Summary
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that is applicable to Hartzell Propeller Inc. model HD-E6C-3B/E13890K propellers with certain serial numbers of model D-1199-2 propeller control units (PCU's) installed. This proposal would require initial and repetitive inspections for below-limit propeller flight idle blade angles, and, as a terminating action, removal of the affected PCU's from service and performance of a complete Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul) when the applicable time-since-new or time-since-overhaul limit is reached, or when any flight idle blade angle is below limits. This proposal is prompted by a review by Hartzell Propeller Inc. of the model D-1199-2 PCU overhaul procedures, that revealed several dimensional checks and a nondestructive evaluation were not performed on certain serial number PCU's during a Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul). The overhaul procedures are required to comply with the Airworthiness Limitation PCU Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul) directive. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent below-limit flight idle propeller blade angles that, if not corrected, could result in degraded aircraft performance and control.