Federal Aviation Administration January 5, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-524 series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive borescope insepctions of the head section and meterpanel assembly of the combustion liner, and replacement, if necessary, with serviceable parts. In addition, that AD allows an optional installation of a front combustion liner with a strengthened head section as a terminating action to the inspection requirements. This AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the head section and meterpanel assembly of the combustion liner, and replacement if necessary with serviceable parts. This AD also requires reduction of the inspection intervals of certain RB211-524 engine models that have not been repaired to RR Field Repair Scheme FRS5367/B, and a mandatory terminating action to be completed by a certain date. This AD results from five events that are directly attributed to combustor head breakup and meterpanel failure which were found at overhaul inspection. At least one of these events resulted in a combustion case burn-through. We are issuing this AD to prevent engine combustion liner deterioration, which can result in combustion liner breakup, case burn-through, and engine fire.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. That proposed AD would have required a one-time inspection of the clevis end of the vertical tie rods that support the center stowage bins to measure the exposed thread, installation of placards that advise of weight limits for certain electrical racks, a one-time inspection and records check to determine the amount of weight currently installed in those electrical racks, corrective actions, and replacement of the vertical tie rods for the center stowage bins or electrical racks with new improved tie rods, as applicable. This new action revises the proposed rule by revising the applicability to include additional airplanes. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of the vertical tie rods supporting certain electrical racks and the center stowage bins, which could cause the center stowage bins or electrical racks to fall onto passenger seats below during an emergency landing, impeding an emergency evacuation or injuring passengers. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require installing and testing an updated version of the operational program software of the flight control computers. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of an airplane pitching up with rapidly decreasing indicated airspeed after the flightcrew set a new altitude into the autopilot. We are proposing this AD to prevent anomalous autopilot operation that produces a hazardous combination of airplane attitude and airspeed, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 727-200 series airplanes equipped with a No. 3 cargo door. This proposed AD would require 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 proposed AD provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking at the forward, lower corner frame and lower beam of the No. 3 cargo door. We are proposing 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 proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-300 and -400ER series airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the in-flight entertainment cooling card, located in the P50 card file in the main equipment center, with a new, improved cooling card. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of an improperly designed component on the in-flight entertainment (IFE) cooling card, which may cause the IFE cooling system to incorrectly interpret signals from airplane system interfaces. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the IFE cooling card to configure itself correctly in response to input signals from airplane system interfaces during a forward cargo fire, which could result in the IFE cooling fan causing smoke to penetrate occupied areas of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application to impose and use, PFC revenue at Friedman Memorial Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 40117 and part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158).

These special conditions are issued for the Raytheon Model 4000 Horizon airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with side-facing single-occupant seats. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing airplanes listed above. This AD requires repetitive detailed inspections of the midspar web of the inboard and/or outboard struts for cracking, disbonding, or buckling; repetitive detailed inspections of the midspar stiffeners for any crack or fracture; related investigative actions; and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports of cracking in the midspar web. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the midspar assembly, which could result in the loss of the midspar assembly load path, and could, combined with the loss of the nacelle station 180 bulkhead load path, lead to the separation of the engine from the airplane.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Airbus Model A319 and A320-200 series airplanes, that currently requires repetitive inspections to detect loose, missing, or discrepant rivets in specified areas of the door frames of the overwing emergency exits; measurement of the grip length of all rivets in the specified areas; and corrective action if necessary, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This new amendment also requires an inspection for correct dimensions of the interior countersinks of the rivet holes, and related corrective action. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loose, missing, or discrepant rivets, which could lead to reduced structural integrity of the door frames of the overwing emergency exits. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.