[Federal Register: May 2, 2006 (Volume 71, Number 84)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 25783-25785]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr02my06-15]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2006-24587; Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-05-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-
76A, B, and C Helicopters
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive
(AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-76A, B, and C
helicopters. The AD would require inspecting all installed HR Textron
main rotor servo actuators (servo actuators) for a high rate of leakage
and also inspecting for contaminated hydraulic fluid. The AD would also
require reducing the time-in-service (TIS) interval for overhauling the
servo actuators. This proposal is prompted by a National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB) Safety Recommendation written in response to an
accident involving a Model S-76 helicopter in which the performance of
an HR Textron servo actuator was questioned as a result of piston head
seal leakage and piston head plasma spray flaking. The actions
specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect a high rate of
leaking from a servo actuator and contamination of the hydraulic fluid,
which could lead to degraded ability to maneuver the cyclic and
collective controls and could result in subsequent loss of control of
the helicopter.
DATES: Comments must be received on or before July 3, 2006.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on
this proposed AD:
DOT Docket Web site: Go to http://dms.dot.gov and follow
the instructions for sending your comments electronically;
Government-wide rulemaking Web site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov
and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically;
Mail: Docket Management Facility; U.S. Department of
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL-401,
Washington, DC 20590;
Fax: 202-493-2251; or
Hand Delivery: Room PL-401 on the plaza level of the
Nassif Building, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC, between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
You may examine the comments to this proposed AD in the AD docket
on the Internet at http://dms.dot.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Fahr, Aviation Safety Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7155, fax (781) 238-7199.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to submit any written data, views, or arguments
regarding this proposed AD. Send your comments to the address listed
under the caption ADDRESSES. Include the docket number ``FAA-2006-
24587, Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-05-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend the
proposed AD in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://dms.dot.gov
, including any personal information you provide. We will
also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact with FAA
personnel concerning this proposed rulemaking. Using the search
function of our docket Web site, you can find and read the comments to
any of our dockets, including the name of the individual who sent or
signed the comment. You may review the DOT's complete Privacy Act
Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65 FR
19477-78) or you may visit http://dms.dot.gov.
Examining the Docket
You may examine the docket that contains the proposed AD, any
comments, and other information in person at the Docket Management
System (DMS) Docket Office between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through
Friday, except Federal holidays. The Docket Office (telephone 1-800-
647-5227) is located at the plaza level of the Department of
Transportation Nassif
[[Page 25784]]
Building in Room PL-401 at 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after the DMS
receives them.
Discussion
This document proposes adopting a new AD for Sikorsky Model S-76A,
B, and C helicopters with an HR Textron servo actuator, part number (P/
N) 76650-09805, installed. The AD would require inspecting all
installed HR Textron servo actuators for leakage that exceeds 700 cc
per minute by installing a test line in the servo actuator return port,
and inspecting the hydraulic fluid for contamination using a patch test
kit or an independent laboratory analysis method. If leakage in excess
of 700 cc per minute is detected in any servo actuator, the proposed AD
would require replacing that servo actuator with an airworthy servo
actuator. If the hydraulic fluid is found to be contaminated, the
proposed AD would require flushing the hydraulic system. The AD would
also require reducing the TIS interval for overhauling an affected
servo actuator from 3,000 to 2,000 hours TIS. This proposal is prompted
by an NTSB Safety Recommendation written in response to an accident
involving a Model S-76 helicopter in which the performance of an HR
Textron servo actuator was questioned as a result of piston head seal
leakage and piston head plasma spray flaking. The actions specified by
the proposed AD are intended to detect a high rate of leaking from a
servo actuator and contamination of the hydraulic fluid, which could
lead to degraded ability to maneuver the cyclic and collective controls
and could result in subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
This unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on other
helicopters of the same type design. Therefore, the proposed AD would
require, within 25 hours TIS and thereafter at intervals not to exceed
600 hours TIS, determining the leakage rate for the three servo
actuators by installing a test line in each servo actuator return port
and turning on the hydraulic power. If the leakage rate exceeds 700 cc
per minute in any servo actuator, the proposed AD would require
replacing that servo actuator with an airworthy servo actuator before
further flight. The proposed AD would also require inspecting the
hydraulic fluid for contamination using a patch test kit or an
independent laboratory analysis method. If the hydraulic fluid is found
to be contaminated, the proposed AD would require flushing the
hydraulic system before further flight. The proposed AD would also
require reducing the TIS interval for overhauling the servo actuator
from 3,000 to 2,000 hours TIS.
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 300 helicopters of
U.S. registry, and that
Determining the servo actuator leakage rate would take
approximately 8 work hours,
Inspecting the hydraulic fluid for contamination would
take approximately 3 work hours,
Replacing the servo actuator, if necessary, would take
approximately 12 work hours, and
Flushing the hydraulic system, if necessary, would take
approximately 6 work hours per helicopter to accomplish at an average
labor rate of $80 per work hour. Required parts would cost
approximately $13,000 per helicopter for a servo actuator. Based on
these figures, the total cost impact of the proposed AD on U.S.
operators would be $4,596,000 ($15,320 per helicopter), assuming one
leakage inspection and one hydraulic fluid inspection on each
helicopter, and replacing one servo actuator and flushing the hydraulic
system on each helicopter.
Regulatory Findings
We have determined that this proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. Additionally, this proposed
AD would 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 the proposed
regulation:
1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order
12866;
2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
3. 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 a draft economic evaluation of the estimated costs to
comply with this proposed AD. See the DMS to examine the draft economic
evaluation.
Authority for This Rulemaking
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.
List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39
Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.
The Proposed Amendment
Accordingly, pursuant to the authority delegated to me by the
Administrator, the Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend
part 39 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 39) as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:
Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.
Sec. 39.13 [Amended]
2. Section 39.13 is amended by adding a new airworthiness directive
to read as follows:
Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation: Docket No. FAA-2006-24587;
Directorate Identifier 2006-SW-05-AD.
Applicability: Model S-76A, B, and C helicopters, with HR
Textron main rotor servo actuator (servo actuator), part number (P/
N) 76650-09805, installed, certificated in any category.
Compliance: Required as indicated, unless accomplished
previously.
To detect leaking in a servo actuator and contamination of the
hydraulic fluid, which could lead to degraded ability to maneuver
the cyclic and collective controls and could result in subsequent
loss of control of the helicopter, accomplish the following:
(a) Within 25 hours time-in-service (TIS), and thereafter at
intervals not to exceed 600 hours TIS:
(1) Determine the leakage rate of each of the three servo
actuators by installing a test line in each servo actuator return
port and turning on the hydraulic power.
(2) If the leakage rate exceeds 700 cc per minute in a servo
actuator, before further flight, remove that servo actuator and
replace it with an airworthy servo actuator.
(3) Inspect the hydraulic fluid for contamination using either a
patch test kit or an independent laboratory analysis method.
(4) If contamination is found, before further flight, flush the
hydraulic system and refill
[[Page 25785]]
the system with uncontaminated hydraulic fluid.
(b) On or before reaching 2,000 hours TIS since the last
overhaul, and thereafter at intervals not to exceed 2,000 hours TIS,
overhaul each servo actuator, P/N part number 76650-09805, or
replace it with an airworthy servo actuator.
(c) This AD revises the Airworthiness Limitations and Inspection
Requirements manual by reducing the overhaul interval for the servo
actuator, P/N 76650-09805, from 3,000 hours TIS to 2,000 hours TIS.
(d) To request a different method of compliance or a different
compliance time for this AD, follow the procedures in 14 CFR 39.19.
Contact the FAA, ATTN: Terry Fahr, Aviation Safety Engineer, Boston
Aircraft Certification Office, 12 New England Executive Park,
Burlington, MA 01803, telephone (781) 238-7155, fax (781) 238-7199,
for information about previously approved alternative methods of
compliance.
Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 21, 2006.
Mark R. Schilling,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E6-6586 Filed 5-1-06; 8:45 am]
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