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

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 99-01-05 R1, which applies to certain aircraft equipped with wing lift struts. AD 99-01-05 R1 currently requires repetitively inspecting the wing lift struts for corrosion; repetitively inspecting the wing lift strut forks for cracks; replacing any corroded wing lift strut; replacing any cracked wing lift strut fork; and repetitively replacing the wing lift strut forks at a specified time for certain airplanes. Since we issued AD 99-01-05 R1, we have determined that additional airplane models should be added to the Applicability section. This proposed AD would retain all requirements of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopter. This model helicopter will have the novel or unusual design feature of a 30-minute power rating, generally intended to be used for hovering at increased power for search and rescue missions. 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.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the sixty second meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 186, Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B).

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 prohibits certain flight operations in the Damascus (OSTT) Flight Information Region (FIR) by all U.S. air carriers; U.S. commercial operators; persons exercising the privileges of a U.S. airman certificate, except when such persons are operating a U.S.-registered aircraft for a foreign air carrier; and operators of U.S.-registered civil aircraft, except when such operators are foreign air carriers. The FAA previously prohibited such flight operations in a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) 4/4936, which was issued on August 18, 2014, and absent this rule, would have remained in effect until December 31, 2014. This Special Federal Aviation Regulation (SFAR) adopts the prohibitions currently in effect via the NOTAM, and requires compliance with the prohibitions for 2 years from the date of publication of this final rule, unless the FAA determines that it is necessary to amend or rescind this rule based on the situation in the region. The FAA finds that this action is necessary to address a potential hazard to persons and aircraft engaged in such flight operations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) proposes to rule and invites public comment on the application for a land release of approximately 60 acres of airport property at Tucson International Airport, Tucson, Pima County, Arizona from the aeronautical use provisions of the Grant Agreement Assurances since the land is not needed for airport purposes. The property will be used by Pima County, Arizona to relocate an existing roadway that is too close to United States Air Force Plant Number 4, a military ordnance manufacturing facility. The proposed land release will allow the relocated public roadway to comply with the military safety separation standards from the ordnance facility. The airport will be compensated for the fair market value of the land. The use of the land for a roadway represents a compatible land use that will not interfere with the airport or its operation, thereby protecting the interests of civil aviation.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, A340- 300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of skin disbonding on a composite side panel of a rudder installed on an A310 airplane. This proposed AD would require a review of the maintenance records of the rudder to determine if any composite side shell panel repair has been done; a thermography inspection limited to the repair areas or complete side shells, as applicable, to identify possible in-service rudder repairs, damages, or fluid ingress; and applicable related investigative and corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct the rudder skin disbonding, which could affect the structural integrity of the rudder, and could result in reduced controllability of the airplane.

This notice announces a revision to policy contained in FAA Order 8900.1, regarding the qualification, authority, and limitations of Designated Aircraft Dispatcher Examiners (DADEs). This policy revision will be published in 8900.1, Volume 3, chapter 13, sections 1 through 4, and Volume 5, Chapter 5, Section 10. This policy provides guidance to FAA employees on the responsibilities, qualifications, and oversight of DADEs under 14 CFR part 183. Under this revision, the FAA is clarifying its policy regarding the qualifications, privileges, and limitations of these designees, in addition to establishing guidelines for DADEs when testing applicants for an Aircraft Dispatcher Certificate.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Park Service (NPS) are inviting interested persons to apply to fill two existing openings and one upcoming opening on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The two existing openings represent environmental concerns and the upcoming opening represents Native American interests. Selected members will each serve 3-year terms.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the seventeenth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 222, Inmarsat AMS(R)S. The purpose of this meeting is threefold. First, we will consider the draft Change 4 to DO-210D. The draft will be submitted to the workspace no later than close of business Eastern time on January 12. Second, we will consider a work plan to progress development of Iridium NEXT material for DO-343, as approved by the PMC on December 16, 2014. Third, we will consider a work plan to progress cooperation with Eurocae WG-82, as approved by the PMC on December 16, 2014.

We propose to supersede airworthiness directive (AD) 2012-09- 09 that applies to all International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1, V2525-D5, and V2528-D5 turbofan engines, and certain serial numbers (S/ Ns) of IAE V2522-A5, V2524-A5, V2527-A5, V2527E-A5, V2527M-A5, V2530- A5, and V2533-A5 turbofan engines. AD 2012-09-09 currently requires cleaning, eddy current inspection (ECI) or fluorescent penetrant inspection (FPI), and initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (USIs) of certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 3 to 8 drums, as well as replacement of the drum attachment nuts. Since we issued AD 2012-09-09, we discovered that additional attachment nuts for certain HPC stage 3 to 8 drums are affected. This proposed AD would expand the affected population for initial and repetitive USIs of the HPC stage 3 to 8 drum, revise the inspection intervals, require removal of the affected attachment nuts and any HPC stage 3 to 8 drum found cracked, and require a mandatory terminating action. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the HPC stage 3 to 8 drum, which could result in uncontained drum failure, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 97-11-07 and AD 99-18-23, which apply to all The Boeing Company Model MD-90-30 airplanes. AD 97-11-07 and AD 99-18-23 required revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate certain compliance times for principal structural element (PSE) inspections and replacement times for safe-life limited parts. This new AD also requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate a new PSE requirement for the rear spar caps of the horizontal stabilizer and its associated inspections, which would terminate certain inspections of the horizontal stabilizer rear spar. This AD was prompted by an analysis of data that identified a need to introduce a new PSE requirement for the rear spar caps of the horizontal stabilizer. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of PSEs and certain safe-life limited parts, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

Under this notice, the FAA announces the submission deadline of January 5, 2015, for requests to amend slot records (adjust slot times and arrival/departure designations) at New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

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.

The FAA proposes to amend certain airworthiness regulations for transport category airplanes regarding lightning protection of fuel tanks and systems. This action would establish design requirements for both normal conditions and possible failures of fuel tank structure and systems that could lead to fuel tank explosions, add new maintenance requirements related to lightning protection features, and impose specific requirements for airworthiness limitations in the instructions for continued airworthiness. We would create performance-based standards for prevention of catastrophic fuel vapor ignition caused by lightning by regulating the risk due to both ignition sources and fuel tank flammability. This change would allow designers to take advantage of flammability reduction technologies whose effectiveness was not foreseen when earlier revisions to these rules were written. This change would also relieve some of the administrative burdens created by the current regulations. These proposed amendments are based on recommendations from the Large Airplane Fuel System Lightning Protection Aviation Rulemaking Committee (Lightning ARC).

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of the airport from aeronautical use to nonaeronautical use and to authorize the conversion of the airport property. The proposal consists of one parcel of land containing a total of approximately 3.09 acres located on the east side of the airport, along FM 758. The parcel was originally acquired as federal surplus property in 1969. The land comprising this parcel is outside the forecasted need for aviation development and, thus, is no longer needed for indirect or direct aeronautical use. The airport wishes to develop this land for compatible commercial, nonaeronautical use. The income from the conversion of this parcel will benefit the aviation community by reinvestment in the airport. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the conversion of the subject airport property nor a determination of eligibility for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA. The disposition of proceeds from the conversion of the airport property will be in accordance with FAA's Policy and Procedures Concerning the Use of Airport Revenue, published in the Federal Register on February 16, 1999. In accordance with Section 47107(h) of Title 49, United States Code, this notice is required to be published in the Federal Register 30 days before modifying the land-use assurance that requires the property to be used for an aeronautical purpose.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A300 series airplanes; Airbus Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called Model A300-600 series airplanes); and Airbus Model A310 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of early ruptures on the levers of the nose landing gear (NLG) sequence valve. This AD requires a one-time inspection for damage of the landing gear sequence valve levers and pin shearing indicating areas on the NLG and the main landing gears (MLGs); and depending on findings, replacing the sequence valve and lever, or doing a one-time inspection to detect interference between control rods and sequence valves and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct interference between a landing gear leg and door, which could result in failure of that landing gear to extend and could damage the airplane and injure occupants.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fatigue cracking in the skin assembly and bear strap of the aft lower corner of the forward airstair stowage doorway. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the skin assembly and bear strap of the forward airstair stowage doorway; post-repair and post-modification inspections for certain airplanes; and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD also provides optional terminating actions for certain inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid loss of cabin pressure.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at the Hazen VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC), Hazen, NV, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (type certificate previously held by Schweizer Aircraft) (Sikorsky) Model 269D and Model 269D Configuration A helicopters. This proposed AD would require reducing the life limit of the ring gear carrier assembly. This proposed AD is prompted by cracks in the ring gear carrier assembly. The proposed actions are intended to reduce the life of the ring gear carrier assembly to prevent failure of the main rotor transmission, loss of engine power to the main rotor, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319 and A320 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report that fatigue cracking could appear at certain fastener locations in the longeron area below the emergency exit cut- outs. This proposed AD is intended to complete certain mandated programs intended to support the airplane reaching its limit of validity (LOV) of the engineering data that support the established structural maintenance program. This proposed AD would require modification of eight fastener locations in the longeron area below the emergency exit cut-outs on the left-hand (LH) and right-hand (RH) sides. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking at certain fastener locations in the longeron area below the emergency exit cut-outs, which could lead to failure of the fasteners and reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace at the Maxwell VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range Tactical Air Navigation Aid (VORTAC), Maxwell, CA, to facilitate vectoring of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft under control of Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC). The FAA is proposing this action to enhance the safety and management of aircraft operations within the National Airspace System.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports from multiple operators that have found fatigue cracking in the corners of the forward galley service doorway. This AD requires repetitive inspections for any cracking of the skin and bear strap doublers in the corners of the forward galley service doorway, and corrective action if necessary. This AD also provides optional terminating actions for certain repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid loss of cabin pressure.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2010-13-04 for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. AD 2010-13- 04 required modifying the nose landing gear (NLG) trailing arm. This new AD requires installing a new pivot pin retention mechanism. This new AD also adds airplanes to the applicability. This AD was prompted by a report of several missing or damaged pivot pin retention bolts. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the pivot pin retention bolt, which could result in a loss of directional control or loss of a NLG tire during take-off or landing.

We are revising Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-14-02 for Agusta Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2008-14-02 required inspecting the fuselage frame to detect fatigue cracks which could lead to structural failure and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. Since we issued AD 2008-14-02, Agusta developed a frame reinforcement modification, which supports extending the interval for inspecting the fuselage frame for a fatigue crack. This new AD requires inspecting the fuselage frame for a crack and reduces the applicability from AD 2008- 14-02 to exclude helicopters with the frame reinforcement modification. The actions of this AD are intended to detect a fatigue crack that could result in failure of the fuselage frame and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.