Federal Aviation Administration April 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model EC135P1, EC135P2, EC135P2+, EC135P3, EC135T1, EC135T2, EC135T2+, and EC135T3 helicopters. This AD was prompted by a reassessment of the flight control system. This AD requires modification of the cyclic stick, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-2B16 (601-3A, 601-3R, and 604 Variants) airplanes. This AD was prompted by a determination that certain airplanes have outdated magnetic variation (MagVar) tables inside navigation systems. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to update the Flight Management System (FMS) and Inertial Reference System (IRS) limitations. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Dubois Regional Airport, Dubois, PA. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of an airspace review caused by the decommissioning of the Clarion VHF omnidirectional range (VOR) navigation aids as part of the VOR Minimum Operational Network (MON) Program. The name for the Penn Highlands Healthcare-Dubois Heliport would also be updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This notice contains a summary of a petition seeking relief from specified requirements of Federal Aviation Regulations. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, the FAA's exemption process. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of the petition or its final disposition.

This rule amends, suspends, or removes 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 for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace and to promote safe flight operations under instrument flight rules at the affected airports.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Services B.V. Model F28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report indicating that a passenger door opened under residual cabin pressure during taxiing after landing, and following the display of the CAB PRESS CTL alert. This AD requires revising the existing airplane flight manual (AFM) to update the Cabin Pressurization Control Fault procedure, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-19- 25, which applied to all Airbus Defense and Space S.A. Model CN-235, CN-235-100, CN-235-200, and CN-235-300 airplanes; and Model C-295 airplanes. AD 2017-19-25 required repetitive inspections and operational checks of the affected fuel valves, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD continues to require repetitive inspections and operational checks of the affected fuel valves, and corrective actions if necessary, and also limits the installation of affected parts to those that are maintained in accordance with certain instructions, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is incorporated by reference. This AD was prompted by a determination that it is necessary to limit the installation of affected parts specified in AD 2017-19-25 to those parts that are maintained in accordance with certain instructions. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus SAS Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 series airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that the oil used to protect the nose landing gear (NLG) main fittings for transportation and storage was not removed before final heat treatment of the affected parts, possibly generating sub-surface cavities during heat treatment of the affected parts. This AD requires replacing each affected NLG main fitting with a serviceable part, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2015-05- 03, which applied to certain Bombardier, Inc. Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. AD 2015-05-03 required revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or revised maintenance requirements and airworthiness limitations, and incorporating structural repairs and modifications to preclude widespread fatigue damage (WFD). This AD continues to require the actions specified in AD 2015-05-03. This AD also requires revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations, and incorporating additional structural repairs and modifications to preclude WFD. This AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary, as well as the corresponding structural repairs and modifications to preclude WFD. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to modify restricted areas R-4102A and R- 4102B at Fort Devens, MA, by amending the boundaries of the areas to align with the boundaries of the Fort Devens installation; and by changing the time of designation to reflect actual usage of the airspace.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Pratt & Whitney Division (PW) PW4164, PW4164-1D, PW4168, PW4168-1D, PW4168A, PW4168A-1D, and PW4170 model turbofan engines. This AD was prompted by several reports of low-pressure turbine (LPT) 4th- stage vane cluster assemblies leaning back and notching into the rotating LPT 4th-stage blades, causing some blades to fracture and release. This AD requires initial and repetitive replacements of the LPT 4th-stage air sealing ring segment assemblies with parts eligible for installation. This AD also requires initial and repetitive dimensional inspections of the LPT case for bulging and, depending on the results of the dimensional inspections, repair or replacement of the LPT case. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 82-20-05 for Societe Nationale Industrielle Aerospatiale (now Airbus Helicopters) Model AS-350 and AS-355 series helicopters. AD 82-20-05 required inspecting and establishing a life limit for the tail rotor (TR) drive shaft bearing (bearing). This new AD requires replacing certain part-numbered TR bearings with one part-numbered bearing and repetitively inspecting one part-numbered bearing. This AD was prompted by inconsistencies that have been identified between inspections and maintenance actions required by ADs and inspections and maintenance actions specified in the applicable maintenance manual. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Sikorsky Aircraft Model S-61L, S-61N, S-61NM, and S-61R helicopters and Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation Model S-61A, S-61D, S-61E, and S-61V restricted category helicopters. This AD was prompted by the manufacturer determining that there may be arm assemblies in service that have accumulated 15,000 or more hours time-in-service (TIS), which exceeds the service life limit for this component. This AD requires reviewing the mixer unit component log card or equivalent record and, depending on the number of hours TIS, calculating the remaining life of the arm assembly or removing the arm assembly from service. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-23-08 for Agusta S.p.A. (now Leonardo S.p.a.) Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. AD 2017-23-08 required repetitively inspecting the main rotor (M/R) rotating scissors, removing certain lower half scissor spherical bearings (bearings) from service, replacing the removed bearings with a new bearing, and installing a special nut. This new AD retains the requirements of AD 2017-23-08 and requires replacing each affected bearing with a certain part-numbered bearing. This AD was prompted by investigation results determining that a quality control issue may have affected the production of the affected bearings. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2017-07-08 for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (Airbus Helicopters) Model MBB- BK 117 D-2 helicopters. AD 2017-07-08 required repetitively inspecting each engine mount elastomeric bushing (elastomeric bushing). Since the FAA issued AD 2017-07-08, Airbus Helicopters has designed an improved engine mount metal bushing (metal bushing). This new AD retains the inspection requirements of AD 2017-07-08 and requires replacing each affected engine mount bushing with an improved engine mount bushing, while also requiring repetitive inspections of the improved engine mount bushing. This AD also prohibits installing an elastomeric bushing on any helicopter. The actions of this AD are intended to address an unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of chafing marks on the wiring harness behind the middle side panels in the area of the front passenger (PAX) panels. This proposed AD would require inspecting, modifying, and rerouting the wiring harness, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Airbus Canada Limited Partnership Model BD-500-1A10 and BD-500- 1A11 airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of cracking in certain components on left and right sides of the aft wing-to-body fairing (WTBF) structure near the tie-rod attachment at a certain fuselage station; this cracking likely resulted from excessive tie-rod preload. This proposed AD would require inspecting the aft WTBF structure for any cracking or damage, adjusting the load on the two tie-rods at a certain fuselage station, and repair if necessary, as specified in a Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.