2023-19085. Airworthiness Directives; Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Propellers

AGENCY:

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION:

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).

SUMMARY:

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Hamilton Sundstrand) Model 14SF–7, 14SF–15, and 14SF–23 propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of an auxiliary motor and pump failing to feather a propeller in flight. This proposed AD would require replacement of a certain auxiliary motor and pump. This proposed AD would also prohibit installation of a certain auxiliary motor and pump on any propeller. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

DATES:

The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by October 23, 2023.

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 regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.

• Fax: [phone].

• 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.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA–2023–1820; or in person at Docket Operations between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays. The AD docket contains this NPRM, any comments received, and other information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• For service information identified in this NPRM, contact Hamilton Sundstrand, One Hamilton Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096–1010, phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

• You may view this service information at the FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Isabel Saltzman, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Comments Invited

The FAA invites you to send any written relevant data, views, or arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed under ADDRESSES . Include “Docket No. FAA–2023–1820; Project Identifier AD–2023–00510–P” at the beginning of your comments. The most helpful comments reference a specific portion of the proposal, explain the reason for any recommended change, and include supporting data. The FAA will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this proposal because of those comments.

Except for Confidential Business Information (CBI) as described in the following paragraph, and other information as described in 14 CFR 11.35, the FAA will post all comments received, without change, to regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. The agency will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact received about this NPRM.

Confidential Business Information

CBI is commercial or financial information that is both customarily and actually treated as private by its owner. Under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) (5 U.S.C. 552), CBI is exempt from public disclosure. If your comments responsive to this NPRM contain commercial or financial information that is customarily treated as private, that you actually treat as private, and that is relevant or responsive to this NPRM, it is important that you clearly designate the submitted comments as CBI. Please mark each page of your submission containing CBI as “PROPIN.” The FAA will treat such marked submissions as confidential under the FOIA, and they will not be placed in the public docket of this NPRM. Submissions containing CBI should be sent to Isabel Saltzman, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337. Any commentary that the FAA receives which is not specifically designated as CBI will be placed in the public docket for this rulemaking.

Background

The FAA received a report of an auxiliary motor and pump installed on a non-Hamilton Sundstrand propeller failing to feather the propeller in flight through either the primary or the backup means. The failure was caused by motor magnets in the auxiliary motor and pump that were de-bonded due to corrosion at the magnet and housing interface. The de-bonded motor magnets prevented motor rotation. Hamilton Sundstrand Model 14SF–7, 14SF–15, and 14SF–23 propellers use the same auxiliary motor and pump. These propellers are installed on, but not limited to, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type Certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc.) Model DHC–8–100 series, DHC–8–200 series, and DHC–8–300 series airplanes. This condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced controllability of the aircraft and consequent loss of control of the aircraft.

FAA's Determination

The FAA is issuing this NPRM after determining that the unsafe condition described previously is likely to exist or develop on other products of the same type design.

Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51

The FAA reviewed Hamilton Sundstrand Service Bulletin (SB) 14SF–61–168, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2016. This service information specifies instructions for replacing the auxiliary motor and pump. Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation is a UTC Aerospace Systems Company. This service information is identified as both Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation and UTC Aerospace Systems. 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 ADDRESSES .

Proposed AD Requirements in This NPRM

This proposed AD would require the removal from service of an auxiliary motor and pump having part number (P/N) 782655–3 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122–006009) and replacement with an auxiliary motor and pump having P/N 782655–4 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122–056000). This proposed AD would also prohibit installation of an auxiliary motor and pump having P/N 782655–3 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122–006009) on any propeller.

Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information

Where the service information specifies returning certain parts to Hamilton Sundstrand, this proposed AD does not contain that requirement.

Costs of Compliance

The FAA estimates that this AD, if adopted as proposed, would affect 180 propellers installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.

The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed AD:

Estimated Costs

Action	Labor cost	Parts cost	Cost per product	Cost on U.S. operators
Replace auxiliary motor and pump	2 work-hours × $85 per hour = $170	$11,000	$11,170	$2,010,600
Perform post-installation system test	1 work-hour × $85 per hour = $85	0	85	15,300

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.

The FAA is 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

The FAA 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) Would not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) Would 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

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:

Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation: Docket No. FAA–2023–1820; Project Identifier AD–2023–00510–P.

(a) Comments Due Date

The FAA must receive comments on this airworthiness directive (AD) by October 23, 2023.

(b) Affected ADs

None.

(c) Applicability

This AD applies to Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Hamilton Sundstrand) Model 14SF–7, 14SF–15, and 14SF–23 propellers.

Note 1 to paragraph (c): These propellers are known to be installed on, but not limited to, De Havilland Aircraft of Canada Limited (Type Certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc.) Model DHC–8–100 series, DHC–8–200 series, and DHC–8–300 series airplanes.

(d) Subject

Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC) Code 6123, Propeller Feathering/Reversing.

(e) Unsafe Condition

This AD was prompted by a report of an auxiliary motor and pump failing to feather a propeller in flight. The FAA is issuing this AD to prevent the failure of a certain auxiliary motor and pump to feather propellers. The unsafe condition, if not addressed, could result in reduced controllability of the aircraft and consequent loss of control of the aircraft.

(f) Compliance

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

(g) Required Actions

(1) Within 30 months after the effective date of this AD, remove from service an auxiliary motor and pump having part number (P/N) 782655–3 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122–006009) and replace with an auxiliary motor and pump having P/N 782655–4 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122–056000) in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraphs 3.B., 3.C., and 3.E. of Hamilton Sundstrand Service Bulletin (SB) 14SF–61–168, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2016 (Hamilton Sundstrand SB 14SF–61–168, Revision 1).

(2) After replacement of the auxiliary motor and pump, perform a post-installation system test in accordance with the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.F. of Hamilton Sundstrand SB 14SF–61–168, Revision 1.

(h) Installation Prohibition

After the effective date of this AD, do not install an auxiliary motor and pump having P/N 782655–3 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122–006009) on any propeller.

(i) No Return of Parts

Where the service information referenced in the Accomplishment Instructions, paragraph 3.B. of Hamilton Sundstrand SB 14SF–61–168, Revision 1, specifies returning certain parts to the manufacturer for modification, this AD does not include that requirement.

(j) Credit for Previous Actions

You may take credit for the actions required by paragraph (g) of this AD if you performed those actions before the effective date of this AD using Hamilton Sundstrand SB 14SF–61–168, Original Issue, dated December 14, 2016.

(k) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)

(1) The Manager, East Certification Branch, FAA, has the authority to approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the manager of the branch office, send it to the attention of the person identified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD. Information may be emailed to: [e-mail].

(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding district office.

(l) Related Information

(1) For more information about this AD, contact Isabel Saltzman, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(2) Service information identified in this AD that is not incorporated by reference is available at the addresses specified in paragraphs (m)(3) and (4) of this AD.

(m) Material Incorporated by Reference

(1) The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference (IBR) of the service information listed in this paragraph under 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.

(2) You must use this service information as applicable to do the actions required by this AD, unless the AD specifies otherwise.

(i) Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation Service Bulletin 14SF–61–168, Revision 1, dated December 21, 2016.

Note 2 to paragraph (m)(2)(i): Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation is a UTC Aerospace Systems Company. This service information is identified as both Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation and UTC Aerospace Systems.

(ii) [Reserved]

(3) For service information identified in this AD, contact Hamilton Sundstrand, One Hamilton Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096–1010, phone: [phone]; email: [e-mail].

(4) You may view this service information at FAA, Airworthiness Products Section, Operational Safety Branch, 1200 District Avenue, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call (817) 222–5110.

(5) You may view this service information that is incorporated by reference at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, email: [e-mail], or go to: www.archives.gov/​federal-register/​cfr/​ibr-locations.html.

Issued on August 30, 2023.

Victor Wicklund,

Deputy Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification Service.