-T / T / +T | Comment(s)

Monday, February 26, 2007

Significant Regulatory Activity

The FAA has tweaked its ruling on ETOPS regulations for Parts 121 and 135 turbine transport aircraft, one month after the original rule?was published. It has been brought to the attention of the FAA the original intent of the concept of "dual maintenance" in the final rule did not codify existing FAA ETOPS guidance. "Dual maintenance" is a concept relating to repetition of maintenance errors on redundant systems - i.e., when one mechanic performs the same error while repairing two or more systems on the same aircraft. An example of dual maintenance error is failing to install o-rings on engine oil or fuel components on multiple engines. The FAA now admits such procedures may be unavoidable. For instance, a pilot's report of a discrepancy on an ETOPS significant system may require maintenance on one engine, while a scheduled maintenance event is performed on the other engine.
Aircraft Effect
Emergency AD 2007-04-51 GE CF34-3B1 engines GE CF34-3B1 turbofan engine experienced an uncontained fan disk failure during flight operation. Inspection of the engine showed the front section of the engine failed, resulting in the fan, forward cowlings, and fan reverser departing. Inspection of the recovered segments of the fan disk, found an electrical arc-out defect at the fracture origin site. The fan disk was marked using the electro-chemical etch marking (ECM) procedure during assembly. If the ECM procedure is performed incorrectly, an arc-out defect can occur. This arc-out defect, caused during part marking, resulted in the uncontained failure. Final rule
AD 2007-04-09 EMB135/145 results from smoke on the flight deck caused by damage from poor electrical contact due to loosening of the attaching hardware of the power cables of certain windshield temperature controllers?. to prevent overheating of the power cable terminals of the windshield temperature controllers, which could result in smoke on the flight deck. final rule eff 23 Mar 07. See Pg One Article "Thirteen Plus One".
AD 2007-04-18 Learjet 23 thru 55 results from reports of inadvertent operation of a standby fuel pump due to an electrical system malfunction. AD is to prevent inadvertent operation, which could result in unselected fuel transfer by the left or right wing fuel system and subsequent over-limit fuel imbalance between the left and right wing fuel loads. final rule eff 23 Mar 07
AD 2007-04-17 DC-10/MD-10 results from reports of severed wiring between engine fire detectors and the fire detection system control module, which caused the fire detection system to become non-functional without flightcrew awareness. final rule eff 23 Mar 07
2006-NE-43-AD GE CF6-80 engs results from two events of external engine fuel leakage and subsequent under-cowl engine fire. AD is to prevent an under-cowl engine fire and damage to the airplane during a high engine vibration event. NPRM comments by 16 Apr 07
AD 2007-04-05 Airbus A300 to prevent possible trim loss when the flightcrew tries to override the autopilot pitch control, which could result in uncontrolled flight of the airplane. final rule eff 21 Mar 07

 

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