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Monday, November 23, 2009

Safety Rules & Regulations

Modification of the New York, NY, Class B Airspace Area; and Establishment of the New York Class B Airspace Hudson River and East River Exclusion Special Flight Rules Area. Final rule. SUMMARY: This action makes a minor modification to the New York, NY, Class B airspace area by adjusting the floor of Class B airspace above a portion of the Hudson River to 1,300 feet above mean sea level (MSL). Additionally, this action establishes a Special Flight Rules Area (SFRA) over the Hudson River and East River to mandate certain pilot operating practices for flight within the Hudson River and East River Class B airspace Exclusions. The FAA is taking this action to enhance the safety of flight operations in the New York Class B airspace Exclusion areas. DATES: These amendments are effective 0901 UTC, November 19, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Cessna Aircraft Company 150 and 152. Final rule. SUMMARY: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to revise AD 2009-10-09, which applies to Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) 150 and 152 series airplanes. AD 2009-10-09 requires either installing a placard prohibiting spins and other acrobatic maneuvers in the airplane or replacing the rudder stop, the rudder stop bumper, and the attachment hardware with a new rudder stop modification kit and replacing the safety wire with jamnuts. Since we issued AD 2009-10-09, we became aware of a need to clarify certain model and serial number designations, remove the duplicate requirement of replacing the safety wire with jamnuts, and clarify the conditional acceptability of using modification kit part number (P/N) SK152-25 as a terminating action to this AD. Consequently, this AD retains the actions currently required in AD 2009-10-09, corrects model designation for certain serial numbers, removes the duplicate requirement of replacing safety wire with jamnuts, and clarifies the conditional acceptability of using modification kit P/N SK152-25 as a terminating action to this AD. We are issuing this AD to prevent the rudder from traveling past the normal travel limit. Operation in this non-certificated control position is unacceptable and could cause undesirable consequences, such as contact between the rudder and the elevator. DATES: This AD becomes effective on December 11, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG Model BR700-715A1-30, BR700-715B1-30, and BR700-715C1-30 Turbofan Engines. Final rule. SUMMARY: This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued 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: Repair Scheme BRG3086 Issue 1 instructs the repair of the High-Pressure (HP) Compressor Front Drum Assembly Damping Grooves. This repair has an impact on the life of the HP Compressor Front Drum Assembly. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of front HP compressor rotors, which could result in an uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane. DATES: This AD becomes effective December 3, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Bell Helicopter Textron Canada Model 407 and 427. Final rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: This AD results from a mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) AD issued by the aviation authority of Canada. The MCAI AD states that, during a preflight check, it was observed that the swashplate link assembly bearing had moved in the lever race, making contact with the swashplate support. The MCAI also states that further investigation revealed that the bearing had not been staked correctly during manufacture. That condition, if not detected, could result in failure of a bearing, failure of the swashplate link assembly, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter. DATES: This AD becomes effective on November 16, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 767-200, -300, -300F, and -400ER. Final rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires an inspection to determine if certain motor operated valve actuators for the fuel tanks are installed, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent an ignition source inside the fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane. DATES: This AD is effective December 3, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Empresa Brasileira de Aeronautica S.A. (EMBRAER) Model EMB-500. Final rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: 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: It has been found the possibility of heating deactivation of Air Data System (ADS) sensors due to its inadequate automatic logic, when ADS/AOA knob is on AUTO position associated with the following messages: -DC BUS 1 OFF displayed on Crew Alerting System-CAS in conjunction with STBY HTR FAIL (which means loss of power on DC BUS 1); or -EMER BUS OFF displayed on CAS (which means loss of power on EMERGENCY BUS); or -ELEC EMERGENCY displayed on CAS (which means Electrical Emergency). The loss of airplane air data sensors heating may cause ice buildup on their surfaces, which in turn may cause wrong pressure acquisitions resulting in erroneous flight parameters indication to the flight crew. Since this condition may occur in other airplanes of the same type and affects flight safety, an immediate corrective action is required. Thus, sufficient reason exists to request compliance with this AD in the indicated time limit. This AD requires actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI. DATES: This AD becomes effective December 2, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747 Airplanes; and Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF,and -300. Final rule. SUMMARY: This AD requires replacing the control switches of the forward, aft, and nose cargo doors of Model 747 airplanes; and requires replacing the control switches of cargo doors 1 and 2 of Model 757 series airplanes. This AD results from reports of problems associated with the uncommanded operation of cargo doors. We are issuing this AD to prevent injuries to persons and damage to the airplane and equipment. DATES: This AD is effective December 3, 2009.

Airworthiness Directives; Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747SR, and 747SP. Final rule; request for comments. SUMMARY: The FAA is revising an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to the aircraft listed above. That AD currently requires revising the FAA-approved maintenance program by incorporating new airworthiness limitations (AWLs) for fuel tank systems to satisfy Special Federal Aviation Regulation No. 88 requirements. That AD also requires the initial inspection of certain repetitive AWL inspections to phase in those inspections, and repair if necessary. This AD clarifies the intended effect of the AD on spare and on-airplane fuel tank system components. This AD results from a design review of the fuel tank systems. We are issuing this AD to prevent the potential for ignition sources inside fuel tanks caused by latent failures, alterations, repairs, or maintenance actions, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion and consequent loss of the airplane. DATES: This AD is effective November 16, 2009.