Federal Aviation Administration December 10, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 707 airplanes and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. The original NPRM would have required performing an operational test of the engine fuel suction feed of the fuel system, and other related testing if necessary. The original NPRM resulted from a report of in-service occurrences of loss of fuel system suction feed capability, followed by total loss of pressure of the fuel feed system. This action revises the original NPRM by reducing the compliance time for low-utilization airplanes, and including corrective actions that were inadvertently omitted from certain sections. The corrective actions are replacing the o-rings if any leakage is found in the couplings, and replacing the fuel line if any leakage is found in the fuel line. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to detect and correct failure of the engine fuel suction feed capability of the fuel system, which could result in multi-engine flameout, inability to restart the engines, and consequent forced landing of the airplane.

This action proposes to remove, rename and expand the Class E airspace areas serving Guam International Airport, Anderson AFB and Saipan Island. Additionally, this proposed action would revoke the Saipan Island Class E surface area since it is no longer required, and expand other controlled airspace areas to protect aircraft conducting instrument approaches to Saipan International Airport. The FAA is proposing these actions to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations in the vicinity of the Northern Mariana Islands.

We propose to revise Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-08-08, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. (Air Tractor), Models AT- 400, AT-401, AT-401B, AT-402, AT-402A, and AT-402B airplanes. AD 2006- 08-08 currently requires you to repetitively eddy current inspect the wing lower spar cap in order to reach the safe life and, for certain Models AT-402A and AT-402B airplanes and those that incorporate or have incorporated Marburger Enterprises, Inc. (Marburger), winglets, lowers the safe life for the wing lower spar cap. Since we issued AD 2006-08- 08, we have received information to update inspection intervals for the Models AT-401B, AT-402A, and AT-402B airplanes based on a revised damage tolerance analysis. Consequently, this proposed AD would not only retain the actions of AD 2006-08-08, but would reduce the number of repetitive inspections for all affected Model AT-401B airplanes and certain Models AT-402A and AT-402B airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracks from occurring in the wing lower spar cap before the originally established safe life is reached. Fatigue cracks in the wing lower spar cap, if not detected and corrected, could result in wing separation and loss of control of the airplane.

This establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing 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.