Federal Aviation Administration May 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Fort Worth Spinks Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires replacement of injector manifolds and borescope- inspection of the flame tube and the high-pressure (HP) turbine area for possible damage. This new AD requires, depending on the engine model, repetitive replacements of fuel injection manifolds and the privilege injector, or, repetitive replacements of the privilege injector. This AD was prompted by a report that the corrective actions of the existing AD were insufficient to eliminate the unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of Arrius 2B1 and 2F turboshaft engines and damage to the helicopter.

We propose to rescind an airworthiness directive (AD) for PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The existing AD resulted from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated 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 partial detachment of the inner protective film of the composite nacelles. Since issuance of that AD, we have determined that the unsafe condition does not exist or is not likely to develop on affected type design airplanes, and therefore the AD should be rescinded. The proposed AD would allow the public the opportunity to comment on the FAA's determination of the unsafe condition no longer existing before it is officially rescinded.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 650 airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of smoke and/or fire in the tailcone caused by sparking due to excessive wear of the brushes in the air conditioning (A/C) motor. This AD requires inspecting to determine if certain A/C compressor motors are installed and to determine the accumulated hours on certain A/C drive motor assemblies; repetitive replacement of the brushes in the drive motor assembly, or, as an option to the brush replacement, deactivation of the A/C system and placard installation; and return of replaced brushes to Cessna. We are issuing this AD to prevent the brushes in the A/C motor from wearing down beyond their limits, which could result in the rivet in the brush contacting the commutator causing sparks and consequent fire and/or smoke in the tailcone with no means to detect or extinguish the fire and/or smoke.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, A340- 300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by several reports of a burning smell and/or smoke in the cockpit during cruise phase leading, in some cases, to diversion to alternate airports. This AD requires an inspection to identify the installed windshields and replacement of any affected windshield. We are issuing this AD to prevent significantly increased workload for the flightcrew, which could, under some flight phases and/or circumstances, constitute an unsafe condition.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Factoryville, PA, as the Lake Henry VORTAC has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at Seamans Field Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

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

This action modifies Class D airspace and Class E airspace areas at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo, CO, to accommodate aircraft using VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) standard instrument approach procedures at Pueblo Memorial Airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Adjustments to the geographic coordinates of the airport also are made.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Aircraft Industries a.s. Model L-420 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as in-flight engine flame out occurred at take-off with water injection after reduction of engine power. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the forward and aft inner chord of the body station (BS) 2598 bulkhead near the upper corners of the cutout for the horizontal stabilizer rear spar, and cracking in the bulkhead upper and lower web panels near the inner chord to shear deck connection. This proposed AD would require doing repetitive inspections for cracking in the bulkhead splice fitting, frame supports, forward and aft inner chords, and floor support; doing an inspection for cracking in the bulkhead upper web, doubler, and bulkhead lower web; and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, inspections for cracking in the repaired area of the bulkhead, and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, support frame modification and support frame inspections, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary; for certain airplanes, repetitive support frame post-modification inspections and inspections for cracking in the hinge support, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the frame web and upper shear deck (floor support) chord aft side for fasteners; and a one-time inspection of the upper forward inner chord, frame support fitting and splice fitting, for the installation of certain fasteners; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the upper forward inner chord, frame support fitting and splice fitting for the installation of certain fasteners; a one-time inspection for any repair installed on the left and right side of the aft inner chord, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary; for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the support frame outer chord for cracking, and repair if necessary; and repetitive support frame post-repair inspections, and corrective actions, if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the BS 2598 bulkhead structure, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the bulkhead and the horizontal stabilizer support structure and result in loss of controllability of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature, specifically new control architecture and a full digital flight control system which provides flight envelope protections. 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.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with landing loads due to the automatic braking system. 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.

We are revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell), Model 214B and B-1 helicopters, which proposed to require inspecting certain pylon support spindle assemblies (spindles) for any corrosion, or a nick, scratch, dent, or crack, and repairing or replacing any unairworthy spindle before further flight. This SNPRM proposes to revise those requirements by updating the cost of compliance, revising the recording requirements, adding a requirement to reduce the retirement life of an installed spindle, and adding Bell Model 214ST to the applicability.

The FAA proposes to amend certain airworthiness regulations for transport category airplanes based on recommendations from the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). Adopting this proposal would eliminate certain regulatory differences between the airworthiness standards of the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) without affecting current industry design practices. This action would revise the pitch maneuver design loads criteria; revise the gust and turbulence design loads criteria; revise the application of gust loads to engine mounts, high lift devices, and other control surfaces; add a ``round-the-clock'' discrete gust criterion and a multi-axis discrete gust criterion for airplanes equipped with wing-mounted engines; revise the engine torque loads criteria; add an engine failure dynamic load condition; revise the ground gust design loads criteria; revise the criteria used to establish the rough air design speed, and require the establishment of a rough air Mach number.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace at Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, OH. Changes to the airspace description are necessary due to the closure of South Columbus Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. The airport name and geographic coordinates would also be updated.

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 for to renew an information collection. Feedback from surveys to be conducted under this generic information collection will be used in the prevention of runway collisions and in the medication of the severity and frequency of runway incursions.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the thirteenth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 222, Inmarsat AMS(R)S

This action modifies Class E airspace at Portland-Hillsboro Airport, Portland-Hillsboro, OR, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport. Also, the geographic coordinates are updated for the airport. This action, initiated by the biennial review of the Portland-Hillsboro airspace area, improves the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. This AD requires revising the operating limitations to prohibit flights under instrument flight rules (IFR) or under night visual flight rules (VFR) when the autotrim is inoperative. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent a workload situation whereby stabilizing the helicopter in flight would be difficult if not impossible, resulting in possible loss of helicopter control.

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 of the lower corners of the door frame and cross beam of the forward cargo door, and corrective actions if necessary. That AD also requires eventual modification of the outboard radius of the lower corners of the door frame and reinforcement of the cross beam of the forward cargo door, which terminates the existing repetitive inspections. This new AD revises the compliance times for the preventive modification; adds certain inspections for cracks in the number 5 cross beam of the forward cargo door; and adds inspections of the number 4 cross beam if cracks are found in the number 5 cross beam, and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this new AD also adds a one-time inspection for airplanes previously modified or repaired, and a one-time inspection of the reinforcement angle for excessive shimming or fastener pull-up, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD was prompted by additional reports of fatigue cracking in the radius of the lower frames and in the lower number 5 cross beam of the forward cargo door. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the lower corners of the door frame and number 5 cross beam of the forward cargo door, which could result in rapid depressurization of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (Eurocopter) Model EC135 P1, P2, P2+, T1, T2, and T2+ helicopters to require inspecting each linear transducer bearing (bearing) for freedom of movement. This proposed AD would also require replacing the bearing if there is binding or rough turning or if there is chafing or damage on the lower side of the floor. Also, this proposed AD would require modifying and re-identifying a certain rod. This proposed AD is prompted by an incident involving limited control of a tail rotor because of the binding of a bearing. The proposed actions are intended to detect and replace each bearing subject to binding, which could lead to subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Hamilton Standard Division model 6/5500/F and 24PF and Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation model 14RF, 14SF, 247F, and 568F series propellers. This proposed AD was prompted by the amount of corrosion detected during major inspections (MIs). This proposed AD would require incorporating inspections, based on a calendar time, into the propeller maintenance schedule. We are proposing this AD to prevent corrosion that could result in propeller failure and loss of airplane control.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Eclipse Aerospace, Inc. Model EA500 airplanes equipped with Avio, Avio with ETT, or Avio NG 1.0 avionics suites. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of potential aircraft hardware failure in the autopilot control panel and the center switch panel. This proposed AD would require either incorporating updates to the aircraft computer system or incorporating a temporary revision to the aircraft flight manual. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all DASSAULT AVIATION Model FAN JET FALCON, FAN JET FALCON SERIES C, D, E, F, and G airplanes; Model MYSTERE-FALCON 200 airplanes; and Model MYSTERE-FALCON 20-C5, 20-D5, 20-E5, and 20-F5 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of a manufacturing defect in the charge indicator on fire extinguisher bottles. This proposed AD would require repetitive weighing of fire extinguisher bottles having a certain part number, and eventual replacement of those bottles to terminate the repetitive weighing. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct a dormant failure in the fire suppression system, which could result in the inability to put out a fire in an engine, auxiliary power unit, or rear compartment.