Department of Transportation June 7, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed revision of an existing airworthiness directive (AD). The existing AD applies to certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes. That NPRM would have extended the compliance time for the follow-on inspection after accomplishment of the modification required by the existing AD. Since the issuance of the NPRM, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has approved an alternative method of compliance for the existing AD using a new version of the service bulletin that provides an acceptable level of safety. Accordingly, the proposed rule is withdrawn.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400, -401, and -402 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections to detect discrepancies of the attachment fittings of the outboard flap front spar at flap track Number 4 and Number 5 locations, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires eventual replacement of the attachment fittings as terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by the discovery of several airplanes that have loose flap front spar attachment fittings at flap track Number 4 and Number 5 locations. We are issuing this AD to prevent the attachment fittings from becoming detached, and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes equipped with a No. 3 cargo door. This AD requires repetitive detailed and high frequency eddy current inspections for cracking of the forward, lower corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, and corrective actions if necessary. The AD provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of cracking at the forward, lower corner frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the forward, lower corner frame and forward end of the lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door, which could result in failure of the affected door stops, loss of the cargo door, and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all GROB-WERKE (GROB) Model G120A airplanes. This AD requires you to replace the main landing gear front and rear spherical bearings with improved spherical bearings. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Germany. We are issuing this AD to replace front and rear main landing gear bearings that are susceptible to damage when exposed to high axial loads, which could result in failure of the landing gear bearing. This failure could lead to loss of control on landing.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all airplanes equipped with Precise Flight, Inc. (Precise Flight) Models SVS I and SVS IA standby vacuum systems (SVS) installed under certain supplemental type certificates or through field approval. This AD requires you to replace the airplane flight manual supplement (AFMS) in the airplane flight manual with the appropriate revision and install placards as defined in the AFMS, upgrade the Model SVS I or SVS IA SVS to the Model VI SVS, and add the instructions for continued airworthiness (ICA) to the maintenance schedule for the aircraft. This AD results from several reports of failed shuttle control valves of the standby vacuum system (SVS) and one report of an airplane crash with a fatality in which improper use of the SVS was a factor. We are issuing this AD to correct problems with the SVS before failure or malfunction during instrument flight rules (IFR) flight that can lead to pilot disorientation and loss of control of the aircraft.