AD 2012-22-14

AD Final Rules - 2012-22-14.pdf
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AD Number:
2012-22-14
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
FAA-2012-1182
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters
Subject:
Tail Rotor Gearbox
Status:
Current
Citation:
Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)
Citation Publish Date:
11/15/2012
Effective Date:
11/30/2012
Make:
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Model:
S-70 | S-70A | S-70C | S-70C(M) | S-70C(M1)
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
2011-22-51
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
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[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 221 (Thursday, November 15, 2012)]


[Rules and Regulations]


[Pages 68058-68060]


From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[FR Doc No: 2012-27050]


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION


Federal Aviation Administration


14 CFR Part 39


[Docket No. FAA-2012-1182; Directorate Identifier 2012-SW-062-AD; Amendment 39-17251;


AD 2012-22-14]


RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Helicopters


AGENCY:
 
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.


ACTION:
 
Final rule; request for comments.


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––


SUMMARY:
 
We are superseding an existing Emergency airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky


Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M), and S-70C(M1) helicopters


with a certain part-numbered intermediate gearbox (IGB). The existing Emergency AD requires a


one-time inspection of the internal oil passages of the IGB for an obstruction. That Emergency AD


was prompted by an accident that resulted from blockage of oil in the IGB by a plug that was


inadvertently left in the IGB during the coating of the IGB housing. We are issuing this supersedure


to that Emergency AD to include two additional part numbers of affected IGBs and identify a specific


date since new or overhaul of the affected IGBs. The actions specified by this AD are intended to


detect a plug in the IGB and prevent overheating and seizing of the IGB, failure of the tail rotor drive


output shaft, loss of tail rotor drive, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.


DATES:
 
This AD becomes effective November 30, 2012.


The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain


document listed in this AD as of November 30, 2012.


We must receive comments on this AD by January 14, 2013.


ADDRESSES:
 
You may send comments by any of the following methods:


•
 
Federal eRulemaking Docket: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the online instructions


for sending your comments electronically.


•
 
Fax: 202-493-2251.


•
 
Mail: Send comments to the U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West


Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590-


0001.
2


•
 
Hand Delivery: Deliver to the ''Mail'' address between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday,


except Federal holidays.


Examining the AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at


http://www.regulations.gov or in person at the Docket Operations Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.,


Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the economic


evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street address for the Docket


Operations Office (telephone 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be


available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.


For service information identified in this AD, contact Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation, Attn:


Manager, Commercial Technical Support, mailstop s581a, 6900 Main Street, Stratford, CT 06614;


telephone (800) 562-4409; email tsslibrary@sikorsky.com; or at http://www.sikorsky.com. You may


review the referenced service information at the FAA, Office of the Regional Counsel, Southwest


Region, 2601 Meacham Blvd., Room 663, Fort Worth, Texas 76137.


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
 
Mike Davison, Flight Test Engineer, Boston


Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803;


telephone (781) 238-7156; fax (781) 238-7170; email michael.davison@faa.gov.


SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:


Comments Invited


This AD is a final rule that involves requirements affecting flight safety, and we did not provide


you with notice and an opportunity to provide your comments prior to it becoming effective.


However, we invite you to participate in this rulemaking by submitting written comments, data, or


views. We also invite comments relating to the economic, environmental, energy, or federalism


impacts that resulted from adopting this AD. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion


of the AD, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. To ensure


the docket does not contain duplicate comments, commenters should send only one copy of written


comments, or if comments are filed electronically, commenters should submit them only one time.


We will file in the docket all comments that we receive, as well as a report summarizing each


substantive public contact with FAA personnel concerning this rulemaking during the comment


period. We will consider all the comments we receive and may conduct additional rulemaking based


on those comments.


Discussion


On October 13, 2011, we issued Emergency AD 2011-22-51, which was made immediately


effective to all known U.S. owners and operators of Sikorsky Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S 70C(M),


and S-70C(M1) helicopters. That Emergency AD requires a one-time inspection for any obstruction


of the internal oil passages of the IGB, part number (P/N) 70357-06300-044, with 100 or less hours


time-in-service since new or overhaul. If there is an obstruction in an oil passage, the Emergency AD


requires replacing the IGB with an airworthy IGB before further flight. That action was prompted by


an accident involving a Model MH-60R helicopter in which the IGB output shaft failed and the tail


rotor drive was lost after the IGB overheated and seized up. The output shaft failed because a


protective plug, which was installed in an oil passage of the IGB to protect the oil passage during


coating of the IGB housing as part of the manufacturing process, was inadvertently left in the IGB


and blocked the internal oil passages of the IGB. The IGBs for Model MH-60R helicopters are


manufactured and overhauled in the same facility as IGBs for Model S-70, S-70A, S-70C, S-70C(M),


and S-70C(M1) helicopters.