Federal Aviation Administration August 23, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Umatilla, FL, to accommodate the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Umatilla Municipal Airport. This action enhances the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations within the National Airspace System.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Plattsburg, NY, as the Clinton County Airport has closed and controlled airspace removed. New Class E Airspace at Plattsburgh International Airport is created to accommodate standard instrument approach procedures developed at the airport. Airspace reconfiguration is necessary for the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

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 chafing between the auxiliary power unit (APU) electronic starter controller (ESC) power cables and the airplane tail cone firewall. This AD requires a detailed inspection for damage to the insulation and inner conductors of the APU ESC power cables, installing a new grommet support in the tail cone firewall, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage to the APU ESC power cable harness, which if not corrected, could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage and empennage in the event of fire penetration through the firewall.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A320-214, -232 and -233 airplanes; and Model A321-211, - 213, and -231 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a missing fastener between certain stringers of the fuselage frame that connects the frame to a tee. This AD requires an inspection for a missing fastener, and a rototest inspection and a modification or repair of the fuselage frame at the affected area if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking in the fuselage that could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) Model BO-105A, BO-105C, BO-105S, BO- 105LS A-1, BO-105LS A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-1, MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A- 4, MBB-BK 117 B-1, MBB-BK-117 B-2, and MBB-BK 117 C-1 helicopters to require inspections for corrosion or thread damage to each tail rotor balance weight (weight) and each tail rotor control lever (lever). This AD was prompted by a European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD and a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD, both issued based on a report that corrosion was detected on a weight in the area of the attachment thread on a model BO-105 helicopter. The actions of this AD are intended to detect corrosion and thread damage in the threaded area of the weight and lever, and to prevent failure of a weight or lever, separation of tail rotor parts, severe vibration, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that ballscrew rupture could occur on certain trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuators (THSAs). This AD requires repetitive THSA ballscrew shaft integrity tests, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct ballscrew rupture, which, along with corrosion on the ballscrew lower splines, may lead to loss of transmission of THSA torque loads from the ballscrew to the tie-bar and consequent THSA blowback, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.