Federal Aviation Administration October 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA waived a requirement for Blue Origin, LLC (Blue Origin), to obtain a launch license for certain launch processing activities at West Texas Launch Site. Blue Origin is authorized to conduct suborbital rocket launches under Experimental Permit No. EP 06- 001, which was issued by the FAA on September 15, 2006. The FAA finds that waiving the requirement to obtain a launch license for certain launch processing activities conducted in preparation for flight is in the public interest and will not jeopardize public health and safety, safety of property, or national security and foreign policy interests of the United States.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. (the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, hereinafter referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of Federal and nonfederal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On February 23, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners under part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On August 21, 2006, the FAA approved the St. Lucie County International Airport noise compatibility program. Most of the recommendations of the program were approved.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes equipped with General Electric GE90-94B engines. This AD requires inspecting to determine the part number of the identification plate of the torque box on the thrust reversers (TRs), and investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from engine certification testing which revealed that TRs on GE90-94B engines have inner walls that could develop disbonding in the upper bifurcation radii. Disbonding was found in an equivalent inner wall used during the testing. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a TR and adjacent components and their consequent separation from the airplane during flight or during a refused takeoff (RTO). These separated components could cause structural damage to the airplane or damage to other airplanes and possible injury to people on the ground. TR failure during a RTO could also cause the engine to produce forward thrust, resulting in asymmetric thrust and possible runway excursion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2003-22-13, which applies to all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. AD 2003-22-13 currently requires you to visually inspect the ailerons for damage and replace if necessary; adjust the engine power levers aural warning microswitches; set flap extension and flap down operation limitations; and fabricate and install cockpit flap extension and flap down operation restriction placards. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. The FAA inadvertently omitted Model N22S airplanes from the applicability of AD 2003-22-13. Therefore, this AD retains the actions exactly as required in AD 2003-22-13 and adds Model N22S airplanes to the Applicability section. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the aileron due to undetected pre-existing aileron damage and airplane operation outside of the approved limits. Aileron failure could lead to reduced or loss of control of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca Arriel 2B, 2B1, and 2B1A turboshaft engines. This AD requires visually inspecting the splines of the high-pressure (HP) pump drive gear shaft and coupling shaft assembly for wear. This AD results from reports of uncommanded in-flight shutdowns of engines. We are issuing this AD to detect wear on the splines of the HP pump drive gear shaft and coupling shaft assembly, which could interrupt the fuel flow and cause an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine on a single- engine helicopter. The in-flight shutdown of the engine could result in a forced autorotation landing or accident.

The FAA proposes special conditions for the Boeing Model 777- 200 series airplanes. This airplane, modified by Boeing Commercial Airplane Group, will have novel or unusual design features associated with overhead cross aisle stowage compartments. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for these design features. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Boeing Model 747-400, 777-200, and 777-300 series airplanes. This AD requires, for certain airplanes, replacing the cell stack of the flight deck humidifier with a supplier-tested cell stack, or replacing the cell stack with a blanking plate and subsequently deactivating the flight deck humidifier. For certain other airplanes, this AD requires an inspection of the flight deck humidifier to determine certain part numbers and replacing the cell stack if necessary. This AD also allows blanking plates to be replaced with cell stacks. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent an increased pressure drop across the humidifier and consequent reduced airflow to the flight deck, which could result in the inability to clear any smoke that might appear in the flight deck. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) Models 58 and G58 airplanes with optional propeller unfeathering accumulators installed. This proposed AD would require you to inspect the left propeller accumulator oil tube assembly for any chafing; replace the propeller accumulator oil tube assembly if any chafing is found; and reposition and secure with clamps both the left engine manifold pressure hose and its metal identification tags to avoid contact with other tubes, hoses, electrical wires, parts, components, and structure. This proposed AD results from several reports on the affected airplanes of chafing damage on the left propeller accumulator oil tube assembly. This includes an in-flight oil leak from the left engine on an RAC Model G58 airplane. We are proposing this AD to detect, correct, and prevent any chafing damage of the left propeller accumulator oil tube assembly, which could result in loss of engine oil. Loss of engine oil may lead to fire or smoke in the engine compartment, inability to unfeather the propeller, engine damage, or loss of engine power.

The FAA withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron (Bell) Model 206B helicopters modified with Aeronautical Accessories, Inc. (AAI) Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SH8435SW or SH8419SW with energy attenuating seat installation wire (energy attenuating wire). The proposed AD would have required replacing certain energy attenuating wire with airworthy energy attenuating wire. Since issuing the proposed AD, we have determined that no unsafe condition exists with respect to the STC installed energy attenuating wire. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Ridgeway Landing Zone, Ridgeway, PA. Development of an Area Navigation (RNAV), Helicopter Point in Space Approach, for the Ridgeway Landing Zone, Ridgeway, PA, has made this action necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft executing the approach to the Ridgeway Landing Zone.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Jersey Shore Airport, PA. Development of an Area Navigation (RNAV), Helicopter Point in Space Approach, for the Jersey Shore Airport, Jersey Shore, PA, has made this action necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft executing the approach to the Jersey Shore Airport.

This action establishes Class E airspace at Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. The development of an Area Navigation (RNAV), Helicopter Point in Space Approach, for the Wyoming Valley Medical Center, has made this action necessary. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet Above Ground Level (AGL) is needed to contain aircraft executing the approach to the Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes Barre, PA.

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 certain petitions 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 document makes a correction to Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2006-20-06. That AD applies to General Electric Company (GE) CF34- 10E series turbofan engines. We published AD 2006-20-06 in the Federal Register on September 29, 2006 (71 FR 57403). The issue date of the AD was inadvertently omitted. This document adds the AD issue date. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

By Federal Register notice (See 71 FR 16610; April 3, 2006), the National Park Service (NPS) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), asked interested persons to apply to fill six vacant positions on the National Parks Overflights Advisory Group (NPOAG) Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). The vacancies represent general aviation (one vacancy), commercial air tour operators (two vacancies), environmental concerns (two vacancies) and Native American tribes (one vacancy), and invited interested persons to apply to fill the vacancies due to completion (October 9, 2006) of a three-year term appointment. This notice informs the public of the persons selected to fill the vacancies on the NPOAG ARC.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) to advise the flightcrew of appropriate procedures to follow in the event that a main landing gear (MLG) fails to extend following a gear-down selection. The existing AD also currently requires repetitive replacement of the left and right MLG uplock assemblies with new assemblies; and an inspection of the left and right MLG uplock rollers for the presence of an inner low friction liner, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would revise the requirement for replacing the left and right MLG uplock assemblies by allowing replacement with alternative parts. For a certain MLG uplock assembly, this proposed AD would require repetitive inspections of the uplock hatch lower jaw for the presence of a wear groove and replacement with an improved part if necessary. For a certain MLG uplock assembly, this proposed AD also would require repetitive inspections of the uplock roller to ensure that it rotates freely and replacement with a new part if necessary. This proposed AD would allow optional replacement of the left and right MLG uplock assemblies with improved parts, which ends the requirements of the AFM revision and repetitive replacement and inspections. This proposed AD would remove airplanes from the applicability. This proposed AD results from development of a terminating action. We are proposing this AD to ensure that the flightcrew has the procedures necessary to address failure of an MLG to extend following a gear-down selection; and to detect and correct such failure, which could result in a gear-up landing and possible injury to passengers and crew.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the McDonnell Douglas airplanes previously described. This proposed AD would require replacing the control modules of the fire detection systems of the propulsion engines with new, improved control modules. This proposed AD results from a report of broken or severed wiring between engine fire detectors and the fire detection system control module, which caused the fire detection system to become non-functional without flightcrew awareness. We are proposing this AD to prevent unannunciated fire in a propulsion engine, which could cause injury to flightcrew and passengers or loss of the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cirrus Design Corporation (CDC) Models SR20 and SR22 airplanes. This AD requires you to check the maintenance records to determine whether the brake caliper piston O-ring seals were replaced at the last annual or 100-hour inspection. If the O-rings were not replaced, this AD requires you to replace the O-ring seals with new seals or replace brake calipers. This AD also requires you to modify the main landing gear wheel fairings to add temperature indicator sticker inspection holes, trim the wheel fairings to prevent them from holding fluids, install temperature indicator stickers on the brake calipers, and insert Revision A6 (with revised preflight walk-around, a limitation on the engine speed used to taxi, and brake inspection/servicing intervals) into the Pilot's Operating Handbook (POH). This AD results from several reports of airplanes experiencing brake fires and two airplanes losing directional control. We are issuing this AD to detect, correct, and prevent overheating damage to the brake caliper piston O-ring seals, which could result in leakage of brake hydraulic fluid. Consequently, this could lead to the loss of braking with loss of airplane directional control or brake fire.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 207, Airport Security Access Control Systems.

The FAA published a final rule on August 29, 2006, (71 FR 51382), to address persistent flight delays from overscheduling at O'Hare International Airport (O'Hare). This amendment revises section 93.25, ``Initial assignment of Arrival Authorizations to U.S. and Canadian air carriers for domestic and U.S./Canada transborder service,'' to direct the FAA to assign each U.S. and Canadian conducting scheduled service at O'Hare by January 27, 2007, Arrival Authorizations based on their permanent holdings as of the 7-day period of October 22 through October 28, 2006, as evidenced by the FAA's records. While the FAA is making this rule effective without notice and comment, the FAA invites the public to comment on the amendment. The FAA will consider the comments to see whether the rule should be further modified.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas Model 717-200 airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting the power conversion distribution unit (PCDU) to determine its part number, and modifying certain PCDUs. This proposed AD is prompted by reports of failed PCDUs, the loss of an electrical bus, and the presence of a strong electrical burning odor in the flight deck and forward cabin. We are proposing this AD to prevent the loss of an electrical bus due to a PCDU failure, which could result in an abnormally long time for all flight deck displays to reconfigure, and consequent emergency landing.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspecting for discrepancies of the activation mechanism of certain chemical oxygen generators, and corrective action if necessary. This proposed AD results from several incidents, on certain airplane models, of incorrect installation of the release pin into the safety pin hole of the activation mechanism of the chemical oxygen generator; this resulted in failure to activate the chemical oxygen generator when required. A separate incident occurred on a different airplane model during deployment of the cabin oxygen system, which resulted in failure of the release pin to activate the oxygen generator at a flight attendant station. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of the activation mechanism of the chemical oxygen generator, which could result in the unavailability of supplemental oxygen and possible incapacitation of passengers and cabin crew during an in-flight decompression.

This document announces the continuation for a 24-month period and expansion of the Runway Incursion Information Evaluation Program (RIIEP). The purpose of the RIIEP is to gather critical safety data not otherwise available concerning the root causes of surface incidents, including runway incursions. The primary means of gathering the data is through in-depth interviews of pilots and maintenance technicians involved in these incidents. This document affirms the FAA's policy concerning enforcement-related incentives for pilots and maintenance technicians to encourage them to participate in the program. It also reiterates the FAA's policy concerning the use for enforcement purposes of information provided by pilots and maintenance technicians under the program.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 12, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 133, page 39386. FOQA is a voluntary program for the routine collection and analysis of digital flight data from airplane operations.