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[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30795-30797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12260]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2013-0262; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-13-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Hamilton Standard Division and Hamilton 
Sundstrand Corporation 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 
Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and Hamilton 
Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F series 
propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by the amount of corrosion 
detected during major inspections (MIs). This proposed AD would require 
incorporating inspections, based on a calendar time, into the propeller 
maintenance schedule. We are proposing this AD to prevent corrosion 
that could result in propeller failure and loss of airplane control.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 22, 2013.

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 proposed AD, contact 
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, One Hamilton Road, Mail Stop 1A-3-C63, 
Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; or Hamilton Standard Division, One 
Hamilton Road, United Technologies Corporation, Mail Stop 1A-3-C63, 
Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; phone: 877-808-7575; fax: 860-660-0372; 
email: tech.solutions@hs.utc.com; Internet: http://myhs.hamiltonsundstrand.com.
    You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England

[[Page 30796]]

Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. 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; 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 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, 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 proposal. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0262; 
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-13-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

    We received reports about increased corrosion detected during MIs 
of Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and Hamilton 
Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F series 
propellers. The propellers were found to accumulate fewer flight hours 
per year as they aged. The longer time between MIs contributes to an 
increased potential for corrosion to accumulate to critical limits. 
Hamilton Sundstrand developed, and we approved, six Airworthiness 
Limitations Sections (ALSs) of the applicable maintenance manuals to 
date. Each ALS establishes the new compliance times for MIs of the 
blades and hubs by adding a calendar time limit for the inspection. 
This condition, if not corrected, could result in propeller failure and 
loss of airplane control.

Relevant Service Information

    We reviewed the Hamilton Sundstrand ALS in Maintenance Manual 
P5185, Revision 13, dated December 13, 2011; P5206, Revision 9, dated 
February 22, 2013; P5186, Revision 12, dated January 20, 2012; P5207, 
Revision 2, dated June 28, 2012; P5188, Revision 10, dated January 14, 
2013; and P5189, Revision 8, dated March 26, 2013. The ALS in these 
maintenance manuals lists the MIs for the associated propellers and 
prescribe a seven-year calendar time limit interval for MI of propeller 
blades and hubs.

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 require incorporating a seven-year calendar 
time limit, between MIs of propeller blades and hubs, into the 
propeller maintenance schedule, within 45 days after the effective date 
of the AD.

Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information

    The updated maintenance manuals require that an MI of the blades 
and hubs be performed at the published flight hours or no later than 
seven years since the date since installation (DSI). The DSI will begin 
at initial installation after the most recent MI or initial 
installation after production. This proposed AD would require that the 
Hamilton Sunstrand propeller models, with an approved update to the 
maintenance manual ALS, have 45 days after the effective date of the AD 
to incorporate the seven-year calendar time limit. These models/manuals 
are: 14RF-9/P5186, 14RF-21/P5189, 14SF-5/P5188, 14SF-7/P5185, 14SF-11E/
P5207, and 568F-1/P5206. This proposed AD would also require that the 
Hamilton Sundstrand and Hamilton Standard propeller models, without 
approved updates to the maintenance manual ALS, incorporate the seven-
year calendar time limit into the propeller maintenance schedule within 
one year after the effective date of the AD. These models/manuals are: 
Hamilton Standard 24PF/61-12-01 and 6/5500/F/P5190, and Hamilton 
Sundstrand 14RF-19/P5199, 14RF-37/P5209, 14SF-11/P5196, 14SF-15/P5197, 
14SF-23/P5197, 14SF-17/P5198, 14SF-19/P5198, 247F-1/P4202, 247F-1E/
P5204, 247F-3/P5205, 568F-1/P5214, 568F-5/P5203, and 568F-7/P5211.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 1,044 
propeller/hub combinations installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We 
also estimate that it would take about 160 hours per propeller to 
perform one MI. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these 
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to 
be $14,198,400.

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),
    (3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent 
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and

[[Page 30797]]

    (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

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 Standard Division and Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation: 
Docket No. FAA-2013-0262; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-13-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by July 22, 2013.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Hamilton Standard Division 6/5500/F and 24PF 
and Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F 
series propellers.

(d) Unsafe Condition

    This AD was prompted by the amount of corrosion detected during 
major inspections (MI). We are issuing this AD to prevent corrosion 
that could result in propeller failure and loss of airplane control.

(e) Compliance

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

(f) MI for Blades and Hubs That Have an Updated Airworthiness 
Limitations Section (ALS)

    For Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation propeller models 14RF-9, 
14RF-21, 14SF-5, 14SF-7, 14SF-11E, and 568F-1, that have an approved 
update to the ALS, within 45 days after the effective date of this 
AD, perform an MI on the blades and hubs no later than seven years 
since the date since installation (DSI). The DSI will begin at 
initial installation after the most recent MI or initial 
installation after production. Guidance on the inspections can be 
found in the applicable Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation models/
manuals 14RF-9/P5186, revision 12, January 20, 2012; 14RF-21/P5189, 
revision 8, March 26, 2013; 14SF-5/P5188, revision 10, dated January 
14, 2013; 14SF-7/P5185, revision 13, dated December 13, 2011; 14SF-
11E/P5207, revision 2, dated June 28, 2012; and 568F-1/P5206 
revision 9, dated February 22, 2013.

(g) MI for Blades and Hubs That Do Not Have an Updated ALS

    For Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and 
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF-19, 14RF-37, 14SF-11, 
14SF-15, 14SF-23, 14SF-17, 14SF-19, 247F-1, 247F-1E, 247F-3, 568F-1, 
568F-5, 568F-7 propellers, that do not have an approved update to 
the ALS, within one year after the effective date of this AD, 
perform an MI on the blades and hubs no later than seven years since 
the DSI. The DSI will begin at initial installation after the most 
recent MI or initial installation after production. Guidance on the 
inspections can be found in the applicable models/manuals for 
Hamilton Standard Division 6/5500/F/P5190 and 24PF/61-12-01, and 
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation 14RF-19/P5199, 14RF-37/P5209, 14SF-
11/P5196, 14SF-15/P5197, 14SF-23/P5197, 14SF-17/P5198, 14SF-19/
P5198, 247F-1/P4202, 247F-1E/P5204, 247F-3/P5205, 568F-1/P5214, 
568F-5/P5203, and 568F-7/P5211 propellers.

(h) 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.

(i) Related Information

    (1) For more information about this AD, contact Michael Schwetz, 
Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12 
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-
7761; fax: 781-238-7170; email: michael.schwetz@faa.gov.
    (2) For service information identified in this AD, contact 
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, One Hamilton Road, Mail Stop 1A-3-
C63, Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; or Hamilton Standard Division, 
United Technologies Corporation, One Hamilton Road, Mail Stop 1A-3-
C63, Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; phone: 877-808-7575; fax: 860-
660-0372; email: tech.solutions@hs.utc.com; Internet: http://myhs.hamiltonsundstrand.com.
    (3) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine & 
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the 
FAA, call 781-238-7125.

    Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 17, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12260 Filed 5-22-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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