71756 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 30, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 

(2) You must visually examine the 

propeller hub, and it must have no evidence 

of existing cracks. 

(3) You are allowed a single-occupant 

(pilot only), non-revenue flight to a base of 

maintenance or FAA-approved propeller 

repair facility only. 

(4) Your total flight time must not exceed 

10 hours. 

Related Information 

(p) McCauley Propeller Systems Alert 

Service Bulletin No. ASB251A, dated 

September 28, 2005, pertains to the subject 

of this AD. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

November 22, 2005. 

Peter A. White, 

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–23430 Filed 11–29–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–U 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 39 

[Docket No. FAA–2005–22690; Directorate 

Identifier 2005–NE–35–AD; Amendment 39–

14388; AD 2005–24–08] 

RIN 2120–AA64 

Airworthiness Directives; McCauley 

Propeller Systems Five-Blade Propeller 

Assemblies 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), Department of 

Transportation (DOT). 

ACTION: Final rule; request for 

comments. 

SUMMARY: The FAA is adopting a new 

airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 

McCauley Propeller Systems propeller 

assemblies installed on BAE Systems 

(Operations) Limited Jetstream model 

4100 series airplanes. This AD requires 

removing certain propeller hubs from 

service at new reduced life limits and 

eddy current inspections (ECIs) of the 

propeller hub. This AD results from 

three reports of cracked propeller hubs. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent 

cracked propeller hubs, which could 

cause failure of the propeller hub, blade 

separation, and loss of control of the 

airplane. 

DATES: This AD becomes effective 

December 15, 2005. The Director of the 

Federal Register approved the 

incorporation by reference of certain 

publications listed in the regulations as 

of December 15, 2005. 

We must receive any comments on 

this AD by January 30, 2006. 

ADDRESSES: Use one of the following 

addresses to comment on this AD: 

• DOT Docket Web site: Go to 

http://dms.dot.gov and follow the 

instructions for sending your comments 

electronically. 

• Government-wide rulemaking Web 

site: Go to http://www.regulations.gov 

and follow the instructions for sending 

your comments electronically. 

• Mail: Docket Management Facility; 

U.S. Department of Transportation, 400 

Seventh Street, SW., Nassif Building, 

Room PL–401, Washington, DC 20590–

0001. 

• Fax: (202) 493–2251. 

• Hand Delivery: Room PL–401 on 

the plaza level of the Nassif Building, 

400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, 

DC, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday 

through Friday, except Federal holidays. 

Contact McCauley Propeller Systems, 

P.O. Box 7704, Wichita, KS 97277–7704, 

for the service information referenced in 

this AD. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeff 

Janusz, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita 

Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small 

Airplane Directorate, 1801 Airport 

Road, Wichita, KS 67209, telephone: 

(316) 946–4148; fax: (316) 946–4107. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: In August 

2003, we issued AD 2003–17–10 which 

requires initial and repetitive 

fluorescent penetrant inspection or 

ultrasonic inspection of propeller blade 

retention areas for cracks, replacement 

of high time propeller blades, and a 

onetime inspection of propeller hubs. 

That AD resulted from four earlier 

reports of cracks in propeller blade 

shanks. Since we issued AD 2003–17–

10, we received three more reports of 

cracked hubs. In November 2004, we 

issued AD 2004–23–16 which requires a 

onetime ECI of the propeller hub for 

cracks, and if necessary, replacing the 

propeller assembly. That AD also 

captured inspection results for the 

propeller hubs installed on the Jetstream 

model 4100 fleet. 

We received field reports that during 

taxi and ground maneuvering, certain 

airplane operators might be violating the 

published and placarded propeller 

ground revolutions-per-minute (rpm) 

restrictions. Operating in the restricted 

rpm range during ground operation can 

excite a natural propeller blade 

frequency that creates damaging stress 

loadings on the propeller blades and 

hub. The stress loadings can cause 

cracks, leading to propeller structural 

failure. 

Additionally, some operators use a 

water-methanol assist system to provide 

more engine power during certain 

operating conditions. The operating 

procedures for the water-methanol assist 

system define an airplane brakes-locked 

condition. Testing has shown that using 

the water-methanol assist system with 

airplane brakes locked creates propeller 

loadings exceeding structural fatigue 

limits of the propeller hub. This 

condition, if not corrected, could result 

in cracked hubs, which could cause 

failure of the propeller hub, blade 

separation, and loss of control of the 

airplane. 

Relevant Service Information 

We reviewed and approved the 

technical contents of McCauley Alert 

Service Bulletin (ASB) No. ASB250, 

dated September 12, 2005. This ASB 

introduces new lower life limits for the 

propeller hubs identified in this AD, 

and describes ECI procedures for them. 

FAA’s Determination and Requirements 

of This AD 

The unsafe condition described 

previously is likely to exist or develop 

on other McCauley propeller 

assemblies, P/Ns B5JFR36C1101/ 

114GCA–0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA–0, 

B5JFR36C1103/114HCA–0, and 

C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA–0, installed 

on BAE Systems (Operations) Limited 

Jetstream model 4100 series airplanes. 

We are issuing this AD to prevent 

cracked hubs, which could cause failure 

of the propeller hub, blade separation, 

and loss of control of the airplane. This 

AD requires: 

• Removing any propeller hub from 

service that is currently, or ever was, 

operated on an engine with a watermethanol assist system, not later than 

6,000 hours time-in-service (TIS). 

• Removing any other propeller hub 

from service not later than 18,000 hours 

TIS. 

• Removing any propeller hub from 

service that exceeds its life limit on the 

effective date of this AD, within 50 

hours TIS after the effective date of this 

AD. 

• That any propeller hub removed 

from service after exceeding its life limit 

must not be returned to service on any 

installation. 

• For all installed propeller hubs, 

performing an ECI within 200 hours TIS 

or 60 days after the effective date of this 

AD, whichever occurs first. 

• Thereafter, for all installed 

propeller hubs with 12,000 or more 

hours TIS, performing repetitive ECIs 

within 1,800 hours TIS or 12 months, 

whichever occurs first. 

You must use the service information 

described previously to perform the 

actions required by this AD. This AD 

does not require repetitive inspections 

for propeller hubs that ever operated on, 

or are currently operating on, engines 

with a water-methanol assist system, 

Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 30, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 71757 

due to the 6,000 hours TIS hub reduced 

life limit. 

FAA’s Determination of the Effective 

Date 

Since an unsafe condition exists that 

requires the immediate adoption of this 

AD, we found that notice and 

opportunity for public comment before 

issuing this AD are impracticable. Good 

cause exists for making this amendment 

effective in less than 30 days. 

Comments Invited 

This AD is a final rule that involves 

requirements affecting flight safety and 

was not preceded by notice and an 

opportunity for public comment. 

However, we invite you to send us any 

written relevant data, views, or 

arguments regarding this AD. Send your 

comments to an address listed under 

ADDRESSES. Include ‘‘AD Docket No. 

FAA–2005–22690; Directorate Identifier 

2005–NE–35–AD’’ in the subject line of 

your comments. We specifically invite 

comments on the overall regulatory, 

economic, environmental, and energy 

aspects of the rule that might suggest a 

need to modify it. 

We will post all comments we 

receive, without change, to http:// 

dms.dot.gov, including any personal 

information you provide. We will also 

post a report summarizing each 

substantive verbal contact with FAA 

personnel concerning this AD. Using the 

search function of the DMS Web site, 

anyone can find and read the comments 

in any of our dockets. This includes the 

name of the individual who sent the 

comment (or signed the comment on 

behalf of an association, business, labor 

union, etc.). You may review the DOT’s 

complete Privacy Act Statement in the 

Federal Register published on April 11, 

2000 (65 FR 19477–78) or you may visit 

http://dms.dot.gov. 

Examining the AD Docket 

You may examine the docket that 

contains the AD, any comments 

received, and any final disposition in 

person at the Docket Management 

Facility Docket Offices between 9 a.m. 

and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, 

except Federal holidays. The Docket 

Office (telephone (800) 647–5227) is 

located on the plaza level of the 

Department of Transportation Nassif 

Building at the street address stated in 

ADDRESSES. Comments will be available 

in the AD docket shortly after the DMS 

receives them. 

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 AD will not 

have federalism implications under 

Executive Order 13132. This AD will 

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 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); 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. 

We prepared a summary of the costs 

to comply with this AD and placed it in 

the AD Docket. You may get a copy of 

this summary at the address listed 

under ADDRESSES. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 39 

Air transportation, Aircraft, Aviation 

safety, Incorporation by reference, 

Safety. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

■ Under the authority delegated to me 

by the Administrator, the Federal 

Aviation Administration amends part 39 

of the Federal Aviation Regulations (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 adding 

the following new airworthiness 

directive: 

2005–24–08 McCauley Propeller Systems: 

Amendment 39–14388. Docket No. 

FAA–2005–22690; Directorate Identifier 

2005–NE–35–AD. 

Effective Date 

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) 

becomes effective December 15, 2005. 

Affected ADs 

(b) None. 

Applicability 

(c) This AD applies to McCauley Propeller 

Systems propeller assemblies, part numbers 

(P/Ns) B5JFR36C1101/114GCA–0, 

C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA–0, B5JFR36C1103/ 

114HCA–0, and C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA–0. 

These propeller assemblies are installed on 

BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Jetstream 

Model 4100 series airplanes. 

Unsafe Condition 

(d) This AD results from three reports of 

cracked propeller hubs. We are issuing this 

AD to prevent cracked propeller hubs, which 

could cause failure of the propeller hub, 

blade separation, and loss of control of the 

airplane. 

Compliance 

(e) You are responsible for having the 

actions required by this AD performed within 

the compliance times specified unless the 

actions have already been done. 

Propeller Hub Reduced Life Limits 

(f) Remove any propeller hub from service 

that is currently, or ever was, operated on an 

engine with a water-methanol assist system, 

not later than 6,000 hours time-in-service 

(TIS). 

(g) Remove any other propeller hub from 

service not later than 18,000 hours TIS. 

(h) Remove any propeller hub from service 

that exceeds its life limit on the effective date 

of this AD, within 50 hours TIS after the 

effective date of this AD. 

Prohibition of Hubs Exceeding Life Limit 

(i) Any propeller hub removed from service 

after exceeding its life limit must not be 

returned to service on any installation. 

Propeller Hub Initial Inspection 

(j) For all installed propeller hubs, perform 

an eddy current inspection (ECI) within 200 

hours TIS or 60 days after the effective date 

of this AD, whichever occurs first. Use the 

Accomplishment Instructions of McCauley 

Alert Service Bulletin (ASB) No. ASB250, 

dated September 12, 2005, to do the 

inspection. 

Propeller Hub Repetitive Inspections 

(k) Thereafter, for all installed propeller 

hubs with 12,000 or more hours TIS: 

(1) Perform repetitive ECIs within 1,800 

hours TIS or 12 months, whichever occurs 

first. 

(2) Use the Accomplishment Instructions 

of McCauley ASB No. ASB250, dated 

September 12, 2005, to do the inspections. 

71758 Federal Register / Vol. 70, No. 229 / Wednesday, November 30, 2005 / Rules and Regulations 

(l) This AD does not require repetitive 

inspections for propeller hubs that ever 

operated on, or are currently operating on, 

engines with a water-methanol assist system, 

due to the 6,000 hours TIS hub reduced life 

limit. 

Reporting Requirements 

(m) Report within 10 calendar days of the 

inspection, the results that equal or exceed 

the reject criteria to: 

(1) The FAA, Wichita Aircraft Certification 

Office, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, 

Wichita, KS 67209, Attention: Jeff Janusz, 

telephone (316) 946–4148; e-mail: 

jeff.janusz@faa.gov; and 

(2) McCauley Propeller Systems, P.O. Box 

7704, Wichita, KS 97277–7704. 

(3) Reporting requirements have been 

approved by the Office of Management and 

Budget (OMB) and assigned OMB control 

number 2120–0056. 

Alternative Methods of Compliance 

(n) The Manager, Wichita Aircraft 

Certification Office, has the authority to 

approve alternative methods of compliance 

for this AD if requested using the procedures 

found in 14 CFR 39.19. 

Related Information 

(o) None. 

Material Incorporated by Reference 

(p) You must use McCauley Alert Service 

Bulletin No. ASB250, dated September 12, 

2005, to perform the inspections required by 

this AD. The Director of the Federal Register 

approved the incorporation by reference of 

this service bulletin in accordance with 5 

U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. Contact 

McCauley Propeller Systems, P.O. Box 7704, 

Wichita, KS 97277–7704, for a copy of this 

service information. You may review copies 

at the Docket Management Facility; U.S. 

Department of Transportation, 400 Seventh 

Street, SW., Nassif Building, Room PL–401, 

Washington, DC 20590–0001, on the Internet 

at http://dms.dot.gov, or at the National 

Archives and Records Administration 

(NARA). For information on the availability 

of this material at NARA, call 202–741–6030, 

or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federalregister/cfr/ibr-locations.html. 

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on 

November 21, 2005. 

Peter A. White, 

Acting Manager, Engine and Propeller 

Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service. 

[FR Doc. 05–23431 Filed 11–29–05; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 4910–13–P 

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION 

Federal Aviation Administration 

14 CFR Part 95 

[Docket No. 30468; Amdt. No. 458] 

IFR Altitudes; Miscellaneous 

Amendments 

AGENCY: Federal Aviation 

Administration (FAA), DOT. 

ACTION: Final rule. 

SUMMARY: This amendment adopts 

miscellaneous amendments to the 

required IFR (instrument flight rules) 

altitudes and changeover points for 

certain Federal airways, jet routes, or 

direct routes for which a minimum or 

maximum en route authorized IFR 

altitude is prescribed. This regulatory 

action is needed because of changes 

occurring in the National Airspace 

System. These changes are designed to 

provide for the safe and efficient use of 

the navigable airspace under instrument 

conditions in the affected areas. 

EFFECTIVE DATE: 0901 UTC, December 

22, 2005. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Donald P. Pate, Flight Procedure 

Standards Branch (AMCAFS–420), 

Flight Technologies and Programs 

Division, Flight Standards Service, 

Federal Aviation Administration, Mike 

Monroney Aeronautical Center, 6500 

South MacArthur Blvd. Oklahoma City, 

OK 73169 (Mail Address: P.O. Box 

25082 Oklahoma City, OK 73125) 

telephone: (405) 954–4164. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This 

amendment to part 95 of the Federal 

Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 95) 

amends, suspends, or revokes IFR 

altitudes governing the operation of all 

aircraft in flight over a specified route 

or any portion of that route, as well as 

the changeover points (COPs) for 

Federal airways, jet routes, or direct 

routes as prescribed in part 95. 

The Rule 

The specified IFR altitudes, when 

used in conjunction with the prescribed 

changeover points for those routes, 

ensure navigation aid coverage that is 

adequate for safe flight operations and 

free of frequency interference. The 

reasons and circumstances that create 

the need for this amendment involve 

matters of flight safety and operational 

efficiency in the National Airspace 

System, are related to published 

aeronautical charts that are essential to 

the user, and provide for the safe and 

efficient use of the navigable airspace. 

In addition, those various reasons or 

circumstances require making this 

amendment effective before the next 

scheduled charting and publication date 

of the flight information to assure its 

timely availability to the user. The 

effective date of this amendment reflects 

those considerations. In view of the 

close and immediate relationship 

between these regulatory changes and 

safety in air commerce, I find that notice 

and public procedure before adopting 

this amendment are impracticable and 

contrary to the public interest and that 

good cause exists for making the 

amendment effective in less than 30 

days. 

Conclusion 

The FAA has determined that this 

regulation only involves an established 

body of technical regulations for which 

frequent and routine amendments are 

necessary to keep them operationally 

current. It, therefore (1) is not a 

‘‘significant regulatory action’’ under 

Executive Order 12866; (2) is not a 

‘‘significant rule’’ under DOT 

Regulatory Policies and Procedures (44 

FR 11034; February 26, 1979); and (3) 

does not warrant preparation of a 

regulatory evaluation as the anticipated 

impact is so minimal. For the same 

reason, the FAA certifies that this 

amendment will not have a significant 

economic impact on a substantial 

number of small entities under the 

criteria of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. 

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 95 

Airspace, Navigation (air). 

Issued in Washington, DC on November 21, 

2005. 

James J. Ballough, 

Director, Flight Standards Service. 

Adoption of the Amendment 

■ Accordingly, pursuant to the authority 

delegated to me by the Administrator, 

part 95 of the Federal Aviation 

Regulations (14 CFR part 95) is 

amended as follows effective at 0901 

UTC, December 22, 2005. 

■ 1. The authority citation for part 95 

continues to read as follows: 

Authority: 49 U.S.C. 106(g), 40103, 40106, 

40113, 40114, 40120, 44502, 44514, 44719, 

44721. 

■ 2. Part 95 is amended to read as 

follows: