Federal Aviation Administration February 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) that would have applied to certain Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. Models MU-2B- 10, MU-2B-15, MU-2B-20, MU-2B-25, MU-2B-26, MU-2B-26A, MU-2B-30, MU-2B- 35, MU-2B-36, MU-2B-36A, MU-2B-40, and MU-2B-60 airplanes. The NPRM resulted 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 and would have required repetitively inspecting the wing spacer plates for cracks until they were replaced with an improved design wing spacer plates. Since issuance of the NPRM, we determined that damage is contained to the wing spacer plate with no evidence that primary structure is affected. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Brady, Curtis Field, Brady, TX. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Brady non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approach. It would enhance the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. Additionally, the geographic coordinates are being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action proposes to amend the Class E surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Mount Vernon Airport, Mount Vernon, IL. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Mount Vernon VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The geographic coordinates and name of the airport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces that it has discontinued preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for proposed capacity enhancements and other improvements (Proposed Action) at Charlotte Douglas International Airport (CLT), Charlotte, NC. The Proposed Action initially presented to the FAA entailed: (1) A Fourth 12,000-foot Parallel Runway 1-19 and End-Around Taxiways; (2) Concourse B and Ramp Expansion; (3) Concourse C and Ramp Expansion; and (4) Daily North Parking Deck. Based on developments during the National Environmental Policy Act, 42 U.S.C. 4321 et seq. (NEPA), review process, the project now subject to environmental review includes a fourth parallel runway of only 10,000 feet. The FAA determined that this was a sufficient change to one of the proposed capacity enhancements, as described in greater detail below in the Supplementary Information section of this Notice, to warrant cancellation of the EIS and conversion to an Environmental Assessment (EA).

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at the Deadhorse Airport, Deadhorse, Alaska.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A330-201, -202, and -203 airplanes, and Model A330- 301, -302, and -303 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of damaged drain pipes located above the lower aft pylon fairing (LAPF), caused by a contact between the drain pipe and the two u-shape ribs of the LAPF. This AD requires a special detailed inspection for damage, and corrective actions if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval to renew an information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 20, 2018. The information to be collected is necessary because the FAA needs accurate and up to date data indicating who is performing maintenance on behalf of air carriers, what type of maintenance is being performed, and where the maintenance is being performed. This collected information will be used by the FAA to adequately target its inspection resources for surveillance and make accurate risk assessments.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of an overheat failure mode of the hydraulic engine-driven pump (EDP), and a determination that the affected EDP needs to be replaced with an improved EDP. This AD requires replacement of a certain EDP with an improved EDP. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Saab AB, Saab Aeronautics Model SAAB 2000 airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports that certain fuel probes indicated misleading fuel quantities on the engine indicating and crew alerting system (EICAS). This AD requires a functional check of certain fuel probes, and replacement with a serviceable part if necessary. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2007-11- 11 and AD 2017-01-11, which apply to all Airbus SAS Model A318 and Model A319 series airplanes; Model A320-211, -212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes; and Model A321 series airplanes. AD 2007-11-11 requires an inspection to determine the serial number of both main landing gear (MLG) sliding tubes, repetitive inspections for cracking of the affected MLG sliding tubes and corrective actions if necessary, and eventual replacement of both MLG shock absorbers. AD 2017-01-11 requires identification of the part number and serial number of the MLG sliding tubes; inspection of affected chromium plates and sliding tube axles for damage; and replacement of the sliding tube if necessary. Since we issued AD 2007-11-11 and AD 2017-01-11, it was determined that cracks were found in the MLG sliding tubes due to certain manufacturing defects that might not be identified using the current on-wing scheduled inspections. This proposed AD would retain certain requirements of AD 2007-11-11 and AD 2017-01-11. This proposed AD would also require repetitive inspections of affected MLG sliding tubes for cracking, replacement of cracked MLG sliding tubes, and eventual replacement of each affected MLG sliding tube. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-07-05, which applied to all Airbus SAS Model A300 series airplanes; and 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). AD 2017-07-05 required repetitive detailed visual inspections of the main landing gear (MLG) leg components and replacement of the MLG leg if cracked components are found. This AD retains the requirements of AD 2017-07-05 and removes the credit for doing an MLG overhaul in lieu of the initial inspection of the MLG leg components. This AD was prompted by further investigation after AD 2017-07-05 was issued, which revealed that overhaul of the MLG does not alleviate the need for inspecting the MLG hinge arm/barrel pin for cracking. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all AmSafe Inc. seatbelts, as installed in, but not limited to, various airplanes and rotorcraft. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of multiple failed keepers on seatbelt hook assemblies. This proposed AD would require an inspection for affected parts, repetitive general visual inspections of the seatbelt hook assembly for damage, repetitive functional checks, and replacement of all affected parts. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of loss of retention of the regulator inlet filter retainer on certain crew oxygen cylinder assemblies. This proposed AD would require an operational check of the crew oxygen cylinder assembly, replacement of an affected assembly, and eventual replacement of all affected assemblies with redesigned serviceable assemblies. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-07- 12, which applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. AD 2016-07-12 requires repetitive inspections for damage and cracking of the aft fixed fairing (AFF) of the pylons, and repair if necessary. Since we issued AD 2016-07-12, we have received reports of cracks on a certain rib of a modified AFF of the pylons. This proposed AD would retain the repetitive inspections required by AD 2016-07-12, and require additional repetitive inspections at the upper spar at a certain rib area and corrective actions if necessary. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus SAS Model A350-941 and -1041 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations are necessary. This AD requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to revise a regulation that imposes a duplicative requirement on foreign applicants for type certificates of import products. Existing FAA regulations require all applicants to submit two documents: A compliance listing to document the means of compliance with applicable standards; and a corresponding statement of compliance from the applicant certifying that all the requirements in the certification basis have been complied with. These compliance documents are duplicative and redundant to the certifying statement that the FAA already requires from the foreign civil aviation authority of the country or jurisdiction having State of Design responsibility for the design approval holder of the product. The FAA proposes to no longer require either the compliance listing or the accompanying statement of compliance from the foreign applicant.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Pacific Aerospace Limited Model 750XL airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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 an incorrect size bolt may have been used to assemble the elevator bellcrank pivot joint. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Charleston, Mississippi County Airport in Charleston, MO. The FAA is proposing this action due to the decommissioning of the Charleston non-directional radio beacon (NDB).

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Zodiac Aerotechnics (Zodiac) oxygen mask regulators. This AD was prompted by reports that certain silicon harness inflation hoses installed on certain flight crew quick donning mask harnesses have shown an unusually high premature rupture rate. This AD requires inspection and replacement of certain oxygen mask regulator harness inflation hoses. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Butler County Regional Airport-Hogan Field, Hamilton, OH. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Richmond VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aid, which provided navigation information for the instrument procedures at this airport, as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. Airspace redesign is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport.

This action amends Class D airspace, Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class D surface area, and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface at Schenectady County Airport, Schenectady, NY, and Albany, NY by updating the geographic coordinates of this airport, Saratoga County Airport, Hunter NDB, and Cambridge VOR/DME. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. This action also replaces the outdated term Airport/ Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace of Schenectady County Airport, Schenectady, NY, and Ithaca Tompkins Regional Airport, Ithaca, NY. In addition, subsequent to publication, it was noted that the Cambridge VOR/DME was identified as VORTAC. This action corrects the error.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

This action proposes to modify Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Alpine-Casparis Municipal Airport, Alpine, TX. This action is necessary due to the decommissioning of the Brewster County non-directional radio beacon (NDB), and cancellation of the NDB approach, and would enhance the safety and management of standard instrument approach procedures for instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at this airport. Additionally, the geographic coordinates are being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

We are superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-11-16 for all Engine Alliance (EA) GP7270 and GP7277 turbofan engines with a certain engine fan hub assembly. AD 2018-11-16 required a one-time eddy current inspection (ECI) of the engine fan hub blade slot bottom and blade slot front edge for cracks, a visual inspection of the engine fan hub assembly for damage, and removal of parts if damage or defects are found that are outside serviceable limits. This AD retains these requirements, but expands the population of affected engine fan hub assemblies and revises the compliance time for the inspections. This AD was prompted by the FAA's determination that inspections need to be expanded to all EA GP7270 and GP7277 turbofan engines. We are issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

We are removing Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-05-06 R1, which applied to Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (type certificate previously held by Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH) Model EC135 and MBB-BK 117 C-2 helicopters. AD 2014-05-06 R1 required installing bushings and washers on the flight controls. This action is prompted by an error in the issuance of 2014-05-06 R1. Accordingly, AD 2014-05-06 R1 is removed.