Federal Aviation Administration April 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive position checks of the gas generator 2nd stage turbine blades on all Turbomeca Arriel 1B, 1D, 1D1, and 1S1 turboshaft engines. That AD also currently requires initial and repetitive replacements of 2nd stage turbines on 1B, 1D, and 1D1 engines only. This proposed AD revision would require the same actions, but would relax the compliance times for initially replacing 2nd stage turbines in Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 turboshaft engines. This proposed AD revision results from a request by Turbomeca to clarify the compliance times for 2nd stage turbine initial replacement on Arriel 1D, 1D1, and 1B turboshaft engines. We are proposing this AD revision to clarify and relax the AD compliance times for 2nd stage turbine initial replacement on Arriel 1B, 1D, and 1D1 turboshaft engines. We are also proposing this AD revision to prevent inflight engine shutdown and subsequent forced autorotation landing or accident.

This action removes the Class E5 Airspace at Paducah Farrington Airpark, KY, as there is no longer a Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) for Paducah Farrington Airpark requiring Class E5 airspace.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting emergency airworthiness directive (EAD) 2006-06-51 that we sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of GEAE CT7-8A turboshaft engines installed on Sikorsky S92 helicopters. This AD requires initial and repetitive inspections of the electrical chip detectors for the No. 3 bearing. This AD results from two failures of the No. 3 bearing in GEAE CT7-8A engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent failures of the No. 3 bearings and possible dual in-flight shutdowns of the engines.

This amendment amends Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, addition of new obstacles, or changes in 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.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Brantly International, Inc. (Brantly) model helicopters. This action requires certain inspections and measurements of the upper tail rotor vertical gearbox (gearbox), vertical shaft (shaft) and shaft housing (housing) and their associated parts; and of the intermediate gear box bushing (bushing). This amendment is prompted by an accident and an incident report of fatigue cracking of a shaft. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent fatigue cracking of a shaft, failure of a shaft, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for cracks and marks on the carbon blades of the ram air turbine (RAT), and replacement of the RAT with a new or serviceable RAT if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of three chord-wise cracks on the aft side of one carbon blade of a certain RAT. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks and/or marks on the RAT carbon blades, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the carbon blade, and consequent loss of the RAT as a source of hydraulic and electrical power in an emergency.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain transport category airplanes, identified above. This proposed AD would require installing a bonding jumper from the boost pump volute to the fuel tank structure, and related investigative/ corrective actions. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent point-contact arcing or filament heating in the fuel tank, which, in the event of a short or ground fault inside the fuel tank, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 737 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspection of the elevator tab inboard hinge support structure to detect fatigue cracking and corrective action if necessary. That AD also provides an optional terminating action. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability and would require new repetitive inspections. For airplanes having elevators with laminated rear spars, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for interlaminar corrosion, delamination, or disbonding in the rear spar, repetitive inspections for cracking in the spar web, and repair including related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. For airplanes having elevators with solid rear spars, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking in the spar web and repair including related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of cracks in the elevator rear spar web at the tab hinge bracket locations. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking, corrosion, interlaminar corrosion, delamination, and disbonding in the elevator rear spar, which may reduce elevator stiffness and lead to in-flight vibration. In-flight vibration may lead to elevator and horizontal stabilizer damage and reduced controllability of the airplane.

This action corrects an error in the geographic coordinates of a waypoint (WP) listed in the description of route T-210 in a final rule published in the Federal Register on March 27, 2006 (71 FR 15027), Airspace Docket No. 05-ASO-10. This action also makes an editorial change to the order of the points listed in the route description.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Gulfstream Model GIV-X and GV-SP series airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) by incorporating new procedures to follow in the event that the cockpit displays go blank or malfunction. This AD allows for the use of alternative AFM revisions for a certain subset of the existing applicability. This AD results from a report that all four of the cockpit flight panel display units simultaneously went blank during flight. We are issuing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew is advised of the appropriate procedures to follow in the event that the cockpit displays go blank or malfunction, which could result in a reduction of the flightcrew's situational awareness and possible loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. This AD requires reinforcing the fuselage at the emergency locator transmitter system's antenna area. This AD results from a report that certain structural provisions for an optional antenna are of insufficient strength. We are issuing this AD to prevent reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD requires performing a test of the bonding resistance between the engine fuel feed tube fitting and the front spar, applying sealant on a hex nut inside the dry bay, and performing any applicable corrective actions. This AD results from a report that the engine fuel feed tubes were found not electrically bonded to the front spar. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source from entering the fuel tank during a lightning strike event, which could cause a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747-200C and -200F series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections to find fatigue cracking in the upper chord of the upper deck floor beams, and repair if necessary. For certain airplanes, the existing AD also provides an optional repair/modification, which extends certain repetitive inspection intervals. This new AD reduces the compliance time for all initial inspections and reduces the repetitive interval for a certain inspection. This AD results from new reports of cracks in the upper deck floor beams occurring at lower flight cycles. We are issuing this AD to find and fix cracking in certain upper deck floor beams. Such cracking could extend and sever floor beams at a floor panel attachment hole location and could result in rapid decompression and loss of controllability of the airplane.

The FAA withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Model GV-SP series airplanes. The proposed AD would have required an inspection to determine the serial number of the anti-skid control unit (ACU) in the right electronics equipment rack, and replacement of the ACU with a new or serviceable ACU if necessary. Since the proposed AD was issued, we have received new data that indicate the identified unsafe condition has been corrected on all airplanes that would have been affected by the NPRM, and on all ACUs in the affected range of serial numbers. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Airbus A380- 800 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. Many of these novel or unusual design features are associated with the complex systems and the configuration of the airplane, including its full- length double deck. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards regarding a reinforced flightdeck bulkhead. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish an appropriate level of safety for a reinforced flightdeck bulkhead and are equivalent to the standards established by existing airworthiness regulations for the flightdeck door. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Airbus Model A380-800 airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, - 700C, and -800 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires replacing the point ``D'' splice fitting between windows number 1 and 2 with a new splice fitting; performing an eddy current inspection for cracking of the holes in the structure common to the new splice fitting, including doing any related investigative actions; and performing corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would add repetitive inspections for cracking of the skin just below each splice fitting, and related corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from full-scale fuselage fatigue testing on the splice fitting that failed prior to the design objective on Boeing Model 737-800 series airplanes, and a report of a cracked splice fitting on an operational airplane. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking of the existing fitting, which may result in cracking through the skin and consequent decompression of the flight cabin.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135BJ airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for missing fire blocking material on the left- and right-hand partitions of the forward baggage compartment door; replacing the seal on both partitions; and performing corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report indicating that certain airplanes were delivered with the fire blocking material missing and the seal improperly installed on the partitions of the forward baggage compartment door. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such discrepancies on the partitions of the forward baggage compartment door, which, in the event of a fire in the baggage compartment, could result in smoke propagating into the main cabin.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2005-05-20 that was sent previously to all known affected U.S. operators of certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747- 200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747SP, 747SR, 767-200, 767-300, 777- 200, 777-300, and 777-300ER series airplanes by individual notices. This AD requires modification of certain flight deck door electronic equipment. This AD results from a report indicating that this equipment is defective. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of this equipment, which could jeopardize flight safety.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 747 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the web of the station (STA) 2360 aft pressure bulkhead around the fastener heads in the critical fastener rows in the web lap joints, from the Y-chord to the inner ring; and repair if necessary. This proposed AD also would require a modification, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD results from analysis by the manufacturer that the radial lap splices of the STA 2360 aft pressure bulkhead are subject to widespread fatigue damage. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the bulkhead web at multiple sites along the radial lap splice, which could join together to form cracks of critical length, and result in rapid decompression and loss of control of the airplane.

This document proposes to modify Class E airspace at Fremont, MI. Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed for Fremont Municipal Airport, Fremont, MI. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. This action would increase the area of the existing controlled airspace for Fremont, MI.

These special conditions are issued for McDonnell Douglas DC- 8-72F airplanes modified by Avionics and Systems Integration Group, LLC. These modified airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. The modification incorporates the installation of Universal Avionics Systems Corporation EFI-600 Electronic Flight Instruments that perform critical functions. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for the protection of these systems from the effects of high-intensity radiated fields (HIRF). 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.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Aerospatiale Model ATR42 airplanes. This AD requires one-time inspections to detect discrepancies (e.g., cracking, loose/sheared fasteners, distortion) of the upper skin and rib feet of the outer wing boxes, and repair if necessary. This AD results from a report of cracking on the upper skin and ribs of the outer wing box on an in- service airplane. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct these discrepancies, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes, as listed above. That AD currently requires an initial general visual or dye penetrant inspection, repetitive dye penetrant inspections, and replacement, as necessary, of the rudder pedal bracket. This new AD also requires, for certain airplanes, replacing the rudder pedal bracket assemblies with new, improved parts, which terminates the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report of numerous cracked rudder pedal brackets found during inspections of certain affected airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the rudder pedal bracket assembly, which could result in the loss of rudder and braking control at either the captain's or first officer's position.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 757 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive measurements of the freeplay of each of the three power control units (PCUs) that move the rudder; repetitive lubrication of rudder components; and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a report of freeplay-induced vibration of the rudder. The potential for vibration of the control surface should be avoided because the point of transition from vibration to divergent flutter is unknown. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive vibration of the airframe during flight, which could result in divergent flutter and loss of control of the airplane.