Federal Aviation Administration May 23, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2023-07-51, which applied to all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters and which was previously sent to all known U.S. owners and operators of those helicopters. Emergency AD 2023-07-51 required inspecting for a gap between the main rotor (M/R) pitch link upper rod end assembly bearing and the pitch control lever assembly and, depending on the results, replacing or re-identifying the M/R pitch link upper rod end assembly. Emergency AD 2023-07-51 also prohibited installing an affected M/R pitch link upper rod end assembly. Since the FAA issued Emergency AD 2023-07-51, it has been determined that a gap between the M/R pitch link upper rod end assembly bearing and the pitch control lever assembly that is within a certain dimension tolerance is acceptable. This AD continues to require the actions in Emergency AD 2023-07-51, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference in this AD, but allows a gap of less than 0.5 mm. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPS) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Honeywell International Inc. Model AS907-1-1A and AS907-2-1G engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of compressor surge, including a dual engine compressor surge, during takeoff climb out through a steep temperature inversion, causing a loss of engine thrust control. This proposed AD would require either the replacement of a certain electronic control unit (ECU) software version installed on AS907-1-1A engines with updated software or the replacement of certain ECUs installed on AS907-1-1A engines with ECUs eligible for installation. This proposed AD would also require the replacement of certain ECUs installed on AS907-2-1G engines with ECUs eligible for installation. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Aviation (Dassault) Model Falcon 6X airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with flight-envelope protections, in icing and non-icing conditions, that use high-incidence protection to automatically advance throttles when the airplane angle of attack (AoA) reaches a predetermined value. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion nor omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-21-11, which applies to all Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) Model PW4074D, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 engines with a low- pressure compressor (LPC) fan hub, part number (P/N) 51B821 or P/N 52B521, installed. AD 2018-21-11 requires performing repetitive eddy current inspections (ECIs) and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) for cracks in certain LPC fan hubs and removing LPC fan hubs from service that fail any inspection. Since the FAA issued AD 2018-21-11, the FAA determined that affected LPC fan hub assemblies can meet the published certificated life limit without the need for the required repetitive FPI inspections in AD 2018-21-11, and the repetitive ECI inspections require shortened intervals. Based on a report of another incident, the FAA determined that the unsafe condition is likely to exist or develop on additional LPC fan hub assemblies and PW model engines. This proposed AD would expand the applicability to include Model PW4074, PW4074D, PW4077, PW4077D, PW4084D, PW4090, and PW4090-3 engines with any part number LPC fan hub assembly installed and would require performing repetitive ECIs of the LPC fan hub assembly and, depending on the results of the inspections, removal of the LPC fan hub assembly from service. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.