Safety Rules & Regulations

Airworthiness Directive; Boeing Model 757-200 and 757-300. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires installing a bonding jumper between a ground and the clamp on the tube of the forward and aft gray water composite drain masts. For certain airplanes, this AD requires inspecting existing aft bonding jumper assemblies that might be too short, repair if necessary, and replacing the bonding jumper assembly with a new, longer bonding jumper assembly if necessary. This AD results from a report of charred insulation blankets and burned wires around the forward gray water composite drain mast found during an inspection of the forward cargo compartment on a Model 767-300F airplane. We are issuing this AD to prevent a fire near a composite drain mast and possible disruption of the electrical power system due to a lightning strike on a composite drain mast, which could result in the loss of several functions essential for safe flight.

Airworthiness Directive; Boeing 727-200 and 727-200F; 737-200, 737- 200C, 737-300, and 737-400; 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747- 400, 747SR, and 747SP; 757-200, 757-200CB, and 757-200PF; and 767-200 and 767-300. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires replacing any insulation blanket constructed of polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET) film, ORCON Orcofilm[reg] AN-26 (hereafter ''AN-26''), with a new insulation blanket. This AD results from reports of in-flight and ground fires on certain airplanes manufactured with insulation blankets covered with AN-26, which may contribute to the spread of a fire when ignition occurs from sources such as electrical arcing or sparking. We are issuing this AD to ensure that insulation blankets constructed of AN-26 are removed from the fuselage. Such insulation blankets could ignite and propagate a fire that is the result of electrical arcing or sparking.

Airworthiness Directive; Saab AB, SAAB 2000. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This 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: Subsequent to accidents involving Fuel Tank System explosions in flight and on ground, Special Federal Aviation Regulation 88 (SFAR88) required a design review against explosion risks. The unsafe condition is the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directive; Boeing Model 737 Final Rule; Request for Comments. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737 airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to include a new flightcrew briefing that must be done before the first flight of the day and following any change in flightcrew members, and to advise the flightcrew of this additional briefing. This AD results from continuing reports that flightcrews have failed to recognize and react properly to the cabin altitude warning horn. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the flightcrew to recognize and react properly to a valid cabin altitude warning horn, which could result in incapacitation of the flightcrew due to hypoxia (lack of oxygen in body) and consequent loss of airplane control.

Airworthiness Directive; Airbus A310. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This 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: Two operators of A300 aircraft fitted with General Electric (GE) CF6-50 engine series have reported cracks on the lower side of Rib 5 in the pylon box. Investigations disclosed that these cracks are due to the stresses resulting from the pressure applied by the thrust reverser cowl bumpers. Cracking of the engine pylons could result in reduced structural integrity of the engine support structure. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Airworthiness Directive; Dassault Falcon 2000EX. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This 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: Investigations after a CAS (crew alerting system) message ''ENG 1 FIRE DETECT FAIL'' that occurred on an in-service aircraft revealed that the detector threshold tolerances could not permit to identify the failure of one single engine fire detector loop out of the two present on each engine. The fire detection system integrity is therefore not correctly monitored.

Airworthiness Directive; Boeing Model 767-200 and -300. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires replacing the wire segments of the four Fuel Quantity Indicating System (FQIS) wire bundles with new, improved wire segments. This AD results from operator inspections of the FQIS wire bundles that revealed corrosion at the connections between the ground wire and shield of each of the four FQIS wire bundles. We are issuing this AD to prevent this corrosion, which could reduce system protection of the lightning shield and result in loss of the electrical grounding between the lightning shield and the airplane structure. This condition, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directive; Boeing 747SP. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires repetitive lubrication of the rudder tab hinges and repetitive replacement of the rudder tab control rods. This AD results from reports of freeplay-induced vibration on the control surfaces on Boeing Model 727, 737, 757, and 767 airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent damage to the control surface structure during flight, which could result in loss of control of the airplane.

Airworthiness Directive; Boeing Model 727. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires repetitive inspections for any crack in the area of the elevator side fitting/hinge fitting joint and for any crack or elongation inside and outside of the holes in the clevis and in the lug, corrective actions if necessary, and other specified actions. This AD results from reports of elongated holes and cracks found in the lugs of the attachment fittings of the elevator quadrant upper support assembly at the tip of the vertical fin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct damage to the aft attachment lugs of the elevator quadrant support assembly that could lead to failure of the lugs. This condition could accelerate wear elsewhere in the elevator control system, which could reduce the crew's ability to maintain safe flight.

Airworthiness Directive; Airbus A330-200, A330-300, and A340-300. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This 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: During fatigue tests (EF3) on the A340-600, damages were found in longitudinal doubler at VTP [vertical tail plane] attachment cutout between Frame (FR) 80 and FR86. This damage occurred between 58341 and 72891 simulated Flight Cycles (FC). Due to the higher Design Service Goal and different design (e.g., doubler thickness) [of the] A330-200/-300 and A340-300 aircraft series, the damage assessment concluded [there was] potential impact on [the airplanes specified in the] applicability. The unsafe condition is crack propagation in the VTP attachment cutout, which could reduce airplane structural integrity in the tail section. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee Meeting on Transport Airplane and Engine Issues--Aging Aircraft Program: Widespread Fatigue Damage. Notice of Public Meeting, Reopening of Comment Period. SUMMARY: This notice announces a public meeting of the FAA's Aviation Rulemaking Advisory Committee (ARAC) to discuss transport airplane and engine (TAE) issues. The purpose of the meeting is to solicit comments and information on a technical document related to a notice of proposed rulemaking that the FAA published on April 18, 2006, on Widespread Fatigue Damage, and its accompanying initial regulatory evaluation. This notice also announces the opening of a period of public comment on that technical document, which has been posted in docket FAA-2006-24281. Commenters may post their comments in the docket. DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Thursday, December 11, 2008, starting at 9 a.m. Pacific Standard Time.

Special Conditions: Eurocopter France (ECF) Model EC225LP Helicopter, Installation of a Search and Rescue (SAR) Automatic Flight Control System (AFCS). Final Special Conditions; Request for Comments. SUMMARY: These special conditions are issued for the ECF Model EC225LP helicopter. This helicopter will have novel or unusual design features associated with installing an optional SAR AFCS. The applicable airworthiness standards do not contain adequate or appropriate safety requirements for this design feature. These special conditions contain the additional safety standards the FAA considers necessary to show a level of safety equivalent to that established by the existing airworthiness standards.

Standard Instrument Approach Procedures, and Takeoff Minimums and Obstacle Departure Procedures; Miscellaneous Amendments. Final Rule. SUMMARY: This 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.