[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