Federal Aviation Administration August 17, 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was published on May 21, 2012. In that document, the FAA proposed to update and revise the regulations for repair stations. This extension is a result of formal requests from repair stations and industry associations to extend the comment period to the proposal. This extension is necessary to afford all interested parties an opportunity to present their views on the proposed rulemaking.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. A page reference of the rotorcraft flight manual in the Required Actions section, paragraph (e)(1)(i), is incorrect. This document corrects that error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

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

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-76A helicopters to require modifying the electric rotor brake (ERB) and inserting changes into the ``Normal Procedures'' and ``Emergency Procedures'' sections of the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This AD was prompted by a fire in the main gearbox area as a result of a hot electric rotor brake (ERB). The actions are intended to prevent overheating of the ERB, ignition of the ERB hydraulic fluid, a fire in the main gearbox area, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318-112 and -121 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, -115, - 132, and -133 airplanes; Model A320-214, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-211, -212, -213, and -231 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that some nuts installed on the wing, including on primary structural elements, were found cracked. This AD requires inspecting to determine if certain nuts are installed or cracked, and replacing the affected nuts if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct missing and cracked nuts, which could result in the structural integrity of the airplane wings being impaired.

We are superseding two existing airworthiness directives (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes. Those ADs currently require revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to introduce limitations for the use of auxiliary power unit (APU) bleed and to prohibit dispatch with a failed air management system (AMS) controller card. This new AD requires replacing the AMS controller processor module with one containing new software, and a new AFM revision. This AD was prompted by reports of the possible loss of automatic activation of the engine inlet ice protection system. We are issuing this AD to prevent the possibility of a right-hand (RH) engine compressor stall after the APU becomes the active bleed source for the left side, which may result in an engine failure; and to prevent the intermittent communication failure between the AMS controller cards and both secondary power distribution assemblies (SPDAs), which could lead to the loss of automatic activation of the engine inlet ice protection system when flying in icing conditions, which could result in ice accretion in the engine inlet and subsequent dual engine failure.