Federal Aviation Administration July 15, 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

In accordance with 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 the ROD for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site, Cameron County, Texas. The ROD provides the FAA's final environmental determination and approval to support the issuance of launch licenses and/or experimental permits that would allow Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) to launch the Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy orbital vertical launch vehicles and a variety of reusable suborbital launch vehicles from a launch site on privately owned property in Cameron County, Texas, as proposed in the Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) published in May 2014. The ROD provides a description of the applicant's Proposed Action and reasonable alternatives, and identifies the FAA's preferred and the environmentally preferred alternative. It includes a discussion of environmental impacts associated with the Proposed Action in each resource area, as analyzed in the Final EIS. The ROD summarizes the mitigation and enforcement actions that would be made the subject of the terms and conditions of the launch licenses and/or experimental permits issued to SpaceX, as well as other conservation and enhancement measures described in the Final EIS and presented for consideration. The Final EIS, prepared by the FAA for the SpaceX Texas Launch Site, serves as the primary reference and basis for preparation of the ROD. The Final EIS documents the analysis of environmental consequences associated with the construction and operation of the SpaceX Texas Launch Site and the No Action Alternative. The FAA is the lead Federal agency responsible for preparation of the EIS and ROD. Cooperating agencies include the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, National Park Service (NPS), U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). The EIS and ROD were prepared pursuant to the requirements of NEPA, the CEQ Regulations for Implementing the Procedural Provisions of NEPA, and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, Environmental Impacts: Policies and Procedures. The FAA has posted the ROD on the FAA Web site at https:// www.faa.gov/about/officeorg/headquartersoffices/ast/environme ntal/ nepadocs/review/documentsprogress/spacextexaslaunchsite environmentalimpactstatement/.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-215-6B11 (CL-215T Variant), and CL- 215-6B11 (CL-415 Variant) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that during a routine inspection, corrosion was discovered on the lower bearing of the rudder upper torque tube. This proposed AD would require applying grease to the bearing; doing a general visual inspection of the expelled old grease for any contaminants, metal wear, and indication of corrosion, and replacing the bearing if necessary; revising the maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the rudder spring tab operational test and a check of the rudder spring tab operation into the daily inspection. We are proposing this AD to prevent corroded bearings, which could result in a partial or total loss of axial support.

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 publishing a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117 A-3, MBB-BK 117 A-4, MBB-BK 117 B- 1, and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters with a certain Metro Aviation, Inc. (Metro), vapor-cycle air conditioning kit pulley (pulley) installed, which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. This AD supersedes AD 2013-12-06, which required inspecting the pulley for looseness and properly installed lockwire and re-installing the pulley. Since we issued AD 2013-12-06, we received a report of a possible design and manufacturing deficiency in some pulleys wherein they did not have sufficient thread depth, allowing the pulley to detach from the rotor brake disc. This AD requires inspecting each pulley attaching bolt hole to determine if there is sufficient depth of the threads and either removing the pulley if the depth is insufficient or installing dual locking tabs under each pulley attaching bolt if the depth is sufficient. These actions are intended to prevent the pulley from detaching, resulting in damage to the tail rotor (T/R) driveshaft, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model DHC-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes; and DHC-8- 200 and DHC-8-300 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of a beta warning horn (BWH) system failing to activate when the beta mode was triggered. This AD requires modifying the BWH microswitch installation. We are issuing this AD to prevent the inadvertent activation of ground beta mode during flight, which could lead to engine overspeed, engine damage or failure, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702), CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705), CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900), and CL-600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by the finding of an uncertified main landing gear (MLG) inboard retraction actuator bracket pin installed on an in- service airplane. This AD requires inspection of the MLG inboard retraction actuator bracket for a part number, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct uncertified pins in the MLG inboard retraction actuator bracket, which could result in pin failure, leading to an MLG extension without damping, and a potential for MLG structural damage and possible collapse during landing.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-08-09 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. AD 2008-08-09 required revising the airworthiness limitations (AWL) section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness by incorporating procedures for repetitive functional tests of the pilot input lever of the pitch feel simulator (PFS) units and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD requires replacing certain PFS units with new redesigned PFS units, which would terminate the repetitive functional tests; and both adding and removing certain airplanes from the applicability. This AD was prompted by reports that the shear pin in the input lever of several PFS units failed due to fatigue; and by the development of a re-designed PFS unit, which eliminates the need for repetitive functional tests. We are issuing 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 are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of scribe-line-related fatigue cracks on Model 727 airplanes, which are similar in design to Model 707 airplanes, and Model 720 and 720B series airplanes. This AD requires inspections for scribe lines in the skin lap joints, external approved repairs, external features, skin butt joints, and decals; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires surface finish restoration. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct scribe lines, which can develop into fatigue cracks in the skin and cause rapid decompression of 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 severe corrosion on bonding jumpers installed on the flight control surfaces. This AD requires repetitive bonding jumper inspections for corrosion, sealant disbond, and insufficient sealant coverage; and corrective actions if necessary. This AD also specifies an optional inspection for corrosion damage of the bonding brackets, and corrective actions if necessary, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. For certain airplanes, this AD requires installing certain bonding jumpers, and replacing single-tabbed brackets with two-tabbed brackets. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct corrosion on bonding jumpers installed on the flight control surfaces, which, in the event of a lightning strike, could damage the actuator control electronics (ACEs) and result in the loss of the ability to command individual flight control surfaces or cause uncommanded motion of individual flight control surfaces.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Learjet Inc. Model 45 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of two cases of premature corrosion found on the structural support flange for the engine thrust reverser. This AD requires inspecting for any corrosion, and damage to the sealant; installing sealants and gaskets; and related investigative and corrective actions as necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the thrust reverser structural support, which could result in departure of the thrust reverser from the engine that could subsequently result in damage to the adjacent support structure and engine controls, airframe structure, and control surfaces. Departing thrust reversers could also result in injury to persons on the ground.