Summary
The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dowty Rotol propellers. That AD currently requires, for all Dowty Rotol propellers, visual inspections for seizure and for cadmium plating of the blade pitch change operating links and eyebolt fork assemblies. That AD also requires replacement or heat-treatment of the blade pitch change operating links and eyebolt fork assemblies, if necessary. This proposed AD would require the same actions, but only for certain model Dowty Propellers. This proposed AD results from the FAA determining that AD 70-16-02 does not apply to all propellers, since current Dowty Rotol propellers are differently designed. We are proposing this AD supersedure to specify the affected propeller models, and to prevent seizure or embrittlement and cracking of the blade pitch change operating links and eyebolt fork assemblies, which could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.