AD 2023-16-06

This AD is effective October 20, 2023.

The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of a certain publication listed in this AD as of October 20, 2023.

AD Docket: You may examine the AD docket at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1398; 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 final rule, any comments received, and other information. The address for Docket Operations is U.S. Department of Transportation, Docket Operations, M-30, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20590.

Material Incorporated by Reference:

• For service information identified in this final rule, contact Hamilton Sundstrand, One Hamilton Road, Windsor Locks, CT 06096; phone: (877) 808-7575; email: CRC@collins.com.

• 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. It is also available at regulations.gov under Docket No. FAA-2023-1398.

Isabel Saltzman, Aviation Safety Engineer, FAA, 1701 Columbia Avenue, College Park, GA 30337; phone: (781) 238-7649; email: 9-AVS-AIR-BACO-COS@faa.gov.

The FAA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to amend 14 CFR part 39 by adding an AD that would apply to all Hamilton Sundstrand Model 14SF-17 and 14SF-19 propellers. The NPRM published in the Federal Register on June 27, 2023 (88 FR 41513). The NPRM was prompted by 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-17 and 14SF-19 propellers use the same auxiliary motor and pump. These propellers are installed on, but not limited to, Viking Air Limited (type certificate previously held by Bombardier Inc.; Canadair Limited) Model CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T & CL-415 Variants) airplanes. In the NPRM, the FAA proposed to 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). In the NPRM, the FAA also proposed to prohibit installation of an auxiliary motor and pump having P/N 782655-3 (Aerocontrolex P/N 4122-006009) on any propeller. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA received no comments on the NPRM or on the determination of the costs.

The FAA reviewed the relevant data and determined that air safety requires adopting this AD as proposed. Accordingly, the FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Except for minor editorial changes, this AD is adopted as proposed in the NPRM.

The FAA reviewed Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation 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 the ADDRESSES section.

The FAA estimates that this AD affects 20 propellers installed on airplanes of U.S. registry.

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

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.

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) Will not affect intrastate aviation in Alaska, and

(3) 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: