AD/PHZL/84 Propeller Control Unit (Cth)

AIRWORTHINESS DIRECTIVE

For the reasons set out in the background section, the CASA delegate whose signature appears below issues the following Airworthiness Directive (AD) under subregulation 39.001(1) of CASR 1998.  The AD requires that the action set out in the requirement section (being action that the delegate considers necessary to correct the unsafe condition) be taken in relation to the aircraft or aeronautical product mentioned in the applicability section: (a) in the circumstances mentioned in the requirement section; and (b) in accordance with the instructions set out in the requirement section; and (c) at the time mentioned in the compliance section.

Propellers - Variable Pitch - Hartzell

AD/PHZL/84 Propeller Control Unit 1/2006

Applicability:

Hartzell Propeller Inc. model HD-E6C-3B/E13890K propellers with certain serial numbers of model D-1199-2 Propeller Control Units (PCU's) installed, as listed in Table 1 of this AD.

Note 1:  These propellers are installed on, but not limited to Fairchild Dornier GmbH 328-100 series aeroplanes.

Requirement:

1.    Perform an initial flight idle blade angle inspection, in accordance with paragraph 2A. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Hartzell Service Bulletin (SB) No. HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1, dated 20 December 2000 or later FAA approved revision on PCU’s listed by serial number in Table 1 of this AD.

Table 1.-Affected Serial Numbers, Model D-1199-2 PCU's

PCU-A-29	PCU-A-EFS140	PCU-A-EFS194	PCU-A-EFS234	PCU-A-EFS284
PCU-A-31	PCU-A-EFS141	PCU-A-EFS204	PCU-A-EFS236	PCU-A-EFS290
PCU-A-44	PCU-A-EFS144	PCU-A-EFS207	PCU-A-EFS239	PCU-A-EFS292
PCU-A-46	PCU-A-EFS152	PCU-A-EFS208	PCU-A-EFS242	PCU-A-EFS293
PCU-A-53	PCU-A-EFS155	PCU-A-EFS210	PCU-A-EFS244	PCU-A-EFS294
PCU-A-54	PCU-A-EFS158	PCU-A-EFS212	PCU-A-EFS245	PCU-A-EFS302
PCU-A-57	PCU-A-EFS160	PCU-A-EFS213	PCU-A-EFS246	PCU-A-EFS307
PCU-A-58	PCU-A-EFS162	PCU-A-EFS214	PCU-A-EFS249	PCU-A-EFS319
PCU-A-59	PCU-A-EFS165	PCU-A-EFS218	PCU-A-EFS250	PCU-A-EFS320
PCU-A-EFS101	PCU-A-EFS182	PCU-A-EFS220	PCU-A-EFS257	PCU-A-EFS326
PCU-A-EFS106	PCU-A-EFS184	PCU-A-EFS223	PCU-A-EFS261	PCU-A-EFS328
PCU-A-EFS109	PCU-A-EFS185	PCU-A-EFS224	PCU-A-EFS266	PCU-A-EFS330
PCU-A-EFS110	PCU-A-EFS187	PCU-A-EFS225	PCU-A-EFS268	PCU-A-EFS340
PCU-A-EFS111	PCU-A-EFS188	PCU-A-EFS226	PCU-A-EFS269	PCU-A-EFS347
PCU-A-EFS120	PCU-A-EFS192	PCU-A-EFS228	PCU-A-EFS271
PCU-A-EFS122	PCU-A-EFS193	PCU-A-EFS233	PCU-A-EFS279

2.    Remove PCU's that fail the inspection per requirement 1 of this AD and perform a Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul), in accordance with paragraphs 2.B. and 2.C. of the Accomplishment Instructions of Hartzell SB No. HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1 or later FAA approved revision, or replace with a serviceable PCU.

3.    Perform the flight idle blade angle inspection until the limiting time-since-overhaul or time-since-new is reached, as specified in Hartzell SB
HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1 or later FAA approved revisions.

4.    Remove PCU's that fail the inspection per requirement 3 of this AD and perform a Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul), in accordance with paragraphs 2.B. and 2.C. of Hartzell SB No. HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1 or later FAA approved revision, or replace with a serviceable PCU.

5.    Remove the PCU from service and perform a Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul), in accordance with paragraphs 2.B. and 2.C. of Hartzell SB
HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1 or later FAA approved revisions.

Optional Terminating Action

Replacement with a serviceable PCU is terminating action for the repetitive inspections specified in requirement 3 of this AD. For the purpose of this AD, a serviceable PCU is one that is not listed in Table 1 of this AD, or is one listed in Table 1 of this AD that has undergone a Major Periodic Inspection (overhaul) after
17 November 2000, in accordance with paragraphs 2.B. and 2.C. of Hartzell SB
HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1 or later FAA approved revisions.

Note 2:  FAA AD 2003-04-22 Amdt 39-13071 refers.

Compliance:

1 and 2.    At the next "2A" maintenance check, but no later than 600 hours time-in-service from the effective date of this AD.

3 and 4.    At each successive "4A" maintenance check, but not to exceed 1,200 hours time-in-service.

5.              Once the limiting time-since-overhaul or time-since-new specified in Hartzell SB HD-SB-61-025, Revision 1 or later FAA approved revision is reached.

This Airworthiness Directive becomes effective on 19 January 2006.

Background: This AD 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 non-destructive 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 this AD are intended to prevent below-limit flight idle propeller blade angles that, if not corrected, could result in degraded aircraft performance and control.

James Coyne
Delegate of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority

30 November 2005