Federal Aviation Administration April 13, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Humboldt Municipal, Humboldt, Iowa, under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47107(h)(2).

This notice announces the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) intent to cancel the following Technical Standard Orders (TSOs): -C42, Propeller Feathering Hose Assemblies; -C53c, Fuel and Engine Oil System Hose Assemblies; and -C75, Hydraulic Hose Assemblies. The intent is to combine the updated requirements of the aforementioned TSOs into TSO-C140, Aerospace Fuel, Engine Oil, and Hydraulic Hose Assemblies. The impact of cancelling these TSOs will not affect current design or production approvals for an existing TSO-C42, -C53c, or -C75 authorization (TSOA). However, modifications to TSO-C42, -C53c, and - C75 TSOAs will no longer be accepted after the effective cancellation date. Generally, we will not accept applications for the previous revisions after the cancellation date of these TSOs. We may do so, however, up to six months after publication of this cancellation notice if we know that work was being done against the prior minimum performance standard before the cancellations became effective. Articles approved under those cancelled TSOAs may continue to be produced under the provisions of their original approvals.

This action proposes to amend Class D and E airspace at Sioux Gateway/Col. Bud Day Field, Sioux City, IA, due to the decommissioning of the Gateway non-directional radio beacon (NDB) and cancellation of the NDB approaches at the airport. The Class E airspace area designated as an extension would be removed as it is no longer needed. Advances in Global Positioning System (GPS) capabilities have made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action also would update the geographic coordinates for Martin Field, NE, to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-223F and -243F airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of missing fasteners in certain locations of the fuselage during production. This AD would require inspecting for missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners; and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the fuselage due to missing, damaged, or incorrectly installed fasteners, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all The Boeing Company Model 777-200, -200LR, -300, and -300ER series airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of fractured forward attach fittings of the inboard flap outboard aft flap track. The fractured fittings were determined to be the result of corrosion pits forming on the inside diameter of the fittings. This AD requires an inspection for the affected part number and serial number of the main flap; various additional repetitive inspections of the fitting, if necessary; and replacement of the fitting or nested bushing installation, if necessary, which would terminate the inspections. This AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fracture of the fitting, which could result in the loss of the inboard aft flap and could lead to a punctured fuselage, causing injury to the flightcrew and passengers, and damage to the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Dassault Aviation Model FALCON 7X airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by investigation results that determined that a certain thickness of the fuel tank panels is insufficient to meet the certification requirements. This proposed AD would require inspecting the thickness of the fuel tank panels, and repair if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct improper thickness of the fuel tank panels. Improper thickness increases the risk of damaging and puncturing a fuel tank wall panel as a result of a high energy lightning strike, which could lead to loss of electrical power and/or other essential functions, possibly resulting in reduced control of the airplane or ignition of a fuel tank.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, & 702) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D15 (Regional Jet Series 705) airplanes, Model CL-600-2D24 (Regional Jet Series 900) airplanes, and Model CL- 600-2E25 (Regional Jet Series 1000) airplanes. This AD was prompted by the discovery of a number of incorrectly calibrated angle of attack (AOA) transducers installed in the stall protection system. This AD requires replacement of affected AOA transducers. We are issuing this AD to detect and replace incorrectly calibrated AOA transducers; incorrect calibration of the transducers could result in late activation of the stick pusher.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200, -200 Freighter, and -300 series airplanes, and all Airbus Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report of blockage of Angle of Attack (AOA) probes during climb, leading to activation of the Alpha Protection (Alpha Prot) while the Mach number increased. This activation could cause a continuous nose-down pitch rate that cannot be stopped with backward sidestick input, even in the full backward position. For certain airplanes, this AD requires replacing certain AOA sensors (probes) with certain new AOA sensors. For certain other airplanes, this AD also requires inspections and functional heat testing of certain AOA sensors for discrepancies, and replacement if necessary. We are issuing this AD to prevent erroneous AOA information and Alpha Prot activation due to blocked AOA probes, which could result in a continuous nose-down command and loss of control of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters. This AD requires repetitive inspections of a certain part-numbered main rotor hub torsion bar (torsion bar). This AD was prompted by several cases of corrosion in the metal strands of the torsion bar. The actions of this AD are intended to detect corrosion and prevent failure of the torsion bar, loss of a main rotor blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.