Federal Aviation Administration June 10, 2019 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting an airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-700C, -800, and -900ER series airplanes. This AD requires a maintenance records check to determine if any main slat track assembly has been removed, an inspection of the main slat track assemblies for a suspect lot number or a lot number that cannot be determined, and applicable on-condition actions. This AD was prompted by a report that certain main slat track assemblies were manufactured incorrectly and are affected by hydrogen embrittlement. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

These special conditions are issued for the Mitsubishi Aircraft Corporation (MITAC), Model MRJ-200 airplanes. These airplanes will have a novel or unusual design feature when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features are electrical and electronic systems that perform critical functions, the loss of which could be catastrophic to the airplane. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design features. 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.

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.

This action modifies VHF Omnidirectional Range (VOR) Federal airways V-8, V-92, V-214, and V-438 due to the planned decommissioning of the Grantsville, MD, VOR/DME navigation aid which provides navigation guidance for segments of the routes. The Grantsville VOR/DME is being decommissioned as part of the FAA's VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) program.

We propose to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2005-17- 14, which applies to all Airbus SAS Model A300 series airplanes; 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); and Model A310 series airplanes. AD 2005-17-14 requires repetitive tests to detect desynchronization of the rudder servo actuators, and adjustment or replacement of the spring rods of the rudder servo actuators, if necessary. AD 2005-17-14 also requires repetitive tests/inspections/analyses of the rudder servo actuators, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. Since we issued AD 2005-17-14, analyses of the inspection results indicated that the assumptions made to establish the survey campaign were not adequate, and a new investigation determined the existing inspection procedures and compliance times do not adequately address the unsafe condition. This proposed AD would retain some requirements of AD 2005- 17-14 and revise the inspection procedures and compliance times, as specified in an European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which will be incorporated by reference. We are proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.