Federal Aviation Administration June 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This AD requires modifying the fuel boost pump container of the center tank. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent exposing the fuel pump container vapor area to electrical arcing during a fuel pump motor case or connector burn through, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

This document corrects the docket number to a proposed rule published in the Federal Register of Thursday, June 14, 2007, regarding Requirements for Amateur Rocket Activities.

On January 30, 2007, the FAA issued a direct final rule, ``Inspection Authorization 2-Year Renewal,'' which amended the renewal period for inspection authorizations and requested comments. This document responds to the comments received and confirms the effective date of the rule.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47107(h)(2), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the County of Ware to waive the requirement that approximately 0.102acres of airport property, located at the WaycrossWare County Airport, be used for aeronautical purposes.

The FAA is notifying the public of the outcome of our periodic review of existing regulations. This notice summarizes the public comments we received and our responses to them. This action is part of our effort to make our regulatory program more effective and less burdensome.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

This action proposes special conditions for the Adam Aircraft, Model A700 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with aft mounted engine fire protection. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed 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 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the Portland International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On December 13, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Portland International Airport under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On June 7, 2007, the FAA approved the Portland International Airport noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program were approved.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eclipse Aviation Corporation (Eclipse) Model EA500 airplanes. This AD requires you to incorporate information into the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual (AFM) that will require operation only in day visual flight rules (VFR), allow only a VFR flight plan, and maintain operation with two pilots. This AD is being issued because of three instances of loss of primary airspeed indication due to freezing condensation within the pitot system. The loss of air pressure in the pitot system could cause the stall warning to become unreliable and the stick pusher, overspeed warning, and autopilot to not function. The concern is heightened by the aerodynamic characteristics of the Eclipse Model EA500 airplane, which relies on the stall warning and the stick pusher to alert the pilot prior to the loss of aircraft control. The standby airspeed is reliable and not affected by this failure mode. A temporary AFM revision prohibits operation in instrument meteorological conditions (IMC), requires two pilots, and limits the airspeed and altitude envelope if the event occurs in flight. The AFM limitations and FAA operational rules allow Model EA500 flight crews to file an instrument flight rule (IFR) flight plan even though the airplane is not approved for flight in IMC. This potentially causes an undue workload burden and confusion when the pilot has to refuse any instructions that take them into IMC. We are issuing this AD to prevent an unsafe condition when Air Traffic Control's (ATC's) ability to maintain traffic separation is compromised because an airplane on an IFR flight plan cannot accept a flight plan into IMC.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A300 airplanes and Model A310 airplanes, and certain Airbus Model A300-600 series airplanes. The original NPRM would have superseded an existing AD that currently requires an inspection of the wing and center fuel tanks to determine if certain P-clips are installed and corrective action if necessary; an inspection of electrical bonding points of certain equipment in the center fuel tank for the presence of a blue coat and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; and installation of new bonding leads and electrical bonding points on certain equipment in the wing, center, and trim fuel tanks, as necessary. The original NPRM proposed to require, for certain airplanes, installation of bonding on an additional bracket. The original NPRM resulted from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This new action revises the original NPRM by adding a requirement, for certain airplanes, to modify the fuel/defuel valves on the left-hand wing. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to ensure continuous electrical bonding protection of equipment in the wing, center, and trim fuel tanks and to prevent damage to wiring in the wing and center fuel tanks, due to failed P-clips used for retaining the wiring and pipes, which could result in a possible fuel ignition source in the fuel tanks.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This proposed AD would require a one-time inspection of each fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) wire harness connector for corrosion of the shield-to-backshell connection, corrosion on the ground jumper, and damage to the ground jumper; a loop resistance test of each FQIS wire harness; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of corrosion of the out-tank wire harness of the spar connector backshell for the FQIS. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion of the out-tank wire harness, which could prevent correct grounding of the lightning shield and result in total loss of the electrical grounding between the lightning shield and the airplane structure. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a fire in the auxiliary power unit air intake. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Boeing Model 747-400, -400D, and -400F series airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to require the flightcrew to maintain certain minimum fuel levels in the center fuel tanks, and to prohibit the use of the horizontal stabilizer fuel tank. This new AD requires installing new integrated display system (IDS) software; and also requires revising the AFM to include procedures to prevent dry operation of the center wing and horizontal stabilizer fuel tanks, for maintaining minimum fuel levels, and for de-fueling fuel tanks. For certain airplanes, this new AD also requires removing certain program pin ground wires of the IDS. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340- 200, and A340-300 series airplanes; and Model A340-541 and -642 airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitively resetting the display units (DUs) for the electronic instrument system (EIS), either by switching them off and back on again or by performing a complete electrical shutdown of the airplane. This new AD requires installing new software, which would end the actions required by the existing AD. This new AD also adds additional airplanes that may be placed on the U.S. Register in the future. This AD results from an incident in which all of the DUs for the EIS went blank simultaneously during flight. We are issuing this AD to prevent automatic reset of the DUs for the EIS during flight and consequent loss of data from the DUs, which could reduce the ability of the flightcrew to control the airplane during adverse flight conditions.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Model GIV-X, GV, and GV-SP series airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manuals (AFMs) of those airplanes, and doing repetitive functional checks of the forward water drain/supply valves and applicable corrective actions. This AD also provides for optional terminating action for the repetitive functional checks. This AD results from reports of failed forward water drain/ supply valves on numerous airplanes, and reports of ice striking the wing-to-body fairings and engine nose cowls of several airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent leakage from failed water drain/supply valves allowing the build-up of ice on the airplane, which could separate and strike the airplane structure aft of the failed valves; become ingested by a propulsion engine; or become a hazard to persons or property on the ground.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 767-200 and 767-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require reworking certain duct assemblies in the environmental control system (ECS). This proposed AD results from reports of duct assemblies in the ECS with burned Boeing Material Specification (BMS) 8-39 polyurethane foam insulation. This proposed AD also results from a report from the airplane manufacturer that airplanes were assembled with duct assemblies in the ECS wrapped with BMS 8-39 polyurethane foam insulation, which is a material for which the fire retardant properties deteriorate with age. We are proposing this AD to prevent a potential electrical arc from igniting the BMS 8- 39 polyurethane foam insulation on the duct assemblies of the ECS, which could propagate a small fire and lead to a larger fire that might spread throughout the airplane through the ECS.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2006-26-08, which applies to all Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) Model 390 airplanes. AD 2006-26-08 currently requires you to repetitively inspect the hydraulic pump outlet tube on both engines and immediately replace the tube if damage is found. AD 2006- 26-08 also requires you to incorporate an airplane flight manual (AFM) change that limits operation of an engine with its associated firewall hydraulic shutoff valve closed. If an engine is operated with its firewall hydraulic shutoff valve closed, you must replace the hydraulic pump outlet tube. We issued AD 2006-26-08 as an interim action while we worked with the type certificate holder to develop a design change. HBC has now developed kits that incorporate design changes for the hydraulic pump outlet tubes and dampener supports so this AD retains the actions of AD 2006-26-08 until the new modification kits required by this AD are installed. We continued to receive additional reports of failures of the hydraulic pump outlet tube. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the hydraulic pump outlet tube and consequent leaking of hydraulic fluid. Such leakage could result in a fire. There is also a risk of loss of hydraulic system functions including normal gear extensions, speed brakes, roll spoilers, lift dump, and normal brakes.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Monticello, IA.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class D and Class E airspace at Manhattan, KS.

The FAA is revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 777-200, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required, for the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer, repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies; repetitive lubrication of the ballnut and ballscrew; repetitive measurements of the freeplay between the ballnut and the ballscrew; and corrective action if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from a report of extensive corrosion of a ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer on a Boeing Model 757 airplane, which is similar in design to the ballscrew on Model 777 airplanes. This action revises the original NPRM by adding airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA has assigned the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to disposition certain technical comments through the Transport Airplane and Engine Issues Group (TAEIG) and its Design for Security Harmonization Working Group (DSHWG). This notice is to inform the public of this ARAC activity.