Federal Aviation Administration June 30, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-06- 19, for certain Airbus Model A330-201, -202, -203, -223, -243, -301, - 302, -303, -321, -322, -323, -341, -342, and -343 airplanes; and Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. AD 2012-06-19 currently requires repetitive inspections of the main fitting and sliding tube of the nose landing gear (NLG) for defects, damage, and cracks; and corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued AD 2012-06-19, we have determined that additional airplanes are affected by the identified unsafe condition. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the part number and serial number of the NLG main fitting and NLG sliding tube; for affected parts, a magnetic particle inspection (MPI) for cracks, and flap peening and replacement if necessary. This proposed AD would also require, for certain parts, additional inspections for damage and cracking. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks, defects, or damage of the main fitting or sliding tube, which could result in consequent NLG collapse.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767 and 777 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of uncommanded door closure of the large lower lobe cargo door. This proposed AD would require inspecting for part numbers and serial numbers of the rotary actuators of the large forward and aft lower lobe cargo doors, as applicable, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct rotary actuators made with a material having poor actuator gear wear characteristics, which could result in failure of the rotary actuators for the large forward or aft lower lobe cargo door and subsequent uncommanded door closure, which could possibly result in injury to people on the ground.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 767-200 and -300 series airplane equipped with Pratt & Whitney Model JT9D or PW4000 engines. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of several cases of low hydraulic pressure or loss of electrical power to the alternating current motor pump (ACMP) on the left engine. This proposed AD would require inspecting for damage of the wiring bundles in the left engine's strut and corrective actions if necessary, and installing new wire support brackets and bundle clamp. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct chafed wire bundles due to rubbing against structure or a hydraulic piping elbow, which could result in electrical arcing in a flammable fluid leakage zone, and would provide a possible ignition source for fuel vapors and hydraulic fluids. Ignited fuel vapors or hydraulic fluid in an area without a fire detection or suppression system could result in an uncontained engine strut fire and structural damage to the engine strut.

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 Columbia Helicopters, Inc. (Columbia) Model 234 helicopters. This AD requires visually and tap inspecting each fore and aft rotor blade for any defect, damage, or a disbond and, if necessary, repairing or replacing the blade. Also, this AD requires dye-penetrant inspecting the aft pylon structure for fatigue cracking in certain areas near the attachment fittings and, if there is a crack, repairing or replacing the aft pylon. This AD is prompted by an accident caused by fatigue failure of an aft pylon fitting attach structure combined with aft rotor blade damage. The actions specified by this AD are intended to detect fatigue cracks in the aft pylon attach structure to prevent overload of the aft pylon structure and failure of the rotor blade, rotor blade vibration, departure of the aft pylon, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC120B and EC130B4 helicopters. This AD requires replacing parts of the sliding door star support attachment assembly, depending on the outcome of required inspections. This AD is prompted by a report that passengers in a helicopter were forced to exit through the pilot door after landing because they could not open the sliding door from the inside. The actions of this AD are intended to prevent failure of the sliding door star support attachment, which could inhibit operation of a sliding door from inside, delaying the evacuation of passengers during an emergency.