Significant Regulatory Activity

Air Safety Week,  August 29, 2005  

• E-mail
• Print
• Link

The general scope of activity in these actions is impressive, running the gamut from flight controls to fuel system and landing gear safety. Particular attention is called to the Aug. 18 policy initiatives regarding the safety of seats in a crash.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 15

Final rule

FR Doc 05-16000

Docket No. FAA-2005-20515

AD 2005-17-01

Flight control safety

Summary of Situation

Pilatus PC-6 airplanes.

Requires repetitive inspections and replacement of parts to ensure correct stabilizer-trim attachment, failure of which could lead to loss of control of the airplane.

Action Date & Comments

Airworthiness directive (AD) effective Sept. 29.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) action emulated that of the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Aviation (FOCA).

Cost for inspection estimated at $715 per airplane. Cost for replacement $2,650.

Affects 41 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 15

Final rule, request for comments

FR Doc 05-16003

Docket No. FAA-2005-22074

AD 2005-16-14

Electrical system safety

Summary of Situation

Gulfstream G-IV and GV airplanes.

Requires deactivation of floor heater pad, which can arc without tripping the breakers.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective Aug. 30; comments due Oct. 14.

Based on report of a floor heater pad short-circuiting, no breaker tripped, and odor/damage was found in the cabin.

Numerous alert bulletins apply. Cost and fleet size not indicated.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 15

Final rule, request for comments

FR Doc 05-16002

Docket No. FAA-2005-22073

AD 2005-16-13

Fuel system safety

Summary of Situation

Gulfstream Aerospace model Galaxy and Gulfstream 200 airplanes.

Requires inspection and replacement, if necessary, of damaged wiring to the fuel standby feed pumps, which could lead to fire or explosion.

Action Date & Comments

AD effective Aug. 30; comments due Oct. 14.

FAA action emulates that of the Civil Aviation Administration of Israel (CAAI). This action is not a result of the comprehensive fuel system safety reviews required by manufacturers under SFAR 88 (see ASW, July 11).

Cost and fleet size not indicated.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 16

Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM)

FR Doc 05-16178

Docket No. FAA-2005-22110

Structural safety

Summary of Situation

Airbus A300 airplanes.

Supersedes existing AD, adjusting the inspection thresholds and the scope of the inspections to prevent fatigue cracking of a fuselage frame.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Sept. 15.

Original AD published in Federal Register June 3.

Costs $845 to $27,000.

Affects 74 planes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 17

Supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking, reopening of comment period

FR Doc 05-16262

Docket No. FAA-2004-18564

Electrical system safety

Summary of Situation

Embraer EMB-135 and EMB-145 airplanes.

Requires modification of electrical connections for the total air temperature (TAT) sensor and replacement of fully automated digital engine control (FADEC) units, to ensure sufficient thrust for takeoff.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Sept. 12.

Based on report that the FADEC unit failed to compensate for ice accretion on engine fan blades, which was caused by false temperature signal from the TAT sensor.

Cost about $960 per airplane.

Affects up to 434 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 17

NPRM

FR Doc 05-16263

Docket No. FAA-2005-22120

Fuel system safety

Summary of Situation

Airbus A319, A320 and A321 airplanes equipped with an additional center tank (ACT).

Requires action to prevent air leakage around seal, which could lead to fuel vapor leaking into the cargo compartment.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Sept. 16.

Airbus has issued a service bulletin on how to correct the problem.

Cost about $65 in labor.

Affects 28 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 18

NPRM

FR Doc 05-16363

Docket No. FAA-2005-22121

Control system safety

Summary of Situation

McDonnell Douglas DC-9 through MD-82 series airplanes.

Supersedes existing AD by requiring inspections of overwing exit hatch seals to prevent ice from forming on the control cable assemblies.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Oct. 3.

Problem can cause in-flight loss of aileron control.

Cost estimated at $1,780 per airplane.

Affects 2,025 airplanes in the worldwide fleet, of which 1,131 are in U.S. registry.

Action & Date Posted on Federal Register

Aug. 18

NPRM

FR Doc 05-16362

Docket No. FAA-2005-22125

Safety from lightning strikes

Summary of Situation

Embraer Model ERJ 170 airplanes.

Requires replacing very high frequency (VHF) antenna to preclude loss of voice radio communications in the event of a lightning strike.

Action Date & Comments

Comments due Sept. 19.