DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2011-1115; Directorate Identifier 2010-SW-011-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
(Sikorsky) Model S-92A Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive
(AD) for the Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. This proposal would require
revising the Operating Limitations section of the Sikorsky Model S-92A
Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This proposal is prompted by the
manufacturer's analysis of engine data that revealed the data was
inaccurate in dealing with available above specification engine power
margin. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent
the use of inaccurate engine performance data in calculating maximum gross
weight by revising the Operating Limitations section of the RFM.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before December 27, 2011.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on this
proposed AD:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30,
West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE.,
Washington, DC 20590, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,
except Federal holidays.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Coffey, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7173, fax (781) 238-7170.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
COMMENTS INVITED
We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments regarding
this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed under the
caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number "FAA-2011-1115, Directorate
Identifier 2010-SW-011-AD" at the beginning of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider all
comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in
light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to
http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. We will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact with FAA personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the
search function of our docket web site, you can find and read the comments
to any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477-78).
EXAMINING THE DOCKET
You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any comments,
and other information 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 Docket Operations office
(telephone (800) 647-5527) is located in Room W12-140 on the ground floor
of the West Building at the street address stated in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
DISCUSSION
This document proposes adopting a new AD for the Sikorsky Model S-92A
helicopters. This proposal would require revising the Operating
Limitations section, Part 1, Section 1, Weight Limits, of the Sikorsky
Model S-92A RFM with the following statement "Performance credit for above
specification engine power margin is prohibited." Engine power margin is
determined through power assurance checks. Previous flight manual
revisions allowed for the use of above specification engine power margin
as shown in the circled area of Figure 1 of this AD. The use of above
-specification engine power margin is now being prohibited. Sikorsky has
published various RFM revisions correcting the charts in Parts I and IV of
the RFM. If those revisions have previously been incorporated into the
RFM, the RFM revision specified by this proposed AD would not be required.
The RFM revisions, all dated April 9, 2008, are as follows:
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AFFECTED RFM REVISION WITH CORRECT CHARTS
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S92A-RFM-002........................... Revision 8.
S92A-RFM-003........................... Revision 7.
S92A-RFM-004........................... Revision 6.
S92A-RFM-005........................... Revision 5.
S92A-RFM-006........................... Revision 6.
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This proposal is prompted by the manufacturer's analysis of engine data
that revealed the data was inaccurate in dealing with available engine
power margin. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to
prevent the use of inaccurate performance data in calculating maximum
gross weight by revising the Operating Limitations section of the RFM.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters
of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would require
inserting a limitation into the Operating Limitation section of the RFM
prohibiting the use of power margin percentage credit in calculating gross
weight and inserting the revisions into the Operating Limitations, Part 1,
Section 1, of Sikorsky RFM SA S92A-RFM-002, -003, -004, -005, and -006.
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 37 helicopters of U.S.
registry, and the proposed actions would take about 1 work hour per
helicopter to insert the revisions into the RFM at an average labor rate
of $85 per work hour. Parts costs are not associated with this AD. Based
on these figures, we estimate the total cost impact of the proposed AD on
U.S. operators would be $3,145.
REGULATORY FINDINGS
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, 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 above, I certify that the 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. See the AD docket to examine the draft economic
evaluation.
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.
LIST OF SUBJECTS IN 14 CFR PART 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference,
Safety.
THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend part
39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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.
SEC. 39.13 [AMENDED]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive to
read as follows: