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

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to authorize the release of 11.92 acres of the airport property at the Chan Gurney Municipal Airport, Yankton, South Dakota. The proposal consists of the trade of unimproved land on the northwest side of the airport owned by the City of Yankton for an equal parcel of land located on the north central side of the airport. The acreage being released is not needed for aeronautical use as currently identified on the Airport Layout Plan. There are no impacts to the airport by allowing the City of Yankton to trade properties. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the disposal of the airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. 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 aeronautical purpose.

The FAA is issuing a SNPRM for the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on February 7, 2012, in order to elicit comments regarding removing reference to the navigation aid in the legal description of the Class E airspace area designated as an extension at Boise Air Terminal (Gowen Field), Boise, ID. The NPRM only proposed an amendment of Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at the airport, as well as adjusting the geographic coordinates of the airport. The FAA is proposing this amendment to enhance safety in the Boise, ID, airspace area.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT invites airports consultants, industry representatives and all other interested parties to review and comment on the Draft ``Specification for Airport Light Bases, Transformer Housings, Junction Boxes, and Accessories Airport Design'' Advisory Circular, AC 150/5345-42G. The Advisory Circular provides standards and recommendations for airport light bases, transformer housings, junction boxes and accessories. The FAA has posted the AC on the Internet at: https://www.faa.gov/ airports/resources/advisorycirculars/.

This action amends Class E airspace at Livingston, Mission Field Airport, Livingston, MT. Decommissioning of the Livingston Tactical Air Navigation System (TACAN) has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Also, the geographic coordinates of the airport are updated at the request of National Aeronautical Navigation Services.

This action amends Class D airspace within the Pontiac, MI, area by changing the name of the airport from Oakland-Pontiac Airport to Oakland County International Airport and updating the geographic coordinates. This action does not change the boundaries or operating requirements of the airspace.

This action amends Class E airspace at Watts-Woodland Airport, Woodland, CA. The projected 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. This action also makes a minor adjustment to the geographic coordinates of the airport.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect cracking in the web of the aft pressure bulkhead at body station 1016 at the aft fastener row attachment to the ``Y'' chord, and corrective actions if necessary. That AD was prompted by several reports of fatigue cracking at that location, which could result in rapid decompression of the fuselage. Since we issued that AD, we have received additional reports of cracks found in the aft pressure bulkhead. This proposed AD would add various inspections for discrepancies at the aft pressure bulkhead, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct such fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid decompression of the fuselage.

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

The FAA is issuing this Notice to advise the public that it has prepared a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for a proposed new runway and associated facilities and improvements at the Taos Regional Airport, Taos, New Mexico. The FEIS reflects the Section 106 consultations between the FAA, the Taos Pueblo, Town of Taos, National Park Service, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, New Mexico State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO), and the New Mexico Department of Transportation regarding adverse effects on the Taos Pueblo World Heritage Site and other traditional cultural properties within the National Register Eligible Historic District associated with the Taos Pueblo. The FEIS also includes floodplain impact evaluations. The FAA is seeking comments on those sections of the FEIS that have been updated and/or contain information that has become available since the release of the DEIS. Please see the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section below for more information. The FAA is providing a thirty day (30) day FEIS review period. The FEIS review period begins on the date of the publication of this Notice of Availability in the Federal Register, and will close on July 30, 2012. The FAA must receive written comments on these subsections postmarked no later than July 30, 2012. Comments received after that date may not be considered by the FAA. All comments on the FEIS are to be submitted to Mr. Dean McMath of the FAA, at the address shown in the section below entitled, ``For Further Information or to Submit Comments''.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Saab AB, Saab Aerosystems Model 340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of stall events during icing conditions which were not accompanied with a prior stall warning. This proposed AD would require replacing the stall warning computer (SWC) with a new SWC, and modifying the airplane for the replacement of the SWC. We are proposing this AD to prevent natural stall events when operating in icing conditions, which if not corrected may result in loss of control of the airplane.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain transport category airplanes. That AD currently requires either activating all chemical oxygen generators in the lavatories until the generator oxygen supply is expended, or removing the oxygen generator(s); and, for each chemical oxygen generator, after the generator is expended (or removed), removing or restowing the oxygen masks and closing the mask dispenser door. This new AD requires installing a supplemental oxygen system in affected lavatories, which terminates the requirements of the existing AD. This AD was prompted by reports that the current design of the oxygen generators presents a hazard that could jeopardize flight safety. We are issuing this AD to eliminate a hazard that could jeopardize flight safety, and to ensure that all lavatories have a supplemental oxygen supply.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, - 900, and -900ER series airplanes. That NPRM proposed to require repetitive operational tests of the engine fuel suction feed of the fuel system, and other related testing if necessary. That NPRM was prompted by a report of an in-service occurrence of total loss of boost pump pressure of the fuel feed system, followed by loss of fuel system suction feed capability on one engine, and in-flight shutdown of the engine. This action revises that NPRM by proposing to require repetitive operational tests, and other related testing and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to detect and correct loss of the engine fuel suction feed capability of the fuel system, which in the event of total loss of the fuel boost pumps could result in dual engine flameout, inability to restart the engines, and consequent forced landing of the airplane. Since these actions impose an additional burden over that proposed in the previous NPRM, we are reopening the comment period to allow the public the chance to comment on these proposed changes.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Cessna Aircraft Company Model 750 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of direct current (DC) generator overvoltage events. This proposed AD would require replacing the auxiliary power unit (APU) generator control unit (GCU). We are proposing this AD to prevent DC generator overvoltage events, which could result in subsequent smoke in the cockpit and loss of avionics and electrical systems.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. That AD currently requires revising the ``Emergency and Malfunction Procedures'' and ``Performance Data'' sections of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM) by inserting three temporary pages into the RFM to alert pilots to monitor the power display when a generator is deactivated and provides procedures to prevent failure of the remaining generator. Before we issued that AD, the manufacturer developed a procedure to modify the two ``After Junction Boxes'' by removing a diode from each box, which provides terminating action for our AD requirements. These actions are intended to require implementing this terminating action to prevent an electrical power system failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter and revising the RFM accordingly, by removing the temporary pages inserted to comply with the superseded AD.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI), High Landing Gear Aft Crosstube Assembly (aft crosstube) installed on certain Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) and Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) model helicopters as an approved Bell part installed during production or based on a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC). This AD requires certain recurring visual, dimensional, and fluorescent penetrant inspections of each aft crosstube, and replacing any cracked crosstube. This AD also requires establishing a life limit and creating a component history card or equivalent record for one of the affected part-numbered aft crosstubes. This AD was prompted by three reports of failed crosstubes because of cracks. The actions are intended to prevent failure of a crosstube, collapse of the landing gear, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47153(c), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the Laurinburg-Maxton Airport Commission to waive the requirement that approximately 10 acres of airport property, located at the Laurinburg- Maxton Airport, be used for aeronautical purposes.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain the Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, and -300ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report from the manufacturer indicating that the lowered ceiling support structure of Section 41, in airplanes incorporating the overhead space utilization (OSU) option, was found to be under-strength when subjected to a 9.0 g forward load. This AD requires installing new structural members, tie rod(s), and attach fittings on the left and right sides of the lowered ceiling support structure. We are issuing this AD to prevent the forward lowered ceiling panels and support structure from becoming dislodged during a 9.0 g forward load and consequent injury to personnel or interference with an emergency evacuation.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model BD-100-1A10 (Challenger 300) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of deformation found at the neck of the pressure regulator body on the oxygen cylinder and regulator assembly (CRA). This AD requires an inspection to determine if a certain oxygen CRA is installed and the replacement of affected oxygen CRAs. We are issuing this AD to prevent elongation of the pressure regulator neck, which could result in rupture of the oxygen cylinder, and, in the case of cabin depressurization, oxygen not being available when required.

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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracking on the lower main sill inner chord of the hatch opening of the overwing emergency exit. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking, corrosion damage, and any other irregularity of the lower main sill inner chord and surrounding structure, and repair if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking on the lower main sill inner chord of the hatch opening of the overwing emergency exit, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the hatch opening of the overwing emergency exit and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 series airplanes; Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter series airplanes; Airbus Model A330-300 series airplanes; Airbus Model A340-200 series airplanes; and Airbus Model A340-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of sheared fasteners located on the outside skin of the forward cargo door and cracks on the frame fork ends, as well as cracks of the aft cargo door frame 64A. This AD requires performing a detailed inspection of the outer skin rivets at the frame fork ends of the forward and aft cargo door for sheared, loose, and missing rivets; repairing the outer skin rivets, if necessary; and performing repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct sheared, loose, or missing fasteners on the forward and aft cargo door frame, which could result in the loss of structural integrity of the forward and aft cargo door.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a design review which revealed the absence of electrical insulation material between a wing or integral center wing tank (ICWT) fuel quantity indication system (FQIS) probe and the bottom of the tank structure. This AD requires for all airplanes, applying sealant below the FQIS probes in the wing tanks; and for certain airplanes, applying sealant below the FQIS probes in the ICWT. This AD also requires revising the aircraft maintenance program by revising the fuel airworthiness limitations and incorporating critical design configuration control limitations (CDCCLs). We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source in the tank vapor space, which could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked retract actuator fuse pins that can fail earlier than the previously determined safe life limit of the pins. A fractured retract actuator fuse pin can cause the main landing gear to extend without restriction and attempt to lock into position under high dynamic loads. This AD requires an inspection for the part number of the fuse pin, and replacement of the pin if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent structural damage to the side and drag brace lock assemblies, which could result in landing gear collapse during touchdown, rollout, or taxi.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the third meeting of RTCA Special Committee 226, Audio Systems and Equipment.