[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28483-28485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11764]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2008-0750; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-21-AD;
Amendment 39-16302; AD 2010-10-23]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers R175/4-30-4/13; R175/
4-30-4/13e; R184/4-30-4/50; R193/4-30- 4/50; R193/4-30-4/61; R193/4-30-
4/64; R193/4-30-4/65; R193/4-30-4/66; R.209/4-40-4.5/2; R212/4-30-4/22;
R.245/4-40-4.5/13; R257/4-30-4/60; and R.259/4-40-4.5/17 Model
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 the Dowty Propellers, propeller models listed above. That AD
currently requires, for all Dowty Rotol propellers, visual inspections
for seizure and for cadmium plating of the blade pitch change operating
links and eyebolt fork assemblies. That AD also requires replacement or
heat-treatment of the blade pitch change operating links and eyebolt
fork assemblies, if necessary. This AD requires the same actions, but
only for certain propeller models. This AD results from the FAA
determining that AD 70-16-02 does not apply to all propellers, since
current Dowty propellers are differently designed. We are issuing this
AD supersedure to specify the affected propeller models, and to prevent
seizure or embrittlement and cracking of the blade pitch change
operating links and eyebolt fork assemblies, which could result in
reduced controllability of the airplane.
DATES: This AD becomes effective June 25, 2010. The Director of the
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain
publications listed in the regulations as of June 25, 2010.
ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD
from Dowty Propellers, Anson Business Park, Cheltenham Road East,
Gloucester GL2 9QN, UK; Telephone 44 (0) 1452 716000; fax 44 (0) 1452
716001.
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 by
superseding AD 70-16-02, Amendment 39-1503 (37 FR 16535, August 16,
1972), with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to certain Dowty
Propellers, propeller models. We published the proposed AD in the
Federal Register on August 29, 2008 (74 FR 50892). That action proposed
to require visual inspections before further flight of the blade pitch
change operating links and eyebolt fork assemblies and replacement or
heat-treatment of them, if necessary, for certain Dowty Propellers,
propeller models.
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.
Comments
We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.
Request To Revise the Proposed Applicability
One commenter, a private citizen, states that there were no Dowty
Rotol propellers installed on Convair 240, 340, and 440 airplanes.
However, the commenter also states that Convair 240, 340, and 440
airplanes modified by supplemental type certificates (STC) SA1054WE and
SA1096SW, do have Dowty Rotol propellers installed. The propeller
R.245/4-40-4.5 is used on a Convair model 240, redesignated as Convair
model 600 on supplemental type certificate (STC) SA1054WE, and the
propellers R.245/4-40-4.5 and
[[Page 28484]]
R.259/4-40-4.5 are used on Convair models 340 and 440, redesignated
Convair model 640 on STC SA1096SW.
We partially agree. We reviewed these STCs, and the aircraft type
certificate data sheets A-793 and 6A6, and determined there are no
official Convair model designations of 600 or 640 for these airplanes.
We agree that Convair airplanes models 240, 340, and 440 if modified by
these STCs have Dowty propellers installed and are affected by this
proposed AD. We changed the AD applicability to call out the STCs, to
remove the reference to Convair 600, and to list the complete part
numbers of the affected propellers, instead of the basic part numbers.
We also deleted propeller part number R251/4-30-4 from the
applicability, as it was inadvertently listed.
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 changes described previously.
Costs of Compliance
We anticipate that this AD will affect no propellers installed on
airplanes of U.S. registry, as the affected propellers should already
be in compliance with AD 70-16-02 since it became effective, on August
21, 1972. Based on this information, we estimate the total cost of the
AD to U.S. operators to be $0.
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, Incorporation by
reference, 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 39-1503 (37 FR
16535, August 16, 1972), and by adding a new airworthiness directive,
Amendment 39-16302, to read as follows:
2010-10-23 Dowty Propellers (Formerly Dowty Aerospace; Dowty Rotol
Limited; and Dowty Rotol): Amendment 39-16302. Docket No. FAA-2008-
0750; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-21-AD.
Effective Date
(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 25,
2010.
Affected ADs
(b) This AD supersedes AD 70-16-02, Amendment 39-1503.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Dowty Propellers R175/4-30-4/13; R175/4-
30-4/13e; R184/4-30-4/50; R193/4-30-4/50; R193/4-30-4/61; R193/4-30-
4/64; R193/4-30-4/65; R193/4-30-4/66; R.209/4-40-4.5/2; R212/4-30-4/
22; R.245/4-40-4.5/13; R257/4-30-4/60; and R.259/4-40-4.5/17 model
propellers. These propellers are installed on, but not limited to,
Fairchild F-27, Fairchild-Hiller FH-227, Grumman G-159, Nihon YS-11,
and BAe HS 748 Series 2 airplanes, Convair 240 airplanes modified
per supplemental type certificate (STC) SA1054WE, and Convair 340
and 440 airplanes modified per STC SA1096SW.
Unsafe Condition
(d) This AD results from the FAA determining that AD 70-16-02
does not apply to all propellers, since current Dowty Rotol
propellers are differently designed. We are issuing this AD
supersedure to specify the affected propeller models, and to prevent
seizure or embrittlement and cracking of the blade pitch change
operating links and eyebolt fork assemblies, which could result in
reduced controllability of the airplane.
Compliance
(e) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed before further flight after the effective date of this
AD, unless the actions have already been done.
(f) Inspect the blade pitch change operating link and eyebolt
fork assembly for:
(1) Seizure (the link and eyebolt are seized if the torque
required to move the link is 300 inch pounds or more); and
(2) Cadmium plating on the mating surfaces between the operating
link and eyebolt fork and the holes through the eyebolt fork and the
operating link.
(g) If the link and eyebolt fork are not seized and have not
been cadmium plated, they may remain in service.
(h) If the link and eyebolt fork are not seized but cadmium
plating is found in the prohibited areas, remove the plating by
means of wet or dry silicon carbide paper, fine or medium grade, and
conduct a magnetic crack test. If no cracks are found, the assembly
may remain in service until the next propeller overhaul for air
carrier airplanes and airplanes under a continuous maintenance
program or for 3,300 hours time-in-service after the effective date
of this AD for all other airplanes. At the next propeller overhaul
for air carrier airplanes and airplanes under a continuous
maintenance program, or within 3,300 hours time-in-service after the
effective date of this AD for all other airplanes, heat treat the
links and eyebolt forks found to have been cadmium plated, to remove
embrittlement. Use Dowty Rotol Service Bulletin No. 61-754, dated
June 12, 1970 to perform the heat treatment.
(i) If the link and eyebolt fork are seized, remove the link and
eyebolt fork from service and replace them with an assembly having a
part number approved for that model propeller that has not been
cadmium plated in the prohibited areas.
(j) If the link or eyebolt fork are found to be cracked during
the inspection in paragraph (h) of this AD, remove the cracked part
from service and replace it with a part having a part number
approved for that model propeller that has not been cadmium plated.
(k) The inspection required by paragraph (f) of this AD need not
be performed and the propeller may remain in service if:
[[Page 28485]]
(1) The operator can show that no cadmium plating exists in the
prohibited areas of that propeller; or
(2) It is a new propeller that has never been overhauled.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(l) The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, has
the authority to approve alternative methods of compliance for this
AD if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19.
Related Information
(m) 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
(n) You must use Dowty Rotol Service Bulletin No. 61-754, dated
June 12, 1970 to perform the heat treatment required by this AD. The
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by
reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C.
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Dowty Propellers, Anson Business
Park, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester GL2 9QN, UK; Telephone 44 (0)
1452 716000; fax 44 (0) 1452 716001 for a copy of this service
information. You may review copies at the FAA, New England Region,
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to:
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on May 5, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11764 Filed 5-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P