Airworthiness Directive 03-16689
one-timeAirworthiness Directives; Hartzell Propeller, Inc., McCauley Propeller Systems, Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Company, Inc., and Raytheon Aircraft Company Propellers
What this AD requires
The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Hartzell Propeller, Inc., McCauley Propeller Systems, Sensenich Propeller Manufacturing Company, Inc., and Raytheon Aircraft Company (formerly Beech Aircraft Corporation) propellers returned to service by T and W Propellers, Inc., of Chino, CA. This AD requires maintenance actions amounting to an overhaul of the affected propellers. This AD is prompted by the results of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation of a failed propeller blade and subsequent inspections of various propeller models returned to service by T and W Propellers, Inc. We are issuing this AD to detect unsafe conditions that could result in separation of a propeller blade and loss of control of the airplane.
Which aircraft AD 03-16689 applies to
Applies only to specific propellers (identified by serial number in the AD, not reproduced in this excerpt) returned to service by T and W Propellers, Inc. of Chino, CA; requires maintenance actions amounting to an overhaul due to unsafe conditions found in T&W's repair/overhaul work (corrosion in blade bearing bore, missing corrosion protection, cadmium plating over corrosion pits, poor cadmium plating and corrosion in the hub, unapproved extra phenolic washers, deteriorated O-ring not replaced, failure to properly shot peen parts).
Whether AD 03-16689 actually applies to your aircraft (by serial and installed parts) and whether it’s already complied with comes from that aircraft’s records.
How AD compliance is recorded
A valid compliance record (14 CFR 43.9) states:
Tailplate reads a tail number’s logbooks and matches every applicable AD — including this one — to its compliance evidence, with recurring next-due dates computed.
Look up a tail number →Read the full directive (Federal Register)Applicability is derived from the FAA directive corpus and is advisory, not a legal airworthiness determination. Compliance is established only from an aircraft’s actual records.