Significant Regulatory Activity

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 21

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

FR Doc 05-12149

Docket No. FAA-2005-21275

Safety in icing conditions

Summary of Situation

Cessna Model 208 and 208B Caravan airplanes.

Install deicing boots on landing gear struts and cargo pods, add a low airspeed in icing warning system, and make changes to pilot's operating handbook (POH) and aircraft flight manual (AFM), to prevent ice from adhering to critical surfaces and reducing airplane performance.

It is hoped that the Flight Ice Inc. solution will constitute an alternative method of compliance to this AD. In this approach, laser drilled titanium panels are installed on the leading edges of the wings and horizontal and vertical stabilizers. A glycol-based fluid is extruded through the panels and flows over these surfaces, keeping the aircraft virtually ice free. The system weighs about 105 lbs. with a full tank of fluid. A simple control panel operates the system.

Ice encounter on Caravan showing heavy buildup on tire yet no ice on strut.

Typical control panel installation.

This system costs about $60,000 to $62,000 (mostly for the kit, but costs here include installation labor).

For more information, see http://www.flightice.com

The system will not protect against supercooled liquid droplets (SLD), and some recent accidents are thought to be SLD-related. SLD represents about one percent of the icing hazard, but that one percent has high consequences.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Aug. 22.

Essentially mandates a Cessna accessory kit issued in 1991 (yes, 10 years ago). Service bulletins of 1995 and 2004 also apply.

Results from National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation of Caravan icing incidents and accidents, and the Board's "Most Wanted" categorization of needed anti-icing recommendations. Stems from investigation of nine incidents within past few months and six accidents in the previous two icing seasons, which led to recommendations issued last December.

Cost estimated at $9,600 per airplane.

Affects 743 airplanes in U.S. registry.

This is the second airworthiness directive (AD) affecting the Caravan in icing conditions. A March AD called for more stringent visual and tactile preflight inspections.

This is not extraordinary; a National Aeronautics & Space Administration (NASA) twin-Otter is equipped with de-ice boots on the landing gear struts. That is a twin-engine aircraft, whereas the Caravan is a single engine airplane. Boots on the landing-gear struts and cargo pods involve a drag issue that will necessitate additional power in compensation. The additional protection offered by the system may be problematic; the aircraft did satisfy icing tests for certification, which included flight with ice on unprotected surfaces.

The AD does call for installation of a "pilot assist handle" to inspect the top wing surface before takeoff at any remote location.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 21

Final rule

FR Doc 05-12004

Docket No. FAA-2005-20757

AD 2005-13-06

Fire protection

Summary of Situation

BAE Systems BAe 146 and Avro 146-RJ airplanes.

Requires modifying the auxiliary power unit (APU) exhaust duct in the environmental system (ECS) bay, by replacing the duct with a more heat-resistant material, to prevent fuel or hydraulic system fluid from igniting.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective July 26.

The temperature of the skin of the APU exhaust duct is higher than the certified maximum for this area.

Install new APU exhaust duct and replace exhaust drainpipe.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 21

Final rule; request for comments

FR Doc 05-12173

Docket No. FAA-2005-21586

AD 2005-13-11

Engine safety

Summary of Situation

General Electric CT64-820-4 turboprop engines (they power the Dehavilland DHC-5 Buffalo, a twin-engine airplane).

Removal at reduced compliance time of stage 1 turbine disk and shaft, based on discovery of low-cycle-fatigue (LCF) cracks, to prevent uncontained failure and consequent damage to the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective July 6. Comments due Aug. 22.

Cracks found in military version of this engine.

Although no airplanes with the affected engines are in U.S. service, they could be in the future, hence compliance with the AD.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 22

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, reopening of comment period

FR Doc 05-12303

Docket No. 2003-NM-211-AD

Evacuation equipment safety

Summary of Situation

Airbus Model A330 and A340 series airplanes.

Requires modifying aircraft with affected part numbers to prevent failure of an emergency slide raft to deploy and inflate during an emergency evacuation.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 18.

Modifies original notice by requiring part number identification and a new modification.

Cost about $6,800 if replacement is necessary.

Affects 17 aircraft in U.S. registry.

(ASW note: the importance of this action is that it is something to be avoided on the A380.)

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 22

NPRM

FR Doc 05-12300

Docket No. FAA-2005-21611

Structural system safety, composites

Summary of Situation

Airbus A300-600 and A310 series airplanes.

This AD is proposed to detect and correct debonding of skins on the elevators, which could compromise structural integrity and cause reduced controllability of the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 22.

Considered interim action, pending development of a permanent modification. Debonding found during a maintenance inspection.

Includes a tap-test of upper and lower skins for debonding.

Cost estimated at $455 per airplane (may be low, as the cost addresses the inspections but not repairs identified by inspection).

Affects 172 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Recalls similar debonding on tails of the same aircraft.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 22

Final rule, request for comments

FR Doc 05-12301

Docket No. FAA-2005-21598

AD 2005-13-22

Fuel system safety

Summary of Situation

Embraer Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes.

Corrects a compliance time in original AD from "flight cycles" to "flight hours" to inspect electrical fuel pump connectors to prevent an ignition source in the fuel tank or adjacent dry bay, which could result in fire or explosion.

Action Date & Comments

Effective July 7. Comments due by August 22.

Retains requirements of original AD; sole change is the compliance time.

Perform inspection for blackened connector pins, cracks, corrosion or charring, replace fuel pump and its mating connector before further flight. If no damage found, apply anti-corrosion spray.

Source: U.S. Federal Register