Federal Aviation Administration July 24, 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 737-600, -700, -700C, -800, -900 and -900ER airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner bear strap. It has been determined that the cracks were caused by high operating stresses in the fuselage skin door cutout corner area due to stress concentration at the door cutout. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the fuselage skin and the bear strap at the forward galley door cutout forward upper corner for existing repairs, and applicable related investigative and corrective inspections. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2021-05-03 for certain Airbus Helicopters Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2021-05-03 required various inspections of a certain part-numbered left-hand (LH) engine fuel supply (fuel supply) hose and depending on the inspection results, reinstalling or removing the fuel supply hose from service. AD 2021-05-03 also required installing an improved part and prohibited installing an affected fuel supply hose on any helicopter unless it was installed by following certain procedures. Since the FAA issued AD 2021-05-03, there were reports of difficulties using an adjusting tool to install the improved fuel supply hose. This AD continues to require the actions of AD 2021-05-03, expands the applicability, expands the parts installation limitations, and requires using an improved adjusting tool and updated procedures. This AD also updates certain compliance times and clarifies certain requirements. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-271, in the vicinity of Iliamna, AK in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action amends United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route T-260, in the vicinity of Nome, AK. The RNAV route amendments are necessary due to the planned decommissioning of the Non-Directional Beacon (NDB) portion of the Tin City, AK (TNC), NDB/Distance Measuring Equipment (NDB/DME) and the Point Hope, AK, (PHO) NDB. Although the Tin City, AK, (TNC) NDB will decommission, the co-located Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) will remain for use within the National Airspace System (NAS).

This action establishes United States Area Navigation (RNAV) T-route T-379, in the vicinity of Discovery, AK, in support of a large and comprehensive T-route modernization project for the state of Alaska.

This action amends the Class E airspace designated as an extension to a Class C surface area and Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface in Nashville, TN, as the result of a Class C Airspace modification and a biennial evaluation. This action reduces the Class E airspace designated as an extension to the Nashville International Airport Class C airspace. This action also extends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface surrounding Music City Executive Airport and reduces the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface surrounding Lebanon Municipal Airport, Murfreesboro Municipal Airport, and John C. Tune Airport.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2022-19-08 which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model SA341G and SA342J helicopters. AD 2022-19-08 was prompted by a report of manufacturing defects on multiple tail rotor blades (TRBs) and required visually inspecting certain part-numbered TRBs for the presence of a linear indication, and, depending on the inspection results, fluorescent penetrant inspecting the TRB and further corrective actions if necessary. AD 2022-19-08 also prohibited installing an affected TRB unless certain requirements had been met. This AD was prompted by the determination that parts that have accumulated more than 500 flight hours (FH) since new are also affected by the unsafe condition. In addition, the defined compliance time for the visual inspection of the root area of each affected part was determined to be too strict. This AD retains certain requirements of AD 2022-19-08, includes all TRBs in the inspection requirements, and increases a compliance time as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA previously sent this AD as an emergency AD to all known U.S. owners and operators of these helicopters. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.