[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 49 (Monday, March 15, 2010)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 12148-12150]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-5549]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2010-0102; Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-09-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing,
Inc. Propeller Governors, Part Numbers C210776, T210761, D210760, and
J210761
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain serial numbers (S/Ns) of Ontic Engineering and
Manufacturing, Inc. propeller governors, part numbers (P/Ns) C210776,
T210761, D210760, and J210761. This proposed AD would require removal
of the affected propeller governors from service. This proposed AD
results from three reports received of failed propeller governors. We
are proposing this AD to prevent loss of propeller pitch control,
damage to the propeller governor, and internal damage to the engine,
which could prevent continued safe flight or safe landing.
DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by May 14,
2010.
ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to comment on this
proposed AD.
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov and follow the instructions for sending your
comments electronically.
Mail: Docket Management Facility, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., West Building Ground
Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590-0001.
Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
Fax: (202) 493-2251.
Contact Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc., 20400 Plummer
Sreet, Chatsworth, CA 91311, e-mail: [email protected]; telephone
(818) 725-2323; fax (818) 725-2535; or e-mail: [email protected];
telephone (818) 725-2121; fax (818) 725-2535, or on the Web at http://www.ontic.com/pdf/SB-DES-353_Rev_A.pdf for a copy of the service
information identified in this proposed AD.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Roger Pesuit, Aerospace Engineer, Los
Angeles Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane
Directorate, 3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (562) 627-5251, fax (562) 627-5210.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send us any written relevant data, views, or
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2010-0102; Directorate
Identifier 2010-NE-09-AD'' in the subject line of your comments. We
specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, economic,
environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed AD. We will consider
all comments received by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD
in light of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact
with FAA personnel concerning this proposed AD. Using the search
function of the Web site, anyone can find and read the comments in any
of our dockets, including, if provided, the name of the individual who
sent the comment (or signed the comment on behalf of an association,
business, labor union, etc.). You may review the DOT's complete Privacy
Act Statement in the Federal Register published on April 11, 2000 (65
FR 19477-78).
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Operations office (telephone (800) 647-5527) is
the same as the Mail address provided in the ADDRESSES section.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
Discussion
We received three reports of failure of Ontic Engineering and
Manufacturing, Inc. propeller governors. One of the reports was of a
Diamond DA-40 airplane losing propeller pitch control during flight.
The propeller governor controls propeller pitch by regulating oil
pressure to the propeller pitch change mechanism. Changes in governor
oil pressure are made by small changes in axial displacement of the
governor's pilot valve plunger assembly. A fly weight governor opposes
a compressed spring that rides on a collar which forms a part of the
pilot valve plunger assembly. Investigation revealed that the set screw
securing the collar to the pilot valve plunger assembly shaft may not
be installed properly on a batch of parts permitting the pilot valve
plunger to float on the shaft. The pilot valve shaft plunger and
captive thrust bearing are then free to move axially along the pilot
valve shaft. When the pilot valve is unconstrained in the axial
direction, the propeller governor cannot control oil pressure to the
propeller pitch control mechanism. This results in a loss of propeller
pitch control. Further, concurrent thrust bearing failure permits
bearing debris to flow with the oil into the engine lubrication system.
The engine in the incident airplane was internally damaged as a result
of a
[[Page 12149]]
propeller governor bearing ball becoming lodged between the valve
lifter and engine case. This condition, if not corrected, could result
in loss of propeller pitch control, damage to the propeller governor,
and internal damage to the engine, which could prevent continued safe
flight or safe landing.
Relevant Service Information
We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Ontic
Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB)
No. SB-DES-353, Revision A, dated December 16, 2009. That MSB lists the
affected propeller governors by P/N and S/N, and describes procedures
for returning them to the manufacturer for repair.
FAA's Determination and Requirements of the Proposed AD
We have evaluated all pertinent information and identified an
unsafe condition that is likely to exist or develop on other products
of this same type design. We are proposing this AD, which would require
removal of affected propeller governors from service. The proposed AD
would require you to use the service information described previously
to identify the affected S/Ns of propeller governors.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 45 propeller
governors installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate
that it would take about four work-hours per airplane to perform the
proposed actions, and that the average labor rate is $85 per work-hour.
Required repair parts would cost about $842 per propeller governor.
Based on these figures, we estimate the total cost of the proposed AD
to U.S. operators to be $83,790. Our cost estimate is exclusive of
possible warranty coverage.
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 proposed AD would not have federalism
implications under Executive Order 13132. This proposed AD would 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 the proposed 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. Would 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 proposed AD. 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.
The Proposed Amendment
Under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the
Federal Aviation Administration proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 as
follows:
PART 39--AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVES
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]
2. The FAA amends Sec. 39.13 by adding the following new
airworthiness directive:
Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc.: Docket No. FAA-2010-0102;
Directorate Identifier 2010-NE-09-AD.
Comments Due Date
(a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by May 14,
2010.
Affected ADs
(b) None.
Applicability
(c) This AD applies to Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc.
propeller governors, part numbers (P/Ns) C210776, T210761, D210760,
and J210761, as listed by serial number on pages 3 and 4 of Ontic
Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB)
No. SB-DES-353, Revision A, dated December 16, 2009.
(d) These propeller governors are installed on, but not limited
to, American Champion Aircraft Corporation Model 7GCAA (governor P/N
T210761), Diamond Aircraft Industries, Inc. Model DA-40 (governor P/
N C210776), Hawker Beechcraft Model A36 (governor P/N D210760), and
Industria Aeronautica Neiva S/A (subsidiary of Embraer) model EMB-
202A (governor P/N J210761) airplanes.
Unsafe Condition
(e) This AD results from three reports received of failed
propeller governors. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of
propeller pitch control, damage to the propeller governor, and
internal damage to the engine, which could prevent continued safe
flight or safe landing.
Compliance
(f) You are responsible for having the actions required by this
AD performed within 100 flight hours after the effective date of
this AD, unless the actions have already been done.
(g) Remove affected propeller governors from service.
(h) After the effective date of this AD, do not install an
affected propeller governor unless it has been inspected, repaired,
and permanently marked with ``SB-DES-353 Rev. A Date * * *.'' near
the data plate, by Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc.
Alternative Methods of Compliance
(i) The Manager, Los Angeles 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.
Related Information
(j) Contact Roger Pesuit, Aerospace Engineer, Los Angeles
Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate,
3960 Paramount Blvd., Lakewood, CA 90712; e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (562) 627-5251, fax (562) 627-5210,
for more information about this AD.
(k) Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc. MSB No. SB-DES-
353, Revision A, dated December 16, 2009, pertains to the subject of
this AD. Contact Ontic Engineering and Manufacturing, Inc., 20400
Plummer Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311, e-mail: [email protected];
telephone (818) 725-2323; fax (818) 725-2535; or e-mail:
[email protected]; telephone (818) 725-2121; fax (818) 725-2535,
or on the Web at http://www.ontic.com/pdf/SB-DES-353_Rev_A.pdf for
a copy of this service information.
[[Page 12150]]
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on March 5, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-5549 Filed 3-12-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P