[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 18 (Tuesday, January 28, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 4916-4918]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-01338]



[[Page 4916]]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2019-1008; Product Identifier AD-2019-00110-P]
RIN 2120-AA64


Airworthiness Directives; Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation 
Propellers

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) 
for certain Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Hamilton Sundstrand) 54H60 
model propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by the failure of a 
propeller blade that resulted in the loss of the airplane. This 
proposed AD would require initial and repetitive eddy current 
inspections (ECI) of the affected propeller blades and replacement of 
the propeller blades that fail the inspection. The FAA is proposing 
this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by March 13, 
2020.

ADDRESSES: You may send comments, using the procedures found in 14 CFR 
11.43 and 11.45, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Fax: 202-493-2251.
     Mail: U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket 
Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.
     Hand Delivery: Deliver to Mail address above between 9 
a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays.
    For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Hamilton 
Sundstrand, 1 Hamilton Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010, United 
States; phone: 877-808-7575; email: [email protected]. You may view this 
service information at the FAA, Engine and Propeller Standards Branch, 
1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the 
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7759.

Examining the AD Docket

    You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2019-
1008; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., 
Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains 
this NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other 
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above. 
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maureen Maisttison, Aerospace 
Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803; phone: 781-238-7076; fax: 781-238-7199; email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or 
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2019-1008; 
Product Identifier AD-2019-00110-P'' at the beginning of your comments. 
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM because of those comments.
    Except for Confidential Business Information as described in the 
following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 
11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to 
https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you 
provide. The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive 
verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

    Confidential Business Information (CBI) is commercial or financial 
information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by 
its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), 
CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to 
this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is 
customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and 
that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you 
clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page 
of your submission containing CBI as ``PROPIN.'' The FAA will treat 
such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will 
not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing 
CBI should be sent to Maureen Maisttison, Aerospace Engineer, Boston 
ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. Any 
commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated 
as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Discussion

    The FAA received a report of the separation of a 54H60 model 
propeller blade installed on a United States Marine Corps Reserve KC-
130T airplane during a flight in July 2017. The separation of the blade 
resulted in the loss of the airplane and 17 fatalities. The 
investigation of this event revealed the Hamilton Sundstrand 54H60 
model propeller blade separated due to corrosion that was not corrected 
at the last propeller overhaul. The investigation further revealed that 
54H60 model propeller blades manufactured before 1971 are susceptible 
to this unsafe condition. The applicability of this AD is therefore 
limited to those Hamilton Sundstrand 54H60 model propellers blades with 
a blade serial number below 813320, which are those propeller blades 
manufactured before 1971. This condition, if not addressed, could 
result in failure of the propeller blade, blade separation, and loss of 
the airplane.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    The FAA reviewed Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) 54H60-61-A154, dated August 26, 2019. The ASB describes 
procedures for performing an ECI of the propeller blade taper bore. 
This service information is reasonably available because the interested 
parties have access to it through their normal course of business or by 
the means identified in the ADDRESSES section.

[[Page 4917]]

FAA's Determination

    The FAA is proposing this AD because the agency evaluated all the 
relevant information and determined the unsafe condition described 
previously is likely to exist or develop in other products of the same 
type design.

Proposed AD Requirements

    This proposed AD would require an initial and repetitive ECI of the 
affected propeller blades and removal from service of any blades that 
fail these inspections.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

    This proposed rule does not require that operators send blades that 
fail the inspection to a designated repair facility. Hamilton 
Sundstrand ASB 54H60-61-A154, dated August 26, 2019 indicates that 
these blades should be sent to a designated repair facility.

Interim Action

    The FAA considers this proposed AD interim action. The root cause 
of the 54H60 model propeller blade separation is still under 
investigation. The FAA may consider further rulemaking action.

Costs of Compliance

    The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 212 propellers 
installed on 53 aircraft of U.S. registry.
    The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed 
AD:

                                                 Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                     Cost per      Cost on U.S.
                Action                         Labor cost           Parts cost        product        operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ECI of propeller......................  8 work-hours x $85 per              $700          $1,380        $292,560
                                         hour = $680.
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    The FAA estimates the following costs to do any necessary 
replacements that would be required based on the results of the 
proposed inspection. The FAA has no way of determining the number of 
aircraft that might need these replacements:

                                               On-Condition Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                     Cost per
                    Action                                 Labor cost               Parts cost        product
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Replace blade.................................  1 work-hour x $85 per hour = $85         $63,500         $63,585
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Paperwork Reduction Act

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty for 
failure to comply with a collection of information subject to the 
requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that collection of 
information displays a currently valid OMB Control Number. The OMB 
Control Number for this information collection is 2120-0056. Public 
reporting for this collection of information is estimated to be 
approximately 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing 
instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and 
maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing the collection of 
information. All responses to this collection of information are 
mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other 
aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for 
reducing this burden to: Information Collection Clearance Officer, 
Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 
76177-1524.

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.
    The FAA is 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.
    This AD is issued in accordance with authority delegated by the 
Executive Director, Aircraft Certification Service, as authorized by 
FAA Order 8000.51C. In accordance with that order, issuance of ADs is 
normally a function of the Compliance and Airworthiness Division, but 
during this transition period, the Executive Director has delegated the 
authority to issue ADs applicable to engines, propellers, and 
associated appliances to the Manager, Engine and Propeller Standards 
Branch, Policy and Innovation Division.

Regulatory Findings

    The FAA 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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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.

[[Page 4918]]

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39

    Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation safety, Incorporation by 
reference, 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

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 adding the following new airworthiness 
directive (AD):

Hamilton Sundstrand: Docket No. FAA-2019-1008; Product Identifier 
AD-2019-00110-P.

(a) Comments Due Date

    The FAA must receive comments by March 13, 2020.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to all Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Hamilton 
Sundstrand) model 54H60 propellers with a blade having a serial 
number (S/N) below S/N 813320.

(d) Subject

    Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6111, Propeller 
Blade Section.

(e) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the separation of a propeller blade that 
resulted in the loss of an airplane and 17 fatalities. The FAA is 
issuing this AD to detect cracking in the propeller blade taper 
bore. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in 
failure of the propeller blade, blade separation, and loss of the 
airplane.

(f) Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.

(g) Required Actions

    (1) For affected propellers identified in Planning Information, 
paragraph 1.E.(1), of Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Alert Service 
Bulletin (ASB) 54H60-61-A154, dated August 26, 2019 (``the ASB''), 
perform an eddy current inspection (ECI) of all blades installed on 
the propeller within one year or 500 flight hours after the 
effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
    (2) For affected propellers identified in Planning Information, 
paragraph 1.E.(2), of the ASB, perform an ECI of all blades 
installed on the propeller within two years or 1,000 flight hours 
after the effective date of this AD, whichever occurs first.
    (3) Perform the ECI of the affected propeller blades in 
accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.C. of 
the ASB.
    (4) If any propeller blade fails the inspections required by 
this AD, based on the criteria in paragraph 3.C. of the ASB, remove 
the blade from service prior to next flight and replace with a blade 
eligible for installation.
    (5) For all affected propellers, repeat the inspection required 
by paragraphs (g)(1) through (4) of this AD at intervals not 
exceeding 3 years or 1,500 flight hours, whichever comes first, 
after the previous inspection.
    (6) Report the results of the ECI required by paragraphs (g)(1) 
through (5) of this AD in accordance with the Accomplishment 
Instructions, paragraph 3.C.(6) of the ASB.

(h) Installation Prohibition

    After the effective date of this AD, do not install any Hamilton 
Sundstrand propeller blades having an S/N below 813320 on any 
propeller, unless the blade has first passed the inspection required 
by this AD. After the effective date of this AD, do not install any 
propeller assemblies with affected propeller blades onto any 
aircraft unless the affected propeller blades have passed the 
inspection required by paragraph (g) of this AD.

(i) Paperwork Reduction Act Burden Statement

    A federal agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not 
required to respond to, nor shall a person be subject to a penalty 
for failure to comply with a collection of information subject to 
the requirements of the Paperwork Reduction Act unless that 
collection of information displays a currently valid OMB Control 
Number. The OMB Control Number for this information collection is 
2120-0056. Public reporting for this collection of information is 
estimated to be approximately 1 hour per response, including the 
time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 
gathering and maintaining the data needed, completing and reviewing 
the collection of information. All responses to this collection of 
information are mandatory. Send comments regarding this burden 
estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, 
including suggestions for reducing this burden to: Information 
Collection Clearance Officer, Federal Aviation Administration, 10101 
Hillwood Parkway, Fort Worth, TX 76177-1524.

(j) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

    (1) The Manager, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to 
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found 
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request 
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District 
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the 
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the 
person identified in paragraph (k)(1) of this AD.
    (2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate 
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager 
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding 
district office.

(k) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Maureen 
Maisttison, Aerospace Engineer, Boston ACO Branch, FAA, 1200 
District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7076; fax: 
781-238-7199; email: [email protected].
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Hamilton Sundstrand, 1 Hamilton Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010, 
United States; phone: 877-808-7575; email: [email protected]. You may 
view this referenced service information at the FAA, Engine and 
Propeller Standards Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 781-238-7759.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on January 22, 2020.
Karen M. Grant,
Acting Manager, Engine & Propeller Standards Branch, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-01338 Filed 1-27-20; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P