A-02-003
NTSB Safety Recommendation — Aviation
Recommendation text
The NTSB recommends that the Federal Aviation Administration: For all Hamilton Sundstrand 568F propeller blades with serial numbers 1 through 1,698: (1) Require the immediate inspection and repair (including removal of the compression wrap and any existing corrosion, a nondestructive inspection for cracks, shot peening of the radius, and installation of an appropriate corrosion protection system) of all blades that have been in service more than 6 years or 11,700 hours; (2) Immediately determine a conservative threshold for the inspection and repair of the remaining blades that is appropriately less than 6 years or 11,700 hours in service, taking into account the uncertainties in the failure mechanism (including the initiation and growth rate for the pitting and fatigue cracking); (3) Require the immediate inspection and repair of those propeller blades that have already reached or exceeded the threshold determined as a result of (2), above; and (4) For those propeller blades that are not immediately inspected and repaired in accordance with (1) and (3), above, require that they be inspected and repaired as soon as possible, but no later than the threshold determined as a result of (2), above. (Urgent)
In plain language (FlightFinder summary)
The NTSB asks the Federal Aviation Administration to require immediate inspection and repair of all Hamilton Sundstrand 568F propeller blades serial numbers 1 through 1,698 that have been in service more than 6 years or 11,700 hours, including removal of corrosion and crack checking. For the remaining blades, the FAA must determine a conservative, lower threshold for inspection and repair, and then require immediate action for any blades already at that threshold. Blades not yet due must be inspected and repaired as soon as possible but no later than the new threshold.
This plain-language summary is written by FlightFinder to explain the recommendation above. It is not the official wording — the verbatim NTSB text is quoted above.
Details
| Status | Closed - Unacceptable Action |
|---|---|
| Mode | Aviation |
| Closed | Jun 13, 2003 |
| NTSB number | DCA02WA018 |
| Addressees | FAA |
External links
NTSB safety recommendations are advisory; addressees are not legally required to adopt them. Source: NTSB CAROL (public domain).