Federal Aviation Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace at Greenlee County Airport, Clifton/Morenci, AZ to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at Greenlee County Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Gruver, TX. Controlled airspace is necessary to accommodate new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAP) at Gruver Municipal Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for SIAPs at the airport.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the sixth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 226, Audio Systems and Equipment.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369D, 369E, 369F, and 369FF helicopters with certain serial-numbered tailboom assemblies. This AD requires measuring the distance between aft longeron rivets and the outboard edge of frame rings. If the distance is too short to ensure a safe flight, the AD requires installing a doubler. This AD was prompted by the discovery of short-edge margin conditions on two tailboom assemblies. The actions are intended to detect a short-edge margin condition, prevent failure of the tailboom and loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Robinson Helicopter Company (Robinson) Model R44 and R44 II helicopters equipped with emergency floats. This AD requires replacing the inflation valve assembly. This AD was prompted by the failure of the emergency floats to deploy during a factory test because a needle was binding within the inflation valve assembly. The actions are intended to prevent the failure of the floats to inflate during an emergency landing.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Agusta S.p.A. (Agusta) Model A109, A109A, A109A II, A109C, A109K2, A109E, A109S, and A119 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is the Technical Agent for the Member States of the European Community. The MCAI AD states that a Model A109E helicopter experienced a failure of the tail rotor pitch control link assembly caused by a production defect. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of a tail rotor pitch control link and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are rescinding an airworthiness directive (AD) for all PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, and PC-12/47 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. We issued that AD to mandate new life limits for the pitch trim actuator and pitch trim actuator attachment parts. If these new limitations were not mandated, the pitch trim actuator and the pitch trim actuator components could fail. This failure could lead to an unsafe flying configuration. Since we issued that AD, we have determined that the unsafe condition addressed in that AD is now addressed in another AD.

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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-61A, D, E, L, N, NM, R, and V helicopters to require replacing each forward and aft fuel system 40 micron fuel filter element with a 10 micron nominal (40 micron absolute) fuel filter element. This AD was prompted by a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) review of in-service events where engine performance degradation occurred, and the review determined that some of these events were caused by contaminants larger than 10 microns present in the engine fuel control units (FCUs). The actions are intended to prevent particulate contamination in the FCU, which could lead to malfunction of an internal valve, power loss at a critical phase of flight, and loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) RB211-Trent 553-61, 553A2-61, 556-61, 556A2-61, 556B-61, 556B2-61, 560-61, 560A2-61, 768-60, 772-60, 772B-60, 875-17, 877-17, 884-17, 884B-17, 892-17, 892B-17, and 895-17 turbofan engines. The existing AD currently requires inspection of the intermediate-pressure (IP) compressor rotor shaft rear balance land for cracks. Since we issued that AD, a crack was detected in a Trent 500 IP compressor rotor shaft rear balance land during a shop visit, and further engineering evaluation done by RR concluded that the cracking may also exist in Trent 900 engines. This proposed AD would require inspections of the IP compressor rotor shaft as required by the existing AD while adding on-wing inspections for the Trent 500 engines, and on-wing and in-shop inspections for the Trent 900 engines. We are proposing this AD to detect cracking on the IP compressor rotor shaft rear balance land, which could lead to uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of in-service events related to electrical power system malfunctions resulting in damage to electrical load management system (ELMS) P200 and P300 power panels and the surrounding area. This AD requires installing enclosure trays to contain debris in certain ELMS panels, and replacing certain ELMS contactors. We are issuing this AD to prevent contactor failures, which could result in uncontained hot debris flow due to ELMS contactor breakdown, consequent smoke and heat damage to airplane structure and equipment during ground operations, and possible injuries to passengers and crew.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This AD requires doing an inspection to identify the part number of the motor-operated valve (MOV) actuators of the main and center fuel tanks; replacing certain MOV actuators with new MOV actuators; and measuring the electrical resistance of the bond from the adapter plate to the airplane structure, and doing corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent electrical current from flowing through an MOV actuator into a fuel tank, which could create a potential ignition source inside the fuel tank. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane.

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

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) Spey 511-8 turbojet engines. This AD requires inspection and, if necessary, replacement of affected bolts and, if any bolt is found broken, inspection of the adjacent disc(s) for damage. This AD was prompted by a recent quality review determination that bolts with reduced material properties may have been installed in some engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncontained turbine disc fracture and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter France (Eurocopter) Model AS332C, L, and L1 helicopters to require a one-time inspection of the main rotor head (MRH) swash-plate upper bearing (bearing) for a non-smooth point (friction point). This AD was prompted by a report of the premature deterioration of the MRH bearing of the rotating star installed on a Model AS332L1 helicopter. The actions of this AD are intended to detect deterioration of the MRH bearing and to prevent overloading the scissor links which drive the main rotor system, failure of the scissors links, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG (RRD) BR700-710 series turbofan engines. This AD requires replacement of the affected fuel pump splined couplings. This AD was prompted by service experience that demonstrated premature wear of the splined coupling on the fuel pump. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the engine and loss of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2A12 (CL-601) and CL-600-2B16 (CL-601-3A, CL-601-3R, and CL-604 Variants) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of jamming/malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism. This AD requires modifying the left-hand engine upper core-cowl. We are issuing this AD to prevent jamming/ malfunctioning of the left-hand engine thrust control mechanism, which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

This SNPRM would further modify Class E airspace at Eureka Airport, Eureka, NV. In a NPRM published in the Federal Register on December 21, 2012, the FAA proposed to create additional airspace at Eureka Airport to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures. The FAA has found that further enlargement of Class E airspace 1,200 feet above the surface is necessary to enhance safety in the Eureka, NV area.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Ankeny Regional Airport, Ankeny, Iowa, under the provisions of U.S.C.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the twentieth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 224, Airport Security Access Control Systems.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the twenty-second meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 213, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems/Synthetic Vision Systems (EFVS/SVS).

In preparation for the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) Dangerous Goods Panel's (DGP's) Spring Working Group to be held April 15-19, 2013, in Montreal, Canada, the FAA's Office of Hazardous Materials Safety and the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Office of Hazardous Materials Safety announce a public meeting.

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.

Under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. Section 47153(c), notice is being given that the FAA is considering a request from the Mobile Airport Authority to waive the requirement that a 72.13 acre parcel of surplus property, located on Mobile Downtown Airport, be used for aeronautical purposes.

This action amends Class E Airspace at Morrisville, VT, as the Morrisville-Stowe Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) has been decommissioned and new Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed at Morrisville-Stowe State Airport. This action enhances the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.