Federal Aviation Administration 2014 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2011-09- 11, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. AD 2011-09-11 currently requires repetitive inspections for hydraulic fluid contamination of the interior of the strut disconnect assembly; repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the interior of the strut disconnect assembly, if necessary; repetitive inspections of the exterior of the strut disconnect assembly for cracks, if necessary; corrective action if necessary; and an optional terminating action for the inspections. Since we issued AD 2011-09-11, we have received reports of side and top cover plates installed with missing fastener bolts, which results in an unsealed opening on the system disconnect assembly. This proposed AD would add, for certain airplanes, an inspection of the side and top cover plates to determine if all cover plate attach fasteners have been installed, and installing any missing fasteners including doing an inspection for damage, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct hydraulic fluid contamination, which can cause cracking of titanium parts in the system disconnect assembly; and also to detect and correct missing fasteners, which results in unsealed openings on the system disconnect assembly. Both unsafe conditions can compromise the engine firewall and result in fire hazards for both the engine compartment and the strut.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 98-22-10, which applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 737-100, -200, -200C, and -300 series airplanes. AD 98-22-10 currently requires repetitive inspections for cracking of the aft frame and frame support structure of the forward service doorway, and repair if necessary. AD 98-22-10 also provides for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspection requirements of that AD. Since we issued AD 98-22-10, we have determined that additional inspections are needed, and that additional airplanes may be subject to the identified unsafe condition. This proposed AD would add inspections and add airplanes to the applicability. For certain airplanes, this proposed AD provides a preventive modification, which would terminate the repetitive inspections. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the aft frame and frame support structure of the forward service doorway around the six doorstop fittings, which could result in door deflection and loss of pressurization.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2013-18-09 for certain Honeywell ASCa Inc. emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) installed on various transport category airplanes. AD 2013-18-09 required various one-time general visual inspections of the ELT transmitter units (TUs), and corrective actions if necessary. This new AD corrects the manufacturer's name in the AD applicability and adds a source of approval for an installation. AD 2013-18-09 was prompted by a fire on a parked and unoccupied airplane; preliminary information indicated combustion in the area of the ELT TU. This new AD was prompted by the identification of an error in the applicability of AD 2013-18-09. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct discrepancies of the battery wiring installation inside the TU, which could result in an electrical short and possible ignition source.

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 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 announces the charter renewal of the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC), a Federal Advisory Committee that works with industry and the public to improve the development of the FAA's regulations. This charter renewal will take effect on September 17, 2014, and will expire after 2 years.

These special conditions are issued for Airbus Model A350-900 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with a high-speed protection system that limits nose-down pilot authority at speeds above VC/MC, and prevents the airplane from performing the maneuver required under the Code of Federal Regulations. 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.

These special conditions are issued for Airbus Model A350-900 series airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with high speed limiting. 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.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, and A340-200, A340-300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that the service life limits of the cabin pressure control system (CPCS) safety valves installed on the aft pressure bulkhead were being exceeded. This AD requires repetitive replacement of the CPCS safety valves with serviceable valves. We are issuing this AD to prevent exceeding the service life limits of the CPCS safety valves, which, in the event of a failure, could result in excessive positive or negative differential pressure in the fuselage and consequent incapacitation or injuries to airplane occupants.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2012-10-53 for Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH (ECD) (now Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters. AD 2012-10-53 required, before further flight and at specified intervals, checking and inspecting the upper and lower main rotor hub (MRH) shaft flanges for a crack, and inspecting the lower hub-shaft flange bolt attachment areas for a crack. Since we issued AD 2012-10- 53, it has been determined that it is safe to increase the visual inspection intervals of the MRH shaft flanges from 10 hours time-in- service (TIS) to 50 hours TIS and remove the inspection of the lower MRH shaft flange bolt attachment areas. This new AD continues to require checking and inspecting the upper and lower MRH shaft flanges for a crack. These actions are intended to detect a crack on the MRH shaft flange, which if not corrected, could result in failure of the MRH and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directives (AD) 2006-21-08, AD 2007-14-01, AD 2008-25-02, AD 2010-04-09, AD 2011-01-02, and AD 2012-16-05, for certain Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes. AD 2006-21-08, AD 2007-14-01, AD 2008-25-02, AD 2010-04-09, AD 2011-01-02, and AD 2012-16-05 required revising the maintenance program or inspection program to incorporate certain maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations for fuel tank systems. This new AD requires a new maintenance or inspection program revision. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

In accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended (NEPA; 42 U.S.C. 4321, et seq.), Council on Environmental Quality NEPA implementing regulations (40 CFR Parts 1500- 1508), and FAA Order 1050.1E, Change 1, the FAA is announcing the availability of the Final EA for Issuing an Experimental Permit to SpaceX for Operation of the DragonFly Vehicle at the McGregor Test Site, McGregor, Texas, and FONSI.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the sixth meeting of the RTCA Tactical Operations Committee.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering how to implement Section 213(c)(2) of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012 which directs the FAA to issue and file a categorical exclusion for any navigation performance or other performance based navigation (PBN) procedure that would result in measureable reductions in fuel consumption, carbon dioxide emissions, and noise on a per flight basis as compared to aircraft operations that follow existing instrument flight rule procedures in the same airspace. In September 2012, the FAA tasked the NextGen Advisory Committee (NAC) for assistance, especially on how measurable reductions in noise on a per flight basis might be measured and assessed. The NAC developed a Net Noise Reduction Method which it recommended to the FAA. This notice provides the public an opportunity to comment on the Net Noise Reduction Method and possible variations of it to further inform the FAA's consideration of interpretive guidance to implement Section 213(c)(2).

These special conditions are issued for the modification of the Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135 series helicopters. These model helicopters will have a novel or unusual design feature after installation of the S-TEC Corporation (S- TEC) HeliSAS helicopter autopilot/stabilization augmentation system (AP/SAS) that has potential failure conditions with more severe adverse consequences than those envisioned by the existing applicable airworthiness regulations. These special conditions contain the added safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to ensure the failures and their effects are sufficiently analyzed and contained.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B16 (CL-604 Variant) airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of in-flight uncommanded rudder movements. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to incorporate an uncommanded yaw motion procedure. We are issuing this AD to prevent in- flight uncommanded rudder movements, which could lead to structural failure and subsequent loss of the airplane.

We are superseding airworthiness directive (AD) 2013-12-01 for all Rolls-Royce plc (RR) model RB211 Trent 768-60, 772-60, and 772B-60 turbofan engines. AD 2013-12-01 required a one-time ultrasonic inspection (UI) of low-pressure (LP) compressor blades with more than 2,500 flight cycles since new or last inspection. This AD requires initial and repetitive UIs of the affected LP compressor blades. This AD was prompted by LP compressor blade partial airfoil release events. We are issuing this AD to prevent LP compressor blade airfoil separations, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A310 series airplanes; and Model A300 B4-600, B4-600R, and F4-600R series airplanes, and Model A300 C4-605R Variant F airplanes (collectively called A300-600 series airplanes). This AD was prompted by the revision of certain airworthiness limitation items (ALI) documents, which require more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate the limitations section. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking, damage, or corrosion in principal structural elements, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting 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 AD was prompted by several reports indicating that shorter nacelle strut bushings were inadvertently installed on certain airplanes. This AD requires a general visual inspection of the left and right nacelle upper strut bushings; installation of the bolts and preload indicating (PLI) washers, if necessary; and replacement of the bushing or repair of the bushing installation, if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct inadequate nacelle strut bushings, which provide insufficient engagement in the strut fork end, and could deform under the bearing load and lead to the failure of the joint.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-102, -103, -106, -201, -202, -301, -311, and -315 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. This proposed AD would require revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate new limitations for fuel tank systems. We are proposing this AD to prevent potential ignition sources within the fuel system, which could result in a fuel tank explosion.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters with certain duplex trim actuators installed. This proposed AD would require repetitively inspecting the lateral and longitudinal trim actuator output levers for correct torque of the nuts. This proposed AD is prompted by a design review that the attachment screws can become lost under certain circumstances. The proposed actions are intended to prevent the loss of an attachment screw, which could result in movement of the output lever in an axial direction, contact of a bolt connecting the control rod to an output lever with the actuator housing, and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all PILATUS AIRCRAFT LTD. Models PC-12, PC-12/45, PC-12/47, and PC-12/47E airplanes that would supersede AD 2012-26-16. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as a need to incorporate new revisions into the Limitations section, Chapter 4, of the FAA-approved maintenance program (e.g., maintenance manual). We are issuing this proposed AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of loose bolts that are intended to secure the translating door crank assembly to the outside handle shaft. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for loose bolts on the aft translating door crank assembly, and removal and reinstallation of the bolts. We are proposing this AD to prevent loose bolts from falling out. If both bolts become loose or fall out after the door is closed and locked, the door cannot be opened from inside or outside, which could impede evacuation in the event of an emergency.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Embraer S.A. Model ERJ 190-100 STD, -100 LR, -100 ECJ, -100 IGW, -200 STD, -200 LR, and -200 IGW airplanes. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, retorquing and replacing the pylon outboard and inboard lower link fittings. For all airplanes, this AD requires repetitive retorquing of the pylon outboard and inboard lower link fittings. This AD was prompted by a report of a loose lower link assembly on the left and right pylons. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of a shear pin on the pylon outboard and inboard lower link fittings, which could result in failure of the fitting and consequent separation of the engine from the wing.