AD 2016-07-01

This AD is effective May 5, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of May 5, 2016.

For service information identified in this final rule, contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Customer Service Engineering, 124 Quarry Road, Trumbull, CT 06611; telephone 1-800-Winged-S or 203-416-4299; email sikorskywcs@sikorsky.com. You may review service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest Region, 10101 Hillwood Pkwy., Room 6N-321, Fort Worth, Texas 76177. It is also on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3942.

Ian Lucas, Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7757; email ian.lucas@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to remove AD 2014-07-04R1, Amendment 39-17964 (79 FR 54893, September 15, 2014) and add a new AD. AD 2014-07-04R1 applied to certain serial-numbered Sikorsky S92A helicopters and required repetitively inspecting the upper deck area for incorrectly installed clamps and for chafing between the electrical wires and hydraulic lines.

The NPRM published in the Federal Register on September 25, 2015 (80 FR 57751). The NPRM was prompted by an alteration developed by Sikorsky that separates and re-routes the engine inlet feeder lines. The NPRM proposed to require this alteration to prevent chafing between the electrical lines and hydraulic hoses, which could result in a fire in an area of the helicopter without extinguishing capability and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Since the NPRM was issued, the mailing address for the Boston Aircraft Certification Office has changed. We have revised this contact information in this final rule to reflect the new mailing address.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM (80 FR 57751, September 25, 2015).

We have reviewed the relevant information and determined that an unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other helicopters of these same type designs and that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD requirements as proposed.

Sikorsky has issued Special Service Instructions SSI No. 92-070A, Revision A, dated April 25, 2014 (SSI 92-070A), which contains procedures to alter the wiring system in the upper deck area to prevent chafing. This service information is reasonably available because the interested parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

We also reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin ASB 92-20-003, Basic Issue, dated May 5, 2014 (ASB 92-20-003). ASB 92-20-003 specifies a one-time modification of the upper deck wiring harnesses to prevent possible chafing by complying with SSI 92-070A.

The service information provides a compliance date of November 5, 2015; this AD requires a compliance time of 150 hours time-in-service. Also, the service information requires submitting certain documentation to the manufacturer, and this AD does not.

We estimate that this AD will affect 20 helicopters of U.S. Registry.

We estimate that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Rerouting the upper deck wiring system and replacing and installing new parts will take 58 work-hours and $8,000 in required parts, for a total cost of $12,930 per helicopter and $258,600 for the fleet.

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.

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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-07-04R1, Amendment 39 - 17964 (79 FR 54893, September 15, 2014), and adding the following new AD: