Federal Aviation Administration February 10, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 600N helicopters. That AD currently requires certain inspections of both upper tailboom attachments, nutplates, and angles for a crack or thread damage, and repairing or replacing any cracked or damaged part. Also, that AD requires replacing certain tailboom attachment bolts, adding a washer to each bolt, and modifying both upper access covers. This action would require installing six additional inspection holes in the aft fuselage skin panels and inspecting the upper and lower tailboom attachment fittings, the upper longerons, and the angles and nutplates for cracks. Also, the AD would provide a terminating action of modifying the fuselage aft section to strengthen the tailboom attachments and longerons. This proposal is prompted by an analysis that shows that certain tailboom attachments and longerons may develop cracks. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent failure of a tailboom attachment, loss of the tailboom, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), as required by the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000, established the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) in March 2001. The NPOAG was formed to provide continuing advice and counsel with respect to commercial air tour operations over and near national parks. This notice informs the public of two vacancies on the NPOAG (now the NPOAG Aviation Rulemaking Committee) for members representing environmental interests and invites interested persons to apply to fill the vacancies.

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. That AD currently requires replacing certain main or combiner gearboxes with airworthy gearboxes. Further investigation has shown that the main gearbox is not affected, and this action would require replacing a certain combiner gearbox with a modified airworthy gearbox. This proposal is prompted by a report of a freewheel unit slipping resulting in an engine overspeed and shutdown. Also, this proposal is prompted by the conclusion of the investigation, which finds the freewheel slippage is due to the surface treatment applied to certain freewheel rollers in the combiner gearbox. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent an engine overspeed, an engine shutdown, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A119 helicopters. This proposal would require visually inspecting each main transmission support fitting (fitting) attachment bolt (bolt) for a fracture, a crack, or looseness, and verifying the torque on each fitting bolt. This proposal is prompted by two incidents of fatigue failure of the bolts that secure the transmission rear support fittings to the helicopter. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to detect a fracture, a crack, or looseness of a fitting bolt, and prevent fatigue failure of a fitting bolt and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing transport category airplanes listed above. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracks of the upper surface of the aft lower spar web of the inboard and outboard struts, as applicable; and repetitive inspections for cracks of the upper surface of the intermediate web bay of the aft lower spar. This proposed AD would also require repetitive inspections and torque checks of the bolts common to the aft lower spar chords and the fitting of the rear engine mount bulkhead for missing, loose, or fractured bolts, as applicable; and corrective action, if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking in the aft lower spar web and reports of missing and fractured bolts. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the aft lower spar web, and to prevent missing, loose, or fractured bolts common to the aft lower spar chords and the fitting of the rear engine mount bulkhead, which could result in the loss of the aft lower spar load path and reduced structural capability of the pylon, which may result in the separation of the engine from the airplane.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for extension of the currently approved collection. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on September 10, 2004, page 54840.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) by revising Class E airspace at Nevada, MO. A review of the Class E airspace area extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Nevada, MO, revealed it does not reflect the current Nevada Municipal Airport airport reference point (ARP) nor the correct location of the Nevada nondirectional radio beacon (NDB) and is not in compliance with established airspace criteria. Extensions to this airspace area are enlarged and modified to conform to FAA Orders. The intended effect of this rule is to provide controlled airspace of appropriate dimensions to protect aircraft departing from and executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) to Nevada Municipal Airport.