Airworthiness Directives; MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH Propellers

[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 247 (Thursday, December 27, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 73256-73258]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-25035]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-20856; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-25-AD; 
Amendment 39-15315; AD 2007-26-13]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH 
Propellers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for certain MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH variable pitch and fixed 
pitch propellers manufactured before 1995, which had not been 
overhauled since April 1994. That AD currently requires overhauling the 
propeller blades and performing initial and repetitive visual 
inspections of affected propeller blades. That AD also requires 
removing all propeller blades from service with damaged erosion sheath 
bonding or loose erosion sheaths and installing any missing or damaged 
polyurethane protective strips. This AD requires the same actions. This 
AD results from the need to clarify the population of affected 
propellers previously listed in AD 2006-05-05. We are issuing this AD 
to prevent erosion sheath separation leading to damage of the airplane.

DATES: This AD becomes effective January 31, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from MT-Propeller USA, Inc., 1180 Airport Terminal Drive, Deland, FL 
32724; telephone (386) 736-7762, fax (386) 736-7696, or visit http://www.mt-propeller.com.
    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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 
with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to certain MT-Propeller 
Entwicklung GmbH variable pitch and fixed pitch propellers manufactured 
before 1995, which had not been overhauled since April 1994. We 
published the proposed AD in the Federal Register on December 13, 2006 
(71 FR 74878). That action proposed to require:
    <bullet> Overhauling the propeller blades and performing initial 
and repetitive visual inspections of affected propeller blades.
    <bullet> Removing all propeller blades from service with damaged 
erosion sheath bonding or loose erosion sheaths and installing any 
missing or damaged polyurethane protective strips.
    The proposed AD resulted from the need to clarify the population of 
affected propellers previously listed in AD 2006-05-05. Since AD 2006-
05-05 was issued, MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH Propellers and EASA 
have clarified the population of affected propellers. AD 2006-05-05 
described the affected propellers as variable pitch and fixed pitch 
propellers with serial numbers (SNs) below 95000.
    Because propellers with SNs starting with 00, 01, 02, 03, 04, 05, 
and 06, were manufactured in the years 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 
2005, and 2006 respectively, some operators are confused as to whether 
their propeller SN is part of the affected population. For example, 
propeller SN 00246, manufactured in 2000, would appear to be part of 
the affected population because the number is below 95000. For 
clarification, we are identifying the affected population as variable 
pitch and fixed pitch propellers manufactured before 1995 which had not 
been overhauled since April 1994.

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

[[Page 73257]]

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.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Request To Include Only Propeller Models That Have U.S. Type 
Certificates

    One commenter, the Modification and Replacement Parts Association, 
requests that we include only those propeller models that have FAA type 
certificates, and that only those type certificates dated before 1996 
be included in the applicability, or that some alternate applicability 
scheme be employed that is clear and unambiguous. The commenter is 
assuming that the AD action should be applicable only to propellers 
that have an FAA type certificate.
    We agree and changed the applicability to include only those 
propeller models that have FAA type certificates, and only those type 
certificates dated before 1996.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the change described previously. 
We have determined that this change will neither increase the economic 
burden on any operator nor increase the scope of the AD.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that 103 of these MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH 
variable pitch and fixed pitch propellers installed on aircraft of U.S. 
registry will be affected by this AD. We also estimate that it will 
take about 2 work-hours to inspect and install the polyurethane 
protective strip of each affected propeller, and about 4 work-hours to 
remove a propeller requiring overhaul. The average labor rate is $80 
per work-hour. Required parts to inspect and install the polyurethane 
protective strip of each affected propeller will cost about $20. Based 
on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the AD to U.S. 
operators to inspect and install protective strips, to be $18,540.

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); 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary at the 
address listed under ADDRESSES.

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 Federal Aviation Administration 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 Amendment 39-14502 (71 FR 
11151, March 6, 2006), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-15315, to read as follows:

2007-26-13 MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH: Amendment 39-15315. Docket 
No. FAA-2005-20856; Directorate Identifier 2004-NE-25-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective January 
31, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 2006-05-05, Amendment 39-14502.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH, models MT, 
MTV-1, MTV-3, MTV-5, MTV-6, MTV-7, MTV-9, MTV-11, MTV-12, MTV-14, 
MTV-15, MTV-18, and MTV-21 propellers manufactured before 1995, 
which have not been overhauled since April 1994. These propellers 
may be installed on, but not limited to, Apex ATL, Apex DR400, EADS 
Socata Rallye, Extra EA-300, Piper PA-46, Rene Fournier RF4, Sukhoi 
SU-26, SU-29, and SU-31; Yakovlev YAK-52, YAK-54, and YAK-55; and 
Technoavia SM-92 airplanes.

Unsafe Condition

    (d) This AD results from the need to clarify the population of 
affected propellers previously listed in AD 2006-05-05. We are 
issuing this AD to prevent erosion sheath separation leading to 
damage of the airplane.

Compliance

    (e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this 
AD performed within the compliance times specified unless the 
actions have already been done.

Overhaul of Propeller Blades

    (f) Overhaul all installed propeller blades of propellers listed 
in the applicability, within 30 days after the effective date of 
this AD, unless previously done per AD 2006-05-05.

Initial Visual Inspection of the Propeller Blade

    (g) Information about inspection procedures and acceptable 
limits can be found in Table 1 of this AD.

[[Page 73258]]



                      Table 1.--Service Information
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                                          See operation and installation
       For propeller model . . .                   manual . . .
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MT.....................................  No. E-112, issued Nov. 1993 or
                                          later.
MTV-1, MTV-7, MTV-18...................  No. E-118, issued March 1994 or
                                          later.
MTV-5, MTV-6, MTV-9, MTV-11, MTV-12,     No. E-124, issued March 1994 or
 MTV-14, MTV-15, MTV-21.                  later.
MTV-3..................................  No. E-148, issued March 1994 or
                                          later.
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    (h) During the next preflight inspection or 100-hour inspection, 
whichever occurs first, after the effective date of this AD, inspect 
all MT and MTV propellers by doing the following:
    (1) Determine if the erosion sheath of any propeller blade is 
cracked or loose; and
    (2) Determine if any propeller blade has other damage out of 
acceptable limits.
    (3) Before the next flight, remove from service those propeller 
blades with a cracked or loose erosion sheath, or other damage 
affecting airworthiness.

Initial Visual Inspection of the Propeller Blade Polyurethane Strip

    (i) During the next pilot's preflight inspection after the 
effective date of this AD, if the polyurethane protective strip on 
the leading edge of the inner portion of the blade is found to be 
damaged or missing, the polyurethane protective strip must be 
replaced or installed within 10-flight hours. If electrical de-icing 
boots are installed, no polyurethane protective strips are required.

Repetitive Visual Inspection of the Propeller Blade

    (j) If after the effective date of this AD, any propeller blade 
erosion sheath found to be cracked or loose during the pilot's 
preflight inspection, or 100-hour inspection, or annual inspection, 
must be repaired, replaced, or overhauled before the next flight.

Repetitive Visual Inspection of the Propeller Blade Polyurethane Strip

    (k) If after the effective date of this AD, any propeller blade 
polyurethane protective strip found to be damaged or missing during 
the pilot's preflight inspection, or 100-hour inspection, or annual 
inspection, must be replaced or installed within 10-flight hours. If 
electrical de-icing boots are installed, polyurethane protective 
strips are not required.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

    (l) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, has the 
authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this AD 
if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.

Special Flight Permits

    (m) Special flight permits are not authorized.

Related Information

    (n) MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH, Service Bulletin No. 8B, 
dated March 8, 2006, pertains to the subject of this AD. European 
Aviation Safety Agency AD No. 2006-0345, dated November 14, 2006, 
also addresses the subject of this AD.
    (o) 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on December 19, 2007.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E7-25035 Filed 12-26-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P

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