Federal Aviation Administration February 12, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action extends the comment period for an NPRM that was published November 13, 2012. In that rulemaking, the FAA proposed to amend the maintenance regulations for domestic, flag, and supplemental operations, and commuter and on-demand operations for aircraft type certificated with a passenger seating configuration of 10 seats or more (excluding any pilot seat). It would require these operators to develop policies, procedures, methods, and instructions for performing contract maintenance that are acceptable to the FAA and to include them in their maintenance manuals. It would also require the operators to provide a list to the FAA of all persons with whom they contract their maintenance. At the behest of several of their FAA-certificated air carrier members, Regional Air Cargo Carriers Association (RACCA) requested that the FAA extend the comment period closing date to allow time to adequately analyze the NPRM and prepare comments.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 170 and ERJ 190 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of the cockpit door falling off the hinges when it is being opened or closed. This AD requires replacing the striker and quick- release pin of the passive lock of the cockpit door, and replacing the upper and lower hinges of the cockpit door. We are issuing this AD to prevent the cockpit door from falling off the hinges, which could cause injury to airplane occupants.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company Models 172R and 172S airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of chafing of a new configuration of the fuel return line assembly, which was caused by the fuel return line assembly rubbing against the right steering tube assembly during rudder pedal actuation. This AD requires you to install the forward and aft fuel return line support clamps and brackets; inspect for a minimum clearance between the fuel return line assembly and the steering tube assembly and clearance between the fuel return line assembly and the airplane structure; and, if any damage is found, replace the fuel return line assembly. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-1A11 (CL-600), CL-600-2A12 (CL-601), and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, & CL-604 Variants) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of cracking found on the upper and lower Web of the engine support beam. This AD requires revising the maintenance program. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the engine support beam, which could result in failure of the engine support beam and affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Lindstrand Hot Air Balloons Ltd female ACME threaded hose connectors, part numbers HS6139 and HS6144, installed on balloons. 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 insufficient tightness of the threaded hose connector in the assembly area that could result in fuel leakage. 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 Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (Type Certificate previously held by Raytheon Aircraft Company; Beech Aircraft Corporation) Model 400A airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that the wiring for the 5- volt direct current (DC) system is undersized and does not have adequate circuit protection for the smaller gauge wire. This AD requires installing an in-line fuse in the 5-volt DC system for each of the five instrument lighting control power supplies. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the wiring, which could result in smoke in the cockpit, loss of cockpit lighting, and potential damage to surrounding wiring for other cockpit equipment such as the stick shaker function or angle-of-attack indicators.

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model EC 155B, EC155B1, SA-365N1, AS-365N2 and AS 365 N3 helicopters. That AD currently requires inspecting certain tail rotor hubs (TRH) for a crack and removing any cracked TRH. This AD requires the same actions but adds more part numbers to the list of affected TRHs. This AD is prompted by further analysis that indicates that additional part-numbered TRHs must be inspected for cracks. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect a crack in the TRH and prevent the tail rotor from jamming, which could lead to reduced or loss of control of the helicopter.