DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2018-0439; Product Identifier 2016-SW-074-AD; Amendment
39-19409; AD 2018-19-09]
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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-14-03 for
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. AD
2017-14-03 required an inspection and reduced the retirement lives of
certain landing gear components. This new AD retains the requirements
of AD 2017-14-03, reduces the retirement lives of additional landing
gear components, and requires repeating the inspection. This AD was
prompted by a revised analysis of the fatigue life of the landing gear.
The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on
these products.

DATES: This AD is effective October 30, 2018.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of August 11,
2017 (82 FR 34838, July 27, 2017).

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this final rule,
contact your local Sikorsky Field Representative or Sikorsky's Service
Engineering Group at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, 124 Quarry Road,
Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-416-4299; email
wcs_cust_service_eng.gr-sik@lmco.com. Operators may also log on to the
Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360.com. You may view this
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-2018-0439.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket on the internet at http://www.regulations.gov
in 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 AD, any incorporated-by-
reference information, the economic evaluation, any comments received,
and other information. The address for Docket Operations (phone: 800-
647-5527) is Docket Operations, U.S. Department of Transportation,
Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200
New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

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:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR
part 39 to remove AD 2017-14-03, Amendment 39-18947 (82 FR 34838, July
27, 2017) (AD 2017-14-03) and add a new AD. AD 2017-14-03 applied to
Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters and required inspecting and reducing
the retirement lives of certain landing gear components. AD 2017-14-03
was prompted by Sikorsky's updated fatigue analysis of the nose and
main landing gear, which revealed that certain components required a
reduced service life and one component required a repetitive visual and
ultrasonic inspection. When we issued AD 2017-14-03, we determined that
the age of the existing U.S. fleet and the compliance time for the
repetitive inspection would allow enough time for notice and public
comments on some actions.
The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 17, 2018 (83 FR
22883). The NPRM proposed to retain the actions in AD 2017-14-03,
reduce the life limits of additional components, and require repeating
the visual and ultrasonic inspections. These actions are intended to
detect and prevent cracks or failure of a landing gear component, which
could result in damage and 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.

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
helicopters of this same type design 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 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
part number (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 nose landing gear
(NLG) airframe fitting assembly and an ultrasonic inspection by
following the procedures in UT 5077.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 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 work-hour:
Replacing a wheel axle P/N 2392-2334-001 requires 2 work-
hours and required parts cost $22,000, for a cost per helicopter of
$22,170.

Replacing a main landing gear (MLG) or NLG threaded hinge
pin P/N 2392-2311-003 requires 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 requires 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 requires 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 requires 1 work-hour and required parts cost $900, for a cost per
helicopter of $985.
Replacing a MLG cylinder P/N 2392-2006-005 requires 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 requires 1
work-hour and required parts cost $4,300, for a cost per helicopter of
$4,385.
Replacing a MLG bulkhead left-hand side P/N 92201-08111-
105, -107, and -109 requires 70 work-hours and required parts cost
$12,550, for a cost per helicopter of $18,500.
Replacing a MLG bulkhead right-hand side P/N 92201-08111-
106, -108, and -110 requires 70 work-hours and required parts cost
$12,550, for a cost per helicopter of $18,500.
Inspecting the NLG airframe fitting assembly P/N 92209-
01101-041 requires 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 requires 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 have 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 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 a regulatory distinction is required, 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.

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 removing Airworthiness Directive (AD)
2017-14-03, Amendment 39-18947 (82 FR 34838, July 27, 2017), and adding
the following new AD: