Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Helicopters, 13303 [2016-05517]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 49 / Monday, March 14, 2016 / Proposed Rules appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the ACO, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (j)(1) of this AD. (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. (j) Related Information (1) For more information about this AD, contact Ronald Wissing, Aerospace Engineer, Airframe Branch, ACE–117A, FAA, Atlanta ACO, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: 404–474–5552; fax: 404– 474–5606; email: ronald.wissing@faa.gov. (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, Technical Publications Dept., P.O. Box 2206, Savannah, GA 31402–2206; telephone: 800–810–4853; fax: 912–965– 3520; email: pubs@gulfstream.com; Internet: https://www.gulfstream.com/product_ support/technical_pubs/pubs/index.htm. You may view this referenced service information at the FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 98057–3356. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 425–227–1221. Issued in Renton, WA, on March 3, 2016. Michael Kaszycki, Acting Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2016–05606 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Federal Aviation Administration 14 CFR Part 39 [Docket No. FAA–2009–0559; Directorate Identifier 2008–SW–66–AD] RIN 2120–AA64 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT. ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal. AGENCY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). The NPRM proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Model S–92A helicopters. The proposed action would have required revising the Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to clarify that the Model S–92A helicopter was certificated as a transport category rotorcraft in both Categories A and B with different operating limitations for each category and must be operated accordingly. Since we issued the NPRM, we have determined that operating the mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS VerDate Sep<11>2014 16:03 Mar 11, 2016 Jkt 238001 As of March 14, 2016, the proposed rule to amend 14 CFR part 39 published June 19, 2009 (74 FR 29148) is withdrawn. DATES: John Coffey, Flight Test Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone (781) 238–7173; email john.coffey@faa.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to add a new AD (74 FR 29148, June 19, 2009) for Sikorsky Model S–92A helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require revising the Limitations section of the RFM by clarifying that the Model S–92A helicopter was certificated as a transport category rotorcraft in both Categories A and B with different operating limitations for each category and must be operated accordingly. When the Model S–92A is configured with 10 or more passenger seats, it is a Category A helicopter, and operators must follow the limitations for Category A. When it is configured with 9 or fewer passenger seats, it may be considered a Category B helicopter, and operators may follow the less stringent Category B limitations. At the time the NPRM was published, the limitation language in the RFM did not make a clear distinction between Category A and Category B based on the seating configuration. The proposed actions were intended to prevent operating under less stringent requirements. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Actions Since NPRM (74 FR 29148, June 19, 2009) Was Issued Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Helicopters SUMMARY: helicopter in Category B with 10 or more passenger seats is not an unsafe condition but an inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c). Accordingly, we withdraw the proposed rule. Since we issued the NPRM (74 FR 29148, June 19, 2009), one commenter noted the proposed AD misinterprets certification rules as operational rules. We considered the comment and reevaluated the details that went into the determination of the unsafe condition for this concern. We determined that operating the helicopter in Category B with 10 or more passengers is not an unsafe condition, and the associated level of risk does not warrant AD action. Rather, this was an inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c). Sikorsky has since revised the RFM to clarify that a helicopter configured with a maximum of 19 passenger seats must be operated as a Category A but if configured with 9 or fewer passenger seats may be operated as a Category B. This action PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4702 Sfmt 4702 13303 mitigates the inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c). Withdrawal of the NPRM constitutes only such action and does not preclude the agency from issuing another notice in the future nor does it commit the agency to any course of action in the future. Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed nor a final rule; therefore, it is not covered under Executive Order 12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979). List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by reference, Safety. The Withdrawal Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. FAA–2009– 0559; Directorate Identifier 2008–SW– 66–AD, published in the Federal Register on June 19, 2009 (74 FR 29148), is withdrawn. Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 4, 2016. Scott A. Horn, Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. [FR Doc. 2016–05517 Filed 3–11–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4910–13–P DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration 15 CFR Part 922 [Docket No. 140207122–4122–01] RIN 0648–BD97 Withdrawal of Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Proposed Regulations Office of National Marine Sanctuaries (ONMS), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Department of Commerce (DOC). ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking; withdrawal. AGENCY: This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published in the Federal Register on March 26, 2015 (80 FR 16224), to amend the regulations for the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary (HIHWNMS or sanctuary) and to revise the sanctuary’s terms of designation and management plan. SUMMARY: E:\FR\FM\14MRP1.SGM 14MRP1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 49 (Monday, March 14, 2016)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 13303]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05517]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2009-0559; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-66-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation 
(Sikorsky) Helicopters

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM). 
The NPRM proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Model 
S-92A helicopters. The proposed action would have required revising the 
Limitations section of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) to clarify 
that the Model S-92A helicopter was certificated as a transport 
category rotorcraft in both Categories A and B with different operating 
limitations for each category and must be operated accordingly. Since 
we issued the NPRM, we have determined that operating the helicopter in 
Category B with 10 or more passenger seats is not an unsafe condition 
but an inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c). Accordingly, we withdraw the 
proposed rule.

DATES: As of March 14, 2016, the proposed rule to amend 14 CFR part 39 
published June 19, 2009 (74 FR 29148) is withdrawn.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: John Coffey, Flight Test Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 
FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803; telephone 
(781) 238-7173; email john.coffey@faa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 to 
add a new AD (74 FR 29148, June 19, 2009) for Sikorsky Model S-92A 
helicopters. The NPRM proposed to require revising the Limitations 
section of the RFM by clarifying that the Model S-92A helicopter was 
certificated as a transport category rotorcraft in both Categories A 
and B with different operating limitations for each category and must 
be operated accordingly. When the Model S-92A is configured with 10 or 
more passenger seats, it is a Category A helicopter, and operators must 
follow the limitations for Category A. When it is configured with 9 or 
fewer passenger seats, it may be considered a Category B helicopter, 
and operators may follow the less stringent Category B limitations. At 
the time the NPRM was published, the limitation language in the RFM did 
not make a clear distinction between Category A and Category B based on 
the seating configuration. The proposed actions were intended to 
prevent operating under less stringent requirements.

Actions Since NPRM (74 FR 29148, June 19, 2009) Was Issued

    Since we issued the NPRM (74 FR 29148, June 19, 2009), one 
commenter noted the proposed AD misinterprets certification rules as 
operational rules. We considered the comment and re-evaluated the 
details that went into the determination of the unsafe condition for 
this concern. We determined that operating the helicopter in Category B 
with 10 or more passengers is not an unsafe condition, and the 
associated level of risk does not warrant AD action. Rather, this was 
an inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c). Sikorsky has since revised the 
RFM to clarify that a helicopter configured with a maximum of 19 
passenger seats must be operated as a Category A but if configured with 
9 or fewer passenger seats may be operated as a Category B. This action 
mitigates the inconsistency with 14 CFR 29.1(c).
    Withdrawal of the NPRM constitutes only such action and does not 
preclude the agency from issuing another notice in the future nor does 
it commit the agency to any course of action in the future.
    Since this action only withdraws an NPRM, it is neither a proposed 
nor a final rule; therefore, it is not covered under Executive Order 
12866, the Regulatory Flexibility Act, or DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979).

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

The Withdrawal

    Accordingly, the notice of proposed rulemaking, Docket No. FAA-
2009-0559; Directorate Identifier 2008-SW-66-AD, published in the 
Federal Register on June 19, 2009 (74 FR 29148), is withdrawn.

    Issued in Fort Worth, Texas, on March 4, 2016.
Scott A. Horn,
Acting Manager, Rotorcraft Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2016-05517 Filed 3-11-16; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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