Federal Aviation Administration February 6, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to supersede Airworthiness Directive (AD) 92- 07-05, which applies to certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (Raytheon) 65, 90, 99, and 100 series airplanes. AD 92-07-05 currently requires you to inspect the rudder trim tab for proper moisture drainage provisions, and if the correct drainage provisions do not exist, prior to further flight, modify the rudder trim tab. Since we issued AD 92- 07-05, FAA has received and evaluated new service information that requires the actions of AD 92-07-05 for the added serial numbers LJ-1281 through LJ- 1732 for the Model C90A airplanes. Consequently, this proposed AD retains all the actions of AD 92-07-05 and adds serial numbers LJ-1281 through LJ-1732 for the Model C90A airplanes in the applicability section. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent water accumulation in the rudder trim tab, which could result in a change in the mass properties and thus result in the lower flutter speed of the airplane. Airplane flutter could result in failure and loss of control of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-200 and -300 series airplanes, A340-200 and - 300 series airplanes, and A340-541 and -642 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive borescope inspections of the left and right fuel tanks of the trimmable horizontal stabilizers (trim tanks) for detached or damaged float valves; related investigative/corrective actions if necessary; and the eventual replacement of all float valves in the left and right trim tanks with new, improved float valves, which terminates the need for the repetitive inspections. This AD also requires repetitive replacement of certain new, improved float valves. This AD results from reports of detached and damaged float valves in the trim tanks. We are issuing this AD to prevent, in the event of a lightning strike to the horizontal stabilizer, sparking of metal parts and debris from detached and damaged float valves, or a buildup of static electricity, which could result in ignition of fuel vapors and consequent fire or explosion.