Federal Aviation Administration November 1, 2022 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This action corrects a final rule published by the FAA in the Federal Register on October 24, 2022, that amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-269 in the vicinity of Yakutat, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska. The final rule identified the KATAT, AK, route point as a waypoint (WP), in error. This action makes an editorial correction to the reference of the KATAT, AK, WP to change it to be reflected as a Fix and match the FAA's aeronautical database information.

This action amends the Class E airspace at Duluth, MN. This action supports new public instrument procedures. The geographic coordinates of the airport are also being updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2018-03-13, which applies to certain General Electric Company (GE) CT7- 5A2, CT7-5A3, CT7-7A, CT7-7A1, CT7-9B, CT7-9B1, CT7-9B2, CT7-9C, and CT7-9C3 model turboprop engines. AD 2018-03-13 requires initial and repetitive visual inspections and fluorescent penetrant inspections (FPIs) of the main propeller shaft. Since the FAA issued AD 2018-03-13, the manufacturer detected two additional cracks on a main propeller shaft during its ongoing investigation and subsequently published service information that introduced reduced inspection thresholds for initial and repetitive visual inspections, FPIs, and added initial and repetitive ultrasonic inspections (USIs) of the main propeller shaft. Additionally, the manufacturer revised the airworthiness limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance manual (MM) to incorporate initial and repetitive USIs to inspect for cracks on the main propeller shaft. This proposed AD would require initial and repetitive visual inspections, FPIs, and USIs of the main propeller shaft. Depending on the results of these inspections, this proposed AD would require replacement of the main propeller shaft. As an optional terminating action to these inspections, this proposed AD would require revising the ALS of the existing MM and the operator's existing approved maintenance program or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate the tasks and reduced inspection thresholds for the main propeller shaft. The FAA is proposing 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 May 13, 2022. The collection involves the voluntary submission of responses to survey questions. The information is collected from holders of FAA production approvals and selected suppliers and provides them an opportunity to offer their input on how well the agency is performing the administration and conduct of the Aircraft Certification Systems Quality System Audit (QSA). The information to be collected will be used to promote continuous improvement initiatives and industry dialog in the FAA oversight process.

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 May 18, 2022. The information collection is reported voluntarily by those who wish to report suspected unapproved parts (SUP) to the FAA for review. The information is used to determine if an unapproved part investigation is warranted.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-23-17 for all Hoffmann GmbH & Co. KG (Hoffmann) model HO-V 72 propellers. AD 2021-23-17 required amending the existing aircraft flight manual (AFM) by inserting abnormal propeller vibration instructions, visual inspection and non-destructive test (NDT) inspection of the propeller hub and, depending on the results of the inspections, replacement of the propeller hub with a part eligible for installation. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-23-17, further investigation by the manufacturer revealed that cracks found on propeller hubs likely resulted from propeller blade retention nuts that were not tightened using published service information during blade installation. This AD is prompted by reports of cracks at different positions on two affected propeller hubs. This AD retains the required actions of AD 2021-23-17. This AD also requires a maintenance records review and, depending on the results of the maintenance records review, tightening of each propeller blade retention nut to specific torque values. Depending on the results of the maintenance records review, this AD requires physically inspecting the propeller blade for shake. If any axial play is detected during the performance of the inspection, this AD requires the removal of the propeller from service and the performance of an NDT inspection of the propeller hub, and depending on the NDT inspection results, replacement of the propeller hub with a part eligible for installation. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.