Department of Transportation February 12, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was published November 13, 2012. In that rulemaking, the FAA proposed to amend the maintenance regulations for domestic, flag, and supplemental operations, and commuter and on-demand operations for aircraft type certificated with a passenger seating configuration of 10 seats or more (excluding any pilot seat). It would require these operators to develop policies, procedures, methods, and instructions for performing contract maintenance that are acceptable to the FAA and to include them in their maintenance manuals. It would also require the operators to provide a list to the FAA of all persons with whom they contract their maintenance. At the behest of several of their FAA-certificated air carrier members, Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) requested that the FAA extend the comment period closing date to allow time to adequately analyze the NPRM and prepare comments.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority for Nashville International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 212 helicopters and adopting requirements for Bell Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B and 210 helicopters with certain part-numbered main rotor hub inboard strap fittings (fittings). This AD requires magnetic particle inspecting (MPI) the fittings for a crack, and if a crack exists, replacing the fittings with airworthy fittings. This AD is prompted by reports of additional cracked fittings and the determination that additional part-numbered fittings may not have been manufactured in accordance with approved manufacturing processes and controls. These actions are intended to identify a crack in the fitting, which may lead to the fitting's failure, loss of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Dassault Aviation Model Mystere-Falcon 50 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a manufacturer revision to the airplane maintenance manual (AMM) that introduces new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate new or revised maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300- 600 series airplanes); and Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This AD requires modifying the electrical control circuits of the inner, center, and trim tank pumps, as applicable. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for DG Flugzeugbau GmbH Model DG-1000T gliders equipped with Solo Kleinmotoren Model 2350 C engines. 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 a material defect of the propeller shaft, most likely caused by a manufacturing error. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Schweizer Aircraft Corporation (Schweizer) Model 269D and Model 269D Configuration A helicopters. The type certificate for these models is currently held by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky). This AD requires inspecting the aft fuselage assembly in the area around the attachment point of the horizontal stabilizer, including the paint, for a crack. This AD also requires inspecting the tailboom interior support structure, and if necessary, installing an inspection panel kit in the aft fuselage assembly, and installing doublers in the stabilizer support brackets. This AD is prompted by reports of loose horizontal stabilizers and cracks in the stabilizer support structure for the extruded tailboom. The actions are intended to prevent separation of the horizontal stabilizer from the helicopter and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pacific Aerospace Limited Models FU24-954 and FU24A-954 airplanes. 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 aircraft operating outside the aircraft aft center of gravity (C of G) limits during parachute-drop operations. Exceeding C of G limits could result in loss of control of the aircraft. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.