Federal Aviation Administration September 27, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes, and A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting to determine if certain emergency escape slides/slide rafts (referred to as slide/rafts) are installed in certain crew/passenger doors; and, if so, performing a one-time inspection to determine if the electrical harnesses of the slide/rafts are properly routed, and rerouting the harnesses if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report that a slide/raft failed to deploy properly during a deployment test. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct improper routing of the electrical harnesses of certain slide/rafts, which could prevent proper deployment of the slide/rafts and delay evacuation of passengers and flightcrew during an emergency.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the lubrication passage and link assembly joint in the inboard and outboard flaps of the trailing edge for discrepancies, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD would require new inspections for cracking or severe wear of the bearings of the link assembly, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require inspecting any link assembly not previously inspected for damage and replacing it with a new assembly if necessary. This proposed AD also ends the existing repetitive inspections for certain airplanes, and extends the repetitive interval for the existing repetitive inspections and the compliance time for the corrective action on certain other airplanes. This proposed AD also provides an optional terminating action that would end the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from additional reports indicating fractured bearings of the link assembly joint in the inboard and outboard flaps of the trailing edge. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the bearings in the link assembly joint, which could result in separation of the inboard or outboard flap and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

This final rule amends the FAA's regulations on the crashworthiness of passenger and flight attendant seats on transport category airplanes used in part 121 passenger-carrying operations. This final rule requires those transport category airplanes type- certificated after January 1, 1958 which have not yet been manufactured that are used in part 121 passenger-carrying operations to have passenger and flight attendant seats that meet the current improved crashworthiness standards. This action is necessary because research, accident data, and analysis show that these improvements provide increased occupant protection in airplanes involved in impact- survivable accidents.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A318- 121 and A318-122 airplanes equipped with Pratt and Whitney PW6000 engines. These airplanes will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes, associated with engine size and torque load, which affect sudden engine stoppage. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This action modifies Restricted Area R-3004, Fort Gordon, GA, by vertically subdividing the airspace into two separate areas; R-3004A (surface to 7,000 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL)) and R-3004B (7,001 feet MSL to 16,000 feet MSL). This modification will not alter the existing lateral boundary or current upper limit of restricted airspace, or change the use of the area. The FAA is taking this action to allow for more efficient real-time utilization of the airspace during periods when only the lower segment of the restricted area is needed for military operations.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which modifies the legal description for Class D and Class E airspace at Salina Municipal Airport, KS.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which modifies the legal description for Class E Airspace; Lincoln, NE.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the stiffeners at left buttock line (LBL) and right buttock line (RBL) 6.15 for cracks; and replacement of both stiffeners with new, improved stiffeners if any stiffener is found cracked. This AD also allows replacement of both stiffeners at LBL and RBL 6.15 with new, improved stiffeners, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks in the stiffeners at LBL and RBL 6.15 on the rear spar of the wing center section. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the stiffeners at LBL and RBL 6.15, which could result in damage to the keel beam structure and consequently reduce the capability of the airplane to sustain flight loads.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 707 airplanes, and all Boeing Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM). The AFM revisions include instructions for monitoring the low pressure lights for the center tank fuel pumps, and a statement prohibiting the resetting of a tripped circuit breaker for a fuel pump in any tank. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent dry operation of the fuel pumps in the center fuel tank, which could result in high temperatures or sparks inside the fuel tank, ignition of fuel vapors, and consequent fire or explosion. We are also issuing this AD to prohibit the resetting of a tripped circuit breaker for a fuel pump in any tank, which could allow an electrical fault to override the protective features of the circuit breaker, and result in sparks inside the fuel tank, ignition of fuel vapors, and consequent fire or explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200 series airplanes. This AD requires inspecting to determine the serial numbers and flight cycles of the fuel jettison valves and removing certain valves as applicable. This AD also requires doing a one-time inspection for cracks of the remaining jettison valves and removing any cracked valves. This AD also requires modifying the diameters of the six attachment holes in the wing bottom skin panel before installing a new or serviceable jettison valve. This AD results from reports of fuel leaks in the fuel jettison system located on the wings. We are issuing this AD to prevent fuel leaks from the fuel jettison outlets, which could result in fuel vapors coming into contact with ignition sources, and consequent fire or explosion.