78290 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

on the availability of this material at the 

FAA, call 425–227–1221. 

Issued in Renton, Washington, on 

December 17, 2013. 

Jeffrey E. Duven, 

Manager, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–30893 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2008–1088; Directorate 

Identifier 2008–NE–15–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Dowty 

Propellers 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to revise 

airworthiness directive (AD) 2008–21– 

07 that applies to certain Dowty 

Propellers model R408/6–123–F/17 

propellers. AD 2008–21–07 requires 

initial and repetitive inspections of the 

blade bonded metallic leading edge (L/ 

E) guards for correct bonding until they 

accumulate more than 1,200 flight hours 

(FH) time in service. Since we issued 

AD 2008–21–07, Dowty Propellers has 

introduced updated service bulletins 

that identify terminating action to the 

requirements of AD 2008–21–07. This 

proposed AD would maintain the 

inspection and replacement 

requirements of AD 2008–21–07, 

provide an optional terminating action 

to those requirements, and add a new 

part number to the list of affected parts. 

We are proposing this AD to prevent the 

loss of the bonded metallic L/E guard of 

the propeller, which could result in 

damage to the propeller or to the 

airplane, or injury to personnel. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by February 24, 2014. 

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 

http://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 AD, contact Dowty Propellers, 

Anson Business Park, Cheltenham Road 

East, Gloucester GL2 9QN, UK; phone 

44 (0) 1452 716000; fax 44 (0) 1452 

716001. You may view this service 

information at the FAA, Engine & 

Propeller Directorate, 12 New England 

Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For 

information on the availability of this 

material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the AD docket on 

the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov by searching for 

and locating Docket No. FAA–2008– 

1088; or in person at the Docket 

Management Facility between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The AD docket 

contains this proposed AD, the 

mandatory continuing airworthiness 

information, the regulatory evaluation, 

any comments received, and other 

information. The street address for the 

Docket Office (phone: 800–647–5527) is 

in the ADDRESSES section. Comments 

will be available in the AD docket 

shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Michael Schwetz, Aerospace Engineer, 

Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 

FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 

New England Executive Park, 

Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781– 

238–7761; fax: 781–238–7170; email: 

michael.schwetz@faa.gov. 

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–2008–1088; Directorate Identifier 

2008–NE–15–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 because 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 we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

On October 3, 2008, we issued AD 

2008–21–07, Amendment 39–15691 (73 

FR 61346, October 16, 2008), (‘‘AD 

2008–21–07’’), for all Dowty Propellers 

model R408/6–123–F/17 propellers. AD 

2008–21–07 requires initial and 

repetitive inspections of the blade 

bonded metallic L/E guards for correct 

bonding until they accumulate more 

than 1,200 FH time in service. AD 2008– 

21–07 resulted from three in-service 

occurrences of blades losing the bonded 

metallic L/E guard. We issued AD 2008– 

21–07 to prevent the loss of the bonded 

metallic L/E guard of the propeller, 

which could result in damage to the 

propeller or to the airplane, or injury to 

personnel. 

Actions Since Existing AD Was Issued 

Since we issued AD 2008–21–07, 

Dowty Propellers has introduced 

updated service bulletins that identify 

terminating action to the repetitive 

inspection requirements of AD 2008– 

21–07. Dowty has also informed us of 

the need to add blade part number 

697071278–18 to the list of affected 

parts. Also since we issued AD 2008– 

21–07, the European Aviation Safety 

Agency (EASA) has issued AD 2007– 

0223R4, dated September 30, 2013, 

which requires repetitive inspections of 

the affected propellers and clarifies 

terminating action. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed Dowty Propellers Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. D8400–61– 

A69, Revision 1, dated September 18, 

2007. The ASB describes procedures for 

initial and repetitive inspections of 

blade bonded metallic L/E guards, and 

repair or replacement of blades that fail 

inspection. We also reviewed Service 

Bulletin (SB) No. D8400–61–70, 

Revision 3, dated June 3, 2013, and SB 

No. D8400–61–83, Revision 4, dated 

June 3, 2013, which provide optional 

terminating action for the repetitive 

inspection requirement of this proposed 

AD. 

FAA’s Determination 

We are proposing this AD because we 

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 maintain 

the initial and repetitive inspections of 

the propeller blade bonded metallic L/ 

E guards required by AD 2008–21–07 

(73 FR 61346, October 16, 2008). This 

proposed AD would also provide an 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules 78291 

optional terminating action to the 

repetitive inspection requirements of 

AD 2008–21–07, and would add a new 

part number to the list of affected parts. 

Costs of Compliance 

We estimate that this proposed AD 

would affect 174 propellers installed on 

airplanes of U.S. registry. We also 

estimate that it would take about 4 

hours per propeller to comply with this 

proposed AD. The average labor rate is 

$85 per hour. Required parts cost about 

$352 per product. Based on these 

figures, we estimate the total cost of this 

proposed AD to U.S. operators is 

$120,408. 

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 proposed 

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 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), 

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation 

in Alaska to the extent that it justifies 

making a regulatory distinction, and 

(4) 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. 

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 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 39 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40113, 44701. 

§ 39.13 [Amended] 

■ 2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by 

removing airworthiness directive (AD) 

2008–21–07, Amendment 39–15691 (73 

FR 61346, October 16, 2008), and 

adding the following new AD: 

Dowty Propellers (formerly Dowty 

Aerospace Propellers): Docket No. FAA– 

2008–1088; Directorate Identifier 2008– 

NE–15–AD. 

(a) Comments Due Date 

The FAA must receive comments on this 

AD action by February 24, 2014. 

(b) Affected Ads 

This AD revises AD 2008–21–07, 

Amendment 39–15691 (73 FR 61346, October 

16, 2008). 

(c) Applicability 

This AD applies to Dowty Propellers model 

R408/6–123–F/17 propellers with blades, 

part numbers 697071200–18, 697071210–18, 

697071227–18, 697071240–18, 697071245– 

18, 697071257–18, or 697071278–18, 

installed. 

(d) Unsafe Condition 

This AD was prompted by three in-service 

occurrences of blades losing the bonded 

metallic leading edge (L/E) guard. We are 

issuing this AD to prevent the loss of the 

bonded metallic L/E guard of the propeller, 

which could result in damage to the 

propeller or to the airplane, or injury to 

personnel. 

(e) Compliance 

Comply with this AD within the 

compliance times specified, unless already 

done. 

(1) Within the next 50 flight hours (FH) or 

within 30 days after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs first, inspect all 

affected blade assemblies where the bonded 

metallic L/E guard has accumulated 1,200 FH 

time in service or less since installation, in 

accordance with the instructions of Dowty 

Propellers Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. 

D8400–61–A69, Revision 1, dated September 

18, 2007. 

(2) Within 50 FH or 30 days, whichever 

occurs first, after installing a replacement 

blade, inspect the affected blade assembly 

where the bonded metallic L/E guard has 

accumulated 1,200 FH time in service or less 

since installation, in accordance with the 

instructions of Dowty Propellers ASB No. 

D8400–61–A69, Revision 1, dated September 

18, 2007. 

(3) Thereafter, at intervals not to exceed 

100 FH, repeat the inspection of the affected 

blade assemblies in accordance with the 

instructions of Dowty Propellers ASB No. 

D8400–61–A69, Revision 1, dated September 

18, 2007, until the blade bonded metallic L/ 

E guard has accumulated more than 1,200 FH 

time in service since installation. 

(4) If, during any of the inspections 

required by this AD, disbonding is found, 

apply the criteria in Appendix A of Dowty 

Propellers ASB No. D8400–61–A69, Revision 

1, dated September 18, 2007 and, within the 

associated time period, repair or replace the 

affected blade assembly in accordance with 

Dowty Propellers ASB No. D8400–61–A69, 

Revision 1, dated September 18, 2007. 

(5) Blades that were repaired within the 

first 101.6 mm (4.0 inches) of the tip of the 

blade as specified in Appendix D of Dowty 

Propellers ASB No. D8400–61–A69, Revision 

1, dated September 18, 2007, are eligible to 

continue in service for another 500 FH after 

accomplishment of the repair. Repair does 

not terminate the repetitive inspection 

requirements of paragraph (e)(3) of this AD. 

(f) Optional Terminating Action 

As optional terminating action to the 

repetitive inspection requirements of 

paragraph (e)(3) of this AD, modify the 

affected propeller using Dowty Propellers 

Service Bulletin (SB) No. D8400–61–70, 

Revision 3, dated June 3, 2013, or SB No. 

D8400–61–83, Revision 4, dated June 3, 2013, 

as applicable. 

(g) Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(AMOCs) 

The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification 

Office, FAA, may approve AMOCs for this 

AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 

39.19 to make your request. 

(h) Related Information 

(1) For more information about this AD, 

contact Michael Schwetz, Aerospace 

Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, 

FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 12 New 

England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 

01803; phone: 781–238–7761; fax: 781–238– 

7170; email: michael.schwetz@faa.gov. 

(2) Refer to MCAI European Aviation 

Safety Agency AD 2007–0223R4, dated 

September 30, 2013, for more information. 

You may examine the MCAI in the AD 

docket on the Internet at http://

www.regulations.gov/#!docketDetail;D=FAA2008-1088. 

(3) Dowty Propellers SB No. D8400–61–70, 

Revision 3, dated June 3, 2013, and SB No. 

D8400–61–83, Revision 4, dated June 3, 2013, 

which are not incorporated by reference in 

this AD, can be obtained from Dowty 

Propellers, using the contact information in 

paragraph (h)(5) of this AD. 

(4) Dowty Propellers ASB No. D8400–61– 

A69, Revision 1, dated September 18, 2007, 

pertains to the subject of this AD and can be 

obtained from Dowty Propellers, using the 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS
78292 Federal Register / Vol. 78, No. 248 / Thursday, December 26, 2013 / Proposed Rules 

contact information in paragraph (h)(5) of 

this AD. 

(5) For service information identified in 

this AD, contact Dowty Propellers, Anson 

Business Park, Cheltenham Road East, 

Gloucester GL2 9QN, UK; phone: 44 (0) 1452 

716000; fax: 44 (0) 1452 716001. 

(6) You may view this service information 

at the FAA, Engine & Propeller Directorate, 

12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, 

MA. For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 781–238–7125. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

December 11, 2013. 

Frank P. Paskiewicz, 

Acting Director, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 2013–30882 Filed 12–24–13; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2013–1032; Directorate 

Identifier 2012–NM–121–AD] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; Dassault 

Aviation Airplanes 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking 

(NPRM). 

SUMMARY: We propose to supersede 

airworthiness directive (AD) 2011–13– 

07 that applies to all Dassault Aviation 

Model FALCON 7X airplanes. AD 2011– 

13–07 requires revising the airplane 

flight manual (AFM) to include a 

procedure to power off a radio-altimeter 

or revert to the correct radio-altimeter 

output. Since we issued AD 2011–13– 

07, an analysis showed that AFM 

procedures could be simplified. This 

proposed AD would require revising the 

AFM to include a simpler procedure to 

revert to the correct radio-altimeter 

output. We are proposing this AD to 

ensure that the flightcrew has 

procedures in the event of a radioaltimeter lock-up, which inhibits the 

display of warnings along with certain 

abnormal conditions, during the switch 

into landing mode during altitude 

cruise. If not corrected, this could result 

in the flightcrew being unaware of 

possible system failures that require 

immediate action by the flightcrew, 

leading to possible loss of control of the 

airplane. 

DATES: We must receive comments on 

this proposed AD by February 10, 2014. 

ADDRESSES: You may send comments by 

any of the following methods: 

• Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to 

http://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: U.S. Department of 

Transportation, Docket Operations, M– 

30, West Building Ground Floor, Room 

W12–140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., 

Washington, DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 

p.m., Monday through Friday, except 

Federal holidays. 

For service information identified in 

this proposed AD, contact Dassault 

Falcon Jet, P.O. Box 2000, South 

Hackensack, NJ 07606; telephone 201– 

440–6700; Internet http://

www.dassaultfalcon.com. You may 

view this service information at the 

FAA, Transport Airplane Directorate, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA. 

For information on the availability of 

this material at the FAA, call 425–227– 

1221. 

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 MCAI, 

the regulatory evaluation, any 

comments received, and other 

information. The street address for the 

Docket Operations office (telephone 

(800) 647–5527) is in the ADDRESSES

section. Comments will be available in 

the AD docket shortly after receipt. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Tom 

Rodriguez, Aerospace Engineer, 

International Branch, ANM–116, 

Transport Airplane Directorate, FAA, 

1601 Lind Avenue SW., Renton, WA 

98057–3356; telephone (425) 227–1137; 

fax (425) 227–1149. 

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–2013–1032; Directorate Identifier 

2012–NM–121–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 we receive 

about this proposed AD. 

Discussion 

On June 14, 2011, we issued AD 

2011–13–07, Amendment 39–16730 (76 

FR 36283, June 22, 2011). AD 2011–13– 

07 requires actions intended to address 

an unsafe condition on the products 

listed above. 

Since we issued AD 2011–13–07, 

Amendment 39–16730 (76 FR 36283, 

June 22, 2011), the European Aviation 

Safety Agency (EASA), which is the 

Technical Agent for the Member States 

of the European Community, has issued 

EASA Airworthiness Directive 2009– 

0208R2, dated May 22, 2012 (referred to 

after this as the Mandatory Continuing 

Airworthiness Information, or ‘‘the 

MCAI’’), to correct an unsafe condition 

for the specified products. The MCAI 

states: 

Several occurrences of untimely radioaltimeter lock-up have been reported, where 

the failed radio-altimeter (RA) indicated a 

negative distance to the ground despite the 

aircraft was flying at medium or high 

altitude. 

A locked RA #1 leads to untimely 

inhibition of warnings that could be 

displayed along with certain abnormal 

conditions while the avionic system switches 

into landing mode during altitude cruise. 

This condition, if not corrected, may cause 

the flight crew to be unaware of possible 

system failures that could require immediate 

actions, which could ultimately lead to loss 

of control of the aeroplane. 

To address this unsafe condition, Dassault 

Aviation developed an Airplane Flight 

Manual (AFM) operational procedure that, in 

case of RA #1 lock-up, allows the crew to 

restore the system warning performance by 

depowering the RA #1. EASA issued AD 

2009–0208 [http://ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/

2009-0208R3] to require application of that 

new abnormal procedure when RA #1 lockup occurs. That EASA AD also prohibited 

dispatch of the aeroplane with any radioaltimeter inoperative. 

Since issuance of EASA AD 2009–0208, 

Dassault Aviation developed Easy avionics 

load 10 which is embodied through Dassault 

Aviation production modification M0566 or 

in-service through Service Bulletin (SB) 

Falcon 7X n°100. This modification provides 

new features to display a ‘‘RA miscompare’’ 

flag on both Primary Display Units (PDU) and 

allows a commanded system reversion to the 

correct RA output. 

Prompted by this modification, EASA 

issued AD 2009–0208R1 [ http://

ad.easa.europa.eu/ad/2009-0208R3], to allow 

not deactivating RA #1 in case lock-up 

conditions occurred in flight, for aeroplanes 

on which M0566 or SB Falcon 7X n°100 was 

embodied. 


tkelley on DSK3SPTVN1PROD with PROPOSALS