Department of Transportation September 13, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Continental Motors, Inc. (CMI) IO-520, TSIO-520, and IO-550 series reciprocating engines, with certain replacement parts manufacturer approval (PMA) SAP investment cast cylinder assemblies installed. The existing AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections and compression tests to detect cracks in those cylinders. Since we issued that AD, we became aware of additional engines that need to be added to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to prevent the separation of the cylinder head, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain General Electric Company (GE) GE90-76B, -85B, -90B, -94B, -110B1, and - 115B turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of distress of certain stage 1 high-pressure turbine (HPT) stator shrouds due to accelerated corrosion and oxidation, including one engine in- flight shutdown (IFSD) caused by failure of the HPT stator shrouds. This AD requires initial and repetitive on-wing 360-degree borescope inspections (BSIs) for corrosion and oxidation of stage 1 HPT stator shrouds. If a shroud is found to be distressed, this AD requires reinspection at a reduced interval or removal from service before further flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of stage 1 HPT stator shrouds, resulting in an IFSD of one or more engines, loss of thrust control, and damage to the airplane.

We are superseding revised Airworthiness Directive (AD) 76-12- 07 for all Bell Model 204B and certain serial-numbered Model 205A-1 helicopters with a certain tail rotor pitch control chain (chain) installed. AD 76-12-07 required visually inspecting the chain to detect a crack in the link segments and, for affected Model 205A-1 helicopters, replacing the chain and cable control system with a push- pull control system. This new AD requires, for Bell Model 204B, inspecting certain chains at specified intervals, revising the inspection procedures, installing a tail rotor cable and chain damper kit (damper kit), and revising the maintenance manual or Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICAs) to include the inspection intervals. This new AD also requires, for certain Bell Model 205A-1 helicopters, replacing the chain and cable control system with an airworthy tail rotor push-pull control system kit. This AD was prompted by the rapid growth of a crack leading to premature chain failure. The actions are intended to prevent failure of the chain, loss of tail rotor blade pitch control, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N, SA- 365N1, AS-365N2, AS 365 N3, and SA-366G1 helicopters. This AD requires inspecting the collective pitch lever for correct locking and unlocking conditions. This AD was prompted by two separate reports of inadvertent collective pitch lever locking and unlocking. The actions of this AD are intended to detect an incorrectly adjusted collective pitch lever, which could result in loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.27 Mark 050 airplanes, and Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of loose nuts on contactors in the electrical power center (EPC), and in some cases, burned contactors. This AD requires inspecting and, if necessary, adjusting, the torque values of nuts on circuit breakers, contactors, and terminal blocks of the EPC and battery relay panel. This AD also requires inspecting to determine if certain parts are installed, and installing the parts if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct loose nuts, which could result in arcing and potentially an onboard fire, possibly resulting in damage to the airplane and injury to occupants or maintenance personnel.