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[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 197 (Tuesday, October 13, 2015)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 61330-61332]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-25643]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2015-3661; Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-24-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64

Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers Constant Speed 
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 
certain Dowty Propellers R352/6-123-F/1, R352/6-123-F/2, and R410/6-
123-F/35 model propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of 
dowel hole cracks in the face of the rear hub half. This proposed AD 
would require a records review to determine repair status and marking 
the affected propeller hubs as required. This proposed AD would also 
require installing dowel hole liners as necessary. We are proposing 
this AD to prevent loss of structural integrity of the propeller hub, 
which could result in damage to the propeller and damage to the 
airplane.

DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by December 14, 
2015.

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.
     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.
    For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact 
Dowty Propellers, 114 Powers Court, Sterling, VA 20166; phone: 703-421-
4434; fax: 703-450-0087; email: technicalsupport@dowty.com; Internet: 
www.http://dowty.com/services/repair-and-overhaul. 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-2015-
3661; 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 mandatory continuing airworthiness 
information (MCAI), the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, 
and other information. The 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 NPRM. Send your comments to an address listed 
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2015-3661; 
Directorate Identifier 2015-NE-24-AD'' at the beginning of your 
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory, 
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. We will 
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this 
NPRM 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

[[Page 61331]]

will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact 
with FAA personnel concerning this NPRM.

Discussion

    The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical 
Agent for the Member States of the European Community, has issued EASA 
AD 2015-0158, dated July 30, 2015 (referred to hereinafter as ``the 
MCAI''), to correct an unsafe condition for the specified products. The 
MCAI states:

    Cracking around the hub location dowel holes in the face of the 
rear hub half has occurred sporadically. Previous investigations 
found no manufacturing defects in cracked hubs and concluded that 
the hub cracking was caused by damage to the dowel holes during 
propeller installation.
    Since that original SB was issued, three hubs have been found to 
show cracking around the location dowel holes. The hubs were all 
found cracked within a short period of time and all had low time 
since new.
    This condition, if not detected, can adversely affect the 
structural integrity of the propeller hub, with possible damage to 
the propeller and to the aeroplane.

    You may obtain further information by examining the MCAI in the AD 
docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by searching for 
and locating Docket No. FAA-2015-3661.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

    Dowty Propellers has issued Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. F50-
61-A165, Revision 2, dated July 28, 2015. The service information 
describes procedures for installing liners in the hub location dowel 
holes in the face of the rear hub half and marking the hub with the 
repair number. 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 of this 
NPRM.

Other Related Service Information

    Dowty Propellers has issued Component Maintenance Manual, 61-10-34, 
Repair No. 53, dated May 15, 2013. The service information describes 
procedures for installing liners in the hub location dowel holes and 
marking the repair number on modified hubs.

FAA's Determination and Requirements of This Proposed AD

    This product has been approved by the aviation authority of the 
United Kingdom, and is approved for operation in the United States. 
Pursuant to our bilateral agreement with the European Community, EASA 
has notified us of the unsafe condition described in the MCAI and 
service information referenced above. We are proposing this NPRM 
because we evaluated all information provided by EASA and determined 
the unsafe condition exists and is likely to exist or develop on other 
products of the same type design. This NPRM would require marking and 
inspecting the affected propeller hubs to determine repair status and 
installing dowel hole liners as necessary.

Costs of Compliance

    We estimate that this proposed AD would affect 4 propellers 
installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it would 
take about 5 hours per propeller to comply with this proposed AD. The 
average labor rate is $85 per hour. Required parts cost about $322 per 
propeller. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this 
proposed AD on U.S. operators to be $2,988.

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
    (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):

Dowty Propellers: Docket No. FAA-2015-3661; Directorate Identifier 
2015-NE-24-AD.

(a) Comments Due Date

    We must receive comments by December 14, 2015.

(b) Affected ADs

    None.

(c) Applicability

    This AD applies to Dowty Propellers R352/6-123-F/1, R352/6-123-
F/2, and R410/6-123-F/35 model propellers, part numbers (P/Ns) 
660715001, 660715004, and 660715005 with hub P/Ns 660715201, 
660715255, 660720217, 660720241, 660720252, 660720260, and 
660720288, installed.

(d) Reason

    This AD was prompted by reports of dowel hole cracks in the face 
of the rear hub half. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of 
structural integrity of the propeller hub, which could result in 
damage to the propeller and damage to the airplane.

(e) Actions and Compliance

    Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified, 
unless already done.
    (1) At the next removal of the propeller from the airplane, or 
within 7,500 flight hours (FHs), whichever occurs first, after the 
effective date of this AD do the following:
    (i) Review propeller maintenance records to determine if the 
affected propeller hub has been repaired in accordance with Dowty 
Propellers Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. F50-61-A165 Revision 2, 
dated July 28, 2015.

[[Page 61332]]

    (ii) If, during the maintenance records review required by 
paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this AD, an affected hub is found not 
repaired then, before next flight, install liners into the hub 
location dowel holes and mark the hub. Use Dowty Propellers ASB No. 
F50-61-A165 Revision 2, dated July 28, 2015 to install the liners 
and mark the hub.
    (iii) If, during the maintenance records review required by 
paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this AD, an affected hub is found repaired 
then, before next flight, mark the hub using Dowty Propellers ASB 
No. F50-61-A165 Revision 2, dated July 28, 2015.

(f) Credit for Previous Actions

    (1) You may take credit for maintenance records reviews and 
installations that are required by paragraph (e) of this AD if you 
performed these actions before the effective date of this AD using 
Dowty Propellers ASB No. F50-61-A165 Revision 1, dated May 12, 2015 
or initial issue dated November 19, 2012.
    (2) You may take credit for any maintenance records reviews or 
corrective actions that are required by paragraph (e) of this AD if 
you performed these actions before the effective date of this AD 
using Component Maintenance Manual (CMM) 61-10-34, Repair No. 53, 
dated August 11, 2008, which relates to repair scheme 650510057.

(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, 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 2015-0158, 
dated July 30, 2015, for more information. You may examine the MCAI 
in the AD docket on the Internet at http://www.regulations.gov by 
searching for and locating it in Docket No. FAA-2015-3661.
    (3) Dowty Propellers ASB No. F50-61-A165 Revision 2, dated July 
28, 2015 and CMM 61-10-34, Repair No. 53, dated August 11, 2008 can 
be obtained from Dowty Propellers, using the contact information in 
paragraph (h)(4) of this proposed AD.
    (4) For service information identified in this proposed AD, 
contact Dowty Propellers, 114 Powers Court, Sterling, VA 20166; 
phone: 703-421-4434; fax: 703-450-0087; email: 
technicalsupport@dowty.com; Internet: www.http://dowty.com/services/repair-and-overhaul.
    (5) 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 October 1, 2015.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Directorate Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft 
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2015-25643 Filed 10-9-15; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
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