Airworthiness Directives; Dowty Propellers R408 Series Propellers

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: Three in-service propellers have been found to have blades which have lost the bonded metallic leading edge guard. If the leading edge guard comes off as the propeller turns, it could cause secondary damage to aircraft or injury to personnel. For the reasons described above, EASA issued Emergency AD 2007-0223-E to require repetitive inspections of the blade Leading Edge (L/E) guards for correct bonding until they accumulate more than 1,200 flight hours (FH) time in service. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI, which could result in the loss of the bonded metallic leading edge guard, and could result in damage to the airplane or injury to personnel.