Federal Aviation Administration 2013 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Model 214B, 214B-1, and 214ST helicopters with a certain tail rotor hanger bearing (bearing) installed. This AD requires inspecting the bearing to determine whether an incorrectly manufactured seal material is installed on the bearing. This AD is prompted by a report that certain bearings were manufactured with an incorrect seal material that does not meet Bell specifications. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of bearing grease, failure of the bearing, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Iniziative Industriali Italiane S.p.A. Models Sky Arrow 650 TC, Sky Arrow 650 TCN, Sky Arrow 650TCS, and Sky Arrow 650TCNS airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as improper installation of the spherical bearing on the central hinge lever and a crack on the weld length of the horizontal tail/elevator plane hinge assembly. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action extends the comment period set out in the notice concerning data and information policy that was published on May 1, 2013. In that document, the FAA proposed its data and information distribution policy and sought comment. This extension is a result of formal requests from the public to extend the comment period to the proposal. This extension is necessary to afford all interested parties an opportunity to present their views on the proposed policy.

This action proposes to amend Class E airspace at Muldrow Army Heliport, Lexington, OK. Changes to military mission requirements require conversion of the Class E surface area to a Class E transition area. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for standard instrument approach procedures at the airport.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace at Grand Forks Air Force Base (AFB), Grand Forks, ND. Changes to the airspace description are necessary due to changes in air traffic control tower operating hours. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for standard instrument approach procedures at the airport.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 223, Airport Surface Wireless Communications.

We propose to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain The Boeing Company Model 747-100, 747- 100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive inspections for skin cracks at the shear tie end fastener locations of the fuselage frames, and repairing cracks if necessary. Since we issued that AD, additional cracking has been found on an airplane not affected by the existing AD. This proposed AD would also require repetitively inspecting for skin cracks next to the shear tie on airplanes with certain existing repair doublers, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also revise the applicability to include additional airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracks in the fuselage skin that can propagate and grow, and result in reduced structural integrity and sudden decompression of the airplane in flight.

The FAA proposes to rule and invite public comment on the release of land at the Fort Worth Spinks Airport under the provisions of Section 125 of the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR 21).

We are superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca S.A. Arrius 2B, 2B1, and 2F turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires replacement of injector manifolds and borescope- inspection of the flame tube and the high-pressure (HP) turbine area for possible damage. This new AD requires, depending on the engine model, repetitive replacements of fuel injection manifolds and the privilege injector, or, repetitive replacements of the privilege injector. This AD was prompted by a report that the corrective actions of the existing AD were insufficient to eliminate the unsafe condition. We are issuing this AD to prevent an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of Arrius 2B1 and 2F turboshaft engines and damage to the helicopter.

We propose to rescind an airworthiness directive (AD) for PIAGGIO AERO INDUSTRIES S.p.A. Model P-180 airplanes. The existing AD resulted 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 partial detachment of the inner protective film of the composite nacelles. Since issuance of that AD, we have determined that the unsafe condition does not exist or is not likely to develop on affected type design airplanes, and therefore the AD should be rescinded. The proposed AD would allow the public the opportunity to comment on the FAA's determination of the unsafe condition no longer existing before it is officially rescinded.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company Model 500, 501, 550, 551, S550, 560, 560XL, and 650 airplanes. This AD was prompted by multiple reports of smoke and/or fire in the tailcone caused by sparking due to excessive wear of the brushes in the air conditioning (A/C) motor. This AD requires inspecting to determine if certain A/C compressor motors are installed and to determine the accumulated hours on certain A/C drive motor assemblies; repetitive replacement of the brushes in the drive motor assembly, or, as an option to the brush replacement, deactivation of the A/C system and placard installation; and return of replaced brushes to Cessna. We are issuing this AD to prevent the brushes in the A/C motor from wearing down beyond their limits, which could result in the rivet in the brush contacting the commutator causing sparks and consequent fire and/or smoke in the tailcone with no means to detect or extinguish the fire and/or smoke.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Model A330-200 Freighter, A330-200, A330-300, A340-200, A340- 300, A340-500, and A340-600 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by several reports of a burning smell and/or smoke in the cockpit during cruise phase leading, in some cases, to diversion to alternate airports. This AD requires an inspection to identify the installed windshields and replacement of any affected windshield. We are issuing this AD to prevent significantly increased workload for the flightcrew, which could, under some flight phases and/or circumstances, constitute an unsafe condition.

This action proposes to amend Class E Airspace at Factoryville, PA, as the Lake Henry VORTAC has been decommissioned, requiring airspace redesign at Seamans Field Airport. This action would enhance the safety and airspace management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action modifies Class E airspace at Eureka Airport, Eureka, NV, to accommodate aircraft using Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport.

This action modifies Class D airspace and Class E airspace areas at Pueblo Memorial Airport, Pueblo, CO, to accommodate aircraft using VHF Omni-Directional Radio Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME) standard instrument approach procedures at Pueblo Memorial Airport. This improves the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. Adjustments to the geographic coordinates of the airport also are made.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Aircraft Industries a.s. Model L-420 airplanes. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as in-flight engine flame out occurred at take-off with water injection after reduction of engine power. We are issuing this AD to require actions to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This rule establishes, amends, suspends, or revokes Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and associated Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures for operations at certain airports. These regulatory actions are needed because of the adoption of new or revised criteria, or because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System, such as the commissioning of new navigational facilities, adding new obstacles, or changing air traffic requirements. These changes are designed to provide safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain The Boeing Company Model 747 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracking in the forward and aft inner chord of the body station (BS) 2598 bulkhead near the upper corners of the cutout for the horizontal stabilizer rear spar, and cracking in the bulkhead upper and lower web panels near the inner chord to shear deck connection. This proposed AD would require doing repetitive inspections for cracking in the bulkhead splice fitting, frame supports, forward and aft inner chords, and floor support; doing an inspection for cracking in the bulkhead upper web, doubler, and bulkhead lower web; and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, inspections for cracking in the repaired area of the bulkhead, and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, support frame modification and support frame inspections, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary; for certain airplanes, repetitive support frame post-modification inspections and inspections for cracking in the hinge support, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the frame web and upper shear deck (floor support) chord aft side for fasteners; and a one-time inspection of the upper forward inner chord, frame support fitting and splice fitting, for the installation of certain fasteners; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary; for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the upper forward inner chord, frame support fitting and splice fitting for the installation of certain fasteners; a one-time inspection for any repair installed on the left and right side of the aft inner chord, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary; for certain airplanes, a one-time inspection of the support frame outer chord for cracking, and repair if necessary; and repetitive support frame post-repair inspections, and corrective actions, if necessary. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking of the BS 2598 bulkhead structure, which could adversely affect the structural integrity of the bulkhead and the horizontal stabilizer support structure and result in loss of controllability of the airplane.

These special conditions are issued for the Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature, specifically new control architecture and a full digital flight control system which provides flight envelope protections. 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 Embraer S.A. Model EMB-550 airplane. This airplane will have a novel or unusual design feature associated with landing loads due to the automatic braking system. 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 revising an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD) for Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell), Model 214B and B-1 helicopters, which proposed to require inspecting certain pylon support spindle assemblies (spindles) for any corrosion, or a nick, scratch, dent, or crack, and repairing or replacing any unairworthy spindle before further flight. This SNPRM proposes to revise those requirements by updating the cost of compliance, revising the recording requirements, adding a requirement to reduce the retirement life of an installed spindle, and adding Bell Model 214ST to the applicability.

The FAA proposes to amend certain airworthiness regulations for transport category airplanes based on recommendations from the Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC). Adopting this proposal would eliminate certain regulatory differences between the airworthiness standards of the FAA and European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) without affecting current industry design practices. This action would revise the pitch maneuver design loads criteria; revise the gust and turbulence design loads criteria; revise the application of gust loads to engine mounts, high lift devices, and other control surfaces; add a ``round-the-clock'' discrete gust criterion and a multi-axis discrete gust criterion for airplanes equipped with wing-mounted engines; revise the engine torque loads criteria; add an engine failure dynamic load condition; revise the ground gust design loads criteria; revise the criteria used to establish the rough air design speed, and require the establishment of a rough air Mach number.

This action proposes to amend Class D airspace at Rickenbacker International Airport, Columbus, OH. Changes to the airspace description are necessary due to the closure of South Columbus Airport. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations for standard instrument approach procedures at the airport. The airport name and geographic coordinates would also be updated.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval for to renew an information collection. Feedback from surveys to be conducted under this generic information collection will be used in the prevention of runway collisions and in the medication of the severity and frequency of runway incursions.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of the thirteenth meeting of the RTCA Special Committee 222, Inmarsat AMS(R)S