Federal Aviation Administration April 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the thirteenth meeting of RTCA Special Committee 224, Airport Security Access Control Systems

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the South Texas Regional Airport at Hondo under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of an electrical arc and hydraulic haze in the wheel bay of the left-hand main landing gear (MLG) possibly resulting from chafing between the hydraulic high pressure hose and electrical wiring of the green electrical motor pump (EMP). This AD requires temporarily prohibiting in-flight use of the green EMPs; temporarily revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) limitations section; temporarily installing a placard in the cockpit overhead panel; doing a one-time general visual inspection for correct condition and installation of hydraulic pressure hoses, electrical conduits, feeder cables, and associated clamping devices; and corrective action if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct chafing of hydraulic pressure hoses and electrical wiring of the green EMPs, which in combination with a system failure, could cause an uncontrolled and undetected fire in the MLG bay.

This notice announces a public meeting of the FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to discuss transport airplane and engine (TAE) issues.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines. This AD was prompted by the discovery of non-conformities of certain power turbine (PT) blade fir-tree roots. This AD requires removing the affected PT blades from service on or before reaching a new reduced life limit for those certain PT blades. We are issuing this AD to prevent PT blade rupture, which could result in an uncommanded in-flight engine shutdown, forced autorotation landing, or accident.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Sicma Aero Seat Model 9401, 9402, 9404, 9505, 9406, 9407, 9408, and 9409 series passenger seat assemblies, installed on, but not limited to, ATRGIE Avions de Transport R[eacute]gional Model ATR42 and ATR72 airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive detailed inspections for cracking of the central and lateral spreaders of the affected seats, and repair or replacement of the spreader if necessary. This AD was prompted by a determination that the existing AD included Model 9505 series passenger seat assemblies in the applicability instead of Model 9405 series passenger seat assemblies. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the central and lateral spreaders, which could lead to further cracking of the seat spreaders, causing injury to passengers or crew members during heavy turbulence in flight or in the event of an emergency landing.

This notice concerns two petitions for waiver submitted to the FAA by Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX): a petition to waive the restriction that the risk to the public from the launch of an expendable launch vehicle not exceed an expected average number of 0.00003 casualties (Ec

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of short circuit events during pre- delivery inspections and test flights, one of which resulted in smoke in the cockpit. This AD requires replacing or relocating of certain circuit breaker panel (CBP) bus bars on certain airplanes, inspecting for any loose or improperly crimped lugs in certain electrical panel locations and replacement if necessary, and inspection for foreign object damage in certain areas and removal if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent arcing, damage to adjacent structure, smoke in the cockpit, or loss of system redundancies.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes. That AD currently requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness (ICA) to incorporate new structural inspection requirements. Since we issued that AD, during full scale fatigue testing, cracks were found in certain structural components of the airplane. Analysis of these cracks resulted in the manufacturer modifying the ALS of EMBRAER 170 Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR), to include new inspections tasks, or modifying the current tasks and their respective thresholds and intervals. This new AD requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate new or revised structural inspection requirements. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking which could result in the loss of structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by test reports that showed that failure of a retract port flexible hose of a main landing gear (MLG) retraction actuator could cause excessive hydraulic fluid leakage. This AD requires a detailed inspection for defects and damage of the retract port flexible hose on the left and right MLG retraction actuator and replacement of the flexible hose if needed. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct defects and damage of the retract port flexible hose which could lead to an undamped extension of the MLG and could result in MLG structural failure, leading to an unsafe asymmetric landing configuration.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the air driven generator (ADG) failing to power essential buses during functional tests, due to the low threshold setting of the circuit protection on the ADG's generator control unit (GCU) preventing the ADG from supplying power to the essential buses. This AD requires installing a new or serviceable ADG GCU. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of power from the ADG to the essential buses which, in the event of an emergency, could prevent continued safe flight.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the air driven generator (ADG) failing to power essential buses during functional tests, due to the low threshold setting of the circuit protection on the ADG's generator control unit (GCU) preventing the ADG from supplying power to the essential buses. This AD requires installing a new or serviceable ADG GCU. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of power from the ADG to the essential buses which, in the event of an emergency, could prevent continued safe flight.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 airplanes; Model A300 B4- 600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes); and Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the forward lug wing of the aft bearing at rib 5 of the main landing gear (MLG). This AD requires installing new bushes with increased interference fit in the forward lug wing of the aft bearing at rib 5 of the MLG on the right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH) wing. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the forward lug wing of the aft bearing at rib 5 of the MLG, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the MLG attachment, and could result in the collapse of the MLG.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application for a release of two parcels of land comprising approximately 6.50 acres of airport property at the Sacramento International Airport, California. The County of Sacramento proposes to release the 6.50 acres for sale to the California's Reclamation District 1000 at fair market value. The two parcels of land are occupied in their entirety by a storm water drainage canal and pumping plant owned and operated by Reclamation District 1000 and do not serve any aviation purposes. The property serves as a regional drainage canal and pumping plant to support facilities for transporting storm water away from developed and undeveloped property, including part of the Sacramento International Airport in the southwest section of the Natomas Basin.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to authorize the release of 24.89 acres of the airport property at the Marshfield Municipal Airport, Marshfield WI. The WisDOT issued a Categorical Exclusion for the release on March 25, 2011. The acreage being released is not needed for aeronautical use as currently identified on the Airport Layout Plan. The acreage comprising of parcels 38 and 39 were originally acquired under Grant Nos. ADAP 7-55-0039-01. The City of Marshfield (Wisconsin), as airport owner, has concluded that the subject airport land is not needed for expansion of airport facilities. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the airport to dispose of the property. The airport will receive the appraised fair market value of $68,000 for the land in addition to Parcels 40 and 41 as identified on the Exhibit A Property Map. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the disposal of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with section 47107(h) of title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

This action proposes to modify Jet Route J-2, and VOR Federal airways V-16, V-66, and V-202 in southern Arizona and New Mexico. The FAA is proposing this action due to the scheduled decommissioning of the Cochise, AZ, VHF omnirange tactical air navigation aid (VORTAC) which currently forms segments of the routes. This would enhance enroute navigation within the National Airspace System.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Plentywood Sher-Wood Airport, Plentywood, MT. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Plentywood Sher-Wood Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (BHTI) Model 204B, 205A, 205A-1, 205B, and 212 helicopters. The existing AD currently requires conducting various inspections associated with the main rotor grip (grip). If a crack is found, that AD requires replacing the grip before further flight. If delamination of the buffer pad on the grip tang inner surface is found, that AD requires inspecting the grip surface for corrosion or other damage and repairing or replacing the grip if corrosion or other damage is found. That AD also requires determining and recording the hours time-in-service (TIS) and the engine start/stop cycles for each grip on a component history card or equivalent record. Additionally, that AD requires you to report certain inspection results to the FAA. Since we issued that AD, additional cracks in grips have been found. Analysis of these events has shown that a retirement life is needed for certain grips, and the AD applicability needs to be expanded to include additional grips similar in design, as well as to include the Model 210 helicopter, which was issued an FAA type certificate after the existing AD was issued. The proposed actions are intended to prevent failure of a grip, separation of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action removes Class E Airspace at Southport, NC, and establishes Class E Airspace at Oak Island, NC, as new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Cape Fear Regional Jetport/Howie Franklin Field. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System. This action also recognizes the airport name change to Cape Fear Regional Jetport/Howie Franklin Field and updates the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Limited (Bell) Model 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters with certain main rotor blades installed to reduce the life limit of those blades. This AD is prompted by two accidents and the subsequent investigations that revealed that, in each accident, a main rotor blade failed because of fatigue cracking. These actions are intended to prevent failure of the main rotor blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that the fuel crossfeed valves cannot be controlled when only emergency electrical power is available, that an unwanted configuration of the indication logic for the fuel fire shutoff valve was introduced during production, and that current fuel crossfeed indications are based on selection by the flightcrew instead of actual position of the crossfeed valve actuators. This AD requires modifying the crossfeed valve control and power supply, the crossfeed indication logic and power supply, and the indication logic for the fuel fire shutoff valve; modifying the overhead panel; and for certain airplanes, modifying the transfer logic of the center wing fuel tank. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of an in-flight engine re- light following a double engine flame-out event, which could result in loss of the airplane.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Watts- Woodland Airport, Woodland, CA. The proposed decommissioning of the Travis VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range (VOR) has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We are publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters that requires establishing a revised life limit for each tail rotor (T/R) blade and updating the helicopter's historical records, repetitively inspecting T/R blades for a crack, and replacing certain T/R blades. This AD is prompted by a fatal accident involving an Agusta Model AW139 helicopter, which may have been caused by cracks in a T/R blade. These actions are intended to detect and prevent a crack in a T/R blade, which could lead to failure of a T/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes; all Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes; all Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes; and all Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires replacing certain water accumulator assemblies having a certain part installed on the pitot and static lines of the air data computer (ADC). Since we issued that AD, an error was discovered in one service document number, and we have determined that credit for accomplishing actions in another erroneously cited service document should be removed from that AD. This proposed AD would correct the erroneous service document number and remove the other erroneously cited service document from that AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent pitot-static tubing from becoming partially or completely blocked by water, which could result in erroneous airspeed and altitude indications and consequent loss of control of the airplane.

This action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register on April 5, 2012, that amends the airway structure in the vicinity of Windsor Locks, CT, due to the planned decommissioning of the Bradley VHF omnirange/tactical air navigation aid. This action corrects the longitude coordinate for one point in the description of area navigation (RNAV) route T-300.