condition as a crack in a spindle
cuff assembly or blade fold cuff assembly. This condition could
result in failure of a spindle cuff assembly or blade fold cuff
assembly, loss of a rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of
the helicopter.
(c) Effective Date
This AD becomes effective December 13, 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
Within 150 hours time-in-service (TIS):
(1) For each spindle cuff assembly or blade cuff assembly with
1,900 or more hours TIS, conduct a nondestructive inspection (NDI)
by following the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B., of
Sikorsky S-76 Alert Service Bulletin ASB 76-65-67A, Revision A,
dated July 18, 2012 (ASB), except this AD does not require you to
contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation. This inspection must be done
by a level 2 or higher technician with National Aerospace Standard
410 or equivalent certification.
(2) For each spindle cuff assembly or blade cuff assembly with
less than 1,900 hours TIS, visually inspect the area indicated in
Figure 4 of the ASB as ``white paint application area'' for a crack
by using a 5x or higher power magnifying glass.
(3) If there is a crack, before further flight, replace the
cracked part.
(4) If there is no crack, apply white paint by following the
Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.D., of the ASB.
(5) Do not install an affected spindle cuff assembly or blade
fold cuff assembly on any helicopter unless it has been inspected in
accordance with paragraphs (e)(1) through (e)(4) of this AD.
(f) Special Flight Permit
Special flight permits will not be issued.
(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOC)
(1) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may
approve AMOCs for this AD. Send your proposal to: Nicholas Faust,
Aviation Safety Engineer, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New
England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone
(781) 238-7763; email [email protected].
(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.
(h) Subject
Joint Aircraft Service Component (JASC) Code: 6220 Main Rotor
Head.
(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) Sikorsky S-76 Alert Service Bulletin ASB 76-65-67A, Revision
A, dated July 18, 2012.
(ii) Reserved.
(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn: Manager, Commercial Technical
Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06614;
telephone (800) 562-4409; email [email protected]; or at
http://www.sikorsky.com.
(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Office of the
Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663,
Fort Worth, Texas 76137. 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/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on October 24, 2013.
Kim Smith,
Directorate Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-26043 Filed 11-7-13; 8:45 am]
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