Federal Aviation Administration March 8, 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Model AS350B, AS350BA, AS350B1, AS350B2, AS350D, AS355E, AS355F, AS355F1, AS355F2, and AS355N helicopters. This AD was prompted by two reports of debonding of the tail rotor (T/R) blade leading edge protection shields. This AD requires repetitively inspecting certain T/R blades and depending on the inspection results, replacing the T/R blade, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). This AD also prohibits installing certain T/R blades. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A330-200, -300, -800, and -900 series airplanes; and Model A340-200, -300, -500, and -600 series airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that certain oxygen supply solenoid valves are a potential source of increased flow resistance within the flightcrew oxygen system. This proposed AD would require a special detailed inspection (flow test) of certain solenoid valves, and replacement if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is revising a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2014-25-04, which applies to all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-6, PC-6-H1, PC-6-H2, PC-6/350, PC-6/350-H1, PC-6/350-H2, PC-6/A, PC-6/A-H1, PC-6/A-H2, PC-6/B-H2, PC- 6/B1-H2, PC-6/B2-H2, PC-6/B2-H4, PC-6/C-H2, and PC-6/C1-H2 airplanes. This action revises the NPRM by adding an eddy current inspection of each fuselage wing fitting if an earlier version of the service information was accomplished. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

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 Eurocopter France (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS350B, BA, B1, B2, B3, C, D, and D1; EC-130B4; and AS355E, F, F1, F2, and N helicopters. The NPRM would have required modifying the collective hold-down strap (strap) and thereafter inspecting it at specified intervals to ensure the rubber grommet is resting against the console or replacing the strap with a strap that has a torsional spring at the lower end of the strap. Since issuance of the NPRM, the FAA issued AD 2014-02-05, which addresses the unsafe condition identified in the NPRM. Accordingly, the NPRM is withdrawn.

This action modifies the Class D airspace at Four Corners Regional Airport, Farmington, NM. This action also modifies the Class E airspace, designated as a surface area, to match the modified Class D dimensions. Additionally, this action modifies the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Further, this action removes the Class E airspace, extending upward from 1,200 feet above the surface. This action also removes the Four Corners Regional ILS Localizer and the Farmington VORTAC from the legal descriptions' text headers and airspace descriptions. Lastly, this action implements several administrative corrections to the Class D, Class E2, and Class E5 airspaces' legal descriptions.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports that collective lever switch units having certain part numbers did not have retaining rings installed in the cable cut switch guard. This proposed AD would require inspecting certain collective lever switch units for discrepancies (missing retaining rings, incorrectly installed retaining rings, and a missing axis in the cable cut switch guard), doing all applicable corrective actions, and marking affected parts, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action removes VHF Omni-directional Range Federal airway V-346 and V-400, in the vicinity of Beauce, Canada. This action is necessary due to Canada's civil air navigation services provider, NAV Canada, planned decommissioning of the Beauce, Canada, VHF Omni-directional Range (VOR)/Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) navigation aid, which provides navigation guidance for segments of the routes. NAV Canada has deleted the portions of both airways that resided in their airspace.

This action proposes to modify the Class D airspace, at Meadows Field Airport. This action also proposes to modify the Class E airspace designated as a surface area and the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface. Additionally, this action proposes several administrative corrections to the Class D, Class E2, and Class E5 text headers. Lastly, this action proposes to update the term ``Airport/Facility Directory'' in the last sentence of the Class D's airspace description to ``Chart Supplement.'' This action would ensure the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action proposes to modify the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Delano Municipal Airport, Delano, CA. The airspace modification is necessary to properly contain instrument flight rules (IFR) aircraft operating to/from the airport. This action also proposes to update the airport's geographical coordinates to match the FAA database. This action would ensure the safety and management of IFR operations at the airport.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-11-21 for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135T1, EC135T2, and EC135T2+ helicopters. AD 2016-11-21 requires revising the life limit of certain parts and removing each part that has reached its life limit. Since the FAA issued AD 2016-11-21, new models were certified. This proposed AD would expand the applicability to include Model EC135P3 and EC135T3 helicopters. This proposed AD would also revise the life limits for certain parts and propose to remove each part that has reached or exceeded its life limit. The actions of this proposed AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Textron Aviation Inc. (Textron) (type certificate previously held by Cessna Aircraft Company) Models 208 and 208B airplanes. This AD was prompted by reports of loose elevator torque tube attach fasteners. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the inboard and outboard elevator torque tube attachments for loose or incorrectly installed fasteners, replacing all fasteners if loose or incorrectly installed fasteners are found, and reporting the inspection results to the FAA. This AD also includes optional actions to terminate the repetitive inspections. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.