Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Type R321/4-82-F/8, R324/4-82-F/9, R333/4-82-F/12, and R334/4-82-F/13 Propeller Assemblies

[Federal Register Volume 76, Number 172 (Tuesday, September 6, 2011)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 54926-54928]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2011-22566]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2010-1270; Directorate Identifier 2001-NE-50-AD; 
Amendment 39-16788; AD 2005-25-10R1]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Type R321/4-82-F/8, 
R324/4-82-F/9, R333/4-82-F/12, and R334/4-82-F/13 Propeller Assemblies

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: We are revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for 
the products listed above. That AD currently requires initial and 
repetitive ultrasonic inspections of propeller hubs, part number (P/N) 
660709201. This new AD requires introducing a new hub assembly P/N as 
an optional terminating action to the repetitive hub inspections. This 
AD was prompted by the need to

[[Page 54927]]

introduce an optional terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent propeller hub failure 
due to cracks in the hub, which could result in loss of control of the 
airplane.

DATES: This AD is effective October 11, 2011.
    The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of certain publications listed in the AD as of October 11, 
2011.

ADDRESSES: For service information identified in this AD, contact Dowty 
Propellers, Anson Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester GL 
29QN, UK; phone: 44 (0) 1452 716000; fax: 44 (0) 1452 716001. You may 
review copies of the referenced service information at the FAA, Engine 
& Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. 
For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 
781-238-7125.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov; or in person at the Docket Management Facility 
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 address for the 
Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is Document Management Facility, 
U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West 
Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., 
Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schwetz, Aerospace Engineer, 
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive 
Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7761; fax: 781-238-7170; e-
mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR 
part 39 to revise AD 2005-25-10, Amendment 39-14403 (70 FR 73364, 
December 12, 2005). That AD applies to the specified products. The NPRM 
published in the Federal Register on April 18, 2011 (76 FR 21675). That 
NPRM proposed to continue to require initial and repetitive ultrasonic 
inspections of propeller hubs, P/N 660709201. That NPRM also proposed 
to introduce as an optional terminating action for the initial and 
repetitive ultrasonic inspections of that AD, replacement of propeller 
hub P/N 660709201 with a new propeller hub, P/N 660717226.

Comments

    We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing 
this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM (76 FR 21675, April 18, 
2011) or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

    We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and 
the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this AD will affect 132 propellers installed on 
airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 
0.5 work-hour per propeller to perform the inspection and about 1 hour 
to replace a propeller hub. The average labor rate is $85 per work-
hour. Required parts will cost about $19,500 per engine. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. operators to be 
$2,590,830.

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 have 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866,
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under DOT Regulatory Policies and 
Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and
    (4) 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.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, Safety.

Adoption of the Amendment

    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 removing airworthiness directive (AD) 
2005-25-10, Amendment 39-14403 (70 FR 73364, December 12, 2005), and 
adding the following new AD:

2005-25-10R1 Dowty Propellers (formerly Dowty Aerospace; Dowty Rotol 
Limited; and Dowty Rotol): Amendment 39-16788 ; Docket No. FAA-2010-
1270; Directorate Identifier 2001-NE-50-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective October 11, 
2011.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD revises AD 2005-25-10, Amendment 39-14403 (70 FR 
73364, December 12, 2005).

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Dowty Propellers Type R321/4-82-F/8, 
R324/4-82-F/9, R333/4-82-F/12, and R334/4-82-F/13 propeller 
assemblies with propeller hubs, part number (P/N) 660709201.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD was prompted by the need to introduce an optional 
terminating action for the repetitive inspections. We are issuing 
this AD to prevent propeller hub failure due to cracks in the hub, 
which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

Initial Ultrasonic Inspections

    (f) Perform an initial ultrasonic inspection of the rear wall of 
the rear half of the

[[Page 54928]]

propeller hub for cracks within the compliance time specified in 
Table 1 of this AD. Use Appendix A or Appendix D of the applicable 
Dowty Alert Service Bulletin (SB) listed in Table 1 of this AD to do 
the inspection.

                                 Table 1--Applicable Alert SB for Propeller Type
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Initial inspection within  Repeat inspection within
     Propeller assembly type                 . . .                      . . .                 Applicable SB
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) R334/4-82-F/13...............  10 flight hours (FH) time- 300 FH time-since-last-   Alert SB No. 61-1119,
                                    in-service (TIS) after     inspection (TSLI) or      Revision 5, dated July
                                    the effective date of      300 flight cycles-since-  1, 2009.
                                    this AD.                   last inspection,
                                                               whichever occurs sooner.
(2) R321/4-82-F/8................  50 FH TIS after the        1,000 FH TSLI...........  Alert SB No. 61-A1125,
                                    effective date of this                               Revision 2, dated
                                    AD.                                                  August 25, 2010.
(3) R324/4-82-F/9................  50 FH TIS after the        1,000 FH TSLI...........  Alert SB No. 61-A1126,
                                    effective date of this                               Revision 2, dated
                                    AD.                                                  August 25, 2010.
(4) R333/4-82-F/12...............  50 FH TIS after the        1,000 FH TSLI...........  Alert SB No. 61-A1124,
                                    effective date of this                               Revision 2, dated
                                    AD.                                                  August 25, 2010.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (g) For hubs and propellers in storage, perform an initial 
ultrasonic inspection of the rear wall of the rear half of the 
propeller hub for cracks, before placing in service. Use Appendix A 
or Appendix D of the applicable Dowty Alert SB listed in Table 1 of 
this AD to do the inspection.

Initial Inspection--Previous Credit

    (h) Propeller hubs, P/N 660709201, that previously passed 
inspection using Dowty Alert SBs listed in Table 1 of this AD or an 
earlier issue of those SBs, have satisfied the initial inspection 
requirements of this AD. However, you must comply with the 
repetitive inspection requirements found in this AD.

Repetitive Ultrasonic Inspections

    (i) Thereafter, perform a repetitive ultrasonic inspection of 
the rear wall of the rear half of the propeller hub for cracks 
within the compliance time specified in Table 1 of this AD. Use 
Appendix A or Appendix D of the applicable Dowty Alert SB listed in 
Table 1 of this AD to do the inspection.

Optional Terminating Action

    (j) As optional terminating action for the repetitive 
inspections required by this AD, replace propeller hub, P/N 
660709201, with a new propeller hub, P/N 660717226.

Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (k) The Manager, Boston Certification Office, has the authority 
to approve AMOCs for this AD if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19.

Related Information

    (l) For more information about this AD, contact Michael Schwetz, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-
7761; fax: 781-238-7170; e-mail: [email protected].
    (m) European Aviation Safety Agency 2010-0196R1, dated November 
12, 2010, pertains to the subject of this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference (IBR)

    (n) You must use the following service information to do the 
actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference (IBR) under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51 of the 
following service information on the date specified:
    (1) Dowty Propellers Alert SB No. 61-1119, Revision 5, dated 
July 1, 2009, approved for IBR as of October 11, 2011.
    (2) Dowty Propellers Alert SB No. 61-A1124, Revision 2, dated 
August 25, 2010, approved for IBR as of October 11, 2011.
    (3) Dowty Propellers Alert SB No. 61-A1125, Revision 2, dated 
August 25, 2010, approved for IBR as of October 11, 2011.
    (4) Dowty Propellers Alert SB No. 61-A1126, Revision 2, dated 
August 25, 2010, approved for IBR as of October 11, 2011.
    (5) For service information identified in this AD, contact Dowty 
Propellers, Anson Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester GL 
29QN, UK; phone: 44 (0) 1452 716000; fax: 44 (0) 1452 716001.
    (6) You may review copies of the service information at the FAA, 
Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material 
at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
    (7) You may also review copies of the service information that 
is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records 
Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this 
material at an NARA facility, call 202-741-6030, or go to http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 15, 2011.
Peter A. White,
Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification 
Service.

[FR Doc. 2011-22566 Filed 9-2-11; 8:45 am]
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