DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0439; Product Identifier 2016-SW-074-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2017-14-
03 for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A
helicopters. AD 2017-14-03 requires an inspection and reduces the
retirement lives of certain landing gear components. This proposed AD
would retain the requirements of AD 2017-14-03, reduce the retirement
lives of additional landing gear components, and require repeating the
inspection. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to prevent an
unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 16, 2018.

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-2018-
0439; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains
this proposed AD, the economic evaluation, any comments received and
other information. The street address for Docket Operations (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 proposed 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 service
information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest
Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy, Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX 76177.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorie Resnik, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance and Airworthiness Division,
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781)
238-7693; email dorie.resnik@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

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 might
result from adopting the proposals in this document. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, 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 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 proposed rulemaking. Before acting on this proposal, we
will consider all comments we receive on or before the closing date for
comments. We will consider comments filed after the comment period has
closed if it is possible to do so without incurring expense or delay.
We may change this proposal in light of the comments we receive.

Discussion

We issued AD 2017-14-03, Amendment 39-18947 (82 FR 34838, July 27,
2017), for Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. AD 2017-14-03 was prompted
by Sikorsky's updated fatigue analysis of the nose and main landing
gear, which revealed that certain components require a reduced service
life. Therefore, AD 2017-14-03 requires reducing the retirement lives
of main landing gear (MLG) wheel axle part number (P/N) 2392-2334-001,
MLG and nose landing gear (NLG) threaded hinge pin P/N 2392-2311-003,
NLG cylinder P/N 2392-4006-005, NLG hinge pin P/N 2392-4312-003, and
landing gear actuator rod end P/N 2392-0876-901. AD 2017-14-03 also
requires a one-time visual and ultrasonic inspection of NLG airframe
fitting assembly P/N 92209-01101-041 once it has accumulated 31,600
landing cycles. Those actions are intended to detect and prevent cracks
or failure of any landing gear component, which could result in damage
and loss of control of the helicopter.

When we issued AD 2017-14-03, we determined it would be an interim
action. Because Sikorsky's updated airworthiness limitations schedule
included a repetitive inspection of the NLG airframe fitting assemblies
P/N 92209-01101-041 every 1,989 landing cycles, we determined that the
planned compliance time for these inspections would allow enough time
to provide notice and opportunity for prior public comment on the
merits of the repetitive inspection. Also, the reduced retirement lives
for MLG cylinder P/N 2392-2006-005, MLG pin outboard P/N 2392-2312-003,
MLG bulkhead left-hand side (LHS) P/N 92201-08111-105, -107, and -109,
and MLG bulkhead right-hand side (RHS) P/N 92201-08111-106, -108, and -
110 were not included in AD 2017-14-03. We determined the age of the
existing Model S-92A fleet would also allow enough time to provide
notice and opportunity for public comment on the merits of the reduced
life limits. This proposed AD would require these inspections and
reduced life limits.

FAA's Determination

We are proposing 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

We reviewed Ultrasonic Inspection Technique No. UT 5077, Revision 0,
dated July 25, 2014 (UT 5077). UT 5077 contains the inspection
method, equipment and materials, calibration, and inspection procedure
for performing an ultrasonic inspection of nose gear actuator fitting
P/N 92209-01101-101.

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

We also reviewed Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin
92-32-004, Basic Issue, dated January 30, 2015 (ASB). The ASB describes
procedures for conducting a visual inspection of the NLG airframe
fitting assembly and an ultrasonic inspection by following the
procedures in UT 5077.

Proposed AD Requirements

This proposed AD would require removing the following components
from service:

Any MLG wheel axle P/N 2392-2334-001 that has 22,300 or
more landing cycles.

Any MLG or NLG threaded hinge pin P/N 2392-2311-003 that
has 26,100 or more landing cycles.

Any NLG cylinder P/N 2392-4006-005 that has 26,300 or more
landing cycles.

Any NLG hinge pin P/N 2392-4312-003 that has 26,700 or
more landing cycles.

Any landing gear actuator rod end P/N 2392-0876-901 that
has 41,700 or more landing cycles.

Any MLG cylinder P/N 2392-2006-005 that has 76,300 or more
landing cycles.

Any MLG pin outboard P/N 2392-2312-003 that has 50,300 or
more landing cycles.

Any MLG bulkhead LHS P/N 92201-08111-105, -107, and -109
that has 58,400 or more landing cycles.

Any MLG bulkhead RHS P/N 92201-08111-106, -108, and -110
that has 58,400 or more landing cycles.

For helicopters that have 31,600 or more landing cycles and an NLG
airframe fitting assembly P/N 92209-01101-041 installed, this proposed
AD would also require, before further flight and thereafter at
intervals not exceeding 1,989 landing cycles:

Using a 10X or higher power magnifying glass, inspecting
each bushing and all visible surfaces of mating lug fittings adjacent
to each bushing for fretting, corrosion, wear, and scratches.

Replacing the NLG airframe fitting assembly before further
flight if there is fretting, corrosion, wear, or a scratch more than
0.0005 inch deep.

Ultrasonic inspecting the NLG actuator fitting and
replacing the NLG actuator fitting before further flight if there are
any anomalies.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD will affect 80 helicopters of U.S.
Registry.

We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order
to comply with this AD. At an average labor rate of $85 per hour:

Replacing a wheel axle P/N 2392-2334-001 would require 2
work-hours and required parts cost $22,000, for a cost per helicopter
of $22,170.

Replacing a MLG or NLG threaded hinge pin P/N 2392-2311-
003 would require 1 work-hour and required parts cost $3,800, for a
cost per helicopter of $3,885.

Replacing a NLG cylinder P/N 2392-4006-005 would require 1
work-hour and required parts cost $27,200, for a cost per helicopter of
$27,285.

Replacing a NLG hinge pin P/N 2392-4312-003 would require
1 work-hour and required parts cost $4,400, for a cost per helicopter
of $4,485.

Replacing a landing gear actuator rod end P/N 2392-0876-
901 would require 1 work-hour and required parts cost $900, for a cost
per helicopter of $985.

Replacing a MLG cylinder P/N 2392-2006-005 would require 2
work-hours and required parts cost $33,100, for a cost per helicopter
of $33,270.

Replacing a MLG pin outboard P/N 2392-2312-003 would
require 1 work-hour and required parts cost $4,300, for a cost per
helicopter of $4,385.

Replacing a MLG bulkhead LHS P/N 92201-08111-105, -107,
and -109 would require 70 work-hours and required parts would cost
$12,550, for a cost per helicopter of $18,500.

Replacing a MLG bulkhead RHS P/N 92201-08111-106, -108,
and -110 would require 70 work-hours and required parts would cost
$12,550, for a cost per helicopter of $18,500.

Inspecting the NLG airframe fitting assembly P/N 92209-
01101-041 would require 8 work-hours, and required parts cost is
minimal, for a cost of $680 per helicopter and $54,400 for the U.S.
fleet, per inspection cycle.

If required, replacing a NLG actuator fitting P/N 92209-
01101-101 would require 70 work-hours, and required parts cost $10,000,
for a cost per helicopter of $15,950.

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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. 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, I certify this 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 and placed it in the AD docket.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by
reference, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the FAA proposes to amend 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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-14-03, Amendment 39-18947 (82 FR 34838, July 27, 2017) and adding
the following new AD: