Airworthiness Directives; McCauley Propeller Systems Governors
| Published date | 07 April 2020 |
| Citation | 85 FR 19399 |
| Record Number | 2020-07168 |
| Section | Proposed rules |
| Court | Federal Aviation Administration |
Federal Register, Volume 85 Issue 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)
[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 67 (Tuesday, April 7, 2020)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 19399-19401]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-07168]
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Proposed Rules
Federal Register
________________________________________________________________________
This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER contains notices to the public of
the proposed issuance of rules and regulations. The purpose of these
notices is to give interested persons an opportunity to participate in
the rule making prior to the adoption of the final rules.
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Federal Register / Vol. 85, No. 67 / Tuesday, April 7, 2020 /
Proposed Rules
[[Page 19399]]
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Federal Aviation Administration
14 CFR Part 39
[Docket No. FAA-2020-0320; Product Identifier 2019-CE-011-AD]
RIN 2120-AA64
Airworthiness Directives; McCauley Propeller Systems Governors
AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.
ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM).
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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD)
for certain model McCauley Propeller Systems (McCauley) governors
installed on airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of an
unapproved variant McCauley idler gear bearing, part number (P/N) A-
20028, that could be installed in the affected governors. This proposed
AD would require replacing the governor with a governor that is
eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the
unsafe condition on these products.
DATES: The FAA must receive comments on this proposed AD by May 22,
2020.
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 https://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 NPRM, contact McCauley
Propeller Systems, One Cessna Boulevard, P.O. Box 7704, Wichita, Kansas
67277; telephone: (800) 621-7767 or (316) 831-4021; email:
[email protected]; internet: https://mccauley.txtav.com. You may
view this service information at the FAA, Policy and Innovation
Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City, Missouri 64106. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Examining the AD Docket
You may examine the AD docket on the internet at https://www.regulations.gov by searching for and locating Docket No. FAA-2020-
0320 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 NPRM, the regulatory evaluation, any comments received, and other
information. The street address for Docket Operations is listed above.
Comments will be available in the AD docket shortly after receipt.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Thomas Teplik, Aerospace Engineer,
Wichita ACO Branch, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100, Wichita, Kansas 67209;
telephone: (316) 946-4196; fax: (316) 946-4107; email:
[email protected] or [email protected].gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Comments Invited
The FAA invites 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-2020-0320;
Product Identifier 2019-CE-011-AD'' at the beginning of your comments.
The FAA specifically invites comments on the overall regulatory,
economic, environmental, and energy aspects of this NPRM. The FAA will
consider all comments received by the closing date and may amend this
NPRM because of those comments.
The FAA will post all comments received, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal information you provide.
The FAA will also post a report summarizing each substantive verbal
contact received about this NPRM.
Discussion
The FAA has received reports from McCauley that an unapproved
variant idler gear bearing, part number (P/N) A-20028, was installed on
certain governors during production between January 31, 2017, and
September 27, 2018, and may have been installed on governors in service
after January 31, 2017. The unapproved variant of the idler gear
bearing does not conform to McCauley drawing requirements.
All models of McCauley governors have an idler gear bearing with P/
N A-20028 installed; however, the unapproved variant of the bearing can
be identified by part marking ``BA-59.'' The non-conforming idler gear
bearing could have also been included in the idler gear assembly (idler
gear and bearing), P/N A-20107, or the governor overhaul kit, P/N PL-
20233 or PL-20234.
The non-conformity of the bearing may cause premature failure of
the idler gear bearing. Early symptoms that the idler gear bearing may
fail include inability of the governor to hold the selected RPM,
hunting, surging, etc. An investigation identified 23 occurrences of
airplane operation problems related to erratic governor behavior that
may have resulted from the unapproved idler gear bearing.
This condition, if not addressed, could cause the idler gear
bearing to fail. This failure could result in failure of the governor,
loss of propeller pitch control, engine and propeller over speed,
engine oil contamination, and loss of control.
Related Service Information Under 1 CFR Part 51
The FAA reviewed McCauley Alert Service Bulletin ASB273C, dated
January 30, 2019. The service bulletin contains model and serial number
information to identify the affected governors. The service bulletin
also contains procedures for removing the governor from the engine,
inspecting the governor for the unapproved variant idler gear bearing,
replacing the idler gear bearing or idler gear assembly if necessary,
overhauling the governor if necessary, and installing a governor on the
engine. 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.
FAA's Determination
The FAA is proposing this AD because it evaluated all relevant
information and determined the unsafe
[[Page 19400]]
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 replacing an affected governor with
a governor eligible for installation.
Differences Between This Proposed AD and the Service Information
The service bulletin contains maintenance procedures for inspecting
an affected governor and any subsequent corrective actions required to
ensure the governor is eligible for continued service and installation.
The service bulletin also references other McCauley service documents
for additional maintenance actions to include overhaul of the governor.
However, this NPRM only proposes replacing the affected governor with a
governor eligible for installation.
Costs of Compliance
The FAA estimates that this proposed AD affects 2,500 governors as
installed in airplanes of U.S. registry.
The FAA estimates the following costs to comply with this proposed
AD:
Estimated Costs
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost on U.S.
Action Labor cost Parts cost Cost per product operators
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Remove affected governor....... 1 work-hour x $85 per Not Applicable... $85 $212,500
hour = $85.
Install an governor............ 1 work-hour x $85 per See table below.. Variable Unknown
hour = $85.
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An operator has the option to pay a service center to inspect their
existing governor and replace the idler gear bearing if necessary or
pay to have their existing governor overhauled. An operator has the
option to purchase a factory new governor or an overhauled governor, a
feathering/syncing governor or a non-feathering/syncing governor. The
FAA has no way of knowing what option an operator may take to obtain a
governor eligible for installation. Therefore, the FAA has no way of
determining the parts cost on U.S. operators. The following represents
the estimated parts cost associated with obtaining a governor.
Cost for an Eligible Governor
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Type of governor Cost of governor
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Factory new non-feathering/non-syncing governor...... $2,000
Factory new feathering/syncing governor.............. 9,000
Overhaul of existing non-feathering/non-syncing 1,000
governor............................................
Overhaul of existing feathering/syncing governor..... 3,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
According to the manufacturer, some of the costs of this proposed
AD may be covered under warranty, thereby reducing the cost impact on
affected individuals. The FAA does not control warranty coverage for
affected individuals. As a result, the FAA has included all costs in
our cost estimate.
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.
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.
Regulatory Findings
The FAA 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) 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.
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):
McCauley Propeller Systems: Docket No. FAA-2020-0320; Product
Identifier 2019-CE-011-AD.
(a) Comments Due Date
The FAA must receive comments by May 22, 2020.
(b) Affected ADs
None.
(c) Applicability
This AD applies to the McCauley Propeller Systems (McCauley)
governors specified in paragraphs (c)(1) or (2) of this AD and
[[Page 19401]]
installed on airplanes, certificated in any category.
(1) Models listed in table 2 of McCauley Alert Service Bulletin
No. ASB273C, dated January 30, 2019 (McCauley ASB273C) with a serial
number from 170061 through 180501, excluding the serial numbers
listed in table 1 of McCauley ASB273C.
(2) Models listed in table 2 of McCauley ASB273C, with any
serial number, that have an installation date after January 31,
2017, or an installation date that cannot be determined.
(d) Subject
Joint Aircraft System Component (JASC)/Air Transport Association
(ATA) of America Code 61, Propellers.
(e) Unsafe Condition
This AD was prompted by reports of an unapproved variant idler
gear bearing, McCauley part number (P/N) A-20028, installed on
governors. All models of McCauley governors have a bearing with P/N
A-20028 installed; however, the unapproved variant can be identified
with the part marking ``BA-59.'' The FAA is issuing this AD to
prevent failure of the idler gear bearing. This failure could result
in failure of the governor, loss of propeller pitch control, engine
and propeller over speed, engine oil contamination, and loss of
control of the airplane.
(f) Compliance
Unless already done, within 50 hours time-in-service after the
effective date of this AD or within 24 months after the effective
date of this AD, whichever occurs first, replace the governor with a
governor eligible for installation.
Note 1 to paragraph (f) of this AD: Any model McCauley governor
that is stamped with the letter B, as specified in the
Accomplishment Instructions in McCauley ASB273C, has already
complied with the requirements of this AD.
(g) Definition
For the purposes of this AD, a governor eligible for
installation is defined as a governor that does not have an idler
gear bearing with a part marking ``BA-59'' installed.
(h) Parts Installation Prohibition
As of the effective date of this AD, do not install on any
airplane a McCauley governor unless it is a governor eligible for
installation.
(i) Alternative Methods of Compliance (AMOCs)
(1) The Manager, Wichita ACO Branch, FAA, has the authority to
approve AMOCs for this AD, if requested using the procedures found
in 14 CFR 39.19. In accordance with 14 CFR 39.19, send your request
to your principal inspector or local Flight Standards District
Office, as appropriate. If sending information directly to the
manager of the certification office, send it to the attention of the
person identified in paragraph (l)(1) of this AD.
(2) Before using any approved AMOC, notify your appropriate
principal inspector, or lacking a principal inspector, the manager
of the local flight standards district office/certificate holding
district office.
(j) Related Information
(1) For more information about this AD, contact Thomas Teplik,
Aerospace Engineer, Wichita ACO Branch, 1801 Airport Road, Room 100,
Wichita, Kansas 67209; telephone: (316) 946-4196; fax: (316) 946-
4107; email: [email protected] or [email protected].
(2) For service information identified in this AD, contact
McCauley Propeller Systems, One Cessna Boulevard, P.O. Box 7704,
Wichita, Kansas 67277; telephone: (800) 621-7767 or (316) 831-4021;
email: [email protected]; internet: https://mccauley.txtav.com. You may view this service information at the
FAA, Policy and Innovation Division, 901 Locust, Kansas City,
Missouri 64106. For information on the availability of this material
at the FAA, call (816) 329-4148.
Issued on April 1, 2020.
Lance T. Gant,
Director, Compliance & Airworthiness Division, Aircraft Certification
Service.
[FR Doc. 2020-07168 Filed 4-6-20; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P
