Federal Aviation Administration February 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Eurocopter Model EC225LP and AS332L1 helicopters with emergency floatation gear. The AD requires, before the next overwater flight, inspecting the strap installation on the hinged rods of the emergency flotation gear on both rear cradles for correct installation. If a strap is installed under the hinged rod median plate rather than over it, reinstalling the strap is required. The AD is prompted by incorrect routing of the straps on the hinged rods of the emergency flotation gear rear cradles. The actions are intended to detect incorrect strap installation and prevent failure of the rods or straps upon deployment of the emergency flotation gear, incorrect float position, and subsequent capsizing of the helicopter.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2004-16- 01, that applies to certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300, and Model A340-200 and -300, series airplanes. AD 2004-16-01 currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the chromed area of the left and right piston rods for the main landing gear (MLG) retraction actuators, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued AD 2004-16-01, we have determined that the presence of water in the internal volume of the piston rod can consequently lead to propagation of longitudinal cracking in the body of the piston rod. We have also determined through sampling that certain retraction actuator piston rods of the MLG need to be replaced. This proposed AD would require repetitive draining of any fluid from the retraction actuator piston rod internal volume and sealing of the vent hole; repetitive ultrasonic inspections of the upper end of the piston rods, and corrective actions if necessary; a one-time ultrasonic inspection (longitudinal and circumferential) of the full-length of the piston rod, and corrective actions if necessary; and a terminating modification of the left-hand and right-hand MLG retraction actuators. We are proposing this AD to prevent cracking of the piston rods for the MLG retraction actuators, which could result in rupture of a piston rod, non-damped extension of the MLG, high loads on the fully extended MLG, and consequent reduced structural integrity of the MLG.

These special conditions are issued for the Learjet Inc. Model LJ-200-1A10 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with advanced composite materials in the construction of its fuselage and wings. 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 proposes to modify Class E airspace at Kuparuk, AK, to accommodate aircraft departing and arriving under Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) at Ugnu-Kuparuk Airport. The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations at the airport. This action would also make an adjustment to the geographic coordinates of the airport.

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 action corrects a final rule published in the Federal Register January 21, 2014. In that rule, two geographic coordinate references, one in Area J and one in Area M, were incorrectly published in the Dallas/Fort Worth Class B airspace area regulatory text descriptions.

This rule 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.

This action proposes to amend the time of designation for restricted areas R-3008A, B, C, and D, Grand Bay Weapons Range, GA, by expanding the timeframe during which the areas may be activated without prior issuance of a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM). This change would better inform the flying public of routine use periods for the airspace as well as reduce the need to issue NOTAMs when necessary to activate the restricted areas outside the published ``core hours.''

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 November 27, 2013, vol. 78, no. 229, page 71024. Enplanement data collected from air taxi and commercial operators are required for the calculation of air carrier airport sponsor apportionments as specified by the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), and 49 U.S.C. part A, Air Commerce Safety, and part B, Airport Development and Noise.

The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) directs the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Secretary of the Interior to provide incentives for commercial air tour operators in Grand Canyon National Park that convert to quiet aircraft technology. The FAA holds a limited number of flight allocations that are authorized under 14 CFR part 93, Subpart U, ``Special Flight Rules in the Vicinity of Grand Canyon National Park.'' The FAA, in consultation with the National Park Service (NPS), intends to provide these allocations to commercial air tour operators that currently hold allocations in proportion to the number of quiet aircraft technology operations that are flown by respective operators in the first six months of calendar year 2014. This is a one-time release of FAA-held allocations that will be available to operators for quiet aircraft technology flights during the 2014 air tour season and beyond. The FAA and NPS are continuing to make progress on additional quiet aircraft technology incentives for commercial air tour operators in Grand Canyon National Park.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-23- 09, for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, and -100 IGW airplanes; and Model ERJ 190-200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes. AD 2012-23-09 currently requires revising the maintenance program to incorporate modifications in airworthiness limitations specified in Embraer S.A. ERJ 190 195 Maintenance Review Board Report (MRBR). Since we issued AD 2012-23-09, we have determined that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate modifications in the airworthiness limitations specified in Embraer S.A. ERJ 190 195 MRBR to include new inspection tasks and their respective thresholds and intervals. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of structural components, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by the results of endurance qualification tests on the trimmable horizontal stabilizer actuator (THSA), which revealed a partial loss of the no-back brake (NBB) efficiency in specific load conditions. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain THSAs to determine the number of total flight cycles the THSA has accumulated, and replacing the THSA if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct premature wear of the carbon friction disks on the NBB of the THSA, which could lead to reduced braking efficiency in certain load conditions and, in conjunction with the inability of the power gear train to keep the ball screw in its last commanded position, could result in uncommanded movements of the THS and loss of control of the airplane.

This action amends the FAA's rules for permitting use of portable oxygen concentrator (POC) devices on board aircraft, provided certain conditions in the SFAR are met. This action is necessary to allow all POC devices deemed acceptable by the FAA for use in air commerce to be available to the traveling public in need of oxygen therapy. Passengers will be able to carry these devices on board the aircraft and use them with the approval of the aircraft operator.