Significant Regulatory Activity

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 1

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

FR Doc 05-10865

Docket No. FAA-2005-21239

Powerplant safety

Summary of Situation

Raytheon Model 390 Premier I airplanes.

Requires operators to install a kit to correct chafing in the engine assembly cable, wire, and hose routing clearance, which could result in leaking flammable fluids near an ignition source and loss of control of the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Aug. 1.

Based on field reports of chafing. Investigation revealed that areas of concern include control cables, wiring harnesses, fluid and drain hoses, and support structure. FAA attributes problem to inadequate design and quality control.

Cost per plane: $2,800.

Airplanes in U.S. registry: 74.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 2

Notice of availability and request for public comment

FR Doc 05-10903

Certification of new aircraft and major or minor design changes or repairs

Summary of Situation

FAA issues proposed revised order 8100.14A, Interim Procedures for Working with the European Community on Airworthiness Certification and Continued Airworthiness.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 5.

The document provides guidance to FAA field offices for working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the National Aviation Authorities (NAA) of European member states.

The document can be obtained at the FAA's regulatory and guidance website, http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl, click on "Draft Advisory Circulars," then on "Open for Comment."

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

Notice of availability and request for public comment

FR Doc 05-11114

Blocked radio communications

Summary of Situation

FAA requests comment on a proposed Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C128a, regarding equipment that prevents blocked channels used in two-way radio communications.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 5.

Proposed TSO provides a minimum operational performance standard.

A copy of the proposed TSO may be viewed at http://av-info.faa

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11061

Docket No. FAA-2005-21342

Safety of emergency exit doors

Summary of Situation

Airbus A310 series airplanes.

To prevent failure of the emergency doors to lock in the open position, which could interfere with passenger evacuation during an emergency.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 5.

FAA action follows that of the French Direction Generale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC). An operator found it impossible to lock the emergency doors in the open position.

Cost: about $1,000 per airplane.

Airplanes in U.S. registry: 28. The issue isn't the number of airplanes but the nature of the problem, which is much to be avoided on aircraft like the A380.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11049

Docket No. FAA-2005-21356

Flight control safety

Summary of Situation

Boeing B777-200 and ?300 series airplanes.

Requires inspections and corrective actions to prevent loss of a flaperon, which could result in asymmetric lift and reduced roll control.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 18.

Reports of four operators who have found worn or fractured bolts.

Cost: about $13,200 per airplane.

About 483 airplanes in the worldwide fleet, of which 131 are in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11050

Docket No. FAA-2005-21355

Engine and strut safety

Summary of Situation

Boeing B767 airplanes powered by General Electric or Pratt & Whitney engines.

Supersedes an existing airworthiness directive (AD) by outlining a terminating action to prevent fatigue cracking in the primary structure, which could result in separation of the strut and engine from the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 18.

Calls for high frequency eddy current inspection.

Cost: FAA says its new proposed action will cost $260 per airplane.

Airplanes in U.S. registry: 263.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11051

Docket No. FAA-2005-21346

Landing gear safety

Summary of Situation

Boeing B737-100 through ?500 series airplanes.

To determine if a certain corrosion inhibiting compound was used, to prevent collapse of the main landing gear, or damage to hydraulic tubing or the aileron control cables, which could lead to departure of the airplane from the runway.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 18.

Based on 12 reports of severe corrosion. During overhaul, JC5A corrosion inhibiting compound was used, which decomposes in the presence of moisture.

Cost: about $65 per airplane (cheap compared to the consequences).

Airplanes in U.S. registry: 1,748.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11046

Docket No. FAA-2005-21345

Hydraulic system safety

Summary of Situation

Embraer Model ERJ 170 series airplanes.

Requires inspecting hydraulic lines for cracks and leaks on the pressure side of the engine driven pump, which could result in failure of system 1 or 2 or both, and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 5.

FAA action emulates that of Brazil's Departmento de Aviacao Civil (DAC). Investigation determined that cracks can develop in pipes manufactured of defective material.

Cost: about $200 per airplane.

Action affects 27 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11060

Docket No. FAA-2005-21341

Structural integrity of wing

Summary of Situation

Saab Model 2000 series airplanes.

Requires inspection and corrective action to prevent cracking of the front and rear spar, which can result in fuel leakage and reduced structural integrity of the wing structure.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 5.

FAA action based on input from the Luftfartsverket (LFV), the airworthiness authority for Sweden, which advises that cracking was discovered during fatigue testing.

Cost: $24,800 per airplane.

Airplanes in U.S. registry: 3 (it's not the number of airplanes that's significant, but the fact that this expensive fix was needed after the plane went in service).

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 3

NPRM

FR Doc 05-11059

Docket No. FAA-2005-21344

Portable fire extinguisher safety

Summary of Situation

Short Bros. Model SD3-30 and SD3-60 airplanes.

To prevent portable fire extinguisher blowback, which could injure the person using the fire extinguisher in the event of a fire.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due July 5.

FAA action follows that of the UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The CAA reports that crews have experienced blowback while fighting fires in the forward and aft baggage bays, because the extinguisher nozzle and the adapter do not fit together correctly. Problem has existed since 1998.

Cost: between $1,300 and $1,700 per airplane.

Action affects 75 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 6

NPRM, extension of comment period

FR Doc 05-11252

Docket No. FAA-2005-20836

Fire protection

Summary of Situation

Boeing B727-200, B737-200, B737-300, B737-400, B747-100 through ?400, B757-200 and B767-200 and ?300 airplanes.

The FAA extends the time to comment on replacing thermal acoustic insulation blankets using polyethyleneteraphthalate (PET) film, which may contribute to the spread of a fire.

Action Date & Comments

New deadline for comments is Aug. 3, an extension of 60 days from the original June 3 deadline (see ASW, April 11).

Extension granted based on the "extensive scope and potential impact" of the original NPRM.

The question of who pays for this blanket change-out is obviously one point of concern.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 7

Final rule

FR Doc 05-11054

Docket No. FAA-2005-20756

AD 2005-11-10

Brake safety

Summary of Situation

Bombardier DHC-8-102 through ?315 airplanes.

Requires installation of check valves in number 1 and 2 hydraulic systems to prevent loss of hydraulic power, which could lead to brake failure, loss of directional control, and departure from runway during landing.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective July 12.

Based on two reports of brake failure involving loss of both number 1 and 2 hydraulic systems.

Cost $450 to $1,500 per plane.

Affects 179 planes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 7

Final rule

FR Doc 05-11058

Docket No. FAA-2004-19990

AD 2005-11-12

Fire protection

Summary of Situation

Boeing B767-200 and ?300 series airplanes.

Requires replacement of a foam smoke barrier seal around the electrical/electronic equipment air supply and exhaust ducts in the forward cargo compartment, to prevent fire extinguishing agent from leaking out.

Escaping fire suppression agent could result in failure to extinguish the fire, and leaky seals also will allow smoke or fire to enter an occupied compartment.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective July 12.

Cost, about $130 per airplane.

About 468 airplanes worldwide of the affected design, of which 348 are in U.S. registry.

This is another example of the need for an oxygen sensor in the cargo hold to determine airtight integrity and sufficient fire suppression agent to contain a fire.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

June 8

Emergency airworthiness directive

AD 2005-12-51

Structural system safety

Summary of Situation

Rockwell International Model AT-6 (SNJ-2 through ?7) airplanes.

AD requires immediate and repetitive inspections of the inboard and outboard, upper and lower wing attach angles of both wings for fatigue cracks. If any crack is found, replacement of the cracked angle with a new one is required. (The AD may be viewed at http://www.faa.gov/aircraft/safety/alerts)

Action Date & Comments

Effective upon receipt.

Action is a fallout of the crash May 9 of an SNJ-6, in which the investigation revealed a large fatigue crack in the lower inboard wing attach angle, which caused the wing to separate (see ASW, May 23).

This may not be the only action taken to ensure the airplane's structural integrity. The accident is under investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board, and additional inspections, modifications or replacement of critical structural components may result from the investigative findings.

Source: U.S. Federal Register