Federal Aviation Administration March 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. (Pilatus) Model PC-6 airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to repetitively inspect the stabilizer- trim attachment and structural components for cracks, corrosion, and discrepancies and replace any defective part with a new part. This proposed AD would also require you to replace all Fairchild connecting pieces, part number 6232.0026.XX, with a Pilatus connecting piece. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Switzerland. We are issuing this proposed AD to detect and correct defective stabilizer- trim attachments and surrounding structural components, which could result in failure of the stabilizer-trim attachment. This failure could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

This proposal would modify the Los Angeles (LAX), CA, Class B airspace area. Specifically, this action proposes to expand the eastern boundary of the airspace to ensure containment of the LAX Standard Terminal Arrival Routes (STAR), and correct the inefficiencies of several existing areas identified during public meetings and Southern California TRACON (SCT) reviews of the airspace. The FAA is proposing this action to improve the flow of air traffic, enhance safety, and reduce the potential for midair collision in the LAX Class B airspace area, while accommodating the concerns of airspace users. Further, this effort supports the FAA's national airspace redesign goal of optimizing terminal and en route airspace areas to reduce aircraft delays and improve system capacity.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption, part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of a certain petition seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

This action withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain McDonnell Douglas transport category airplanes. That action would have required inspection for proper installation, damage, or abrasion of the power feeder cables and trough installations; proper installation of caterpillar grommets in the lightening holes; and repair if necessary. The proposed rule also would have required modification of the power feeder cable installation and added airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD. Since the issuance of the NPRM, the FAA has received new data indicating that the applicability and required actions of the existing AD adequately address the unsafe condition that is identified in the existing AD. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, -200CB, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require, for certain airplanes, reworking the spar bonding path and reapplying sealant; and, for certain other airplanes, testing the electrical bond between the engine fuel feed hose and the wing front spar and, if applicable, reworking the spar bonding path and reapplying sealant. This proposed AD would also require, for all airplanes, an inspection to ensure the electrical bonding jumper is installed between the engine fuel feed hose and the adjacent wing station. This proposed AD is prompted by the results of fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent arcing or sparking at the interface between the bulkhead fittings of the engine fuel feed tube and the front spar during a lightning strike, which could provide a possible ignition source for the fuel vapor inside the fuel tank and result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747- 200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. This proposed AD would require doing a one-time high-frequency eddy current inspection and repetitive detailed inspections for cracks in the frame web of main entry door number 1; and repairing the door frame web if necessary. This proposed AD would also provide for optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of cracking at the upper aft corner of the cutout for main entry door number 1 in the station 488 frame web. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the frame web. These cracks could cause the frame to break and lead to rapid decompression of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for the part number, the serial number, and the mark ``RETESTED'' on the reaction link of the main landing gear (MLG), and replacing the reaction link of the MLG with a retested reaction link if necessary. This proposed AD is prompted by a report of faulty welds in certain reaction links. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the reaction link, collapse of the MLG, and consequently, loss of control on the ground and possible damage to the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Metropolitan Airports Commission for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

This summarizes the simulation of a capacity-reducing event run by the FAA on July 13-14, 2004. This simulation was conducted by the agency in accordance with Section 423 of Public Law 108-176, codified at section 40129 of title 49 of the United States Code.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes. This proposed AD would require a general visual inspection for damage to the Firex discharge pipes and wye assembly of the number 2 engine fire extinguishing system; and corrective and other specified actions, as applicable. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of freezing damage to the Firex discharge pipes and wye assembly of the number 2 engine, and one report of a level 1 ENG FIRE AGENT LO alert during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent accumulation of water in the discharge pipes and possible consequent freezing damage to the discharge pipes and wye assembly, which could lead to failure of the fire extinguishing system during a fire in the number 2 engine.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-200B, 747-300, 747-400, and 747-400D series airplanes. This proposed AD would require modifying the lateral shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest and, for certain airplanes, replacing Zone E tie rods and modifying the Zone E stowbin ladder. This proposed AD is prompted by a report indicating that the lateral shear beam for the Door 5 crew rest does not meet the 9G forward loading requirement. We are proposing this AD to prevent the structural support for the Door 5 crew rest and Zone E stowbins from failing during an emergency, which could result in the crew rest or stowbins falling and consequent injury to crew and passengers.

This document confirms the effective date of the direct final rule which revises Class E airspace at Rolla, MO.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-300, 747SP, and 747SR series airplanes. That AD currently requires one-time inspections for cracking in certain upper deck floor beams and follow-on actions. This new AD expands the existing inspection area and requires inspecting fastener holes in certain areas of airplanes modified previously, and taking corrective actions if necessary. This action also defines new sources for instructions for repairs and post-modification/repair inspections. This AD is prompted by reports of fatigue cracking of the upper chord of certain upper deck floor beams. We are issuing this AD to find and fix cracking in certain upper deck floor beams, which could extend and sever floor beams adjacent to the body frame and result in rapid depressurization and loss of controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747-100, -100B, -100B SUD, -200B, and -300 series airplanes; and Model 747SR and 747SP series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect fatigue cracking in the upper deck floor beams located at certain body stations, and repair, if necessary. This new AD lowers the threshold for the existing inspections and requires new repetitive inspections of previously repaired areas, and repair if necessary. This AD is prompted by the results of an additional detailed analysis that indicate fatigue cracks can initiate sooner than has previously been observed. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the upper deck floor beams at certain body stations due to fatigue cracking, which could result in rapid decompression and reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new Airworthiness Directive (AD) to supersede AD 99-06-02, which currently applies to certain Fairchild Aircraft (Fairchild) SA226 and SA227 series airplanes. AD 99-06-02 requires you to repetitively inspect the wing spar center web cutout on both wings for cracks between Wing Station (WS) 8 and WS 17.5. That AD also requires you to repair any area found cracked before further flight. The repair will eliminate the need for the repetitive inspections on that particular wing spar. Since that AD became effective, we have determined that we inadvertently omitted certain Model SA227-CC/DC airplane serial numbers from the applicability. This AD retains the actions of AD 99-06-02 and adds additional Model SA227- CC/DC airplanes to the Applicability section. The actions specified in this AD are intended to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the wing spar center web cutout area, which could result in structural failure of the wing spar. This could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF6-80A1/A3 and CF6-80C2A series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires completing one of the following actions before further flight: Performing a directional pilot valve (DPV) pressure check for leakage, and, if necessary, replacing the DPV assembly with a serviceable assembly, or Replacing the DPV assembly with a serviceable assembly, or Deactivating the thrust reverser, and revising the FAA- approved airplane flight manual (AFM) to require applying performance penalties for certain takeoff conditions if a thrust reverser is deactivated. That AD also requires revising the Emergency Procedures Section of the FAA-approved AFM to include a flight crew operational procedure for use in the event of any indication of an in-flight thrust reverser deployment. This AD specifies the same requirements for leak checks, but increases the interval between required checks. This AD also removes the requirement to revise the Limitations Section and the Emergency Procedures Section of the applicable AFM when deactivating one or both thrust reversers. This AD results from Airbus Industrie, the airplane manufacturer, revising the master minimum equipment list (MMEL) to include procedures for operating the airplane with the thrust reversers deactivated, and revising the AFM to include procedures for emergency operation if the thrust reversers deploy while in flight. This AD also results from the engine manufacturer recommending extending the interval between inspecting or replacing the DPV. We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent thrust reverser deployment, which, if it occurs in-flight, could result in loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330, A340-200, and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections of a certain bracket that attaches the flight deck instrument panel to the airplane structure; replacement of the bracket with a new, improved bracket; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports of cracking of a certain bracket that attaches the flight deck instrument panel to the airplane structure. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct a cracked bracket. Failure of this bracket, combined with failure of the horizontal beam, could result in collapse of the left part of the flight deck instrument panel, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by Capital Region Airport Authority for Capital City Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR Part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements. The FAA also announces that it is reviewing a proposed noise compatibility program that was submitted for Capital City Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before August 5, 2005.

The FAA will hold three informational meetings to discuss the proposed policy (Draft Order 8110.RC) that the FAA's Aircraft Certification Service personnel, Flight Standards Service Personnel, persons designated by the Administrator, and organizations associated with the certification process required by Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) will use during the certification evaluation of restricted category aircraft. These public meetings will be a continuation of information gathering for the evaluation of Restricted Category Aircraft Applications originally offered to the public for comments in the Federal Register, dated October 8, 2004, Page 60454 (Volume 69, Number 195). This meeting, the third and final public meeting will be held at the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) Orlando Florida's Flight Standards District Office, located at 5950 Hazeltine National Drive, Suite 500, Orlando, Florida. To obtain additional information and details about this meeting, please contact Mr. Graham Long via the information listed in the paragraph titled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Notes from this informational meeting will be posted on the Internet at: https://www.faa.gov/Certification/ Aircraft/DraftDoc/Comments.htm.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD requires modification of certain auxiliary power unit (APU) alternating current (AC) generators. This AD is prompted by a report of an explosion in the APU compartment, which blew open the compartment doors. We are issuing this AD to prevent oil vapor leakage from the APU AC generator, which, when combined with an electric arc at the electrical receptacle, could result in a fire or explosion in the APU compartment during flight.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require the following: Repetitive eddy current inspections for cracks of the countersunk rivet holes in the lower lobe, adjacent to the radio altimeter cutouts; additional inspections, for certain airplanes, for cracks and/or corrosion; and further investigative and corrective action if any crack is found. This proposed AD also would provide an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracks in the fuselage skin of the lower lobe. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks of the countersunk rivet holes, which could result in cracks of the fuselage skin of the lower lobe, and consequent rapid depressurization of the cabin.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Models 172R, 172S, 182T, T182T, 206H, and T206H airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to inspect any MC01-3A I.C. 9 or MC01-3A I.C. 10 main electrical power junction box circuit breakers for correct amperage (amp) (a correct 40- amp circuit breaker) and replace any incorrect amp circuit breaker with the correct 40-amp circuit breaker. This proposed AD results from several reports of circuit breakers that are not the correct 40-amp circuit breaker installed in the MC01-3A main electrical power junction box. We are issuing this proposed AD to replace any incorrect circuit breaker installed in the MC01-3A I.C. 9 or MC01-3A I.C. 10 main electrical power junction box, which could result in premature tripping of the power junction box main feeder circuit breakers and could lead to partial or complete loss of all electrical power on the airplane. This failure could lead to the loss of all navigation and communication equipment and lighting in the cockpit.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections of the left and right engine throttle control gearboxes for wear, and corrective action if necessary. The existing AD was prompted by numerous failures of the engine throttle control gearbox, some of which resulted in an in-flight engine shutdown. This AD adds airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive wear of the gearboxes and subsequent movement or jamming of the engine throttle; movement of the throttle towards the idle position brings it close to the fuel shut-off position, which could result in an in-flight engine shutdown.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus model airplanes, as specified above. This proposed AD would require modifying the electrical bonding points of additional center tanks. This proposed AD is prompted by the results of fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are proposing this AD to prevent electrical arcing inside the fuel tank, due to insufficient bonding, which could result in the ignition of fuel vapors with a potential risk of explosion of the fuel tank.