Federal Aviation Administration April 12, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of paint deterioration on the surface of the main landing gear (MLG) and the early onset of corrosion in the trunnion bore of the MLG outer cylinder. This proposed AD would require identifying affected parts, repetitive external surface detailed inspection for damage of affected parts, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. For certain airplanes, this AD also would require a detailed inspection and bushing replacement of the trunnion bore, and related investigative and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent stress corrosion cracking of the external surfaces of the MLG, which could result in a fracture of the MLG and consequent MLG collapse.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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 title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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 title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. 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-8-102, -103, and -106 airplanes, and Model DHC-8-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of heat damage found on a nacelle firewall after an unsuccessful engine ground start and several events of heat damage found on direct current starter/generator terminal block assemblies. This proposed AD would require an inspection for damage on the nacelle firewalls and the terminal block assemblies and to make sure the insulating sleeves are installed and have no damage, and corrective action if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent arcing between the firewall and terminal blocks that are missing insulating sleeves on the conductive bushings, which could, in combination with a fuel or hydraulic fluid leak, be an ignition source for a fire.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-15- 06, which applies to certain Textron Aviation Inc. Models 175 and 175A airplanes (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company). AD 2008-15-06 currently requires checking the airplane logbook to determine if the original engine mounting brackets have been replaced. If the original engine mounting brackets are still installed, the AD requires repetitively inspecting those brackets for cracks and replacing any cracked engine mounting bracket until all four original engine mounting brackets are replaced. Replacing all four original engine mounting brackets terminates the actions required in AD 2008-15- 06. Since we issued AD 2008-15-06, we have determined that the applicability needs to be changed to add a serial number and take one out. This proposed AD would retain the actions required in AD 2008-15- 06 and would change the Applicability section. We are proposing this AD to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, -200, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of a manufacturing defect that affects the durability of affected parts in the cargo and cabin compartment. This proposed AD would require an inspection of affected structural parts in the cargo and cabin compartments to determine if proper heat-treatment has been done, and replacement if necessary. We are proposing this AD to prevent crack initiation and propagation, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model AS355NP helicopters with certain fire extinguishing systems. This proposed AD would require removing and installing the fire extinguishing system so that each squib on the engine compartment fire extinguisher is controlled by a matching control button. This proposed AD is prompted by the discovery that the left-hand discharge system of the fire extinguishing system was incorrectly connected to the right-hand engine compartment and the right-hand discharge system was incorrectly connected to the left-hand engine compartment. The proposed actions would correct the connections and would prevent the fire extinguishing system discharging to the wrong engine compartment, failure of the fire extinguishing system to control a fire, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.