Regulators are issuing an emergency airworthiness directive grounding all Sikorsky S-92A helicopters until a problem with the chopper’s main gearbox filter bowl assembly can be fixed.

Transportation Safety Board (TSB) investigators found a broken main gearbox filter bowl assembly on the Cougar S-92A that crashed in the Atlantic Ocean 55 kilometres from Newfoundland last week.
The accident killed 17 people.
On Jan. 28, 2009, Sikorsky issued an alert service bulletin, or ASB, indicating the bowl assembly problem should be fixed, by replacing titanium studs with steel studs.
ASBs are sent by Sikorsky directly to owners and operators of its choppers.
January’s ASB advised that the fix should be completed within one year, or the next 1,250 flight hours, whichever came first.
The safety board announced late Friday afternoon that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will require the improved studs be installed in all Sikorsky S-92As before they can fly again.
Airworthiness directives are mandatory, and require that certain safety issues are addressed.
Sikorsky declined interview requests late Friday afternoon, but issued a prepared statement.

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