AD 2013-15-04

This AD is effective August 30, 2013.

For service information identified in this AD, contact Hartzell Propeller, Inc., 1 Propeller Place, Piqua, OH 45356; phone: 937-778-4397; fax: 937-778-4391; email: techsupport@hartzellprop.com. You may view this service information at the FAA, 12 New England Executive Park, Burlington, MA. For information on the availability of this material at the FAA, call 781-238-7125.

The Docket Operations office is located at Docket 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.

Mark Grace, Aerospace Engineer, Chicago Aircraft Certification Office, FAA, Propulsion Branch, 2300 E. Devon Avenue, Des Planes, IL 60018; phone: 847-294-7377; fax: 847-294-7834; email: mark.grace@faa.gov.

We issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 to include an AD that would apply to the specified products. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on March 26, 2013 (78 FR 18255). The NPRM proposed to require replacement of the propeller hydraulic bladder diaphragm with a redesigned bladder diaphragm that includes a tab, visible after installation, which contains the bladder diaphragm batch/lot number.

We gave the public the opportunity to participate in developing this AD. We have considered the comment received. Hartzell Propeller, Inc. supports the NPRM (78 FR 18255, dated March 26, 2013).

We reviewed the relevant data, considered the comments received, and determined that air safety and the public interest require adopting this AD as proposed.

We estimate that this AD will affect about 400 propellers installed on airplanes of U.S. registry. We also estimate that it will take about 4 hours per propeller to replace the bladder diaphragm. The average labor rate is $85 per hour. We estimate parts costs at $53 per engine. Based on these figures, we estimate the cost of this AD on U.S. operators to be $157,200. Our cost estimate is exclusive of possible warranty coverage.

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.

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 to the extent that it justifies making a regulatory distinction, 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.

Accordingly, under the authority delegated to me by the Administrator, the FAA amends 14 CFR part 39 as follows:

1. The authority citation for part 39 continues to read as follows:

2. The FAA amends § 39.13 by adding the following new airworthiness directive (AD):