Federal Aviation Administration May 8, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-9189
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A300 B2-1C, B2K-3C, B2-203, B4-2C, B4-103, and B4-203 airplanes; and Model A300 B4-601, B4-603, B4-620, B4-622, B4- 605R, B4-622R, and F4-605R airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking in Gear Rib 5 of the main landing gear (MLG) attachment fittings at the lower flange, and repair if necessary; and provides an optional spot-facing modification around certain fastener holes, which would terminate certain repetitive inspections. This new AD mandates the optional spot-facing modification. This AD was prompted by new cases of cracks discovered during scheduled maintenance checks. We are issuing this AD to prevent cracking of the Gear Rib 5 right-hand and left-hand attachment fitting at the lower flanges of the MLG, which could result in failed bolts penetrating through the rear spar and into a fuel tank, consequent fuel loss, and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.
Airworthiness Directives; Pratt & Whitney Canada Turboprop Engines
Document Number: 2012-11057
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-38, -41, -42, -42A, -61, -64, -66, -66B, - 110, -112, -114, -114A, -121, -135, and -135A series turboprop engines. This AD requires removal from service of certain part manufacturer approval (PMA) replacement Timken Alcor Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (TAATI) first stage sun gears and planet gears installed in the reduction gearbox. This AD was prompted by failures of certain first stage sun gears manufactured by TAATI. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the sun gear and planet gears which will result in an engine in-flight shut down, possible uncontained engine failure, aircraft damage, and serious injuries.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-11025
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-243, -243F, -342, and -343 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking of air intake cowls on Rolls- Royce Trent engines, worn and detached attachment links, and fractured thermal anti-ice (TAI) piccolo tubes. This proposed AD would require inspecting piccolo tubes, piccolo tube mount links, the aft side of the forward bulkhead, and outer boundary angles (OBA) for cracks, fractures, and broken links, and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent degraded structural integrity of the engine nose cowl and a broken piccolo tube, which could lead to in- flight damage of the engine and reduced thermal anti-ice performance.
Airworthiness Directives; Airbus Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-11023
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-214 and-232 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that medium-head fasteners were installed in lieu of shear-head fasteners on a certain upper panel which manufacturer fatigue and damage tolerance analyses demonstrated could have an affect on panel fatigue life. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of certain fasteners, and repairs if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking which could result in the loss of structural integrity of the airplane.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-11019
Type: Proposed Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -800, -900, and -900ER series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that certain seat track bolts were found with severed head bolts due to fatigue. This proposed AD would require replacing titanium seat track bolts with corrosion resistant steel (CRES) bolts, repetitive inspections for cracking of the splice strap and forward seat track holes, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct missing or severed bolt heads, which, if not corrected, could result in the inability of the seat track to carry passenger loads, which could cause the seats to detach from the seat track, resulting in possible injury to passengers during an emergency landing.
Office of Commercial Space Transportation (AST); Notice of Availability of the Final Environmental Assessment (EA) and Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for the Launch and Reentry of SpaceShipTwo Reusable Suborbital Rockets at the Mojave Air and Space Port
Document Number: 2012-11018
Type: Notice
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Final EA and FONSI for the Launch and Reentry of SpaceShipTwo Reusable Suborbital Rockets at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The Final EA was prepared to analyze the potential environmental impacts of issuing experimental permits and/or launch licenses to operate SpaceShipTwo reusable suborbital rockets and WhiteKnightTwo carrier aircraft at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California. Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue experimental permits and/or launch licenses to multiple operators for the operation of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo at the Mojave Air and Space Port. Both WhiteKnightTwo and SpaceShipTwo would be piloted during operations. The Mojave Air and Space Port comprises an area of approximately 3,000 acres in Kern County, California, and is east of the unincorporated town of Mojave. The Final EA addresses the potential environmental impacts of implementing the Proposed Action and the No Action Alternative of not issuing an experimental permit and/or launch license for the operation of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The FAA has posted the Final EA and FONSI on the FAA/AST Web site: https://www.faa.gov/about/officeorg/headquartersoffices/ast/ environmental/review/permits/. A paper copy of the Final EA and FONSI may be reviewed during regular business hours at the following locations: Edwards AFB Base Library, 95 SPTG/SVMG, 5 West Yeager Blvd., Building 2665, Edwards AFB, CA 93524-1295. Kern County Library, Boron Branch, 26967 20 Mule Team Road, Boron, CA 93516. Kern County Library, California City Branch, 9507 California City Boulevard, California City, CA 93505. Kern County Library, Kernville Branch, 48 Tobias Street, Kernville, CA 93238. Kern County Library, Mojave Branch, 16916-1/2 Highway 14, Mojave, CA 93501. Kern County Library, Ridgecrest Branch, 131 East Las Flores Avenue, Ridgecrest, CA 93555. Kern County Library, Tehachapi Branch, 450 West F Street, Tehachapi, CA 93561. Kern County Library, Wofford Heights Branch, 6400-B Wofford Boulevard, Wofford Heights, CA 93285. Kern River Valley Library, 7054 Lake Isabella Boulevard, Lake Isabella, CA 93240. Kern River Valley Library, Wanda Kirk Branch (Rosamond), 3611 Rosamond Boulevard, Rosamond, CA 93560. Additional Information: Under the Proposed Action, the FAA would issue experimental permits and/or launch licenses for the operation of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo at the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, CA. The Proposed Action does not include any construction activities. The Mojave Air and Space Port's existing infrastructure would be used for takeoff and landing activities. Experimental permits would be valid for one year. Launch licenses would be valid for two years. The FAA could renew experimental permits and launch licenses if requested, in writing, by the permitees at least 60 days before the permit expires, and/or by the licensees at least 90 days before the license expires. The Final EA assumes that the FAA could issue either new or renewed experimental permits and/or launch licenses. For purposes of analyzing environmental impacts in the Final EA, the FAA developed a conservative set of assumptions regarding the possible number of launches and reentries that could be conducted under any one experimental permit and/or launch license for the SpaceShipTwo at the Mojave Air and Space Port. The FAA has assumed a maximum of up to 30 total launches and reentries per year of SpaceShipTwo for a total of up to 150 launches and reentries of SpaceShipTwo between 2012 and 2016. This estimation is a conservative number and considers potential multiple launches per day and potential launch aborts. The only alternative to the Proposed Action analyzed in the Final EA is the No Action Alternative. Under the No Action Alternative, the FAA would not issue experimental permits and/or launch licenses for the operation of SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo from the Mojave Air and Space Port. Existing operations at Mojave Air and Space Port would continue. The resource areas considered in the Final EA include air quality; biological resources (including fish, wildlife, and plants); historical, architectural, archaeological, and cultural resources; hazardous materials, pollution prevention, and solid waste; health and safety; land use (including Department of Transportation Section 4(f) properties); light emissions and visual resources; noise and compatible land use; socioeconomic resources, environmental justice, and children's environmental health and safety; and cumulative impacts.
Airworthiness Directives; The Boeing Company Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-10891
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that the aft seat leg fittings span the station (STA) 521.45 ``stay-out zone.'' This AD requires for certain airplanes, replacing the seat track pivot link assemblies, seat track sections, and floor panels. For certain airplanes, this AD also requires moving certain rows of passenger seats. For certain other airplanes, this AD also requires inspecting certain areas of the seat tracks for damage, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the seat attachment structure and possible injury to passengers during an emergency landing.
Airworthiness Directives; Fokker Services B.V. Airplanes
Document Number: 2012-10829
Type: Rule
Date: 2012-05-08
Agency: Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation
We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain 2-Fokker Services B.V.2-Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of failure of the main fitting on Messier-Dowty main landing gear (MLG) units due to fatigue cracking in the area of the filler and bleeder holes, and failure of the sliding member due to fatigue cracking at the area of the chrome run-out/lower radius of the sliding tube portion of the sliding member. This AD requires modification and re-identification of the MLG units, or replacement of the MLG unit with a modified one. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the main fitting or sliding member on the MLG, which could lead to failure of the MLG and possibly loss of control of the airplane during landing rollout.
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