Federal Aviation Administration 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 747 series airplanes. That AD currently requires that the FAA-approved maintenance inspection program be revised to include inspections that will give no less than the required damage tolerance rating for each structural significant item, and repair of cracked structure. We issued that AD to ensure the continued structural integrity of the entire fleet of Model 747 series airplanes. This new AD clarifies the applicability of the existing AD by specifying which Boeing Model 747 airplanes are affected by this AD because we have determined that certain new variants that have not yet been certified will not be subject to the requirements of this AD. This AD results from a report of incidents involving fatigue cracking in transport category airplanes that are approaching or have exceeded their design service objective. We are issuing this AD to ensure the continued structural integrity of all Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Tay 611-8, Tay 620- 15, Tay 650-15, and Tay 651-54 turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of all ice-impact panels and fillers in the low pressure (LP) compressor case for certain conditions and replacing, as necessary, any or all panels. This AD requires the same actions, provides terminating action to those repetitive actions, and adds the Tay 611-8C turbofan engine to the applicability. This AD results from RRD introducing new LP compressor case ice-impact panels with additional retention features to these Tay turbofan engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent release of ice- impact panels due to improper bonding that can result in loss of thrust in both engines.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the Noise Exposure Maps submitted by the City of Ocala for Ocala International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed Noise Compatibility Program that was submitted for Ocala International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the Noise Exposure Map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before June 25, 2008.

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 notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for PW PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A turbofan engines with certain low pressure turbine (LPT) stage 4 disks, part number (P/N) 51N404, installed. This AD requires removing certain LPT stage 4 disks, listed by serial number at the next piece-part exposure or within 7,500 cycles-since-new (CSN). This AD results from a report of improperly manufactured LPT stage 4 disks. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncontained engine failure due to low-cycle fatigue (LCF), which could result in damage to the airplane.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) helicopters. This action requires a one-time visual inspection for skin separation along the leading edge of blade skin aft of the skin-to-spar bond line on the lower surface of each blade and in the tip cap area. This action also requires a ``tap test'' for detecting a separation or void in both bonded areas. This action also requires repainting any exposed area of the blades. If any separation or void is detected, replacing the blade before further flight is required. Thereafter, before each flight, this AD also requires checking for any exposed (bare metal) along the skin-to-spar bond line on the lower surface of each blade near the tip. If any bare metal is found, a mechanic must inspect the area. This amendment is prompted by 11 reports of blade debond, some occurring in flight causing the pilot to feel excessive vibrations and land, and some found during routine maintenance. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect blade skin debond and to prevent blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Model 680 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting the routing of the aft fairing wire bundle assembly for adequate separation between the wiring and the hydraulic line; inspecting for chafing or damage of the wire bundle assembly and for damage to the hydraulic line, and doing corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from an incident report which indicated that a hydraulic leak and wire chafing, including signs of heat damage, were found within the lower tail cone fairing area. Similar wire chafing has also been found on other airplanes. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct wire chafing, and inadequate separation of the wiring and hydraulic line, which could lead to electrical arcing and a hydraulic leak and could result in a potential source of ignition and consequent fire.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above that would supersede an existing AD. 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:

These special conditions are issued for the Boeing Model 787-8 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. These novel or unusual design features are associated with connectivity of the passenger domain computer systems to the airplane critical systems and data networks. For these design features, the applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for protection and security of airplane systems and data networks against unauthorized access. 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 standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

This supplemental NPRM revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain General Electric Company (GE) CF6-45 and CF6-50 series turbofan engines. That proposed AD would have required inspecting and reworking certain forward and aft centerbodies of the long fixed core exhaust nozzle (LFCEN) assembly. That proposed AD resulted from reports of separation of the forward and aft centerbodies of the LFCEN assembly due to high-imbalance engine conditions. This supplemental NPRM revises the proposed AD to add one engine model, and by replacing the LFCEN instead of repairing the centerbodies. This proposed AD results from the engine manufacturer issuing new service information. We are proposing this AD to prevent the forward and aft centerbody of the LFCEN assembly from separating, leading to additional damage to the airplane.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain fuel injected reciprocating engines manufactured by Lycoming Engines. That AD currently requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector fuel lines. This proposed AD would require the same actions but would add additional engine models, would clarify certain compliance time wording, and would exempt engines that have a Maintenance and Overhaul Manual with an Airworthiness Limitations Section that requires inspection, and replacement if necessary, of externally mounted fuel injector lines. This proposed AD results from Lycoming Engines revising their Mandatory Service Bulletin (MSB) to add new engine models requiring inspection, and from the need to clarify a repetitive inspection compliance time. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the fuel injector fuel lines that would allow fuel to spray into the engine compartment, resulting in an engine fire.