Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Models R354/4-123-F/13, R354/4-123-F/20, R375/4-123-F/21, R389/4-123-F/25, R389/4-123-F/26, and R390/4-123-F/27 Propellers

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 41 (Wednesday, March 3, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 9515-9516]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-4219]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0545; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-16-AD; 
Amendment 39-16219; AD 2010-05-09]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Models R354/4-123-F/
13, R354/4-123-F/20, R375/4-123-F/21, R389/4-123-F/25, R389/4-123-F/26, 
and R390/4-123-F/27 Propellers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing 
airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of 
another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an 
aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

    A number of propeller blade outer sleeves have been found with 
cracks since 1996. Testing has shown that blade retention integrity 
is not affected by this cracking. However, this condition, if not 
detected and corrected, can lead to blade counterweight release, 
possibly resulting in damage to the aircraft and injury to occupants 
or persons on the ground.

We are issuing this AD to prevent blade counterweight release, which 
could result in injury or damage to the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective April 7, 2010.

ADDRESSES: The Docket Operations office is located at Docket Management 
Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, 
SE., West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-
0001.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Terry Fahr, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7155; fax (781) 238-7170.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) and a supplemental 
NPRM to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the 
specified products. That NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
June 30, 2008 (73 FR 36819), and the supplemental NPRM was published in 
the Federal Register on May 18, 2009 (74 FR 23131). Those NPRMs 
proposed to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states that:

    A number of propeller blade outer sleeves have been found with 
cracks since 1996. Testing has shown that blade retention integrity 
is not affected by this cracking. However, this condition, if not 
detected and corrected, can lead to blade counterweight release, 
possibly resulting in damage to the aircraft and injury to occupants 
or persons on the ground.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We responded to the comments received on the NPRM, in the 
supplemental NPRM. We considered the one comment received on the 
supplemental NPRM, as follows:

Claim That Tracking of Individual Propeller Blades Is Not Required

    One commenter, a private citizen, states that if the proposed AD 
was rewritten against the propeller assembly, instead of the propeller 
blades, then all four propeller blades are inspected at the same time, 
and tracking of individual propeller blades is not required. Also, 
because the propeller blades could be moved from propeller to 
propeller, a requirement to inspect all four propeller blades at the 
time the propeller is assembled, ``zeroing out'' the inspection, would 
prevent any propeller blade in the assembly from exceeding its 
inspection interval.
    We do not agree. Since the propeller blade log cards are with the 
propeller blades, it is appropriate in writing the AD against the 
propeller blades; not the propeller assembly. Also, since the AD is 
related to propeller blade inspections, and propeller assembly total 
time is independent of propeller blade total time, tracking propeller 
assembly time could result in a propeller blade exceeding the 1,600 
flight hour or 15,000 flight hour time-in-service inspection interval. 
We did not change the AD.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comments received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this AD will 
affect about 292 propellers installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
also estimate that it will take 0.5 work-hour per propeller to visually 
inspect for cracks. The average labor rate is $80 per work-hour. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the cost of the AD on U.S. operators to 
be $11,680.

[[Page 9516]]

Authority for This Rulemaking

    Title 49 of the United States Code specifies the FAA's authority to 
issue rules on aviation safety. Subtitle I, section 106, describes the 
authority of the FAA Administrator. ``Subtitle VII: Aviation 
Programs,'' describes in more detail the scope of the Agency's 
authority.
    We are issuing this rulemaking under the authority described in 
``Subtitle VII, Part A, Subpart III, Section 44701: General 
requirements.'' Under that section, Congress charges the FAA with 
promoting safe flight of civil aircraft in air commerce by prescribing 
regulations for practices, methods, and procedures the Administrator 
finds necessary for safety in air commerce. This regulation is within 
the scope of that authority because it addresses an unsafe condition 
that is likely to exist or develop on products identified in this 
rulemaking action.

Regulatory Findings

    We determined that this AD will not have federalism implications 
under Executive Order 13132. This AD will not have a substantial direct 
effect on the States, on the relationship between the national 
government and the States, or on the distribution of power and 
responsibilities among the various levels of government.
    For the reasons discussed above, I certify this AD:
    1. Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive Order 
12866;
    2. Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies 
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979); and
    3. Will not have a significant economic impact, positive or 
negative, on a substantial number of small entities under the criteria 
of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.
    We prepared a regulatory evaluation of the estimated costs to 
comply with this AD and placed it in the AD docket.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Operations office 
between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal 
holidays. The AD docket contains this AD, the regulatory evaluation, 
any comments received, and other information. The street address for 
the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is provided in 
the ADDRESSES section. Comments will be available in the AD docket 
shortly after receipt.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES

0
1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

    Authority:  49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701.


Sec.  39.13  [Amended]

0
2. The FAA amends Sec.  39.13 by adding the following new AD:

)2010-05-09 Dowty Propellers: Amendment 39-16219. Docket No. FAA-
2008-0545; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-16-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective April 7, 
2010.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.
    (c) This AD applies to Dowty Propellers Models R354/4-123-F/13, 
R354/4-123-F/20, R375/4-123-F/21, R389/4-123-F/25, R389/4-123-F/26, 
and R390/4-123-F/27 propellers. These propellers are installed on, 
but not limited to, Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems SF340A and SAAB SF340B 
airplanes.

Reason

    (d) European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD No. 2008-0033, 
dated February 19, 2008, states:

    A number of propeller blade outer sleeves have been found with 
cracks since 1996. Testing has shown that blade retention integrity 
is not affected by this cracking. However, this condition, if not 
detected and corrected, can lead to blade counterweight release, 
possibly resulting in damage to the aircraft and injury to occupants 
or persons on the ground.

    This AD requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of 
propeller blade root outer sleeves for cracks, and removal before 
further flight of propeller blades with cracked blade root outer 
sleeves. We are issuing this AD to prevent blade counterweight 
release, which could result in injury or damage to the airplane.

Actions and Compliance

    (e) Unless already done, do the following actions.

Propeller Blade Root Outer Sleeve Visual Inspections

    (1) At the next 1,600 flight hours (FH) aircraft check after the 
effective date of this AD, or, after any blade accumulates 15,000 FH 
time-in-service, whichever occurs later, visually inspect all 
propeller blade root outer sleeves for cracks.
    (2) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 1,600 FH, visually 
inspect all propeller blade root outer sleeves for cracks.
    (3) Before further flight, remove any propeller blades found 
with cracked root outer sleeves during the visual inspections in 
paragraphs (e)(1) and (e)(2) of this AD.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) None.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (g) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 
Engine and Propeller Directorate, has the authority to approve AMOCs 
for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
39.19.

Related Information

    (h) Refer to European Aviation Safety Agency AD 2008-0033, dated 
February 19, 2008, and Dowty Propellers Alert Service Bulletin No. 
SF340-61-A106, Revision 1, dated March 20, 2008, for related 
information.
    (i) Contact Terry Fahr, Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft 
Certification Office, FAA, Engine and Propeller Directorate, 12 New 
England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; e-mail: 
[email protected]; telephone (781) 238-7155; fax (781) 238-7170, 
for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (j) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on February 23, 2010.
Francis A. Favara,
Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-4219 Filed 3-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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