[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 126 (Monday, June 30, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 36819-36821]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-14715]


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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]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Models R354/4-123-F/
13; R354/4-123-F/20; R354/4-123-F/21; R375/4-123-F/21; R389/4-123-F/25; 
R354/4-123-F/26; and R390/4-123-F/27 Propellers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the 
products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory 
continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European 
Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to identify and correct an unsafe 
condition on Dowty Propellers models R354/4-123-F/13; R354/4-123-F/20; 
R354/4-123-F/21; R375/4-123-F/21; R389/4-123-F/25; R354/4-123-F/26; and 
R390/4-123-F/27 propellers. 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 proposing this AD to prevent blade counterweight release, which 
could result in injury or damage to the airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 30, 2008.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by any of the following methods:
     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.

[[Page 36820]]

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.

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:

Comments Invited

    We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposed AD. Send your comments to an address 
listed under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0545; 
Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-16-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We 
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend 
this proposed AD based on 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).

Discussion

    EASA, which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the 
European Community, has issued EASA AD 2008-0033, dated February 19, 
2008, to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
EASA AD 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.

You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket.

Relevant Service Information

    Dowty Propellers has issued Alert Service Bulletin No. SF340-61-
A106, dated December 5, 2007. The actions described in this service 
information are intended to correct the unsafe condition identified in 
the MCAI.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
United Kingdom, and is approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the United Kingdom, they have 
notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and service 
information referenced above. We are proposing this AD because we 
evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined the unsafe 
condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other products of 
the same type design.

Costs of Compliance

    Based on the service information, we estimate that this proposed AD 
would affect about 292 propellers installed on airplanes of U.S. 
registry. We also estimate that it would 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 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $11,680.

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 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 this 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. 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 proposed AD and placed it in the AD docket.

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 FAA 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 AD:

Dowty Propellers: Docket No. FAA-2008-0545; Directorate Identifier 
2008-NE-16-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) We must receive comments by July 30, 2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) None.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Dowty Propellers models R354/4-123-F/13; 
R354/4-123-F/20; R354/4-123-F/21; R375/4-123-F/21; R389/4-123-F/25; 
R354/4-123-F/26; and R390/4-123-F/27 propellers. These propellers 
are installed on, but not limited to, Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems 
SF340A and SF340B airplanes.

[[Page 36821]]

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 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 
cracked during the visual inspections in paragraphs (e)(1) and 
(e)(2) of this AD.

FAA AD Differences

    (f) None.
    (g) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs): 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, dated December 5, 2007, 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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on June 24, 2008.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-14715 Filed 6-27-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P