[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 98 (Friday, May 21, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 28483-28485]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-11764]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2008-0750; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-21-AD; 
Amendment 39-16302; AD 2010-10-23]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers R175/4-30-4/13; R175/
4-30-4/13e; R184/4-30-4/50; R193/4-30- 4/50; R193/4-30-4/61; R193/4-30-
4/64; R193/4-30-4/65; R193/4-30-4/66; R.209/4-40-4.5/2; R212/4-30-4/22; 
R.245/4-40-4.5/13; R257/4-30-4/60; and R.259/4-40-4.5/17 Model 
Propellers

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

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive 
(AD) for the Dowty Propellers, propeller models listed above. 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 AD requires the same actions, but 
only for certain propeller models. This AD results from the FAA 
determining that AD 70-16-02 does not apply to all propellers, since 
current Dowty 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.

DATES: This AD becomes effective June 25, 2010. The Director of the 
Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain 
publications listed in the regulations as of June 25, 2010.

ADDRESSES: You can get the service information identified in this AD 
from Dowty Propellers, Anson Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, 
Gloucester GL2 9QN, UK; Telephone 44 (0) 1452 716000; fax 44 (0) 1452 
716001.
    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: The FAA proposed to amend 14 CFR part 39 by 
superseding AD 70-16-02, Amendment 39-1503 (37 FR 16535, August 16, 
1972), with a proposed AD. The proposed AD applies to certain Dowty 
Propellers, propeller models. We published the proposed AD in the 
Federal Register on August 29, 2008 (74 FR 50892). That action proposed 
to 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 certain Dowty Propellers, 
propeller models.

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.

Comments

    We provided the public the opportunity to participate in the 
development of this AD. We have considered the comment received.

Request To Revise the Proposed Applicability

    One commenter, a private citizen, states that there were no Dowty 
Rotol propellers installed on Convair 240, 340, and 440 airplanes. 
However, the commenter also states that Convair 240, 340, and 440 
airplanes modified by supplemental type certificates (STC) SA1054WE and 
SA1096SW, do have Dowty Rotol propellers installed. The propeller 
R.245/4-40-4.5 is used on a Convair model 240, redesignated as Convair 
model 600 on supplemental type certificate (STC) SA1054WE, and the 
propellers R.245/4-40-4.5 and

[[Page 28484]]

R.259/4-40-4.5 are used on Convair models 340 and 440, redesignated 
Convair model 640 on STC SA1096SW.
    We partially agree. We reviewed these STCs, and the aircraft type 
certificate data sheets A-793 and 6A6, and determined there are no 
official Convair model designations of 600 or 640 for these airplanes. 
We agree that Convair airplanes models 240, 340, and 440 if modified by 
these STCs have Dowty propellers installed and are affected by this 
proposed AD. We changed the AD applicability to call out the STCs, to 
remove the reference to Convair 600, and to list the complete part 
numbers of the affected propellers, instead of the basic part numbers. 
We also deleted propeller part number R251/4-30-4 from the 
applicability, as it was inadvertently listed.

Conclusion

    We have carefully reviewed the available data, including the 
comment received, and determined that air safety and the public 
interest require adopting the AD with the changes described previously.

Costs of Compliance

    We anticipate that this AD will 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 
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 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 that this AD:
    (1) Is not a ``significant regulatory action'' under Executive 
Order 12866;
    (2) Is not a ``significant rule'' under 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 summary of the costs to comply with this AD and 
placed it in the AD Docket. 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.

Adoption of the Amendment

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the Federal Aviation Administration 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 removing Amendment 39-1503 (37 FR 
16535, August 16, 1972), and by adding a new airworthiness directive, 
Amendment 39-16302, to read as follows:

2010-10-23 Dowty Propellers (Formerly Dowty Aerospace; Dowty Rotol 
Limited; and Dowty Rotol): Amendment 39-16302. Docket No. FAA-2008-
0750; Directorate Identifier 2008-NE-21-AD.

Effective Date

    (a) This airworthiness directive (AD) becomes effective June 25, 
2010.

Affected ADs

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

Applicability

    (c) This AD applies to Dowty Propellers R175/4-30-4/13; R175/4-
30-4/13e; R184/4-30-4/50; R193/4-30-4/50; R193/4-30-4/61; R193/4-30-
4/64; R193/4-30-4/65; R193/4-30-4/66; R.209/4-40-4.5/2; R212/4-30-4/
22; R.245/4-40-4.5/13; R257/4-30-4/60; and R.259/4-40-4.5/17 model 
propellers. These propellers are installed on, but not limited to, 
Fairchild F-27, Fairchild-Hiller FH-227, Grumman G-159, Nihon YS-11, 
and BAe HS 748 Series 2 airplanes, Convair 240 airplanes modified 
per supplemental type certificate (STC) SA1054WE, and Convair 340 
and 440 airplanes modified per STC SA1096SW.

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.

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:

[[Page 28485]]

    (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.

Material Incorporated by Reference

    (n) You must use Dowty Rotol Service Bulletin No. 61-754, dated 
June 12, 1970 to perform the heat treatment required by this AD. The 
Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by 
reference of this service bulletin in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 
552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact Dowty Propellers, Anson Business 
Park, Cheltenham Road East, Gloucester GL2 9QN, UK; Telephone 44 (0) 
1452 716000; fax 44 (0) 1452 716001 for a copy of this service 
information. You may review copies at the FAA, New England Region, 
12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA; or at the National 
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the 
availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: 
http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts on May 5, 2010.
Peter A. White,
Assistant Manager, Engine and Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2010-11764 Filed 5-20-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P