Federal Aviation Administration July 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action amends Class E airspace for Grand Marais, MN, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Grand Marais/Cook County Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (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.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and Part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

We propose to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to the products listed above. The existing AD currently requires removing from service certain gas generator second stage turbine discs, part number (P/N) 0 292 25 040 0, that are not marked with ``CFR'' before the discs exceed 2,500 cycles-in-service (CIS) since-new or within 20 CIS from the effective date of the AD, whichever occurs later. That AD also requires removing from service certain gas generator second stage turbine discs, P/N 0 292 25 040 0, that are marked with ``CFR'' before the discs exceed 3,500 CIS since-new. Since we issued that AD, Turbomeca has restored all or part of the life limits of the affected discs, and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued AD 2010-0101R2, dated March 24, 2011 to do the same. This proposed AD would still prevent disc failure but extends the life limits of the affected discs. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the gas generator second stage turbine disc which could result in the release of high energy debris and damage to the helicopter.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to the products listed above. The existing AD currently requires replacing the separation link assembly on the applicable entry and service doors with an improved separation link assembly, and doing related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued that AD, we have received a report that an additional airplane is subject to the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would add that airplane to the applicability and also remove certain other airplanes from the applicability. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of an entry or service door to open fully in the event of an emergency evacuation, which could impede exit from the airplane. This condition could result in injury to passengers or crewmembers.

This action corrects the effective date of a final rule correction, that was published in the Federal Register on July 6, 2011. The effective date in that Final Rule; Correction. inadvertently listed the wrong effective date in the Correction to Final Rule section.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a teleconference of the Space Transportation Operations Working Group (STOWG) of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The teleconference will take place on Thursday, August 4, 2011, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Individuals who plan to participate should contact Susan Lender, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), (the Contact Person listed below) by phone or e-mail for the teleconference call in number. The proposed agenda for this teleconference consists of the following topics: Final discussion of the CONOPS report on reentry debris, final discussion of the Economic Impact of complying with orbital debris standards, updates on the European Code of Conduct and the Long Term Sustainability of Space effort by the United Nations Committee for Peaceful Uses of Outer Space, and any new business items that members want to consider. Interested members of the public may submit relevant written statements for the COMSTAC members to consider under the advisory process. Statements may concern the issues and agenda items mentioned above or additional issues that may be relevant for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Interested parties wishing to submit written statements should contact Susan Lender, DFO, (the Contact Person listed below) in writing (mail or e-mail) by July 28, 2011, so that the information can be made available to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before the August 4, 2011, teleconference. Written statements should be supplied in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature or one electronic copy via e-mail. An agenda will be posted on the FAA Web site at https://www.faa.gov/ go/ast. Individuals who plan to participate and need special assistance should inform the Contact Person listed below in advance of the meeting.

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 superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to 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) 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:

This amendment supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model MD900 helicopters. That AD currently requires visually inspecting the main rotor lower hub assembly (lower hub) for a crack, and if you find a crack, before further flight, replacing the unairworthy lower hub with an airworthy lower hub. Additionally, within 10 days of finding a cracked lower hub, the existing AD requires reporting the finding to the Los Angeles Aircraft Certification Office (LAACO). That AD was prompted by two reports of cracks detected in the hub in the area near the flex beam bolt hole locations during maintenance on two MDHI Model MD900 helicopters. Since we issued that AD, we determined that one manufacturer had incorrectly inserted flanged bushings into the lower hub bore that resulted in local corrosion, leading to fatigue cracking. Examination of lower hubs from the other manufacturer shows correct bushing installation. Therefore, this amendment limits the applicability to the affected lower hubs; retains the visual inspection but at a different compliance time; adds an eddy current inspection; retains the requirement to replace a cracked lower hub with an airworthy lower hub before further flight; and removes the requirement to report to the LAACO. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect a crack in the lower hub and prevent failure of the lower hub and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

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: * * * * * Following a query from an operator, investigations revealed that some MSN [manufacturer serial number], for which Airbus modification 40391 was indicated as fully embodied inside the Aircraft Inspection Report (AIR), did not have Modification Proposal (MP-S10437) which is part of this modification embodied in production. As a result, ALI [Airworthiness Limitation Item] task 533105-01- 02 has not been performed on the MSN listed in the applicability section of this AD, which constitutes an unsafe condition. * * * * *

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD requires a general visual inspection to determine the routing of the wire bundles in the number two and number three engine pylons near the leading edge, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires certain concurrent actions. This AD was prompted by a report of a fuel leak from the main fuel feed tube at the number two engine pylon. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of the main fuel feed tube and the alternating current motor-driven hydraulic pump wire bundle, which could lead to arcing from the exposed wire to the fuel feed tube, and could result in a fire or explosion.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Model 382, 382B, 382E, 382F, and 382G airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. That AD also requires the accomplishment of certain fuel system modifications, the initial inspections of certain repetitive fuel system limitations to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This new AD corrects certain part number references, adds an additional inspection area, and for certain airplanes, requires certain actions to be re-accomplished according to revised service information. This AD was prompted by a report of incorrect accomplishment information in the service information cited by the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above, except for those that are currently affected by similar action through any of five ADs applicable to Boeing products. This AD requires an inspection/records check to determine the manufacturer and part number of the oxygen mask assemblies installed, an inspection to determine the manufacturing date and modification status if certain oxygen mask assemblies are installed, and corrective action for certain oxygen mask assemblies. This AD was prompted by a report that several oxygen mask assemblies with broken in-line flow indicators were found following a mask deployment. We are issuing this AD to prevent the in-line flow indicators of the oxygen mask assembly from fracturing and separating, which could inhibit oxygen flow to the masks. This condition could consequently result in occupants developing hypoxia following a depressurization event.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain PW4000 turbofan engines. This proposed AD was prompted by an updated low-cycle fatigue (LCF) life analysis performed by Pratt & Whitney. This proposed AD would require removing certain part number (P/N) high-pressure turbine (HPT) stage 1 and HPT stage 2 airseals and HPT stage 1 airseal rings before their published life limit, and establishes a new lower life limit for these parts. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Florence, OR, to accommodate aircraft using a new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Florence Municipal Airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at Chinle Municipal Airport, Chinle, AZ to accommodate aircraft using new Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Chinle Municipal Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at Chinle Municipal Airport.

Pursuant to Section 10(a)(2) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92-463, 5 U.S.C. App. 2), notice is hereby given of a teleconference of the Commercial Space Transportation Advisory Committee (COMSTAC). The teleconference will take place on Thursday, August 11, 2011, starting at 1 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Individuals who plan to participate should contact Susan Lender, Designated Federal Officer (DFO), (the Contact Person listed below) by phone or e-mail for the teleconference call in number. The proposed agenda for this teleconference is the single topic of the structure of the COMSTAC working groups. Interested members of the public may submit relevant written statements for the COMSTAC members to consider under the advisory process. Statements may concern the issues and agenda items mentioned above or additional issues that may be relevant for the U.S. commercial space transportation industry. Interested parties wishing to submit written statements should contact Susan Lender, DFO, (the Contact Person listed below) in writing (mail or e-mail) by August 4, 2011, so that the information can be made available to COMSTAC members for their review and consideration before the August 11, 2011, teleconference. Written statements should be supplied in the following formats: One hard copy with original signature or one electronic copy via e-mail. An agenda will be posted on the FAA Web site at https://www.faa.gov/ go/ast. Individuals who plan to participate and need special assistance should inform the Contact Person listed below in advance of the meeting.

These special conditions are issued for the Gulfstream Aerospace LP (GALP) Model G250 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features associated with electronic flight controls as they relate to design roll-maneuver requirements. 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.

On January 10, 2006, the FAA issued a final rule to require that each person who performs a safety-sensitive aviation function directly for an employer, including contractors and subcontractors, is subject to drug and alcohol testing. This document announces the completion and availability of the final regulatory flexibility certification for this final rule. The rule will not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of small entities.

This action reopens the comment period for an NPRM that was published on February 1, 2011. In that document, the FAA proposed several safety enhancements for airports. Recently, regulations.gov had a software upgrade which resulted in documents previously submitted to the docket that were not accessible as a result of the upgrade. This action reopens the comment period to allow the public additional time to review the initial regulatory evaluation.

This action amends Class E airspace for Madison, SD, to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Madison Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (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.