FAA Proposes Airworthiness Directive for Sikorsky S-64E

The FAA is proposing to supersede an airworthiness directive for the Sikorsky S-64E (type certificate currently held by Erickson Air-Crane). It requires inspecting and reworking the main gearbox second-stage lower planetary plate. The proposed AD would establish or reduce the life limits for certain flight-critical components, remove from service various parts, require repetitive inspections and other corrective actions, and require replacing any cracked part discovered during an inspection. The actions are intended to prevent a crack in a flight-critical component, failure of a critical part, and subsequent loss of control. The FAA is taking comments until July 29.