Federal Aviation Administration November 22, 2016 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action proposes special conditions for the Cessna Aircraft Company model 525 airplane. This airplane as modified by Cranfield Aerospace Limited will have a novel or unusual design features associated with the installation of a Tamarack Active Technology Load Alleviation System and Cranfield Winglets. These design features will include winglets and an Active Technology Load Alleviation System. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards 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 certain BRP-Powertrain GmbH & Co KG Rotax 912 F2, 912 F3, 912 F4, 912 S2, 912 S3, 912 S4, 914 F2, 914 F3, and 914 F4 reciprocating engines. This AD requires replacement of any affected carburetor float with a float that is eligible for installation. This AD was prompted by a report of a quality escape in the manufacturing of the affected floats. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the carburetor float, failure of the engine, in-flight shutdown, and loss of the airplane.

This action proposes to establish Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Manti-Ephraim Airport, Manti, UT, to accommodate new Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for standard instrument approach and departure procedures. The establishment of Class E airspace is necessary to support the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various restricted category helicopters. This AD requires cleaning and visually inspecting certain main rotor (M/R) blades and, depending on the outcome of the inspections, repairing or replacing the M/R blades. This AD was prompted by a report of an M/R blade with multiple fatigue cracks around the blade retention bolt hole. The actions are intended to detect a crack in the M/R blade, and prevent failure of the M/R blade and subsequent loss of helicopter control.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures (ODPs) for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2C10 (Regional Jet Series 700, 701, and 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 a determination that wear and possible leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the No. 3 hydraulic system reservoir could occur and cause high hydraulic fluid temperature and/or prevent the system from reaching normal operating pressure. This AD requires repetitive operational checks for wear and leakage of the high-pressure seal in the cylinder of the reservoir of the No. 3 hydraulic system, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-12- 04, which applies to certain Boeing Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, and -900 series airplanes. AD 2008-12-04 currently requires various repetitive inspections to detect cracks along the chem-milled steps of the fuselage skin, and to detect missing or loose fasteners in the area of the preventive modification or repairs, replacement of the time- limited repair with the permanent repair if applicable, and applicable corrective actions, if necessary, which would end certain repetitive inspections. Since we issued AD 2008-12-04, an evaluation by the design approval holder (DAH) has indicated that the upper skin panel at the chem-milled step above the lap joint is subject to widespread fatigue damage (WFD) if the modification was installed after 30,000 total flight cycles. This proposed AD would reduce the post-modification inspection compliance times, limit installation of the preventive modification to airplanes with fewer than 30,000 total flight cycles, and add repetitive inspections for modified airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the upper skin panel at the chem-milled step above the lap joint, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation Model GV and GV-SP airplanes. This AD was prompted by a new revision to the Airworthiness Limitations Section (ALS) of the Aircraft Maintenance Manual (AMM) based on fatigue and damage tolerance testing, and updated analysis. This AD requires revising the maintenance or inspection program to incorporate updated inspection requirements and life limits that address fatigue cracking of principal structural elements (PSEs). We are issuing this AD to ensure that fatigue cracking of PSEs is detected and corrected; such fatigue cracking could result in reduced structural integrity of the PSEs and critical components.