Federal Aviation Administration January 24, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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 emergency AD was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these airplanes. This AD supersedes Emergency AD 2011-01-51, requires an immediate functional test of the fuselage drain holes, and requires sending a report of the results to the FAA. This AD also allows, with noted exceptions, for the return/ position of the airplane to a home base, hangar, maintenance facility, etc. This AD was prompted by reports of water accumulation in the belly of the fuselage that froze and caused the flight controls to jam. We are issuing this AD to prevent water or fluid from accumulating in the belly of the fuselage and freezing when the aircraft reaches and holds altitudes where the temperature is below the freezing point. This condition could cause the flight controls to jam with consequent loss of control.