Federal Aviation Administration March 18, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Model 747-200C, -200F, -400, - 400D, and -400F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections for cracks in the overlapping (upper) skin, upper fastener row of the lap joints of the fuselage skin in sections 41, 42, and 46; and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This proposed AD would expand the inspection area in the existing AD, and add a modification of certain lap joints and certain post-repair inspections of the lap joints. Accomplishing the modification would end the repetitive inspections required by the existing AD for the length of lap joint that is modified. This proposed AD results from a structural review of affected skin lap joints for widespread fatigue damage. We are proposing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking in certain lap joints, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature(s) associated with seats that include non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels that would affect survivability during a post-crash fire event. 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.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for CFM International, S.A. CFM56-5, -5B, and -7B series turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require removing from service, nine stage 3 low-pressure turbine (LPT) disks, identified by serial number (S/N). This proposed AD results from the discovery of a material nonconformity requiring removal of the disk before the certified disk life of certain stage 3 LPT disks. We are proposing this AD to prevent uncontained failure of the stage 3 LPT disk and damage to the airplane.

The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney JT8D-209, -217, -217C, and -219 turbofan engines with front compressor front hub (fan hub), part number (P/N) 5000501-01 installed. That AD currently requires cleaning the front compressor front hubs (fan hubs), initial and repetitive eddy current (ECI) and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPI) of tierod and counterweight holes for cracks, removal of bushings, cleaning and ECI and FPI of bushed holes for cracks and, if necessary, replacement with serviceable parts. In addition, that AD currently requires reporting the findings of cracked fan hubs and monthly reports of the number of inspections completed. This AD requires the same actions, except for the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. This AD results from the FAA determining that it has collected a sufficient amount of data since issuing AD 97-17-04 and that therefore, it no longer needs the monthly reporting of the number of completed inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent fan hub failure due to tierod, counterweight, or bushed hole cracking, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Battle Mountain, NV, to accommodate aircraft using the VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR)/Distant Measuring Equipment (DME) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) at Battle Mountain Airport. This will improve the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operation at the airport.

This action will establish Class E airspace at Hailey, ID, to accommodate aircraft using the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedure (SIAP) at Friedman Memorial Airport. This will improve the safety of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This rule 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.