Federal Aviation Administration 2012 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-202, -203, -223, -243, -302, -323, -342, and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-313 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that a specific batch of cargo doors might have deviations in quality related to door structure, such as irregular bore holes, improper application of sealant and paint, or uncleanliness. This proposed AD would require inspecting to identify the part and serial numbers of the forward and aft cargo doors, and replacing the affected cargo doors. We are proposing this AD to prevent the degraded structural capability of the cargo door, a primary structure, from leading to failure of the door, which could lead to a breach through the door or the door detaching from the airplane, resulting in potential rapid decompression.

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.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 9, 2012, vol. 77, no. 131, page 40404. 14 CFR part 135 prescribes requirement for Air Carrier/Commercial Operators. The info collected shows compliance and applicant eligibility.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 9, 2012, vol. 77, no. 131, page 40405. This information is used to issue special flight authorizations for non- revenue transports and non-transport jet operations of Stage 2 airplanes at U.S. airports. A minimal amount of data is requested to identify the affected parties and determine whether the purpose for the flight is one enumerated by law.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) received the final application from the Puerto Rico Ports Authority and Puerto Rico Public-Private Partnerships Authority for the participation of Luis Mu[ntilde]oz Mar[iacute]n International Airport, San Juan, Puerto Rico (SJU) in the Airport Privatization Pilot Program and has determined that the final application is substantially complete and accepted for review. The FAA is seeking information and comments from interested parties on the final application. In furtherance of this effort, the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Federal Aviation Administration and the Transportation Security Administration will conduct a public meeting on Friday, September 28, 2012, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Title 49 U.S.C. Section 47134 establishes an airport privatization pilot program and authorizes the Department of Transportation to grant exemptions from certain Federal statutory and regulatory requirement for up to five airport privatization projects. The FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 expanded the pilot program from five to ten airports. The application procedures require the FAA to publish a notice of receipt of the final application in the Federal Register and accept public comment on the final application for a period of 60 days.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Turbomeca S.A. Arriel 2B and 2B1 turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires accomplishment of the TU166 modification. This new AD requires adding the Arriel 2S2 and 2C2 engines to the applicability of engines requiring the TU166 modification with different compliance times. This AD was prompted by reports of an accident involving a twin-engine helicopter powered by two Arriel 2S2 engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent rupture of a gas generator (GG) turbine blade, which could result in an uncommanded in-flight shutdown and a forced landing or accident.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. That 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. This new AD adds various inspections for discrepancies at the aft pressure bulkhead, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by several reports of fatigue cracking at that location. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct such fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid decompression of the fuselage.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model SA330F, SA330G, SA330J, AS332C, AS332L, AS332L1, and AS332L2 helicopters to require cleaning, inspecting, and lubricating each tangential gearbox (gearbox) and adjusting, as necessary, the fuel shut-off control lever. This AD was prompted by the jamming of one of two fuel shut-off control levers because of solidified grease in the gearbox. A companion gearbox had extensive corrosion. In case of an emergency, pilots may need to use the control levers to shut off fuel going into the engine and to shut off the helicopter's electrical power system. The jamming of the levers prevents the shut off of the engine fuel and prevents the parallel- mounted micro switches from switching off the electrical power system. These actions are intended to prevent the jamming of the control levers, which could prevent shut-off of the engine fuel and electrical power system during an emergency shutdown.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Piper Aircraft, Inc. Models PA-31, PA-31-325, and PA-31-350 airplanes. The existing AD currently requires a detailed repetitive inspection of the exhaust system downstream of the turbochargers and repair or replacement of parts as necessary. Since we issued that AD, forced landings of aircraft have occurred due to exhaust system failures upstream of aircraft turbochargers and between recurring detailed inspections. This proposed AD would require both visual and detailed repetitive inspections, expanding the inspection scope to include the entirety of each airplane exhaust system. We are proposing this AD to prevent the possibility of an inflight powerplant fire due to an exhaust system failure.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700 and -700C series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of early fatigue cracks at chem-mill areas on the crown skin panels. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin at certain locations at chem-mill areas, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the skin panel at the specified chem-mill step locations, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of early fatigue cracks at chem- mill areas on the crown skin panels. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for cracking of the fuselage skin at certain locations at chem-mill areas, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the skin panel at the specified chem- mill step locations, which could result in rapid decompression of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Models EMB-135 and EMB-145 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the airplane seats that have non-traditional, large, non-metallic panels that would affect survivability during a post-crash fire event. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This action modifies area navigation (RNAV) route Q-62 by extending it further west and incorporating two additional navigation fixes. The route extension links two RNAV Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STARs) serving the Chicago O'Hare International Airport, IL, terminal area with the high altitude route. The FAA is taking this action to increase National Airspace System (NAS) efficiency and enhance flight safety as aircraft transition from the en route airway structure to the terminal area airspace phase of flight.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Piaggio Aero Industries S.p.A. Model P-180 Airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as jamming of the external bearing of the screwjack drive gear, which resulted in failure of the main wing outboard flap external actuator. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain serial numbers of Pratt & Whitney Canada (P&WC) PW901A auxiliary power units (APUs) approved under Technical Standard Order TSO-C77A and installed on, but not limited to, Boeing 747-400 series airplanes. This AD requires modifications of the rear gas generator case, exhaust duct support, and turbine exhaust duct flanges. This AD was prompted by several events of high-pressure turbine blade fracture leading to separation of the rear gas generator case and release of high energy debris. We are issuing this AD to prevent separation of the rear gas generator case and release of high energy debris, which could result in injury and damage to the airplane.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Thielert Aircraft Engines (TAE) GmbH Models TAE 125-01, TAE 125-02-99, and TAE 125-02-114 Reciprocating Engines. The existing AD currently requires installation of full-authority digital electronic control (FADEC) software version 2.91. Since we issued that AD, we have received reports of possible power loss on airplanes equipped with TAE 125 engines. This proposed AD would require removing all software mapping versions prior to 292, 301, or 302, applicable to the TAE engine model. We are proposing this AD to prevent engine power loss or in-flight shutdown, resulting in reduced control of or damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a torn out aspirator due to the aspirator interfering with the extrusion lip of the off-wing escape slide (OWS) enclosure during the initial stage of the deployment sequence. This AD requires modifying the OWS enclosures on both sides. We are issuing this AD to prevent both off-wing exits from being inoperative, which, during an emergency, would impair the safe evacuation of occupants, possibly resulting in personal injuries.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Costruzioni Aeronautiche Tecnam srl Model P2006T airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as cracking, bulging, deformation, or oil leakage in the lower lid of the landing gear emergency accumulator, which could result in decreasing the airplane's structural integrity and jeopardizing the landing gear emergency extension in case of system failure in normal mode. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class E airspace at Kerrville, TX. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Area Navigation (RNAV) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Kerrville Municipal Airport/Louis Schreiner Field. The geographic coordinates of the airport also are adjusted. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. Due to subsequent decommissioning, the Shein locator outer marker/nondirectional radio beacon (LOM/NDB) will be removed from the regulatory text.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1- 30, and BR700-715C1-30 turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by the discovery of a manufacturing defect on certain part number (P/N) and serial number (S/N) low-pressure (LP) compressor booster rotors. This AD requires initial and repetitive fluorescent penetrant inspections of certain P/N and S/N LP compressor booster rotors and rework or replacement of them as terminating action to the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the LP compressor booster rotor, uncontained engine failure, and damage to the airplane.

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 Eurocopter France Model SA341G helicopters. This AD requires replacing any rotating star with more than 12,000 hours TIS. This AD was prompted by an analysis and tests performed by the manufacturer that indicate that the life limit of the rotating star should be 12,000 hours time- in-service (TIS). The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of the rotating star and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Gaylord, MI. Additional controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Gaylord Regional Airport. Also, this action would rename the airport and update the geographic coordinates. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category Model HH-1K, TH-1F, TH-1L, UH-1A, UH-1B, UH-1E, UH- 1F, UH-1H, UH-1L, and UH-1P helicopters with certain main rotor (M/R) blade assemblies installed, to require inspecting the grip plates, doublers, and upper and lower surfaces of the M/R blades in the area between blade stations 24.5 and 40 for an edge void, corrosion, or a crack. This AD is prompted by several reports of fatigue cracks on M/R blades installed on Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) Model 212 helicopters. These same part-numbered M/R blades may also be installed on certain FAA-approved modified restricted category helicopters. These actions are intended to detect an edge void, corrosion, or a crack on an M/R blade, which could lead to loss of the M/R blade and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.