June 2018 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

These special conditions are issued for the Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) Model 700 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. This design feature is the installation of rechargeable lithium batteries. 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) Airbus Helicopters Model SA-365C, SA-365C1, and SA-365C2 helicopters. This AD requires establishing a life limit of 2,000 hours time-in-service (TIS) for the Starflex star/mast connecting bolt (bolt) and removing from service each bolt that exceeds its life limit. This AD is prompted by the discovery that the bolt's life limit was not included in helicopter maintenance records. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent an unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Austro Engine GmbH model E4 engines and for all model E4P engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of considerable wear on the timing chain on these engines. This proposed AD would require replacement of the timing chain and amending certain airplane flight manuals to limit use of windmill restarts. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.