Federal Aviation Administration April 18, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application for a release of approximately 6.50 acres of airport property at the Oroville Municipal Airport (OVE), Oroville, California from all conditions contained in the Surplus Property Deed and Grant Assurances because the parcel of land is not needed for airport purposes. The land requested to be released is located outside of the airport fence along the southern boundary of the airport. The release will allow the City of Oroville (City) to sell the property at its fair market value, thereby benefiting the Airport and serving the interest of civil aviation. The City is also requesting a land-use change for approximately 13.62 acres of land adjacent to the 6.50 acres so it may be leased at its fair market value for non-aeronautical purposes to earn revenue for the airport. The proposed use will be compatible with the airport and will not interfere with the airport or its operation.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, -300ER, and 777F series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during a test of the oxygen system, an operator found that the passenger oxygen masks did not properly flow oxygen, and that a loud noise occurred in the overhead area, which was caused by the flex line separating from the hard line due to a missing clamshell coupler. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, performing a detailed inspection of certain areas of the airplane oxygen system to ensure clamshell couplers are installed and fully latched, and corrective actions if necessary. For all airplanes, this AD requires performing and meeting the requirements of the low pressure leak test. We are issuing this AD to prevent the oxygen system flex line from separating from the hard line, which could cause an oxygen leak and a drop in the oxygen system pressure, resulting in improper flow of oxygen through the passenger masks and injury to passengers if emergency oxygen is needed.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (ECF) Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters to require an initial and repetitive inspections of the outer skin, butt strap, and fuselage frame for a crack and modification of the helicopter. This AD was prompted by an AD issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Union, which states that a crack was discovered in a fuselage frame during a daily check. The actions of this AD are intended to detect a crack, to prevent loss of airframe structural integrity and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200, A330-300, A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that revealed the wheel axles of the main landing gear (MLG) were machined with a radius as small as 0.4 millimeters. This AD requires replacing the wheel axle of the MLG with a serviceable part. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue of the wheel axle of the MLG, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.