[Federal Register Volume 69, Number 140 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 43775-43777]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 04-16662]


 ========================================================================
 Proposed Rules
                                                 Federal Register
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
 This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of 
 the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these 
 notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in 
 the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
 
 ========================================================================
 

  Federal Register / Vol. 69, No. 140 / Thursday, July 22, 2004 / 
Proposed Rules  

[[Page 43775]]



DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. 2003-NE-50-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Hartzell Propeller Inc. Model HC-B3TN-
5( )/ T10282( ) Propellers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing Priority Letter 
Airworthiness Directive (AD) for Hartzell Propeller Inc. Model HC-B3TN-
5( )/T10282( ) propellers. That Priority Letter AD currently requires 
initial and repetitive inspections of the blade pilot tube bore area. 
This proposed AD would require the same inspections. This proposed AD 
results from a review of all currently effective ADs. That review 
determined that Priority Letter AD 88-24-15 was not published in the 
Federal Register to make it effective to all operators, as opposed to 
just the operators who received actual notice of the original Priority 
Letter AD. This proposed AD also results from the discovery that the 
original AD omitted an airplane model with a certain Supplemental Type 
Certificate (STC) from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to 
prevent possible blade failure near the hub which can result in blade 
separation, engine separation, damage to the airplane, and possible 
loss of the airplane.

DATES: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by September 
20, 2004.

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following addresses to submit comments on 
this proposed AD:
     By mail: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), New 
England Region, Office of the Regional Counsel, Attention: Rules Docket 
No. 2003-NE-50-AD, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803-
5299.
     By fax: (781) 238-7055.
     By e-mail: [email protected].
    You can get the service information identified in this proposed AD 
from Hartzell Propeller Inc. Technical Publications Department, One 
Propeller Place, Piqua, OH 45356; telephone (937) 778-4200; fax (937) 
778-4391.
    You may examine the AD docket, at the FAA, New England Region, 
Office of the Regional Counsel, 12 New England Executive Park, 
Burlington, MA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Melissa T. Bradley, Aerospace 
Engineer, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane 
Directorate, 2300 East Devon Avenue, Des Plaines, IL 60018; telephone 
(847) 294-8110; fax (847) 294-7834.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to submit any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-50-AD'' in the 
subject line of your comments. If you want us to acknowledge receipt of 
your mailed comments, send us a self-addressed, stamped postcard with 
the docket number written on it; we will date-stamp your postcard and 
mail it back to you. We specifically invite comments on the overall 
regulatory, economic, environmental, and energy aspects of the proposed 
AD. If a person contacts us verbally, and that contact relates to a 
substantive part of this proposed AD, we will summarize the contact and 
place the summary in the docket. We will consider all comments received 
by the closing date and may amend the proposed AD in light of those 
comments.
    We are reviewing the writing style we currently use in regulatory 
documents. We are interested in your comments on whether the style of 
this document is clear, and your suggestions to improve the clarity of 
our communications that affect you. You may get more information about 
plain language at http://www.faa.gov/language and http://www.plainlanguage.gov.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD Docket (including any comments and service 
information), by appointment, between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday 
through Friday, except Federal holidays. See ADDRESSES for the 
location.

Discussion

    On November 18, 1988, the FAA issued Priority Letter AD 88-24-15, 
applicable to Hartzell Propeller Inc. model HC-B3TN-5( )/T10282( ) 
propellers. That AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the 
blade pilot tube bore area, and repair or replacement of parts as 
necessary. That AD was the result of a report of a cracked blade found 
on a propeller. That condition, if not corrected, could result in 
possible blade failure near the hub which can result in blade 
separation, engine separation, damage to the airplane, and possible 
loss of the airplane.

Actions Since AD 88-24-15 Was Issued

    Since that AD was issued, we have reviewed all currently effective 
ADs. We found that Priority Letter AD 88-24-15 was not published in the 
Federal Register to make it effective to all operators, as opposed to 
just the operators who received actual notice of the original Priority 
Letter AD.
    Also, since that AD was issued, the Chicago Aircraft Certification 
Office approved as optional terminating action to the repetitive 
inspections, an alternative method of compliance (AMOC). That AMOC 
exempts propeller model HC-B3TN-5( ) with blades part number (P/N) 
T10282N( ), T10282NB( ), T10282NK( ), or T10282NE( ) installed, from 
the AD action. This proposed AD incorporates that AMOC.
    Also, since that AD was issued, we discovered that the AD 
applicability omitted Fairchild model SA226-AT airplanes, modified by 
Garrett General Aviation Services Company, STC SA345GL-D, with Garrett 
Model TPE331-10UA-511G engines. We are issuing this proposed AD to 
ensure that all affected propellers be inspected.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Hartzell 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 136I, dated April 25, 2003, which describes 
the procedures

[[Page 43776]]

for doing the inspections required by this proposed AD.

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. Therefore, we are proposing this AD, which 
would require for Hartzell Propeller Inc. model HC-B3TN-5( )/T10282( ) 
propellers (excluding model HC-B3TN-5( ) propellers with blades P/N 
T10282N( ), T10282NB( ), T10282NK( ), or T10282NE() installed), initial 
and repetitive inspections of the blade pilot tube bore area, and 
repair or replacement of parts as necessary. The proposed AD would 
require that you do these actions using the service information 
described previously.

Cost of Compliance

    By adding STC SA345GL applicability, there are about 50 additional 
Hartzell Propeller Inc. Model HC-B3TN-5( )/T10282( ) propellers of the 
affected design in the worldwide fleet. Including the additional 
applicability, we estimate a total of 500 propellers have been 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry and would be affected by this 
proposed AD. We also estimate that it would take about 2.5 work hours 
per propeller blade to perform the proposed actions, and that the 
average labor rate is $65 per work hour. Based on these figures, we 
estimate the total cost of the proposed AD to U.S. operators is 
$243,750.

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 
regulation:
    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 summary of the costs to comply with this proposal and 
placed it in the AD Docket. You may get a copy of this summary by 
sending a request to us at the address listed under ADDRESSES. Include 
``AD Docket No. 2003-NE-50-AD'' in your request.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Safety.

The Proposed Amendment

    Accordingly, 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 a new airworthiness 
directive, to read as follows:

Hartzell Propeller Inc.: Docket No. 2003-NE-50-AD. Supersedes 
Priority Letter AD 88-24-15.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by September 
20, 2004.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes Priority Letter AD 88-24-15.
    Applicability: (c) This AD applies to Hartzell Propeller Inc. 
model HC-B3TN-5( )/T10282( ) propellers installed on the airplane 
and engine combinations shown in the following Table 1 (excluding 
propellers with blades P/N T10282N( ), T10282NB( ), T10282NK( ), or 
T10282NE( ) installed).

                         Table 1.--Applicability
------------------------------------------------------------------------
       Airplane model            Propeller model        Engine model
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fairchild SA226-TC..........
Fairchild SA226-AT..........  HC-B3TN-5( )/T10282(  Garrett TPE331-10UA-
                               ).                    511G
Fairchild SA226-T...........
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    (d) For reference, airplanes incorporating supplemental type 
certificates (STCs) SA344GL-D, SA4872SW, and SA345GL-D have these 
engine, propeller, and airplane combinations.
    (e) The parentheses appearing in the propeller model number 
indicates the presence or absence of an additional letter(s) that 
varies the basic propeller model. This AD still applies regardless 
of whether these letters are present or absent in the propeller 
model designation.

Unsafe Condition

    (f) This AD results from a review of all currently effective 
ADs. That review determined that Priority Letter AD 88-24-15 was not 
published in the Federal Register to make it effective to all 
operators, as opposed to just the operators who received actual 
notice of the original Priority Letter AD. This AD also results from 
the discovery that the original AD omitted an airplane model with a 
certain STC from the applicability. We are issuing this AD to 
prevent possible blade failure near the hub which can result in 
blade separation, engine separation, damage to the airplane, and 
possible loss of the airplane.
    Compliance: (g) You are responsible for having the actions 
required by this AD performed within the compliance times specified 
unless the actions have already been done.

Required Actions

    (h) Within 10 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective 
date of this AD, perform a document search to determine if the 
following actions have been done:
    (1) The propeller blades meet the initial and repetitive 
compliance requirements of Priority Letter AD 88-24-15.
    (2) The T10282( ) propeller blades have been replaced with P/N 
T10282N( ), T10282NB(), T10282NK( ), or T10282NE( ) propeller 
blades.
    (i) If the actions in paragraph (h)(1) or (h)(2) of this AD have 
not been done, then do one of the following:
    (1) Inspect the blades using Paragraph 3 of Accomplishment 
Instructions of Hartzell Service Bulletin (SB) No. 136I, dated April 
25, 2003, within 500 hours time-since-new (TSN) or time-since-last-
overhaul (TSLO) and not to exceed two years after the effective date 
of this AD, whichever occurs first; and thereafter within 500 
service-hour intervals; or
    (2) Replace with P/N T10282N( ), T 10282NB( ), T10282NK( ), or 
T10282NE( ) propeller blades as applicable, within 500 hours TSN or 
TSLO and not to exceed two years after the effective date of this 
AD, whichever occurs first.
    (j) If the actions in paragraph (h)(1) of this AD have been 
done, but not the actions in paragraph (h)(2) of this AD, then do 
the following:

[[Page 43777]]

    (1) Inspect the blades within 500 hours since the last Hartzell 
SB No. 136E, or later Revision, inspection, and thereafter within 
500 service hour intervals, using Paragraph 3 of the Accomplishment 
Instructions of Hartzell SB No. 136I, dated April 25, 2003.
    (2) Replace before further flight all blades showing evidence of 
cracks or other unairworthy conditions, as noted in Hartzell SB No. 
136I, dated April 25, 2003, with airworthy blades.

Hartzell SB No. 136

    (k) Since Hartzell SB No. 136E was issued, the SB has been 
revised to 136F, 136G, 136H, and 136I. Any of these revisions are 
suitable for determining past compliance, as they are all approved 
as alternative methods of compliance (AMOC). After the effective 
date of this AD, compliance is restricted to SB No. 136I or later 
versions when approved by an AMOC.

Optional Terminating Action

    (l) Installation of propeller blades, P/N T10282NE( ), T10282NB( 
), T10282NK( ), or T10282NE( ) as applicable, onto a Hartzell 
Propeller Inc. model HC-B3TN-5( ) propeller constitutes terminating 
action to the inspections, repairs, and replacements specified in 
paragraphs (i) through (j)(2) of this AD.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

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

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (n) None.

Related Information

    (o) None.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on July 16, 2004.
Robert Guyotte,
Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 04-16662 Filed 7-21-04; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P