Mark Huber is an aviation industry veteran who has worked in the flight training, aircraft sales, aircraft component, and airport development businesses. He has flight time in more than 50 different and diverse aircraft, including helicopters, aerobatic aircraft, vintage warbirds, jet fighters, business jets and turboprops, and transport-category aircraft. He has jumped out of several of these—on purpose—with a parachute. His defense and aviation journalism has been published in a variety of national and international periodicals.

Contributor

Mark Huber

The report of a Sikorsky S-92A operator losing tail rotor authority while in a hover has prompted the FAA to issue <a href="http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgad.nsf/0/cf71a48a87cf7e5d8625806f005d6e24/%24FILE/2016-24-51_Emergency.pdf">Emergency Airworthiness Directive 2016-24-51</a>, which calls for inspecting helicopters with recently installed tail rotor pitch change shaft (TRPCS) assemblies before further or significant flight, dependent on the flight hours since the assembly was installed.

 


Preliminary investigation of the incident helicopter found that binding in the assembly's double-row angular contact bearing reduced tail rotor control. It also found evidence of excessive heat, an indicator of a binding bearing.

 


Because bearings fail rapidly under these conditions, the emergency AD is limited to assemblies with less than 80 hours' time in service. It requires removal of all new or rebuilt assemblies with five or fewer hours' time in service; boroscoping assemblies with five to 15 hours; and inspecting all assemblies with between 15 and 80 hours within the next 20 flight hours before reaching 80 hours' time in service (whichever comes first).

 


Assemblies with evidence of damage must be replaced. Alternative methods of compliance can be approved by the FAA’s Boston Aircraft Certification Office.

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Loss of Tail Rotor Authority Prompts S-92 Emergency AD

Preliminary investigation of the incident helicopter found binding in the assembly's double-row angular contact bearing.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Move averts potential shutdown

Congress OKs Stopgap Government Funding Measure

Jessica Reed

His career spanned more than five and a half decades

Longtime Bizav Attorney Gary Garofalo Flies West

Curt Epstein

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Gordon Gilbert

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges 

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

More In Regulations and Government

Congress OKs Stopgap Government Funding Measure

Move averts potential shutdown

Longtime Bizav Attorney Gary Garofalo Flies West

His career spanned more than five and a half decades

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

New Rules Would Clarify Bizav Operations in Australia

New Rules Would Clarify Business Aviation Operations in Australia

Transport Canada Moves To More Fully Align with ICAO

Agency issuing orders as temporary standards

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN