DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2016-5443; Directorate Identifier 2016-SW-021-AD;
Amendment 39-18884; AD 2017-10-10]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
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 Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This
AD requires installing an engine flame detector bracket assembly and
harness assembly. This AD was prompted by reports of false fire
warnings. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe
condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective August 25, 2017.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain documents listed in this AD as of August 25, 2017.

ADDRESSES: 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 a
copy of 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-2016-5443.

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-2016-5443; 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: Kristopher Greer, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate,
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781)
238-7799; email kristopher.greer@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

On December 27, 2016, at 81 FR 95066, the Federal Register
published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to
amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Sikorsky Model
S-92A helicopters, serial numbers 920006 through 920298. The NPRM
proposed to require installing a No. 2 engine outboard flame detector
bracket assembly (bracket) and a No. 2 engine flame detector harness
assembly (harness), if not already installed or if the bracket was not
installed before the harness. The proposed AD was prompted by reports
of false fire indications from the No. 2 engine outboard flame
detectors. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent a false
fire warning, which could result in an unnecessary emergency landing or
ditching.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing
this AD, but we received no comments on the NPRM.

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 Under 1 CFR Part 51

We reviewed Sikorsky S-92 Customer Service Notice 92-094, Revision
B, dated June 14, 2016, which provides procedures for installing
harness part number (P/N) 92310-04201-041.
We also reviewed Sikorsky Special Service Instructions No. 92-107G,
Revision G, dated February 25, 2016, (SSI No. 92-107G) which specifies
installing new brackets, P/N 92070-30033-011, 92070-30033-014, and
92070-30033-015, to increase the stability of the No. 2 engine outboard
flame detector.
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.

Other Related Service Information

We reviewed Sikorsky S-92 Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 92-26-006,
Basic Issue, dated February 25, 2016. This service information provides
instructions for installing a new bracket by complying with SSI No. 92-
107G. We also reviewed S-92 ASB 92-26-007, Basic Issue, dated June 14,
2016. This service information specifies installing harness P/N 92310-
04201-041 after or concurrently with the new bracket.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 50 helicopters of U.S. Registry
and that labor costs average $85 per work-hour. Based on these
estimates, we expect that installing a new bracket and harness requires
15.25 work hours for a labor cost of about $1,296. Parts cost $100 for
a total cost of about $1,396 per helicopter and $69,800 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.
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

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):