AD 2021-05-19

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer determining that there may be arm assemblies in service that have accumulated 15,000 or more hours time-in-service (TIS), which exceeds the service life limit for this component. This AD requires reviewing the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and, depending on the number of hours TIS, calculating the remaining life of the arm assembly or removing the arm assembly from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

Final rule.

The Amendment \n\n\n\tAccordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows: \n\nPART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES \n\n0 1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows: \n\n\n\tAuthority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. \n\n\n\nSec. 39.13 (Amended) \n\n0 2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive: \n\n2021-05-19 Sikorsky Aircraft and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Amendment 39-21462; Docket No. FAA-2020-0920; Project Identifier AD- 2020-00662-R. \n\n(a) Effective Date \n\n\n\tThis airworthiness directive (AD) is effective May 7, 2021. \n\n(b) Affected ADs \n\n\n\tNone. \n\n(c) Applicability \n\n\n\tThis AD applies to Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, and S-61V helicopters, certificated in any category including restricted, with an arm assembly part number S6140-62614- 009, installed. \n\n(d) Subject \n\n\n\tJoint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6720, Tail Rotor Control System. \n\n(e) Unsafe Condition \n\n\n\tThis AD was prompted by the manufacturer determining that there may be arm assemblies in service with 15,000 or more hours time-in- service (TIS), which exceeds the life limit for this component. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent reduced or loss of tail rotor control. This unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced control of the helicopter. \n\n(f) Compliance \n\n\n\tComply with this AD within the compliance times specified, unless already done. \n\n(g) Required Action \n\n\n\t(1) Within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, review the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record to determine if the affected arm assembly is entered with the appropriate 15,000 hours TIS life limit. \n\t(2) If the affected arm assembly is not included on the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record, within 90 days after the effective date of this AD, add the arm assembly entry to the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and determine the remaining life of the arm assembly using the Accomplishment Instructions, Section 3.A.(3) of Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 61B40-11, Basic Issue, dated March 2, 2020 (the ASB). \n\t(3) If, based on the review required by paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD, the arm assembly has accumulated 15,000 or more hours TIS, before further flight, remove the arm assembly from service. If the hours TIS for the affected arm assembly cannot be determined, before further flight, remove the affected arm assembly from service. \n\t(4) For arm assemblies that have not accumulated 15,000 or more hours TIS, thereafter, continue to determine the remaining life of the arm assembly and remove the arm assembly from service before it accumulates 15,000 hours TIS. \n\n(h) Credit for Previous Actions \n\n\n\tYou may take credit for adding the arm assembly entry to the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and determining the remaining life of the arm assembly required by paragraphs (g)(1) and (2) of this AD if you performed these actions before the effective date of this AD using Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter ASB 61B General-1, Revision AA, dated February 24, 2020. \n\n(i) Special Flight Permit \n\n\n\tSpecial flight permits, as described in Section 21.197 and Section 21.199 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR 21.197 \n\n((Page 17285)) \n\nand 21.199), are subject to the requirements of paragraph (g)(3) of this AD. Operators who are prohibited from further flight due to exceeding the life limit in paragraph (g)(3) of this AD, may only perform a maintenance check or a one-time ferry flight to a location where the affected arm assembly can be removed from service. This ferry flight must be performed with only essential flight crew. \n\n(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs) \n\n\n\t(1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, 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 (k) of this AD. \n\t(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office. \n\n(k) Related Information \n\n\n\tFor more information about this AD, contact Isabel Saltzman, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: (781) 238-7649; email: Isabel.l.saltzman@faa.gov. \n\n(l) Material Incorporated by Reference \n\n\n\t(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. \n\t(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. \n\t(i) Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin 61B40-11, Basic Issue, dated March 2, 2020. \n\t(ii) (Reserved) \n\t(3) For 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.gr-sik@lmco.com. Operators may also log on to the Sikorsky 360 website at https://www.sikorsky360.com. \n\t(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. \n\t(5) You may viewthis service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email: fedreg.legal@nara.gov, or go to: https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html. \n\n\n\tIssued on March 1, 2021. Ross Landes, Deputy Director for Regulatory Operations, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service. (FR Doc. 2021-06779 Filed 4-1-21; 8:45 am) BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

Background \n\n\n\tThe FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters, with an arm assembly part number S6140-62614-009, installed. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on October 26, 2020 (85 FR 67692). The FAA learned from Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation that Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) 61B General- 1, Revision No. Z, dated November 13, 2018, which is applicable to Sikorsky Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters, failed to include the life limit of the redesigned arm assembly. As a result, Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation determined that there may be arm assemblies in service with 15,000 or more hours TIS, which exceeds the service life limit for this component. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to require reviewing the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and, depending on the hours TIS of the arm assembly, calculating the remaining life of the arm assembly or removing the arm assembly from service. The proposed actions are intended to prevent an arm assembly from remaining in service beyond its life limit. This condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced or loss of tail rotor control and reduced control of the helicopter. \n\nDiscussion of Final Airworthiness Directive \n\nComments \n\n\n\tThe FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs. \n\nConclusion \n\n\n\tThe FAA reviewed the relevant data 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 the minor editorial changes of updating the contact information to obtain service information identified in this final rule and updating the contact information for the FAA, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM. \n\nRelated Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51 \n\n\n\tThe FAA reviewed Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter ASB 61B40-11, Basic Issue, dated March 2, 2020. This service information describes procedures for a one-time inspection of the mixer unit component log card to verify the arm assembly life limit and, if the life limit has been exceeded, to replace the arm assembly for Sikorsky Model S-61L, S- 61N, and S-61NM helicopters. \n\tThis 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 ADDRESSES. \n\n((Page 17284)) \n\nOther Related Service Information \n\n\n\tThe FAA also reviewed Sikorsky S-61 Helicopter ASB 61B General-1, Revision AA, dated February 24, 2020. This service information summarizes and lists parts with mandatory retirement times and inspections for Sikorsky Model S-61L, S-61N, and S-61NM helicopters. \n\nDifferences Between This AD and the Service Information \n\n\n\tThe ASB is effective only for Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, and S-61NM helicopters. In addition to these helicopters, the applicability of this AD also includes Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S- 61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters. The FAA is expanding the applicability to prevent the installation of arm assemblies that have exceeded their life limits on helicopters with a similar type design as those helicopters affected by the ASB. \n\nCosts of Compliance \n\n\n\tThe FAA estimates that this AD affects 13 helicopters of U.S. Registry. Labor rates are estimated at $85 per work-hour. Based on these numbers, the FAA estimates that operators may incur the following costs in order to comply with this AD. \n\tReviewing the mixer unit component log or equivalent record takes about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and $1,105 for theU.S. fleet. Adding the arm assembly entry and determine the remaining life takes about 1 work-hour for an estimated cost of $85 per helicopter and $1,105 for the U.S. fleet. Replacing the arm assembly takes about 9 work-hours and parts cost about $5,035, for an estimated cost of $5,800 per arm assembly. \n\tAccording 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 by the manufacturer; accordingly, the FAA has included all costs in this cost estimate. \n\nAuthority for This Rulemaking \n\n\n\tTitle 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. \n\tThe FAA is issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in Subtitle VII, Part A, SubpartIII, 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. \n\nRegulatory Findings \n\n\n\tThis 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. \n\tFor the reasons discussed above, I certify that this AD: \n\t(1) Is not a ''significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 12866, \n\t(2) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and \n\t(3) Will nothave a significant economic impact, positive or negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. \n\nList of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 \n\n\n\tAir transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety.