Federal Aviation Administration August 5, 2010 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Model DC-9-14 and DC-9-15 airplanes; and Model DC-9-20, DC-9-30, DC-9-40, and DC-9-50 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive high frequency eddy current inspections to detect cracking in the vertical radius (also known as the ``vertical leg'') of the upper cap of the center wing rear spar, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD expands the area to be inspected by including inspections to detect cracking of the horizontal flange of the upper cap of the left and right center wing rear spar, and repair if necessary. This proposed AD also adds certain airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD results from reports of cracking in the vertical radius of the upper cap of the center wing rear spar, and the horizontal flange on the inboard side of the rear spar upper cap, which resulted from stress corrosion. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the vertical leg or the horizontal flange of the upper cap of the left or right center wing rear spar, which could cause a possible fuel leak, damage to the wing skin, and structural failure of the upper cap, and result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. This proposed AD would require modifying certain thrust reverser control system wiring to the flap control unit (FCU). This proposed AD results from a report of automatic retraction of the leading edge flaps due to indications transmitted to the FCU from the thrust reverser control system during takeoff. We are proposing this AD to prevent automatic retraction of the leading edge flaps during takeoff, which could result in reduced climb performance and consequent collision with terrain and obstacles or forced landing of the airplane.

This action proposes to establish five low altitude Area Navigation (RNAV) routes, designated T-281, T-283, T-285, T-286, and T- 288, over Nebraska and South Dakota; controlled by Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) and Minneapolis ARTCC. T-routes are low altitude Air Traffic Service routes, based on RNAV, for use by aircraft that have instrument flight rules (IFR) approved Global Positioning System (GPS)/Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) equipment. This action would enhance safety and improve the efficient use of the navigable airspace within Denver and Minneapolis ARTCC airspace.

The FAA is correcting airworthiness directive (AD) 2010-14-19, which published in the Federal Register on July 13, 2010. That AD applies to certain Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes, and Model A340-200, -300, -500 and -600 series airplanes. A certain service bulletin number in Note 3 of the regulatory section is incorrect. This document corrects that service bulletin number. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

These special conditions are issued for certain Dassault Aviation Model Falcon 7X airplanes. This airplane will have an advanced, enhanced flight-visibility system (EFVS), which is a novel or unusual design feature consisting of a head-up display (HUD) system modified to display forward-looking infrared (FLIR) imagery. 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 Model 767-200, -300, and -300F series airplanes. This AD requires inspecting to verify the part number of the low-pressure flex-hoses of the flightcrew and supernumerary oxygen system installed under the oxygen mask stowage box at flightcrew and supernumerary oxygen mask locations, and replacing the flex-hose with a new non-conductive low- pressure flex-hose if necessary. This AD results from reports of low- pressure flex-hoses of the flightcrew oxygen system that burned through due to inadvertent electrical current from a short circuit in an adjacent audio select panel. We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent electrical current, which can cause the low-pressure flex- hoses used in the flightcrew and supernumerary oxygen systems to melt or burn, resulting in oxygen system leakage and smoke or fire.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Model 747 airplanes. This AD requires inspecting to verify the part number of the low-pressure flex-hoses of the crew oxygen system installed under the oxygen mask stowage boxes in the flight deck, and replacing the flex-hose with a new non-conductive low-pressure flex- hose if necessary. This AD results from reports of low-pressure flex- hoses of the crew oxygen system that burned through due to inadvertent electrical current from a short circuit in the audio select panel. We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent electrical current, which can cause the low-pressure flex-hoses of the crew oxygen system to melt or burn, causing oxygen system leakage and smoke or fire.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The earlier MCAI, Brazilian Airworthiness Directive 2007-08-02, effective September 27, 2007, describes the unsafe condition as:

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France helicopters. This action requires inspecting certain electrical harnesses for damage and if damage is found, repairing the electrical harness; protecting the electrical harness from damage; installing harness clamp blocks; and inspecting each fairing attachment screw to determine the length and replacing attachment screws, if they exceed a certain length. This amendment is prompted by a report of an in-flight incident that led to the inflation of the emergency floatation gear (emergency floats) and the activation of various warnings. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent interference between an electrical harness and the lower structure fairing attachment screws. Damage to an electrical harness by a lower structure fairing attachment screw could lead to short- circuiting of various warnings, inflation of the emergency floats during flight, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.