DEPARTMENTOFTRANSPORTATIONFederalAviationAdministration14CFRPart39[DocketNo.FAA-2015-3661;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-24-AD]RIN2120-AA64AirworthinessDirectives;DowtyPropellersConstantSpeedPropellersAGENCY:FederalAviationAdministration(FAA),DOT.ACTION:Noticeofproposedrulemaking(NPRM).[4910-13-PJSUMMARY:Weproposetoadoptanewairworthinessdirective(AD)forcertainDowtyPropellersR352/6-123-Fil,R352/6-123-F/2,andR410/6-123-F/35modelpropellers.ThisproposedADwaspromptedbyreportsofdowelholecracksinthefaceoftherearhubhalf.ThisproposedADwouldrequirearecordsreviewtodeterminerepairstatusandmarkingtheaffectedpropellerhubsasrequired.ThisproposedADwouldalsorequireinstallingdowelholelinersasnecessary.WeareproposingthisADtopreventlossofstructuralintegrityofthepropellerhub,whichcouldresultindamagetothepropelleranddamagetotheairplane.DATES:WemustreceivecommentsonthisproposedADby[INSERTDATE60DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].ADDRESSES:Youmaysendcommentsbyanyofthefollowingmethods:•FederaleRulemakingPortal:Gotohttp://www.regulations.gov.Followtheinstructionsforsubmittingcomments.•Mail:DocketManagementFacility,U.S.DepartmentofTransportation,1200NewJerseyAvenueSE.,WestBuildingGroundFloor,RoomWl2-140,Washington,DC20590-0001.•HandDelivery:DelivertoMailaddressabovebetween9a.m.and5p.m.,MondaythroughFriday,exceptFederalholidays.•Fax:202-493-2251.ForserviceinformationidentifiedinthisproposedAD,contactDowtyPropellers,114PowersCourt,Sterling,VA20166;phone:703-421-4434;fax:703-450-0087;email:technicalsupport@dowty.com;Internet:www.http://dowty.com/services/repair-andoverhaul.YoumayviewthisserviceinformationattheFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,12NewEnglandExecutivePark,Burlington,MA.ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call781-238-7125.ExaminingtheADDocketYoumayexaminetheADdocketontheInternetathttp://www.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingDocketNo.FAA-2015-3661;orinpersonattheDocketOperationsofficebetween9a.m.and5p.m.,MondaythroughFriday,exceptFederalholidays.TheADdocketcontainsthisproposedAD,themandatorycontinuingairworthinessinformation(MCAI),theregulatoryevaluation,anycommentsreceived,andotherinformation.TheaddressfortheDocketOffice(phone:800-647-5527)isintheADDRESSESsection.CommentswillbeavailableintheADdocketshortlyafterreceipt.FORFURTHERINFORMATIONCONTACT:MichaelSchwetz,AerospaceEngineer,BostonAircraftCertificationOffice,FAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,12NewEnglandExecutivePark,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7761;fax781-238-7170;email:michael.schwetz@faa.gov.SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATION:CommentsInvitedWeinviteyoutosendanywrittenrelevantdata,views,orargumentsaboutthisNPRM.SendyourcommentstoanaddresslistedundertheADDRESSESsection.Include"DocketNo.FAA-2015-3661;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-24-AD"atthe2beginningofyourconunents.Wespecificallyinviteconunentsontheoverallregulatory,economic,environmental,andenergyaspectsofthisNPRM.WewillconslderallcommentsreceivedbytheclosingdateandmayamendthisNPRMbasedonthoseconunents.Wevvillpostallcommentswereceive,vvithoutchange,tohttp://www.regulations.gov,includinganypersonalinformationyouprovide.WewillalsopostareportsummarizingeachsubstantiveverbalcontactwithFAApersonnelconcerningthisNPRM.DiscussionTheEuropeanAviationSafetyAgency(EASA),whichistheTechnicalAgentfortheMemberStatesoftheEuropeanCommunity,hasissuedEASAAD2015-0158,datedJuly30,2015(referredtohereinafteras"theMCAI"),tocorrectanunsafeconditionforthespecifiedproducts.TheMCAIstates:Crackingaroundthehublocationdowelholesinthefaceoftherearhubhalfhasoccurredsporadically.Previousinvestigationsfoundnomanufacturingdefectsincrackedhubsandconcludedthatthehubcrackingwascausedbydamagetothedowelholesduringpropellerinstallation.SincethatoriginalSBwasissued,threehubshavebeenfoundtoshowcrackingaroundthelocationdowelholes.Thehubswereallfoundcrackedwithinashortperiodoftimeandallhadlowtimesmcenew.Thiscondition,ifnotdetected,canadverselyaffectthestructuralintegrityofthepropellerhub,withpossibledamagetothepropellerandtotheaeroplane.YoumayobtainfurtherinformationbyexaminingtheMCAIintheADdocketontheInternetathttp://www.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingDocketNo.FAA-2015-3661.3RelatedServiceInformationunder1CFRPart51DowtyPropellershasissuedAlertServiceBulletin(ASB)No.F50-6!-Al65,Revision2,datedJuly28,2015.Theserviceinformationdescribesproceduresforinstallinglinersinthehublocationdowelholesinthefaceoftherearhubhalfandidentifyingthehubwiththerepairnumber.ThisserviceinformationisreasonablyavailablebecausetheinterestedpartieshaveaccesstoitthroughtheirnormalcourseofbusinessorbythemeansidentifiedintheADDRESSESsectionofthisNPRM.OtherRelatedServiceInformationDowtyPropellershasissuedComponentMaintenanceManual,61M1OM34,RepairNo.53,datedMay15,2013.theserviceinformationdescribesproceduresforinstallinglinersinthehublocationdowelholesandmarkingtherepairnumberonmodifiedhubs.FAA'sDeterminationandRequirementsofThisProposedADThisproducthasbeenapprovedbytheaviationauthorityoftheUnitedKingdom,andisapprovedforoperationintheUnitedStates.PursuanttoourbilateralagreementwiththeEuropeanCommunity,EASAhasnotifiedusoftheunsafeconditiondescribedintheMCAIandserviceinformationreferencedabove.WeareproposingthisNPRMbecauseweevaluatedallinformationprovidedbyEASAanddeterminedtheunsafeconditionexistsandislikelytoexistordeveloponotherproductsofthesametypedesign.ThisNPRMwouldrequireidentifyingandinspectingtheaffectedpropellerhubstodeterminerepairstatusandinstallingdowelholelinersasnecessary.CostsofComplianceWeestimatethatthisproposedADwouldaffect4propellersinstalledonairplanesofU.S.registry.Wealsoestimatethatitwouldtakeabout5hoursperpropellertocomplywiththisproposedAD.Theaveragelaborrateis$85perhour.Requiredpartscostabout$322perpropeller.Basedonthesefigures,weestimatethecostofthisproposedADonU.S.operatorstobe$2,988.4AuthorityforThisRulemakingTitle49oftheUnitedStatesCodespecifiestheFAA'sauthoritytoissuerulesonaviationsafety.SubtitleI,section106,describestheauthorityoftheFAAAdministrator."SubtitleVII:AviationPrograms,"describesinmoredetailthescopeoftheAgency'sauthority.Weareissuingthisrulemakingundertl1eauthoritydescribedin"SubtitleVII,PartA,SubpartIII,Section44701:Generalrequirements."Underthatsection,CongresschargestheFAAwithpromotingsafeflightofcivilaircraftinaircommercebyprescribingregulationsforpractices,methods,andprocedurestheAdministratorfindsnecessaryforsafetyinaircommerce.Thisregulationiswithinthescopeofthatauthoritybecauseitaddressesanunsafeconditionthatislikelytoexistordeveloponproductsidentifiedinthisrulemakingaction.RegulatoryFindingsWedeterminedthatthisproposedADwouldnothavefederalismimplicationsunderExecutiveOrder13132.ThisproposedADwouldnothaveasubstantialdirecteffectontheStates,ontherelationshipbetweenthenationalGovernmentand theStates,oronthedistributionofpowerandresponsibilitiesamongthevariouslevelsofgovernment.Forthereasonsdiscussedabove,Icertifythisproposedregulation:(1)Isnota"significantregulatoryaction"underExecutiveOrder12866,(2)Isnota"significantrule"undertheDOTRegulatoryPoliciesandProcedures(44FR11034,February26,1979),(3)WillnotaffectintrastateaviationinAlaskatotheextentthatitjustifiesmakingaregulatorydistinction,and(4)Willnothaveasignificanteconomicimpact,positiveornegative,onasubstantialmunberofsmallentitiesunderthecriteriaoftheRegulatoryFlexibilityAct.5ListofSubjectsin14CFRPart39Airtransportation,Aircraft,Aviationsafety,Incorporationbyreference,Safety.TheProposedAmendmentAccordingly,undertheauthoritydelegatedtomebytheAdministrator,theFAAproposestoamend14CFRpart39asfollows:PART39-AIRWORTHINESSDIRECTIVES1.Theauthoritycitationforpart39continuestoreadasfollows:Authority:49U.S.C.106(g),40113,44701.§39.13[Amended]2.TheFAAamends§39.13byaddingthefollowingnewairworthinessdirective(AD):DowtyPropellers:DocketNo.FAA-2015-3661;DirectorateIdentifier2015-NE-24-AD.(a)CommentsDueDateWemustreceivecommentsby[INSERTDATE60DAYSAFTERDATEOFPUBLICATIONINTHEFEDERALREGISTER].(b)AffectedADsNone.(c)ApplicabilityThisADappliestoDowtyPropellersR352/6-123-F/l,R352/6-123-F/2,andR410/6-123-F/35modelpropellers,partnumbers(PINs)660715001,660715004,and660715005withhubPINs660715201,660715255,660720217,660720241,660720252,660720260,and660720288,installed.(d)ReasonThisADwaspromptedbyreportsofdowelholecracksinthefaceoftherearhubhalf.WeareissuingthisADtopreventlossofstructuralintegrityofthepropellerhub,whichcouldresultindamagetothepropelleranddamagetotheairplane.6(e)ActionsandComplianceComplywiththisADwithinthecompliancetimesspecified,unlessalreadydone.(1)Atthenextremovalofthepropellerfromtheairplane,orwithin7,500flighthours(FHs),whicheveroccursfirst,aftertheeffectivedateofthisADdothefollowing:(i)ReviewpropellermaintenancerecordstodetermineiftheaffectedpropellerhubhasbeenrepairedinaccordancewithDowtyPropellersAlertServiceBulletin(ASB)No.F50-61-A165Revision2,datedJuly28,2015.(ii)If,duringthemaintenancerecordsreviewrequiredbyparagraph(e)(l)(i)ofthisAD,anaffectedhubisfoundnotrepairedthen,beforenext'flight,installlinersintothehublocationdowelholesandmarkthehub.UseDowtyPropellersASBNo.F50-61-A165Revision2,datedJuly28,2015toinstallthelinersandmarkthehub.(iii)If,duringthemaintenancerecordsreviewrequiredbyparagraph(e)(1)(i)ofthisAD,anaffectedhubisfoundrepairedthen,beforenextflight,markthehubusingDowtyPropellersASBNo.F50-61-Al65Revision2,datedJuly28,2015.(f)CreditforPreviousActions(1)Youmaytakecreditformaintenancerecordsreviewsandinstallationsthatarerequiredbyparagraph(e)ofthisADifyouperformedtheseactionsbeforetheeffectivedateofthisADusingDowtyPropellersASBNo.F50-61-Al65RevisionI,datedMay12,2015orinitialissuedatedNovember19,2012.(2)Youmaytakecreditforanymaintenancerecordsreviewsorcorrectiveactionsthatarerequiredbyparagraph(e)ofthisADifyouperformedtheseactionsbeforetheeffectivedateofthisADusingComponentMaintenanceManual(CMM)61-10-34,RepairNo.53,datedAugust11,2008,whichrelatestorepairscheme650510057.(g)AlternativeMethodsofCompliance(AMOCs)TheManager,BostonAircraftCertificationOffice,FAA,mayapproveAMOCsforthisAD.Usetheproceduresfoundin14CFR39.19tomakeyourrequest.7...'"(h)RelatedInformation(1)FormoreinformationaboutthisAD,contactMichaelSchwetz,AerospaceEngineer,BostonAircraftCertificationOffice,FAA,12NewEnglandExecutivePark,Burlington,MA01803;phone:781-238-7761;fax:781-238-7170;email:michael.schwetz@faa.gov.(2)RefertoMCAIEuropeanAviationSafetyAgencyAD2015-0158,datedJuly30,2015,formoreinformation.YoumayexaminetheMCAIintheADdocketontheInternetathttp://www.regulations.govbysearchingforandlocatingitinDocketNo.FAA-2015-3661.(3)DowtyPropellersASBNo.F50-61-Al65Revision2,datedJuly28,2015andCMM61-10-34,RepairNo.53,datedAugustII,2008canbeobtainedfromDowtyPropellers,usingthecontactinformationinparagraph(h)(4)ofthisproposedAD.(4)ForserviceinformationidentifiedinthisproposedAD,contactDowtyPropellers,114PowersCourt,Sterling,VA20166;phone:703-421-4434;fax:703-450-0087;email:technicalsupport@dowty.com;Internet:www.http://dowty.com/services/repair-and-overhaul.(5)YoumayviewthisserviceinformationattheFAA,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,12NewEnglandExecutivePark,Burlington,MA.ForinformationontheavailabilityofthismaterialattheFAA,call781-238-7125.IssuedinBurlington,Massachusetts,onSeptemberxx,2015.ColleenM.D'Alessandro,DirectorateManager,Engine&PropellerDirectorate,AircraftCertificationService.8