Federal Aviation Administration November 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the RTCA Program Management Committee.

This document corrects airworthiness directive (AD) 2008-20-05 which was published on October 10, 2008 (73 FR 60102) and applies to MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 600N helicopters. AD 2008-20-05 requires modifying the fuselage aft section, repetitively inspecting the tailboom attachment fittings, installing inspection holes and attachment bolt washers, modifying both access covers, and replacing broken attachment bolts. This document corrects the AD number that is incorrectly listed as 2008-20-08 on page 60104 of the AD.

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 follows:

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer Model EMB- 500 series airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with engine location, certain performance, flight characteristics and operating limitations necessary for this type of airplane. 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800 and -900 series airplanes. This AD requires an inspection of the escape slides for the forward and aft entry and service doors to determine the part number and service bulletin number stenciled on the escape slide girt, and modification of the escape slide assemblies. This AD also requires concurrent modification of the escape slide latch assemblies; concurrent inspection of the escape slides to determine the part number and service bulletin number stenciled on the escape slide girts, and replacement of the trigger housing on the regulator valve with an improved trigger housing if necessary; and concurrent replacement of the rod in the pilot valve regulator with a new, improved rod; as applicable. This AD results from reports that certain escape slides did not automatically inflate when deployed or after the manual inflation cable was pulled. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of an escape slide to inflate when deployed, which could result in the slide being unusable during an emergency evacuation and consequent injury to passengers or crewmembers.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce plc (RR) models RB211 Trent 768-60, Trent 772-60, and Trent 772B-60 turbofan engines that have not incorporated RR Service Bulletin (SB) No. RB.211-72-E708, SB No. RB.211-72-F227, or SB No. RB.211-72-E965, at original issue or later revision. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the high-pressure/intermediate-pressure (HP/IP) turbine bearing internal oil vent tube, scavenge tube, and tube heat shields for wear and cracking, and removing tubes from service if found with any cracks beyond serviceable limits. That AD also currently requires installation of a new or modified HP/IP turbine bearings support as terminating action for the repetitive borescope inspections. This AD has the same requirements, and adds a repetitive inspection of the vent flow restrictor for blockage. This AD results from RR revising their alert service bulletin for inspection of the HP/IP turbine bearing internal oil vent tube, scavenge tube, and tube heat shields for damage, to include a repetitive inspection of the vent flow restrictor for blockage. We are issuing this AD to prevent oil ejecting from the HP/IP turbine bearings chamber and igniting. Burning oil can cause the intermediate-pressure (IP) shaft to fracture, the IP turbine to overspeed, and possible uncontained failure of the engine.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive external surface high frequency eddy current inspections to detect cracks in the radius detail of the upper lobe doubler on both sides of the airplane, and applicable corrective action. This proposed AD results from reports of cracks in the radius detail of the upper lobe doublers. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the upper lobe doublers. Such cracks could result in significant degradation of the fuselage structure and reduce its ability to carry flight loads from the vertical stabilizer, which could adversely affect the controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain McDonnell Douglas Model DC-10- 10, DC-10-10F, DC-10-15, DC-10-30, DC-10-30F (KC-10A and KDC-10), DC- 10-40, and DC-10-40F airplanes. The original NPRM would have revised an existing AD that currently requires installing or replacing with improved parts, as applicable, the bonding straps between the metallic frame of the fillet and the wing leading edge ribs, on both the left and right sides of the airplane. The original NPRM proposed to revise the applicability to clarify the identity of the affected airplanes. The original NPRM resulted from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This new action proposes to revise the applicability to add and remove certain airplanes, and to add a requirement to reposition or replace two bonding straps for certain airplanes. This new action also proposes to supersede, rather than revise, the existing AD. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks in the event of a severe lightning strike, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Erickson Model S-64F helicopters. The AD would require inspections for cracking or working rivets in each left and right splice fitting (transition fitting), the pylon bulkhead assembly canted (bulkhead assembly), the pylon steel strap (strap), and the attaching rotary rudder boom and pylon structure. This proposal is prompted by several reports of cracking in the transition fittings, the bulkhead assembly, and pylon. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to detect cracking in the rotary rudder boom or pylon due to fatigue, and to prevent failure from static overload and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action amends Class E airspace at Big Spring McMahon- Wrinkle Airport, Big Spring, TX. Changes to the VOR/DME RWY 17 Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) have made this action necessary for the safety of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace for the Corpus Christi, TX, area. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Mustang Beach Airport, Port Aransas, TX; and T.P. McCampbell Airport, Ingleside, TX. Also, Class E airspace around Aransas County Airport, Rockport, TX, and San Jose Island Airport, Rockport, TX, would be incorporated into the Corpus Christi, TX, area Class E airspace. The Rockport, TX, designation is being removed under a separate rulemaking. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations in and around the Corpus Christi, TX, airspace area.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International S.A. CFM56-2, CFM56-3, CFM56-5A, CFM56-5B, CFM56- 5C, and CFM56-7B series turbofan engines with certain part number (P/N) and serial number (SN) high-pressure compressor (HPC) 4-9 spools installed. This proposed AD would require removing certain HPC 4-9 spools listed by P/N and SN in this proposed AD. This proposed AD results from reports of certain HPC 4-9 spools that Propulsion Technology LLC (PTLLC) improperly repaired and returned to service. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking of the HPC 4-9 spool, which could result in possible uncontained failure of the spool and damage to the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 767- 300 and -300F airplane as modified by Aviation Partners Boeing Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). The modified airplane has novel or unusual design features involving installation of blended winglets and a speedbrake wing-load-alleviation system. This system reduces loading on the wing. The applicable airworthiness regulations for the Boeing Model 767-300 and -300F do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for systems which alleviate loads on structures. 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 applicable airworthiness standards.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Tower, MN. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Tower Municipal Airport, Tower, MN. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Tower Municipal Airport.

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) model helicopters. That AD currently requires certain checks of the magnetic chip detector plug (chip detector) and the main gearbox (MGB) oil-sight glass, certain inspections of the lubrication pump (pump), and replacing the MGB and the pump with an airworthy MGB and pump, if necessary. Also, the AD requires that before a pump or MGB with any hours time-in-service (TIS) can be installed, it must meet the AD requirements. This AD adds all serial-numbered pumps to the applicability and requires using an improved procedure for detecting oil pump wear. This amendment is prompted by additional cases of MGB lubrication pump deterioration and a further investigation that determined that all serial-numbered pumps might be affected and the development of an improved procedure that is more accurate for detecting oil pump wear earlier. The actions specified by this AD are intended to implement improved procedures to detect a failing MGB oil pump, prevent failure of the MGB pump, seizure of the MGB, loss of drive to an engine and main rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. M-4, M-5, M-6, and M-7 series and Model M-8-235 airplanes. This AD requires you to paint the top of the rear elevator control horn, the elevator control cable end attached to the top of the rear control horn, the bottom of the forward elevator control horn, and the elevator control cable end attached to the bottom of the forward control horn. This AD also requires you to insert a supplement into your maintenance program (maintenance manual). This AD results from two reports of accidents where reversed elevator control rigging was a factor. We are issuing this AD to reduce the likelihood of a mechanic rigging the elevator controls backwards, which could result in elevator movement in the opposite direction from control input. This condition could lead to loss of control.

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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757 airplanes. This AD requires sealing the fasteners on the front and rear spars inside the left and right main fuel tanks and on the rear spar and lower panel of the center fuel tank. This AD also requires inspections of the wire bundle support installations to verify if certain clamps are installed and if Teflon sleeving covers the wire bundles inside the left and right equipment cooling system bays, on the left and right rear spars, and on the left and right front spars; and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from a fuel system review conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct improper wire bundle support installation and sleeving and to prevent improperly sealed fasteners in the main and center fuel tanks from becoming an ignition source, in the event of a fault current, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

This notice proposes special conditions for General Electric Company (GE) GEnx-2B67 and GEnx-2B69 model turbofan engines. The fan blades of these engines will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the part 33 airworthiness standards. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These special conditions contain the added safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards of 14 CFR part 33.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the Noise Compatibility Program submitted by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) 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 June 10, 2008, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Piedmont Triad Airport Authority (PTAA) under Part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On November 7, 2008, the FAA approved the Piedmont Triad International Airport noise compatibility program. All of the recommendations of the program were approved.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Eagle County Regional Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

This notice announces a Bidder Seminar for the 2009 New York Slot Auctions, pursuant to the Federal Aviation Administration's congestion management rules for John F. Kennedy International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and LaGuardia Airport (Final Congestion Rules). [Docket No. FAA-2008-0517, Notice No. 08-05 and Docket No. FAA-2006-25709, Notice No. 93-87].

This action proposes to establish Class D airspace at Branson Airport, Branson, MO. The establishment of an air traffic control tower has made this action necessary for the safety of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at Branson Airport.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a second meeting of RTCA Special Committee 215, Aeronautical Mobile Satellite (Route) Services, Next Generation Satellite Services and Equipment.

This action proposes special conditions for the Dassault Falcon 2000 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Aircell LLC, will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the Aircell airborne satcom equipment (ASE) which use lithium battery technology. 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.