DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0305; Project Identifier AD-2021-00334-R;
Amendment 39-21512; AD 2021-08-18]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule; request for comments.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-04-16
which applied to certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model
S-92A helicopters. AD 2021-04-16 required a one-time inspection of the
landing gear for components with non-conforming threads and removal of
any non-conforming threaded hinge pin and main landing gear (MLG) and
nose landing gear (NLG) actuator pins. AD 2021-04-16 also prohibited
installing certain part-numbered hinge and actuator pins on any
helicopter. This AD requires the same actions but corrects erroneous
part numbers. This AD was prompted by the discovery that certain part
numbers listed in AD 2021-04-16 are incorrect. The FAA is issuing this
AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective April 29, 2021
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain other publication listed in this AD as of April
14, 2021 (86 FR 13631, March 10, 2021).
The FAA must receive any comments on this AD by June 1, 2021.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the in-
structions for submitting comments.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
For service information identified in this final rule, contact your
local Sikorsky Field Representative or Sikorsky's Service Engineering
Group at Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Mailstop K100, 124 Quarry Road,
Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-946-4337 (1-800-Winged-S); 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
service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel,
Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, TX
76177. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA,
call (817) 222-5110. It is also available at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0305.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0305; 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, any
comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket
Operations is listed above.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Dorie Resnik, Aviation Safety
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA
01803; phone: (781) 238-7693; fax: (781) 238-7199; email:
dorie.resnik@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued AD 2021-04-16, Amendment 39-21438 (86 FR 13631,
March 10, 2021) (AD 2021-04-16), for Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters
with serial numbers (S/Ns) 920006 through 920334 inclusive. AD 2021-04-
16 required a one-time inspection of the landing gear and the removal
from service of certain serial-numbered threaded hinge pins part number
(P/N) 92250-12281-101 and certain serial-numbered MLG and NLG actuator
pins P/N 92250-12287-101 and 92250-12287-103. AD 2021-04-16 was
prompted by the manufacturer discovering nonconforming threads,
resulting in a life limit reduction on multiple landing gear components
including threaded hinge pins and MLG and NLG actuator pins. The FAA
issued AD 2021-04-16 to prevent failure of components on the MLG and
NLG. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in damage to
the helicopter and reduced ability to control the helicopter during
landing.

Actions Since AD 2021-04-16 Was Issued

Since the FAA issued AD 2021-04-16, it was discovered that the P/Ns
for the actuator pins were incorrect in certain paragraphs. Portions of
the Required Actions paragraph incorrectly identified the actuator pin
P/Ns as 92240-12287-101 and 92240-12287-103; the correct P/Ns are
92250-12287-101 and 92250-12287-103. The Installation Prohibition
paragraph incorrectly identified the actuator pin P/Ns as 92240-12287-
101 and 92240-12287-103; the correct P/Ns are 92250-12287-101 and
92250-12287-103. The FAA is issuing this AD to correct these P/N errors
and address the unsafe condition on these products.

FAA's Determination

The FAA is issuing this AD because the agency 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

The FAA reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-32-008, Basic
Issue, dated January 21, 2020 (the ASB). The ASB describes procedures
for a one-time inspection and replacement of non-conforming components
on the MLG and NLG.
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.

AD Requirements

This AD requires, within 300 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the
effective date of this AD, visually inspecting the components of the
right MLG assembly, left MLG assembly, and NLG kit for threaded hinge
pins P/N 92250-12281-101 and actuator pins P/N 92250-12287-101 and
92250-12287-103 with an S/N as specified in the ASB. If there is any
threaded hinge pin P/N 92250-12281-101 or any MLG or NLG actuator pin
P/N 92250-12287-101 or P/N 92250-12287-103 with an S/N as specified in
the ASB, removing it from service is required before further flight.
This AD also prohibits, as of the effective date of this AD, installing
any threaded hinge pin P/N 92250-12281-101 or actuator pin P/N 92250-
12287-101 or 92250-12287-103 with an S/N as specified in the ASB, on
any helicopter.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information

This AD requires replacing only affected hinge pins and MLG and NLG
actuator pins. The ASB requires replacing additional parts such as the
MLG and NLG crossbolt and the MLG and NLG upper nut. The FAA has
determined that the MLG and NLG crossbolt and the MLG and NLG upper nut
fail in a safe and contained manner and therefore are not subject to
this AD.
Additionally, this AD requires the one-time inspection within 300
hours TIS after the effective date of this AD and requires that any
affected hinge pins and MLG and NLG actuator pins be removed from
service before further flight. The ASB specifies inspecting and
replacing the affected hinge pins and MLG and NLG actuator pins occur
no later than January 21, 2021.

Justification for Immediate Adoption and Determination of the Effective
Date

Section 553(b)(3)(B) of the Administrative Procedure Act (APA) (5
U.S.C. 551 et seq.) authorizes agencies to dispense with notice and
comment procedures for rules when the agency, for ``good cause,'' finds
that those procedures are ``impracticable, unnecessary, or contrary to
the public interest.'' Under this section, an agency, upon finding good
cause, may issue a final rule without providing notice and seeking
comment prior to issuance. Further, section 553(d) of the APA
authorizes agencies to make rules effective in less than thirty days,
upon a finding of good cause.
This AD corrects an obvious error in AD 2021-04-16 that affects
compliance and the public was previously provided opportunity for
comment on the costs of the AD and required actions.
Accordingly, notice and opportunity for prior public comment are
unnecessary pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(b)(3)(B). In addition, the FAA
finds that good cause exists pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553(d) for making
this amendment effective in less than 30 days, for the same reasons the
FAA found good cause to forgo notice and comment.

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written data, views, or arguments
about this final rule. Send your comments to an address listed under
ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2021-0305 and Project Identifier
AD-2021- 00334-R'' at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful
comments reference a specific portion of the final rule, explain the
reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this final rule because of those comments.
Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in
the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you
provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each
substantive verbal contact received about this final rule.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily
and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of
Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public
disclosure. If your comments responsive to this AD contain commercial
or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that
you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to
this AD, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted
comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing
CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat such marked submissions as
confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public
docket of this AD. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Dorie
Resnik, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District
Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7693; fax: (781) 238-
7199; email: dorie.resnik@faa.gov. Any commentary that the FAA receives
which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the
public docket for this rulemaking.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

The requirements of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA) do not
apply when an agency finds good cause pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 553 to adopt
a rule without prior notice and comment. Because FAA has determined
that it has good cause to adopt this rule without prior notice and
comment, RFA analysis is not required.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 85 helicopters of U.S.
registry and estimates the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary
replacements that are required based on the results of the inspection.
The FAA has no way of determining the number of helicopters that might
need these replacements:

On-Condition Costs

According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this AD may be
covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on affected
individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for affected
individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in its cost
estimate.

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

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, and
(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

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

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:

a. Removing Airworthiness Directive 2021-04-16, Amendment 39-21438 (86
FR 13631, March 10, 2021); and

b. Adding the following new airworthiness directive: