Airworthiness Directives; Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-76A, B, and C Helicopters

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) model helicopters. This action requires determining the manufacturer of a certain part-numbered rotor brake disc (RBD) and if the manufacturer is Parker Hannifin Corporation (PHC), re-identifying the RBD as appropriate. This action also requires before the first flight of the next day following any day in which a certain RBD was used, visually inspecting the RBD for a crack. If a crack is found, this AD also requires replacing the RBD with an airworthy RBD or deactivating it as applicable depending on the nature of the crack. This amendment is prompted by the discovery that certain RBDs manufactured by PHC were improperly heat treated resulting in "soft" RBDs that have an increased wear rate compared to those heat treated in accordance with the type design requirement. Further investigation reveals that "soft" RBDs develop cracks more frequently than previously manufactured RBDs. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent failure of the RBD, damage to the rotor blades and nearby hydraulic and fuel lines, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.