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2022-02-01 SIKORSKY AIRCRAFT CORPORATION: Amendment 39-21898; Docket No. FAA2021-0689; Project Identifier AD-2020-01589-R.
(a) EFFECTIVE DATE

    This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective February 18, 2022.

(b) AFFECTED ADS

    None.

(c) APPLICABILITY

    This AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation  Model S-92A helicop-
    ters, certificated in any category, with a main rotor stationary swash
    -plate assembly (swashplate assembly)  part number  (P/N) 92104-15011-
    042 or P/N 92104-15011-043  that has accumulated 1,600  or  more total
    hours time-in-service, installed.

(d) SUBJECT

    Joint Aircraft System Component  (JASC)  Code  6230:  Main Rotor Mast/
    Swashplate.

(e) UNSAFE CONDITION

    This AD was  prompted by the  discovery of a  crack on the  swashplate
    assembly inner ring.  This condition, if  not detected and  corrected,
    could result in fretting wear on the shoulder that supports the  clamp
    -up of the uniball outer race, failure of the swashplate assembly, and
    subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

(f) COMPLIANCE

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,  unless al-
    ready done.

(g) REQUIRED ACTIONS

(1) Within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this
    AD,  and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS,  visually
    inspect the swashplate assembly for a crack, nick, dent,  and scratch,
    by following the Accomplishment Instructions,  Section 3, paragraph B.
    (except paragraphs B.(2)(a) through (c))  of  Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter
    Alert Service Bulletin ASB 92-62-009,  Basic Issue,  dated February 6,
    2019.

(2) If there is a crack, nick, dent, or scratch that exceeds the allowable
    limits,  before  further  flight,  remove the swashplate assembly from
    service.

(h) ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF COMPLIANCE (AMOCS)

(1) The Manager, Boston ACO, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, has
    the authority  to approve  AMOCs for  this AD,  if requested using the
    procedures found  in 14  CFR 39.19.  In accordance  with 14 CFR 39.19,
    send  your  request  to  your  principal  inspector  or  local  Flight
    Standards  District  Office, as  appropriate.  If sending  information
    directly to the  manager of the  certification office, send  it to the
    attention of the person identified in paragraph (i) of this AD.

(2) Before using any approved AMOC,  notify your appropriate principal in-
    spector, or lacking  a principal inspector,  the manager of  the local
    flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(i) RELATED INFORMATION

    For more information  about this AD,  contact  Jared Hyman,  Aerospace
    Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA,
    1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781)
    238-7799; email: 9-AVSAIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov.

(j) MATERIAL INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

(1) The Director of the Federal Register  approved  the  incorporation  by
    reference (IBR) of  the service information  listed in this  paragraph
    under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use this service information  as applicable to do the actions
    required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(i) Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter  Alert Service Bulletin ASB 92-62-009,  Basic
    Issue, dated February 6, 2019.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) For Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation  service information  identified  in
    this AD 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.grsik@lmco.com. Operators
    may also log on to the Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360
    .com.

(4) 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.

(5) You may view this service information  that is incorporated  by refer-
    ence at the National Archives and Records Administration  (NARA).  For
    information on the availability  of this material at NARA,  email: fr.
    inspection@nara.gov,   or   go  to:  https://www.archives.gov/federal-
    register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

Issued on January 4, 2022. Lance T. Gant, Director, Compliance & Airworth-
iness Division, Aircraft Certification Service

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jared Hyman,  Aerospace Engineer,  Boston
ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division FAA, 1200 District Avenue,
Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7799; email: 9-AVSAIR
-BACO-COS@faa.gov.
PREAMBLE 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2021-0689; Project Identifier AD-2020-01589-R;
Amendment 39-21898; AD 2022-02-01]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
certain Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-92A helicopters. This AD
was prompted by a cracked main rotor stationary swashplate assembly
(swashplate assembly). This AD requires visually inspecting the
swashplate assembly at specified intervals and depending on the
results, removing the swashplate assembly from service. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: This AD is effective February 18, 2022.
The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of February 18,
2022.

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, 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-2021-0689.

Examining the AD Docket

You may examine the AD docket at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2021-0689; 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 address for 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: Jared Hyman, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston ACO Branch, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, FAA, 1200
District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-
7799; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14
CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain Sikorsky
Aircraft Corporation Model S-92A helicopters. The NPRM published in the
Federal Register on August 23, 2021 (86 FR 47041). The NPRM was
prompted by a notification of an in-service crack in a swashplate
assembly inner ring. The crack, discovered during a routine inspection,
extended between the uniball bore and near the right-hand trunnion to
servo attach bolt hole. This condition, if not detected and corrected,
could result in fretting wear on the shoulder that supports the clamp-
up of the uniball outer race, failure of the swashplate assembly, and
subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. In the NPRM, the FAA
proposed to require, within 50 hours time-in-service (TIS), and
thereafter at intervals not to exceed 50 hours TIS, visually inspecting
the upper and lower surfaces of the swashplate assembly for a crack,
nick, dent, and scratch. If there is a crack, nick, dent, or scratch
that exceeds allowable limits, the NPRM proposed to require removing
the swashplate assembly from service before further flight. The FAA is
issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Discussion of Final Airworthiness Directive

Comments

The FAA received comments from one commenter; Sikorsky Aircraft.
Sikorsky Aircraft requested the FAA change the required inspections to
address the unsafe condition. The following presents the comments
received on the NPRM and the FAA's response to each comment.

Request for Changes to the Required Inspections


Sikorsky Aircraft requested the FAA change the repetitive
inspections proposed in the NPRM to more detailed repetitive
inspections. Sikorsky Aircraft stated that the 50-hour repetitive
inspections proposed in the NPRM are insufficient based on recent
fatigue evaluations, which have introduced a new failure mode. Sikorsky
Aircraft further stated that this new failure mode requires improved
detection capability, which will be introduced in a forthcoming
revision to ASB 92-62-009. Sikorsky Aircraft explained that the revised
ASB will specify directed special inspections at 50-hour, 375-hour, and
1,500-hour intervals to visually detect a potential fatigue crack at
specific regions of the swashplate and will include criteria for when
to accomplish a fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI) or eddy-current
inspection.
The FAA appreciates that additional evaluations have been
accomplished and revised service information is forthcoming; however,
the FAA disagrees with changing the repetitive inspections proposed in
this NPRM at this time. The FAA reviewed the drafted ``Chapter 5 AMM
Revision--Inspection of the Main Rotor Swashplate Assembly'' submitted
as an attachment to Sikorsky Aircraft's comment and determined that the
preliminary data provided is not sufficient to substantiate Sikorsky
Aircraft's request to change the repetitive inspections proposed in the
NPRM. Therefore, it would be inappropriate for the FAA to delay
issuance of this rule in order to allow Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
to release revised service information. Since an unsafe condition
exists, the FAA must issue an AD; however, in light of the new
information, the FAA has changed this AD action to be an interim action
and might consider further rulemaking if final action is later
identified.

Conclusion

The FAA reviewed the relevant data, considered any comments
received, and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as
proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe
condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this
AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. None of the changes will
increase the economic burden on any operator.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-92 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin
ASB 92-62-009, Basic Issue, dated February 6, 2019 (ASB). The ASB
specifies a one-time visual inspection of the swashplate assembly to
determine if there are any cracks. If cracks are found, the ASB
specifies replacing the swashplate assembly. If there is any other
damage such as nicks, dents, or scratches, the ASB specifies providing
that damage information to Sikorsky Customer Service Engineering. The
ASB also specifies returning the swashplate assembly, uniball bearing,
trunnions, and all attachment hardware to Sikorsky for investigation if
cracks are found.
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.

Differences Between This AD and the Service Information


The ASB specifies a one-time visual inspection of the swashplate
assembly; this AD requires repetitive visual inspections of the
swashplate assembly to determine if any crack, nick, dent, or scratch
develops over time. This AD does not require returning parts to or
contacting Sikorsky, while the ASB specifies performing those actions.

Interim Action

The FAA considers this AD to be an interim action. If final action
is later identified, the FAA might consider further rulemaking then.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 89 helicopters of U.S.
Registry and that operators may incur the following costs in order to
comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour.
Visually inspecting a swashplate assembly takes about 0.5 work-
hour, for an estimated cost of $43 per helicopter
and $3,827 for the U.S. fleet, per inspection cycle.
Replacing the swashplate assembly, if required, takes about 16
work-hours and parts cost about $389,720, for an estimated cost of
$391,080 per helicopter.

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,
(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.

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: