Department of Transportation August 5, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document provides the public notice that on July 23, 2021, Canadian National Railway (CN) petitioned the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to transition from phase 2 to phase 3 of a previously approved Test Program and associated temporary suspension of some visual track inspections. The Test Program is designed to test track inspection technologies (i.e., an autonomous track geometry measurement system) and new operational approaches to track inspections (i.e., combinations of autonomous inspection and traditional visual inspections).

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 is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -300, -800, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that certain oxygen supply solenoid valves are a potential source of increased flow resistance within the flightcrew oxygen system. This AD requires a special detailed inspection (flow test) of certain solenoid valves, and replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-841 and -941 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of missing or disbonded pressure seals on two thrust reverser (TR) translating cowls. This AD requires a one-time inspection of each thrust reverser for damage, seal bonding rework, and replacement of translating cowl pressure seals if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during an inspection of the flight deck escape hatches it was found that they were difficult to open from the inside, and several hatches were found impossible to open from the outside. Subsequent investigation revealed corrosion on the flight deck escape hatch mechanism due to condensation penetrating inside the mechanism. This AD requires replacing all affected flight deck escape hatches with serviceable hatches, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to issue a new AD to supersede emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-23-52, which applies to all Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW169 and AW189 helicopters. AD 2018-23-52 requires inspecting the nut, cotter pin, lock-wire, and hinge bracket connected to the tail rotor servo-actuator (TRA) feedback lever link, and each connection of the TRA feedback lever link, and repair if necessary. AD 2018-23-52 also requires applying a paint stripe or torque seal on the nut and reporting certain information. Since the FAA issued AD 2018-23- 52, the FAA has determined certain inspections and checks of the tail rotor duplex bearings (TR DB), installation of an improved TRA and TR DB, certain other actions, and applicable corrective actions are necessary to address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the TRA, repetitive inspections and checks of the TR DB, installation of an improved TRA and TR DB, repetitive installations and checks of thermal strips, replacement of improved TR DB (life limit), and applicable corrective actions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.