AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. This AD requires, initially and each
time the clamps are removed, inspecting for chafing between the
electrical wires and the hydraulic lines and, if there is chafing
between the wires or lines, before further flight, replacing the
unairworthy wires or lines with airworthy wires or lines. Also, this AD
requires inspecting each clamp for correct installation, and if a clamp
is incorrectly installed or missing, before further flight, correctly
installing the clamps. This AD is prompted by chafing between high
voltage electrical wiring and hydraulic lines that led to two fires in
the top deck of the helicopter, which does not have fire detection nor
extinguishing capability. The actions specified by this AD are intended
to detect any chafing between the electrical wires and the hydraulic
lines that could result in a fire and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.

DATES: This AD becomes effective May 1, 2014.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of May 1, 2014.
We must receive comments on this AD by June 16, 2014.

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 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 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: Caspar Wang, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate,
FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803;
telephone (781) 238-7799; email caspar.wang@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. This
AD requires, initially and each time the clamps are removed, inspecting
for chafing between the electrical wires and the hydraulic lines and,
if there is chafing between the wires and lines, before further flight,
replacing the unairworthy wires or lines with airworthy wires or lines.
Also, this AD requires inspecting each clamp for correct installation,
and if a clamp is incorrectly installed or missing, before further
flight, correctly installing the clamps.
This AD is prompted by chafing between high voltage electrical
wires and hydraulic lines that led to two fires in the top deck of the
helicopter, which does not have fire detection nor extinguishing
capability. The chafing occurred because of improper clamp installation
after maintenance was performed in the top deck. A redesign eliminated
the need for clamping in newer Model S-92A helicopters. However,
because of the high volume of maintenance performed in the area where
the fire occurred immediately following maintenance involving
removing and installing the clamps, more detailed instructions are
necessary for correct installation of the clamps in the older model
helicopters. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect
any chafing between the electrical wires and the hydraulic lines that
could result in a fire and subsequent loss of control of the
helicopter.

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 helicopters of the same type
design.

Related Service Information

Sikorsky has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. 92-20-001, dated
October 27, 2005 (ASB) to specify a one-time installation of clamps to
provide additional clearance between the electrical harnesses on the
upper deck and the hydraulic lines.

AD Requirements

This AD requires:
Within 5 hours time-in-service (TIS), inspecting the
electrical wires and the hydraulic lines in the affected area for
evidence of chafing. If there is chafing between electrical wires and
the hydraulic lines, this AD requires, before further flight, replacing
unairworthy wires or lines with airworthy wires or lines.
Within 5 hours TIS, inspecting each clamp for correct
installation. If clamps are incorrectly installed or missing, before
further flight, install clamps by following the Accomplishment
Instructions of the ASB.
After each maintenance that requires removing clamps, this
AD requires repeating the previous inspections.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

The service information specifies a one-time installation of the
clamps between the electrical harnesses on the upper deck and the
hydraulic lines within 30 days. This AD requires, within 5 hours TIS,
inspecting each clamp for correct installation, and within 5 hours TIS
and after each maintenance that requires removing clamps, inspecting
the electrical wires and the hydraulic lines for chafing. This AD
applies to S/N 920006 through 920084, and the service bulletin applies
to S/N 920006 through 920022.

Interim Action

We consider this AD 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 20 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.
An initial inspection of the clamps will take .5 work hour. Inspecting
and reclamping will take 2 work hours at a parts cost of $25 per
helicopter. Inspecting and replacing the electrical wires will take 2
work hours at a parts cost of $7,500 per helicopter. Inspecting and
replacing the hydraulic lines will take 3 work hours at a parts cost of
$500 per helicopter. Based on these estimates, the total cost per
helicopter is $8,663, and the total cost of compliance for the U.S.
fleet is $173,250, assuming the clamps, electrical wires, and hydraulic
lines are replaced.
According to Sikorsky's service information, the costs of this AD
may be covered under warranty thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. We do not control warranty coverage by Sikorsky.
Accordingly, we have included all costs in our cost estimate.

FAA's Justification and Determination of the Effective Date

Providing an opportunity for public comments before 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 before
adopting this rule because the required corrective actions must be done
within 5 hours TIS, a very short time period based on the average
flight-hour utilization rate of these helicopters.
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.

Sec. 39.13 [Amended]

2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):