DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-0389; Product Identifier 2018-SW-035-AD; Amendment
39-19748; AD 2019-19-12]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-10-07
for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-76C helicopters.
AD 2018-10-07 required inspecting the engine collective position
transducer (CPT). This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2018-10-07
and expands the applicability. This AD is prompted by the determination
that an additional part-numbered engine CPT is affected by the same
unsafe condition.

The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these
products.

DATES: This AD is effective November 8, 2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of November 8,
2019.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of certain other publications listed in this AD as of June
25, 2018 (83 FR 23355, May 21, 2018).

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 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-2019-0389.

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-2019-
0389; 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 final rule, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and
other information. The address for Docket Operations is Document
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: Nick Rediess, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; telephone (781) 238-7159; email
nicholas.rediess@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 to supersede AD 2018-10-07, Amendment 39-19282 (83 FR
23355, May 21, 2018) (``AD 2018-10-07''). AD 2018-10-07 applied to
Sikorsky Model S-76C helicopters with a Turbomeca, S.A., Arriel 2S1 or
Arriel 2S2 engine with an engine CPT part number (P/N) 76900-01821-104
installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on May 23, 2019
(84 FR 23740). The NPRM was prompted by the determination that an
additional part-numbered CPT is affected by the same unsafe condition
identified in AD 2018-10-07. The NPRM proposed to retain all of the
requirements of AD 2018-10-07, which required initial and recurring
inspections of each CPT by measuring resistance, linearity resistance
movement, and differential voltage, and depending on the outcome of the
inspections, replacing the CPT. The NPRM also proposed to add engine
CPT P/N 76900-01821-105 to the applicability. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Comments

The FAA gave the public the opportunity to participate in
developing this AD. The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the
determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety
and the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed; however,
since issuance of the NPRM, Sikorsky issued Maintenance Manual, SA
4047-76C-2, Temporary Revision 73-10, dated June 25, 2019 (TR 73-10),
to update Sikorsky Maintenance Manual, SA 4047-76C-2, Temporary
Revision No. 73-08, dated September 20, 2017 (TR 73-08). The NPRM
proposed to require completing certain corrective actions with TR 73-
08. This final rule includes the option to use TR 73-10 for those
corrective actions instead.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin
76-73-8, Revision A, dated December 4, 2015 (ASB 76-73-8A), which
specifies a one-time inspection of total resistance, linearity
resistant movement, excitation voltage, and differential voltage of the
CPTs using CPT Text Box P/N 76700-40009-042. The FAA also reviewed
Sikorsky Maintenance Manual, SA 4047-76C-2, Temporary Revision No. 73-
07, dated August 17, 2016 (TR 73-07), which specifies procedures for
removing, installing, and adjusting the CPTs, and inspections of total
resistance, linearity resistant movement, excitation voltage, and
differential voltage of the CPTs. TR 73-07 also divides the procedures
by CPT Test Box P/N by providing separate procedures for test boxes
modified by Sikorsky Special Service Instructions (SSI) No. 76-96,
dated August 19, 2016, which is not incorporated by reference in this
AD.
Additionally, the FAA reviewed TR 73-08, which updates procedures
in TR 73-07. TR 73-08 does not divide the procedures by CPT Test Box P/
N as it eliminates the procedures for CPT Text Box P/N 76700-40009-042.
TR 73-08 omits obsolete figures and it provides inspection results as
pass or fail.
Finally, the FAA reviewed TR 73-10, which updates procedural steps
and graphics in TR 73-08.
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

The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-76 Helicopter ASB 76-73-8, Basic Issue,
dated August 21, 2015 (ASB 76-73-8). ASB 76-73-8 contains the same
procedures as ASB 76-73-8A; however, ASB 76-73-8A updates Sikorsky's
contact information for submitting a purchase order.
The FAA also reviewed Sikorsky SA 4047-76C-2-1, Temporary Revision
No. 5-181, dated August 21, 2015 (TR 5-181); Task 5-20-00 of Sikorsky
Airworthiness Limitations and Inspection Requirements, Publication No.
SA 4047-76C-2-1, Revision 24, dated December 15, 2015 (Task 5-20-00);
and Section 73-22-04 of Chapter 73 Engine Fuel and Control, of Sikorsky
Maintenance Manual, SA 4047-76C-2, Revision 31, dated December 15, 2015
(Section 73-22-04). TR 5-181 specifies adding CPT inspections
referenced in Section 73-22-04 to the 300-hour inspection checklist
contained in Task 5-20-00.
The FAA also reviewed Sikorsky Safety Advisory No. SSA-S76-11-0002,
dated May 17, 2011. This service information provides precautionary
instructions to minimize hazardous situations that might result from an
unreliable CPT.
The FAA also reviewed Sikorsky SSI No. 76-96, dated August 19,
2016, which specifies procedures to modify CPT Test Box P/N 76700-
40009-042 and re-identify it as P/N 76700-40009-043. This one-time
modification reduces the instructions to inspect the CPT and improves
the inspection accuracy.
The FAA also reviewed Sikorsky SSI No. 76-87, dated July 24, 2015,
and SSI No. 76-87A, Revision A, dated August 21, 2015. These SSIs
specify a one-time inspection of total resistance, linearity resistant movement,
excitation voltage, and differential voltage of the CPTs using CPT Text
Box P/N 76700-40009-042.

Interim Action

The FAA considers this AD interim action. The design approval
holder is currently developing a terminating action that will address
the unsafe condition identified in this AD. Once this action is
developed, approved, and available, the FAA might consider additional
rulemaking.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 115 helicopters of U.S.
Registry. The FAA estimates that operators may incur the following
costs in order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85
per work-hour.
The inspections take about 3.75 work-hours for an estimated cost of
$319 per helicopter and $36,685 for the U.S. fleet per inspection
cycle. Replacing a CPT takes about 6 work-hours and parts cost $3,072
for an estimated replacement cost of $3,582.

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.
The FAA is 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

The FAA has 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
(3) 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)
2018-10-07, Amendment 39-19282 (83 FR 23355, May 21, 2018), and adding
the following new AD: