Federal Aviation Administration April 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to all Boeing Model 737-300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the fuselage skin under the dorsal fin assembly, and repairing if necessary. This new AD requires an inspection for any chafing or crack in the fuselage skin and abrasion resistant coating at the dorsal fin landing, an inspection for damage to the dorsal fin seals, attach clip, and seal retainer, and other specified and corrective actions as necessary. The new requirements will end the need for the existing repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report of an 18-inch crack found in the fuselage skin area under the blade seals of the nose cap of the dorsal fin due to previous wear damage, and additional reports of fuselage skin wear. We are issuing this AD to prevent discrepancies of the fuselage skin, which could result in fatigue cracking due to cabin pressurization and consequent rapid in- flight decompression of the airplane fuselage.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

This document proposes special conditions for the Boeing Model 747-8/-8F airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features include larger engines with large bypass fans capable of producing much larger and more complex dynamic loads. These proposed special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards. Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing 747-8/-8F airplanes.

These special conditions are issued for Boeing Model 767-400 series airplanes. These airplanes, modified by TTF Aerospace, LLC (TTF), will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with an aft, lower-lobe, crew-rest module (CRM). The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

These special conditions are issued for the Dassault Falcon 2000 series airplanes. These airplanes, as modified by Aircell LLC, will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with the Aircell airborne satcom equipment (ASE) which use lithium battery technology. The applicable airworthiness regulations do not contain adequate or appropriate safety standards for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards that the Administrator considers necessary to establish a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas airplanes identified above. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide the flightcrew with procedures to preclude dry running of the fuel pumps. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent pump inlet friction (i.e., overheating or sparking) when the fuel pumps are continually run as the center wing fuel tank becomes empty, and/or electrical arc burnthrough, which could result in a fuel tank fire or explosion.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting airworthiness directive (AD) 2008-26-03. This AD requires modifying the electronic strike system of the cockpit door. This AD results from a report indicating that the equipment is defective. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of this equipment, which could compromise flight safety.

This action proposes to revoke very high frequency omnidirectional range (VOR) Federal airway V-329, which extends between Montgomery, AL and the Crestview, FL, area. Revocation of the route is being proposed because a navigation aid that forms a segment of V-329 is planned for decommissioning due to recurring outages and maintenance problems.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

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 aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF34-1A, -3A, -3A1, -3A2, -3B, and -3B1 turbofan engines with high-pressure (HP) rotor 4-step air balance piston stationary seals (4-step seals), part numbers (P/Ns) 4923T54G01, 6019T90G03, 6037T99G01, 6037T99G02, and 6037T99G03, installed. This AD requires removing the 4-step seals and incorporating an 8-step seal at the next piece-part exposure. This AD results from the investigation of an airplane accident. Both engines experienced high-altitude flameout. Rotation of the HP rotors was not maintained during descent and the engines could not be restarted. We are issuing this AD to prevent the inability to restart both engines after flameout due to excessive friction of the 4-step seal, which could result in subsequent forced landing of the airplane.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering a proposal to change a portion of airport land from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use and to authorize the lease of airport property. The proposal consists of a leasing 3.528 acres of Lot 51 of the original M.D. Shipman's Farm parcel. Lot 51 became part of Tract No. 1 (16.83 acres) that was deeded to the City of DeKalb by the United States of America as government surplus property under the Surplus Property Act of 1944. Tract 1 also is currently subject to the National Emergency Use Provision (for times of National emergency), a condition that the City of DeKalb would also like to remove from the 3.528 parcel requesting the change in use. This subject land currently has a metal storage building on it miscellaneous bituminous and concrete drives and parking areas located on it. It is the intent of the City of DeKalb, as owner and operator of the DeKalbTaylor Municipal Airport (DKB) to retain ownership of the 3.528 acre parcel and allow for commercial development on said parcel. This notice announces that the FAA is considering the proposal to authorize the change from aeronautical use to non-aeronautical use of the subject airport property at the DeKalb Taylor Municipal Airport (DKB), DeKalb, IL. Approval does not constitute a commitment by the FAA to financially assist in the lease or development of the subject airport property nor a determination that all measures covered by the program are eligible for grant-in-aid funding from the FAA.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes identified above. This proposed AD would require replacing the inboard trailing edge (TE) flap transmission carbon disk no-back brakes with skewed roller no-back brakes at the TE flap transmission, positions 4 and 5. This proposed AD results from reports of the inboard TE flaps blowing back due to the failure of a transmission carbon disk no-back brake. The no-back brake did not hold the TE flaps in the commanded position. We are proposing this AD to prevent a decrease of the aerodynamic controllability of the airplane, which could adversely affect the airplane's continued safe flight and landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the Kansas City Aviation Department for the Kansas City International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act, herein after referred to as ``the Act'') and 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) part 150 (hereinafter referred to as ``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 the Kansas City International Airport under Part 150 in conjunction with the noise exposure map, and that this program will be approved or disapproved on or before September 16, 2009.