AD 54-20-02

final rule

Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters

AD Number
54-20-02
Status
final_rule
Effective Date
Product Category
aircraft
Docket
Unknown
FR Citation
This information is not available.

Applicability

TypeManufacturerModelDetails
aircraft Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation HRS-1/CH-19 Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters
aircraft Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation HRS-3/H-19B Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters
aircraft Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S-55 Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters
aircraft Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S-55B Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters
aircraft Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation S-55C Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters

Unsafe Condition

Cracks in the fore and aft transmission support assemblies (S14-20-2503) may occur, leading to potential failure of the assemblies.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Required Actions

Inspect daily for cracks in welds and areas within 2 inches of welds on the fore and aft transmission support assemblies without removing them. Remove paint and foreign matter from welds and within 3 inches of welds first. Replace assemblies if cracks are found and protect exposed metal with corrosion preventive. Use 5- to 7-power glass where possible.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Compliance Time

Compliance required as indicated.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Affected Aircraft

Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters: All serial numbers of HRS-1/CH-19, HRS-3/H-19B, S-55, S-55B, and S-55C models.

AI-generated summary from the source AD text. Verify against the official source before acting.

Federal Register Abstract

Support Assembly Cracks

Applicability Source Text

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AD Number:
54-20-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters
Subject:
Support Assembly Cracks
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Model:
HRS-1/CH-19 | HRS-3/H-19B | S-55 | S-55B | S-55C
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 54-20-02
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   54-20-02

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:   54-20-02 SIKORSKY: Applies to All Model S-55 Helicopters.

Compliance required as indicated.

In order that cracks in the fore and aft transmission support assemblies (S14-20-2503) may be detected, these assemblies should be inspected daily, without removing the support assemblies from the helicopter, in accordance with the following procedure:

1. Remove the paint, grease and foreign matter from all welds and from the areas of the tubes within 3 inches of a weld on both upper and lower ends.

2. Inspect for cracks all areas of the tubes within 2 inches of a weld and all welds visually, and, where possible, with the assistance of a 5- to 7-power glass.

3. Assemblies found with a crack should be replaced immediately.

4. Protect the exposed areas of metal with any suitable corrosion preventive.

The manufacturer is presently investigating the reasons for the occurrence of such cracks and a permanent repair is expected in the near future which, when incorporated, will make these daily inspections unnecessary. These inspections are in addition to those required by AD 54-16- 01.

(Revision C to Sikorsky Information Circular No. 1435-383 covers this same subject.)

When transmission support, S14-20-4603, is installed in place of support S14-20-2503, the above inspection may be performed at every intermediate inspection rather than on a daily basis.

(Sikorsky Service Information Circular No. 1420-548, dated December 3, 1954, covers the installation instructions.)

FOOTER:

Document Text

Show stored source text (verify against official source)
AD Final Rules - DRS_54-20-02.html
Copy URL
Print/Save as PDF
Document Versions
 Feedback
Details
AD Number:
54-20-02
Document Type:
AD Final Rules
Docket Number:
Unknown
Subject Heading:
Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters
Subject:
Support Assembly Cracks
Status:
Current
Citation:
This information is not available.
Citation Publish Date:
Effective Date:
Make:
Orlando Helicopter Airways, Inc. | Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
Model:
HRS-1/CH-19 | HRS-3/H-19B | S-55 | S-55B | S-55C
Product Type:
Aircraft
Product Subtype:
Rotorcraft
Affected AD:
Superseded AD:
Affected By:
Superseded By:
Service/Office:
Office of Primary Responsibility:
CFR Part Reference:
Part 39
Comments:
AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES FINAL RULES: 54-20-02
CITATION:   This information is not available.

PAGE NUMBER:  

DOCKET NUMBER:   Unknown

AMENDMENT:  

AD NUMBER:   54-20-02

SUBJECT HEADING:   Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Model S-55 Helicopters

ACTION:  

SUMMARY:  

DATES:  

ADDRESSES:  

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  

REGULATORY TEXT:   54-20-02 SIKORSKY: Applies to All Model S-55 Helicopters.

Compliance required as indicated.

In order that cracks in the fore and aft transmission support assemblies (S14-20-2503) may be detected, these assemblies should be inspected daily, without removing the support assemblies from the helicopter, in accordance with the following procedure:

1. Remove the paint, grease and foreign matter from all welds and from the areas of the tubes within 3 inches of a weld on both upper and lower ends.

2. Inspect for cracks all areas of the tubes within 2 inches of a weld and all welds visually, and, where possible, with the assistance of a 5- to 7-power glass.

3. Assemblies found with a crack should be replaced immediately.

4. Protect the exposed areas of metal with any suitable corrosion preventive.

The manufacturer is presently investigating the reasons for the occurrence of such cracks and a permanent repair is expected in the near future which, when incorporated, will make these daily inspections unnecessary. These inspections are in addition to those required by AD 54-16- 01.

(Revision C to Sikorsky Information Circular No. 1435-383 covers this same subject.)

When transmission support, S14-20-4603, is installed in place of support S14-20-2503, the above inspection may be performed at every intermediate inspection rather than on a daily basis.

(Sikorsky Service Information Circular No. 1420-548, dated December 3, 1954, covers the installation instructions.)

FOOTER:

Source: Official FAA Source ↗

Retrieved: Apr 8, 2026

Rights: U.S. Government Public Domain

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