Federal Aviation Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that inspections of the wing center section revealed defective, misapplied, or missing secondary fuel vapor barriers on the center fuel tank. This AD requires inspecting for discrepancies and insufficient coverage of the secondary fuel barrier, determining the thickness of the secondary fuel barrier, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct defective surfaces and insufficient thickness of the secondary fuel barrier, which could allow fuel leaks or fumes into the pressurized cabin, and allow fuel or fuel vapors to come in contact with an ignition source, which could result in a fire or an explosion.

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 a new information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 28, 2013, vol. 78, no. 18, pages 5859-5860. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is amending the airworthiness standards for airplane propellers. This action will define what a propeller critical part is, require the identification of propeller critical parts by the manufacturer, and establish engineering, manufacture, and maintenance processes for those parts. These processes will be required to be recorded and maintained within company manuals. The intended effect of this rule is to ensure the continued airworthiness of propeller critical parts by requiring a system of processes to identify and manage these parts throughout their service life. Adopting this rule will eliminate regulatory differences between part 35 and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) propeller critical parts requirements, thereby simplifying airworthiness approvals for exports.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracks on airplanes prior to line number 1308 in the forward and aft inner chords of the station (STA) 2598 bulkhead, and the bulkhead upper and lower webs. This proposed AD would require, as applicable, repetitive high frequency eddy current (HFEC) and low frequency eddy current (LFEC) inspections for cracks in the splice fitting, support frame, forward and aft inner chords, floor support, bulkhead upper web on the upper left and right side of the bulkhead, and the bulkhead lower web on the lower left side of the bulkhead and repair if necessary; and repetitive post-repair inspections and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the splice fitting, support frame, floor support, forward and aft inner chords, and the bulkhead upper and lower webs of the body station, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Oakley Municipal Airport (OEL), Oakley, Kansas, under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

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 to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on January 28, 2013, vol. 78, no. 18, page 5860. The FAA's Fuel Tank Flammability rule requires manufacturers to report to the FAA every six months for up to 5 years after the flammability reduction system is incorporated into the fleet. The data is needed to assure system performance meets that predicted at the time of certification.

This SNPRM amends a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on October 15, 2012 which proposed to amend VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) Federal airway V-537 in Georgia. This SNPRM proposes to remove an additional segment of the airway due to navigation aid coverage limitations.

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. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on November 30, 2012, vol. 77, no. 231, page 71473. FAA Form 7480-1 (Notice of Landing Area Proposal) is used to collect information about any construction, alteration, or change to the status or use of an airport.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 214, Standards for Air Traffic Data Communication Services.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR). The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of the FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This notice announces a public meeting of the FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) Transportation Airplane and Engine (TAE) Subcommittee to discuss transport airplane and engine issues.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of dual alternating current (AC) generator failure during flight. The failure was attributed to wire chafing along the wing lower flap shroud. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance program to incorporate certain tasks for the electrical wiring interconnection system inspection program. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of both AC generators due to wire chafing, which could result in loss of power to the anti-icing heaters for the elevator horn, engine inlet, and propeller, and consequent ice accumulation in these areas, which could adversely affect the controllability of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 757-200, 757-200CB, and 757-200PF airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that a forward- most cam latch of the forward center cam latch pair on a main cargo door (MCD) broke during flight. This proposed AD would require performing repetitive inspections of the MCD cam latches; replacing cam latches, certain bolts, and door hinge fittings; performing related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary; and MCD rigging. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracked or damaged cam latches, latch pins, and latch pin cross bolts, which could reduce the structural integrity of the MCD, and result in potential rapid decompression of the airplane and potential loss of the cargo door from the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked and corroded nuts on an outboard flap support rib. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, repetitive inspections of the cap seal for damaged sealant on nuts common to certain outboard flap support ribs, related investigative and corrective actions if necessary, and replacement of all fasteners in the support ribs, which terminates the repetitive inspections. For certain other airplanes, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the cap seal for damaged sealant on nuts common to certain outboard flap support ribs, related investigative and corrective actions if necessary, and if necessary, a detailed inspection to determine the nut type installed in the outboard flap support rib and corrective actions; for these airplanes, this proposed AD provides optional replacement of all fasteners in the support ribs, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracked and corroded nuts and bolts and the installation of incorrect nuts on certain outboard flap support ribs, which could lead to additional nut and bolt damage in the joint, and result in loss of an outboard flap, and adversely affect continued safe flight and landing of the airplane.

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 are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A318, A319, and A320 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer, which revealed that certain fuel pumps under certain conditions can create an ignition source in the fuel tank. This AD requires modification of the center tank fuel pump control circuit by installation of ground fault interrupters (GFIs). This AD would also require either replacement of the GFI or deactivation of the associated fuel pump following failure of any post-modification operational test of the GFI. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France EC130B4 helicopters. This AD requires visually checking the center windscreen panel (center windscreen) for a crack and replacing the center windscreen if there is a crack, if the windscreen distorts during flight, or within 12 months. This AD was prompted by in-flight cracking and failure of a center windscreen. The actions of this AD are intended to detect a crack in the blending radii of the center windscreen to prevent failure of the windscreen, injury to the flight crew, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This action proposes to amend Class D and Class E Airspace operating hours, and establish Class E Airspace at Oceana Naval Air Station, (NAS), VA, due to the Air Traffic Control Tower at Oceana NAS (Apollo Soucek Field) operating on a part time basis. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the airport's geographic coordinates.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airworthiness limitations section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness of the maintenance requirements manual (MRM) by incorporating procedures for repetitive functional tests of the pilot input lever of the pitch feel simulator (PFS) units and new repetitive functional tests of the pilot input lever of the PFS unit, and corrective actions if necessary; and, after initiating the new tests, removing of the existing procedures for the repetitive functional tests from the MRM. The existing AD was prompted by a report that the shear pin located in the input lever of two PFS units failed due to fatigue. Since we issued that AD, a new re-designed PFS unit has been developed, which eliminates the need for repetitive inspections. This proposed AD would require replacing certain PFS units with the new redesigned PFS unit. This proposed AD would also remove certain airplanes from the applicability and add certain airplanes to the applicability. We are proposing this AD to prevent undetected failure of the shear pins of both PFS units simultaneously, which could result in loss of pitch feel forces and consequent reduced control of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for B-N Group Ltd. Models BN-2, BN-2A, BN2A MK. III, BN2A MK. III-2, BN2A MK. III-3, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2A-3, BN-2A- 6, BN-2A-8, BN-2A-9, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, BN-2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R airplanes. This proposed AD results 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 inadequate sealing of the fuel filler cap (fuel tank cap) and the fuel filler receptacle (fuel tank opening), which could lead to contaminated fuel and result in in-flight shutdown of the engine. We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Model A330- 200 airplane. This airplane as modified by TTF Aerospace LLC will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the installation of bulk cargo lower deck crew rest compartments. 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.

This action amends Class D and Class E Airspace at Caldwell, NJ as the Paterson Non-Directional Radio Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Essex County Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 United States Code 4321 et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 Code of Federal Regulations parts 1500 to 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures, the FAA is announcing the availability of a FONSI/ROD, based on the analysis and findings of the U.S. Air Force's (USAF's) March 2011 Final Environmental Assessment for Falcon 9 and Falcon 9 Heavy Launch Vehicle Programs from Space Launch Complex 4 East (the EA).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that certain flap actuators require restoration by installing a redesigned flap actuator inboard pinion seal. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitation tasks. We are proposing this AD to prevent flap system failure, and consequent reduced landing performance of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp. (P&WC) PW118A, PW118B, PW119B, PW119C, PW123, PW123B, PW123C, PW123D, PW123E, PW123AF, PW124B, PW125B, PW126A, PW127, PW127E, PW127F, PW127G, and PW127M turboprop engines. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of fractures of the 1st stage power turbine (PT) blade. This proposed AD would require inspection of the 1st stage PT blades and the removal from service of those blades that fail the inspection or their replacement with blades eligible for installation. We are proposing this AD to prevent fracture of the 1st stage PT blade, possible engine fire, and damage to the airplane.