AD 2010-23-06

[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 212 (Wednesday, November 3, 2010)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 67613-67615]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2010-27608]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 39

[Docket No. FAA-2005-22690; Directorate Identifier 2005-NE-35-AD; 
Amendment 39-16495; AD 2010-23-06]
RIN 2120-AA64


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 <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>; 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: 800-647-5527) 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: (316) 946-
4148; fax: (316) 946-4107; e-mail: <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#bed4dbd8d890d4dfd0cbcdc4fed8dfdf90d9d1c8"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="79131c1f1f571318170c0a03391f1818571e160f">[email&#160;protected]</span></a>.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Discussion

    We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR

[[Page 67614]]

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:

    <bullet> 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.
    <bullet> 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:
    <bullet> Are consistent with the intent that was proposed in the 
NPRM for correcting the unsafe condition; and
    <bullet> 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                    Cost per       Cost on U.S.
               Action                        Labor cost           Parts cost        product         operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove the propeller hub from         42 work-hours x $85 per          $6,000           $9,570         $287,100
 service.                              hour = $3,570.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

0
Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, 
the FAA amends 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 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.

[[Page 67615]]

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: (316) 946-4148; fax: 
(316) 946-4107, 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.
[FR Doc. 2010-27608 Filed 11-2-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P