Federal Aviation Administration December 16, 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-15-18 that applies to certain Maule Aerospace Technology, Inc. Models M-4, M-5, M- 6, M-7, MT-7, MX-7, MXT-7, and M-8 airplanes that are equipped with rear wing lift struts, part number (P/N) 2079E, and/or front wing lift struts, P/N 2080E. AD 98-15-18 required repetitively inspecting certain wing lift struts for internal corrosion and replacing of any wing lift strut where corrosion was found. Since we issued AD 98-15-18, we were informed by the manufacturer that Model MXT-7-420 airplanes are no longer in existence, are no longer type certificated, and should be removed from the Applicability section. We were also informed that paragraph (b) in AD 98-15-18 had been misinterpreted and caused confusion. This AD removes Model MXT-7-420 airplanes from the Applicability section and clarifies the intent of the language in paragraph (b) of AD 98-15-18. This AD also retains all other requirements of AD 98-15-18. We are issuing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends Class E airspace at Gainesville, TX. Decommissioning of the Gainesville non-directional beacon (NDB) at Gainesville Municipal Airport has made reconfiguration necessary for standard instrument approach procedures and for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rule (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action establishes Class E Airspace at Chatom, AL, to accommodate the Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Standard Instrument Approach Procedures at Roy Wilcox Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Geographic coordinates are also updated.

This action removes Class E airspace at Danville, IL. The FAA has determined that, because of changes in the composition of flight operations at Vermilion Regional Airport, a Class E surface area is no longer needed to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) GE90-110B1 and GE90-115B turbofan engines with certain high pressure compressor (HPC) rotor stage 2-5 spools installed. This AD requires removing these spools from service at times determined by a drawdown plan. This AD was prompted by reports of cracks in HPC rotor stage 2-5 spool aft spacer arms. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a critical life-limited rotating engine part, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EADS CASA (Type Certificate Previously Held by Construcciones Aeron[aacute]uticas, S.A.) Model C-212-CB, C-212-CC, C-212-CD, C-212- CE, and C-212-DF airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of the propeller pitch control (PPC) lever becoming disconnected from the engine due to a missing bolt. This AD requires modifying the PPC lever attachment system. We are issuing this AD to prevent PPC shaft disconnection, which could lead to a loss of propeller pitch control, possibly resulting in uncommanded change to the engine power settings and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.