2010-27608. Airworthiness Directives; McCauley Propeller Systems Five-Blade Propeller Assemblies

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. That AD currently requires removing certain propeller hubs from service at new, reduced life limits and eddy current inspections (ECIs) of the propeller hub. This new AD requires removing certain propeller hubs from service before they exceed 6,000 hours time-since-new (TSN). This AD was prompted by a report of a crack in a propeller hub. 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 is effective December 8, 2010.

ADDRESSES:

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 AD, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The address for the Docket Office (phone: [phone]) is Document Management Facility, U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Jeff Janusz, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, KS 67209, telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone]; e-mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2005-24-08, Amendment 39-14388. (70 FR 71756, November 30, 2005). That AD applies to the specified products. That NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 17, 2010 (75 FR 34390). That NPRM proposed to require:

• Removing from service the hub of any propeller assembly, P/N B5JFR36C1101/114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0, or C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0, if the hub exceeds 6,000 hours TSN on the effective date of this AD, within 250 hours time-in-service (TIS) after the effective date of this AD.
• Removing from service the hub of any propeller assembly, P/N B5JFR36C1101/114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0, or C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0, if the hub has fewer than 6,000 hours TSN, not later than 6,000 hours TSN.

Comments

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the cost to the public.

Conclusion

We reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting the AD as proposed—except for minor editorial changes. We have determined that these minor changes:

• Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
• Do not add any additional burden upon the public than was already proposed in the NPRM.

Costs of Compliance

We estimate that this AD affects 30 engines installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.

We estimate the following costs to comply with this AD:

Estimated Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
Remove the propeller hub from service	42 work-hours × $85 per hour = $3,570	$6,000	$9,570	$287,100

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 have 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 this AD:

(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),

(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, 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
• Safety

Adoption of the Amendment

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 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) 2005-24-08, Amendment 39-14388. ( 70 FR 71756, November 30, 2005), and adding the following new AD:

2010-23-06 McCauley Propeller Systems: Amendment 39-16495; Docket No. FAA-2005-22690; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-35-AD.

Effective Date

(a) This airworthiness directive (AD) is effective December 8, 2010.

Affected ADs

(b) This AD supersedes AD 2005-24-08, Amendment 39-14388.

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 a report of a cracked propeller hub. 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) For any propeller assembly, P/N B5JFR36C1101/114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0, or C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0, with a hub that exceeds 6,000 hours time-since-new (TSN) on the effective date of this AD, remove the propeller hub from service within 250 hours time-in-service after the effective date of this AD.

(g) For any propeller assembly, P/N B5JFR36C1101/114GCA-0, C5JFR36C1102/L114GCA-0, B5JFR36C1103/114HCA-0, or C5JFR36C1104/L114HCA-0, with a hub with fewer than 6,000 hours TSN, remove the propeller hub from service not later than 6,000 hours TSN.

Prohibition of Hubs Exceeding Life Limit

(h) After the effective date of this AD, don't install any hub removed from any propeller assembly that was removed by paragraphs (f) or (g) of this AD into any propeller assembly.

Alternative Methods of Compliance

(i) 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

(j) Contact Jeff Janusz, Aerospace Engineer, Wichita Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Small Airplane Directorate, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, KS 67209, telephone: [phone]; fax: [phone], for more information about this AD.

Material Incorporated by Reference

(k) None.

Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on October 25, 2010.

Karen M. Grant,

Acting Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft Certification Service.