Federal Aviation Administration 2021 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bombardier, Inc., Model CL-600-1A11 (600), CL-600-2A12 (601), and CL-600-2B16 (601-3A, 601-3R, and 604 Variants) airplanes. This proposed AD was prompted by a determination that new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations are necessary. This proposed AD would require revising the existing maintenance or inspection program, as applicable, to incorporate new or more restrictive airworthiness limitations. 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 certain Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by a report of chafing marks on a wiring harness near the locking washer of the lateral control rod. This proposed AD would require an inspection of the wiring harness and the routing of the wiring harness and corrective actions if necessary, 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 is revising an earlier proposal for certain Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters. This action revises the notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) by expanding the required actions. This proposed AD would require various inspections of certain main rotor (MR) dampers, as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is proposed for incorporation by reference (IBR). This proposed AD would also require reducing the torque of the MR damper hub attachment bolts, installing a special washer, installing a certain part-numbered MR damper, and prohibit installing other part-numbered MR dampers. The FAA is proposing this airworthiness directive (AD) to address the unsafe condition on these products. Since these actions would impose an additional burden over those in the NPRM, the FAA is requesting comments on this SNPRM.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 206, 206A, 206A-1, 206B, 206B-1, 206L, 206L-1, 206L-3, and 206L-4 helicopters. This proposed AD was prompted by reports of cracked or missing nuts on the tail rotor drive shaft (TRDS) disc pack (Thomas) couplings. This proposed AD would require removing certain nuts from service, installing newly designed nuts, and applying a specific torque and a torque stripe to each newly installed nut. This proposed AD would then require, after the installation of each newly designed nut, inspecting the torque and, depending on the inspection results, either applying a torque stripe or performing further inspections and removing certain parts from service. Finally, this proposed AD would prohibit installing any affected nut on any TRDS Thomas coupling. The FAA is proposing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 nor 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.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Courtland Airport, Courtland, AL, by amending the name and geographical coordinates of Courtland Airport (formerly Industrial Airpark Airport).

This action proposes to amend the Class E airspace at Greenville, TX, and establish Class E airspace at Terrell, TX. The FAA is proposing this action as the result of airspace reviews due to the decommissioning of the Caddo Mills non-directional beacon (NDB). The geographic coordinates of Caddo Mills Municipal Airport, Caddo Mill, TX, 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 amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

This action amends Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface for Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport, Monroe, NC. The FAA is taking this action as a result of the Charlotte Class B Biennial Review. This action also updates the airport's name to Charlotte-Monroe Executive Airport (formerly Monroe Airport). In addition, this action updates the geographic coordinates of the airport to coincide with the FAA's database. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) operations in the area.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Gulfstream Aerospace LP Model Gulfstream G280 airplanes. This AD was prompted by a report that during full-scale fatigue testing, a crack was found in the area of the attachment of the wing rib 0 to the front spar. This AD requires non-destructive testing on the forward (front) spar vertical stiffener and rib 0 for any cracking, installation of a doubler to the forward (front) spar and rib 0 attachment, and repair if necessary, as specified in a Civil Aviation Authority of Israel (CAAI) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

This action proposes to amend United States Area Navigation (RNAV) route Q-73 due to the creation of Special Activity Airspace (SAA) (Bristol Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspace (ATCAA)) in the vicinity of Twentynine Palms, CA.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for B-N Group Ltd. Models BN-2, BN-2A, BN-2A-2, BN-2A-3, BN-2A-6, BN-2A-8, BN- 2A-9, BN-2A-20, BN-2A-21, BN-2A-26, BN-2A-27, BN-2B-20, BN-2B-21, BN- 2B-26, BN-2B-27, BN-2T, and BN-2T-4R airplanes. This AD was prompted by 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 identifies the unsafe condition as failure of the rudder final drive rod because of cracks in the region of the taper pins. This AD requires repetitively inspecting the rudder final drive rod assembly and replacing the rudder final drive assembly, if necessary. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

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 to renew an information collection. The collection involves the reporting requirements to ensure the check pilots and instructors are adequately trained and checked/evaluated to ensure they are capable and competent to perform the duties and responsibilities required by the air carrier to meet the regulations. Experienced pilots who would otherwise qualify as flight instructors or check airmen, but who may not medically eligible to hold the requisite medical certificate are mandated to keep records that may be inspected by the FAA to certify eligibility to perform flight instructor or check airmen functions.

This action amends the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Scott City Municipal Airport, Scott City, KS. This action is the result of an airspace review due to the decommissioning of the Scott City non-directional beacon (NDB). The geographical coordinates of the airport are also updated to coincide with the FAA's aeronautical database.

This action revokes the Class E airspace extending upward from 700 feet above the surface at Standish Industrial Airport, Standish, MI. This action is the result of an airspace review caused by the closing of the Standish Industrial Airport and associated instrument procedures are no longer required.

This action amends Class D and Class E airspace in the south Florida area, by updating the geographic coordinates of the following airports; Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, (formerly Opa Locka Airport), North Perry Airport, Pompano Beach Airpark, Miami International Airport, Homestead ARB, Boca Raton Airport, and Miami Executive Airport (formerly Kendall- Tamiami Executive Airport). This action also updates the geographic coordinates of the Fort Lauderdale Very High Frequency Omnidirectional Range collocated with Distance Measuring Equipment (VOR/DME), and the QEEZY Locator Outer Marker (LOM). Furthermore, this action makes an editorial change replacing the term Airport/Facility Directory with the term Chart Supplement in the legal descriptions of associated Class D and E airspace. Controlled airspace is necessary for the safety and management of instrument flight rules (IFR) in the area.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Airbus Helicopters Deutschland GmbH (AHD) Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters. This AD was prompted by the discovery that certain parts that are approved for installation on multiple helicopter models are life limited parts when installed on Model MBB-BK 117 D-2 helicopters and some helicopter delivery documents excluded the life limit information. This AD requires determining the total hours time-in- service (TIS) of a certain part-numbered rotor mast nut and re- identifying a certain part-numbered rotor mast nut. This AD also requires establishing a life limit for a certain part-numbered rotor mast nut and helical gear support, and removing each part from service before reaching its life limit. Additionally, this AD requires replacing a certain part-numbered main gearbox (MGB) with a not affected MGB as specified in a European Aviation Safety Agency (now European Union Aviation Safety Agency) (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference (IBR). 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 Bell Textron Canada Limited Model 505 helicopters. This AD was prompted by three occurrences of metallic debris in the engine oil lubrication system causing the 12 volts direct current (VDC) reference voltage to be shorted to ground and loss of important flight information to the pilot. This AD requires replacing a certain part- numbered relay panel assembly. 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 Leonardo S.p.a. Model AW189 helicopters. This AD was prompted by corrosion on the inlet check valve banjo fitting of emergency flotation system (EFS) float assemblies. This AD requires visually inspecting each banjo fitting installed on an affected EFS float assembly, and depending on the results, removing the banjo fitting from service. This AD also requires applying corrosion inhibiting compound and prohibits installing an affected EFS float assembly unless certain requirements have been accomplished 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 superseding Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2016-12- 51, which applied to all Airbus Helicopters Model AS332L2 and Model EC225LP helicopters. AD 2016-12-51 prohibited all further flight of Model AS332L2 and Model EC225LP helicopters. This AD requires replacing certain second stage planet gear assemblies, removing certain epicyclic modules, installing a full flow magnetic plug (FFMP), revising the existing rotorcraft flight manual (RFM) for your helicopter, repetitively inspecting the main gearbox (MGB) particle detectors, repetitively inspecting the MGB oil filter and oil cooler, and corrective action if necessary, as specified in a European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) AD, which is incorporated by reference. The actions specified in this AD terminate the flight prohibition. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Leonardo S.p.a. Model AB139 and AW139 helicopters with certain main rotor blades installed. This AD was prompted by a report of an in- flight loss of a main rotor blade (MRB) tip cap. This AD requires inspecting the MRB tip cap for disbonding. 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 Robinson Helicopter Company Model R44 and R44 II helicopters. This AD was prompted by reports of cracked tail rotor blades (blades). This AD requires checking each blade for any crack and removing any cracked blade from service. This AD also requires removing all affected blades from service and prohibits installing any affected blade on any helicopter. The FAA is issuing this AD to address the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is correcting an airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to certain Airbus SAS Model A318-111, -112, and -122 airplanes; Model A319-111, -112, - 113, -114, -115, -131, -132, and -133 airplanes; and Model A320-211, - 212, -214, -231, -232, and -233 airplanes. As published, the AD number specified in the preamble and regulatory text is incorrect. This document corrects this error. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.