Federal Aviation Administration May 28, 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-505 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with the use of an electronic engine control system instead of a traditional mechanical control system. 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.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Quinhagak, AK. Two Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) are being developed for the Quinhagak Airport at Quinhagak, AK. Additionally, one textual Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) is being developed. Adoption of this proposal would result in creating Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) above the surface at the Quinhagak Airport, Quinhagak, AK.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified ECD model helicopters that currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of the main rotor blade (blade) upper and lower surfaces for bulging. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community, based on reported incidents in which a balance weight migrated toward the tip of the blade. The MCAI states that new blades have become available that are not fitted with lead balance weights. The MCAI states that only blades equipped with a lead balance weight may result in the unsafe condition. This AD retains the requirements of the current AD but limits the applicability to those part-numbered blades that are fitted with lead balance weights. The actions are intended to limit the applicability to those blades fitted with lead balance weights that could detach, migrate, and cause severe vibrations leading to blade failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

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.

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) to supersede AD 2008-12-16, which applies to certain M7 Aerospace LP SA226 and SA227 series airplanes. AD 2008-12-16 currently requires you to inspect wires and tube assemblies for chafing, arcing, or insufficient clearance between components. If chafing, arcing, or insufficient clearance between components is found, AD 2008-12-16 requires you to clear, repair, and/or replace all chafed wires, components, and tube assemblies. AD 2008-12-16 also requires you to cover the four-gauge wires leaving the battery box with firesleeving and secure them with a clamp. Since we issued AD 2008-12-16, M7 Aerospace LP has notified us that Model SA227-BC (C-26A) was inadvertently left out of the Applicability section of the AD, and they updated some of the service information due to parts availability. Operators have also identified issues with model applicability that needed clarification. Consequently, this AD retains the actions of AD 2008-12-16, adds Model SA227-BC (C-26A) to the Applicability section, and regroups the models for clarification. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of electrical wires, components, and tube assemblies. This condition could result in arcing of exposed wires with consequent burning of a hole in a hydraulic line or the bleed air line. This failure could lead to a hydraulic fluid leak and a possible fire in the engine nacelle compartment.