Federal Aviation Administration August 23, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Canada Ltd. Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters. That AD currently requires establishing a life limit for certain tension-torsion (TT) straps. This action would require reducing the ``number of flights'' life limit and providing a time-in-service (TIS) life limit for those TT straps. This proposal is prompted by a recalculation by the manufacturer and subsequent changes to the service information related to the retirement time of the TT strap initially adopted as a result of an accident in which a main rotor blade (blade) separated from a Eurocopter Deutschland GMBH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 117 helicopter due to fatigue failure of a TT strap. The same part-numbered TT strap is used on Model BO 105 LS A-3 helicopters. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of a TT strap, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This notice announces two fact-finding informal airspace meetings to solicit information from airspace users and others, concerning a proposal to establish Class C airspace at Long Beach, CA. The purpose of these meetings is to provide interested parties an opportunity to present views, recommendations, and comments on the proposal. All comments received during these meetings will be considered prior to any issuance of a notice of proposed rulemaking.