AD 2016-21-02

This AD is effective November 22, 2016.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain document listed in this AD as of November 22, 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 wcs_cust_service_eng.gr-sik@lmco.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-2016-6640.

Kris Greer, Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238-7799; email kristopher.greer@faa.gov.

On May 13, 2016, at 81 FR 29817, the Federal Register published our notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM), which proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to certain serial-numbered Sikorsky Model S-92A helicopters. Sikorsky has informed us that the inadvertent tripping of inertia switches has caused several engine and auxiliary power unit fire bottle discharges during taxi, flight, and landing operations. Because these discharges are undetected, the fire bottles remain unavailable in the event of a fire.

The NPRM proposed to require altering the fire bottle inertia switch wiring to disable the automatic feature of the fire extinguishing system and performing a cartridge functional test. The proposed requirements were intended to prevent an unintentional and undetected fire bottle discharge and subsequent unavailability of fire suppression in the event of a fire.

Since the NPRM was issued, the email address for Sikorsky has changed. We have revised this email address throughout this final rule.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD, but we did not receive any comments on the NPRM.

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

We reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005A, Revision A, dated June 27, 2014 (ASB 92-26-005A). ASB 92-26-005A specifies performing a one-time alteration of the fire bottle inertia switch wiring to disable the automatic actuation feature of the fire extinguishing system. ASB 92-26-005A includes figures that depict the wiring and electrical connector pin changes.

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.

We also reviewed Sikorsky Alert Service Bulletin 92-26-005, Basic Issue, dated June 18, 2014 (ASB 92-26-005). ASB 92-26-005 contains the same procedures as ASB 92-26-005A. However, ASB 92-26-005A contains an additional figure.

This AD has a compliance date within 90 days, and the service information has a calendar date, which has already passed. This AD does not require performing a cartridge functional test prior to alteration. The service information does specify performing a cartridge functional test prior to alteration.

We estimate that this AD will affect 80 helicopters of U.S. Registry.

We estimate that operators may incur the following costs to comply with this AD. Labor costs are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Altering the fire bottle switch and performing a cartridge functional test will take about 2 work-hours. No parts are needed for an estimated cost of $170 per helicopter and $13,600 for the U.S. 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.

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 it justifies making a regulatory distinction; 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.

We prepared an economic evaluation of the estimated costs to comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):