[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 100 (Thursday, May 23, 2013)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 30795-30797]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-12260]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2013-0262; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-13-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; Hamilton Standard Division and Hamilton
Sundstrand Corporation Propellers
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for
Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and Hamilton
Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F series
propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by the amount of corrosion
detected during major inspections (MIs). This proposed AD would require
incorporating inspections, based on a calendar time, into the propeller
maintenance schedule. We are proposing this AD to prevent corrosion
that could result in propeller failure and loss of airplane control.
DATES: We must receive comments on this proposed AD by July 22, 2013.
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 http://www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
Fax: 202-493-2251.
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.
For service information identified in this proposed AD, contact
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, One Hamilton Road, Mail Stop 1A-3-C63,
Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; or Hamilton Standard Division, One
Hamilton Road, United Technologies Corporation, Mail Stop 1A-3-C63,
Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; phone: 877-808-7575; fax: 860-660-0372;
email: [email protected]; Internet: http://myhs.hamiltonsundstrand.com.
You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England
[[Page 30796]]
Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803. For information on the
availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.
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 proposed AD, the regulatory
evaluation, any comments received, and other information. The street
address for the Docket Office (phone: 800-647-5527) is in the ADDRESSES
section. Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after
receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Schwetz, Aerospace Engineer,
Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12 New England Executive
Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-7761; fax: 781-238-7170;
email: [email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
We invite you to send any written relevant data, views, or
arguments about this proposal. Send your comments to an address listed
under the ADDRESSES section. Include ``Docket No. FAA-2013-0262;
Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-13-AD'' at the beginning of your
comments. We specifically invite comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this proposed AD. We
will consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend
this proposed AD because of those comments.
We will post all comments we receive, without change, to http://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide. We
will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal contact we
receive about this proposed AD.
Discussion
We received reports about increased corrosion detected during MIs
of Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and Hamilton
Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F series
propellers. The propellers were found to accumulate fewer flight hours
per year as they aged. The longer time between MIs contributes to an
increased potential for corrosion to accumulate to critical limits.
Hamilton Sundstrand developed, and we approved, six Airworthiness
Limitations Sections (ALSs) of the applicable maintenance manuals to
date. Each ALS establishes the new compliance times for MIs of the
blades and hubs by adding a calendar time limit for the inspection.
This condition, if not corrected, could result in propeller failure and
loss of airplane control.
Relevant Service Information
We reviewed the Hamilton Sundstrand ALS in Maintenance Manual
P5185, Revision 13, dated December 13, 2011; P5206, Revision 9, dated
February 22, 2013; P5186, Revision 12, dated January 20, 2012; P5207,
Revision 2, dated June 28, 2012; P5188, Revision 10, dated January 14,
2013; and P5189, Revision 8, dated March 26, 2013. The ALS in these
maintenance manuals lists the MIs for the associated propellers and
prescribe a seven-year calendar time limit interval for MI of propeller
blades and hubs.
FAA's Determination
We are proposing this AD because we evaluated all the relevant
information and determined the unsafe condition described previously is
likely to exist or develop in other products of the same type design.
Proposed AD Requirements
This proposed AD would require incorporating a seven-year calendar
time limit, between MIs of propeller blades and hubs, into the
propeller maintenance schedule, within 45 days after the effective date
of the AD.
Differences Between the Proposed AD and the Service Information
The updated maintenance manuals require that an MI of the blades
and hubs be performed at the published flight hours or no later than
seven years since the date since installation (DSI). The DSI will begin
at initial installation after the most recent MI or initial
installation after production. This proposed AD would require that the
Hamilton Sunstrand propeller models, with an approved update to the
maintenance manual ALS, have 45 days after the effective date of the AD
to incorporate the seven-year calendar time limit. These models/manuals
are: 14RF-9/P5186, 14RF-21/P5189, 14SF-5/P5188, 14SF-7/P5185, 14SF-11E/
P5207, and 568F-1/P5206. This proposed AD would also require that the
Hamilton Sundstrand and Hamilton Standard propeller models, without
approved updates to the maintenance manual ALS, incorporate the seven-
year calendar time limit into the propeller maintenance schedule within
one year after the effective date of the AD. These models/manuals are:
Hamilton Standard 24PF/61-12-01 and 6/5500/F/P5190, and Hamilton
Sundstrand 14RF-19/P5199, 14RF-37/P5209, 14SF-11/P5196, 14SF-15/P5197,
14SF-23/P5197, 14SF-17/P5198, 14SF-19/P5198, 247F-1/P4202, 247F-1E/
P5204, 247F-3/P5205, 568F-1/P5214, 568F-5/P5203, and 568F-7/P5211.
Costs of Compliance
We estimate that this proposed AD would affect about 1,044
propeller/hub combinations installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We
also estimate that it would take about 160 hours per propeller to
perform one MI. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. Based on these
figures, we estimate the cost of the proposed AD on U.S. operators to
be $14,198,400.
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 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) Is not a ``significant rule'' under the DOT Regulatory Policies
and Procedures (44 FR 11034, February 26, 1979),
(3) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska to the extent
that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, and
[[Page 30797]]
(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, 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
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 adding the following new airworthiness
directive (AD):
Hamilton Standard Division and Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation:
Docket No. FAA-2013-0262; Directorate Identifier 2013-NE-13-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
We must receive comments by July 22, 2013.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to Hamilton Standard Division 6/5500/F and 24PF
and Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F
series propellers.
(d) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by the amount of corrosion detected during
major inspections (MI). We are issuing this AD to prevent corrosion
that could result in propeller failure and loss of airplane control.
(e) Compliance
Comply with this AD within the compliance times specified,
unless already done.
(f) MI for Blades and Hubs That Have an Updated Airworthiness
Limitations Section (ALS)
For Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation propeller models 14RF-9,
14RF-21, 14SF-5, 14SF-7, 14SF-11E, and 568F-1, that have an approved
update to the ALS, within 45 days after the effective date of this
AD, perform an MI on the blades and hubs no later than seven years
since the date since installation (DSI). The DSI will begin at
initial installation after the most recent MI or initial
installation after production. Guidance on the inspections can be
found in the applicable Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation models/
manuals 14RF-9/P5186, revision 12, January 20, 2012; 14RF-21/P5189,
revision 8, March 26, 2013; 14SF-5/P5188, revision 10, dated January
14, 2013; 14SF-7/P5185, revision 13, dated December 13, 2011; 14SF-
11E/P5207, revision 2, dated June 28, 2012; and 568F-1/P5206
revision 9, dated February 22, 2013.
(g) MI for Blades and Hubs That Do Not Have an Updated ALS
For Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF-19, 14RF-37, 14SF-11,
14SF-15, 14SF-23, 14SF-17, 14SF-19, 247F-1, 247F-1E, 247F-3, 568F-1,
568F-5, 568F-7 propellers, that do not have an approved update to
the ALS, within one year after the effective date of this AD,
perform an MI on the blades and hubs no later than seven years since
the DSI. The DSI will begin at initial installation after the most
recent MI or initial installation after production. Guidance on the
inspections can be found in the applicable models/manuals for
Hamilton Standard Division 6/5500/F/P5190 and 24PF/61-12-01, and
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation 14RF-19/P5199, 14RF-37/P5209, 14SF-
11/P5196, 14SF-15/P5197, 14SF-23/P5197, 14SF-17/P5198, 14SF-19/
P5198, 247F-1/P4202, 247F-1E/P5204, 247F-3/P5205, 568F-1/P5214,
568F-5/P5203, and 568F-7/P5211 propellers.
(h) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
The Manager, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, may
approve AMOCs for this AD. Use the procedures found in 14 CFR 39.19
to make your request.
(i) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Michael Schwetz,
Aerospace Engineer, Boston Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, 12
New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA 01803; phone: 781-238-
7761; fax: 781-238-7170; email: [email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation, One Hamilton Road, Mail Stop 1A-3-
C63, Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; or Hamilton Standard Division,
United Technologies Corporation, One Hamilton Road, Mail Stop 1A-3-
C63, Windsor Locks, CT 06096-1010; phone: 877-808-7575; fax: 860-
660-0372; email: [email protected]; Internet: http://myhs.hamiltonsundstrand.com.
(3) You may view this service information at the FAA, Engine &
Propeller Directorate, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA
01803. For information on the availability of this material at the
FAA, call 781-238-7125.
Issued in Burlington, Massachusetts, on May 17, 2013.
Colleen M. D'Alessandro,
Assistant Manager, Engine & Propeller Directorate, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2013-12260 Filed 5-22-13; 8:45 am]
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