Overview

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Airworthiness Directive (AD) AD/PHZL/75 in 2003 under the authority of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998. This AD targets Hartzell 2 Bladed “Y” shank propellers equipped with specific aluminium hub part numbers and serial numbers that have been identified as having potential quality issues from their supplier, which could lead to cracks and subsequent failure of the propeller. The AD mandates the removal of these specified propeller hubs from service to address the unsafe condition identified. The directive applies to specific types of aircraft, including those with Textron Lycoming 540 series engines rated at 300HP or higher, Pilatus Britten Norman or Britten Norman BN-2 series aircraft, aircraft certified in the acrobatic category, and any aircraft exposed to acrobatic manoeuvres or used for agricultural operations. The compliance period varies depending on the aircraft type, with a requirement to remove the hubs within 50 or 100 hours of propeller hub time since new or twelve months from the effective date of the AD, whichever occurs first.

Scope and Application

The Airworthiness Directive AD/PHZL/75, issued under the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, applies to specific Hartzell 2 Bladed "Y" shank propellers equipped with aluminium hubs bearing the part numbers D-6522-1, D-6522-2, D-6529-1, and D-6559-3 and having serial numbers listed in Table 1 of the directive. This directive mandates the replacement of specified propeller hubs to address a quality issue identified by the manufacturer, which could potentially lead to cracks and propeller failure. The directive applies to aircraft where these propellers are installed, including Piper PA-32 series aircraft with Textron Lycoming 540 series engines rated at 300HP or higher, Pilatus Britten Norman or Britten Norman BN-2 series aircraft, aircraft certified in the acrobatic category, and those routinely exposed to acrobatic manoeuvres or used for agricultural operations. Compliance with the directive requires the removal of applicable Hartzell aluminium hubs within a specified timeframe based on propeller hub time or from the directive's effective date, as outlined in the compliance section. The directive does not explicitly state any exclusions but references FAA AD 2003-01-03 Amdt 39-13014 for additional guidance.

Key Provisions

This Airworthiness Directive (AD), issued under subregulation 39.1 (1) of the Civil Aviation Regulations 1998, mandates specific actions to address the unsafe condition identified with certain Hartzell propeller hubs. The AD applies to Hartzell 2 Bladed “Y” shank propellers equipped with aluminium hubs bearing specific part numbers (D-6522-1, D-6522-2, D-6529-1, and D-6559-3) and serial numbers listed in Table 1 (paragraphs 1 and 2). The primary requirement (paragraph 3) is to remove the specified hubs from service in accordance with Hartzell ASB HC-ASB-61-259. Compliance timelines are stipulated: within 50 hours of propeller hub time since new or 12 months from the AD’s effective date, whichever comes first, for certain high-risk aircraft (paragraph 4(a) to (e)); and within 100 hours of propeller hub time since new or 12 months from the AD’s effective date, whichever comes first, for other aircraft (paragraph 4(f)). Entities and individuals subject to this AD, such as aircraft operators and maintenance providers, must ensure that the specified propeller hubs are removed from service and replaced as per the directive. This includes adhering to the instructions provided in Hartzell ASB HC-ASB-61-259 and ensuring that the hubs listed in Table 1 are not reinstalled. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in significant safety risks, including potential propeller failure mid-flight. Breaches of this AD can lead to enforcement actions. While the AD itself does not specify penalties, violations of civil aviation regulations, such as those pertaining to airworthiness directives, can result in civil penalties. The maximum penalty for a corporation can be up to $1,080,000, and for an individual, it can be up to $216,000, as per section 339 of the Civil Aviation Act 1988. Additionally, non-compliance may lead to the suspension or revocation of aircraft operating certificates, further impacting the ability to legally operate the affected aircraft.