[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 169 (Friday, August 29, 2008)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 50892-50894]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20081]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0750; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-21-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers R175/4-30; R184/4-30-
4; R193/4-30-4; R.209/4-40-4.5; R212/4-30-4; R.245/4-40-4.5; R251/4-30-
4; R257/4-30-4; and R.259/4-40-4.5 Model Propellers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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

SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness 
directive (AD) for all Dowty Rotol propellers. 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 proposed AD would require the same 
actions, but only for certain model Dowty Propellers. This proposed 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 proposing 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: We must receive any comments on this proposed AD by October 28, 
2008.

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 Dowty Propellers, Anson Business Park, Cheltenham Road 
East, Gloucester GL 29QN, UK; telephone: 44 (0) 1452 716000; fax: 44 
(0) 1452 716001, for the service information identified in this 
proposed AD.

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 regarding this proposal. Send your comments to an address 
listed under ADDRESSES. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2008-0750; Directorate 
Identifier 2008-NE-21-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

[[Page 50893]]

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

    The FAA proposes to amend 14 CFR part 39 by superseding AD 70-16-
02, Amendment 39-1503 (37 FR 16535, August 16, 1972). That AD 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. That AD was the result of reports of incorrect and 
unauthorized cadmium plating of propeller pitch change operating links, 
link pins, and eyebolt fork assemblies on their case-hardened surfaces. 
Those conditions, if not corrected, could result in seizure or 
embrittlement and cracking of blade pitch change operating links and 
eyebolt fork assemblies, which could result in reduced controllability 
of the airplane.

Actions Since AD 70-16-02 Was Issued

    Since AD 70-16-02 was issued, we determined that at the time of 
issuance, the applicability to all Dowty Rotol propellers was accurate. 
However, other Dowty propeller models which are differently designed 
have been type certificated since that AD was issued, and are not 
affected by that AD. This proposed AD would clarify the propeller model 
applicability by only affecting Dowty Propellers R175/4-30; R184/4-30-
4; R193/4-30-4; R.209/4-40-4.5; R212/4-30-4; R.245/4-40-4.5; R251/4-30-
4; R257/4-30-4; and R.259/4-40-4.5 model propellers. AD 70-16-02 has a 
compliance time of within the next 100 hours time-in-service. This 
proposed AD would require a compliance time of before further flight, 
as the affected propellers should have already complied with AD 70-16-
02.

Relevant Service Information

    We have reviewed and approved the technical contents of Dowty Rotol 
Service Bulletin (SB) No. 61-754, dated June 12, 1970. That SB 
describes procedures for heat-treating the blade pitch change operating 
links and eyebolt fork assemblies.

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. For that reason, we are proposing this AD, 
which would 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 Dowty 
Propellers R175/4-30; R184/4-30-4; R193/4-30-4; R.209/4-40-4.5; R212/4-
30-4; R.245/4-40-4.5; R251/4-30-4; R257/4-30-4; and R.259/4-40-4.5 
model propellers.

Costs of Compliance

    We anticipate that this proposed AD would 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 proposed 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 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. See the ADDRESSES section for a location 
to examine the regulatory evaluation.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, 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 removing Amendment 39-1503 (37 FR 
16535, August 16, 1972) and by adding a new airworthiness directive to 
read as follows:

Dowty Propellers (Formerly Dowty Aerospace; Dowty Rotol Limited; and 
Dowty Rotol): Docket No. FAA-2008-0750; Directorate Identifier 2008-
NE-21-AD.

Comments Due Date

    (a) The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) must receive 
comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) action by October 28, 
2008.

Affected ADs

    (b) This AD supersedes AD 70-16-02, Amendment 39-1503.

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Dowty Propellers R175/4-30; R184/4-30-4; 
R193/4-30-4; R.209/4-40-4.5; R212/4-30-4; R.245/4-40-4.5; R251/4-30-
4; R257/4-30-4; and R.259/4-40-4.5 model propellers. These 
propellers are installed on, but not limited to, Fairchild F-27, 
Fairchild-Hiller FH-227, Grumman G-159, Nihon YS-11, Convair 240, 
340, 440, 600, and BAe HS 748 Series 2 airplanes.

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.

[[Page 50894]]

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:
    (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.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on August 22, 2008.
Carlos Pestana,
Acting Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. E8-20081 Filed 8-28-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P