Significant Regulatory Activity

Safety of passenger and flight attendant seats: Final rule ? All Part 121 (regularly scheduled transport category) aircraft

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19208 Docket No. FAA-2002-13464-2

Mandates fully-compliant 16 G seats only for new aircraft manufactured four years from now (Oct. 27, 2009), thereby relieving the industry of a huge retrofit requirement. The industry has been installing "16 G compatible" seats, thereby replacing 9 G seats, but the newer seats do not meet all current testing criteria. Nevertheless, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) believes this ruling advances the ball on safety without burdening the industry with the requirement to install fully compliant 16 G seats in the existing fleet. FAA believes this reduced mandate passes the cost benefit, at a ratio of 2.27 to 1.

Fuel system safety: Final rule, request for comments ? Airbus A330-200 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-18910 Docket No. FAA-2005-22483 AD 2005-19-27

Requires inspection and replacement of fuel jettison valves to prevent fuel leaks, which could come into contact with an ignition source, with consequent fire or explosion. Airworthiness directive (AD) effective Oct. 12; comments due Nov. 28.

Action based on French Direction G?n?rale de l'Aviation Civile (DGAC) reports of several cases of fuel leaks in the jettison system.

Cost of modification estimated at $900. No airplanes in U.S. registry; the work would have to be done if the airplane is imported.

Fuel system safety: Final rule, request for comments ? BAE Systems Model ATP and Model HS 748 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-18909 Docket No. FAA-2005-22482 AD 2005-19-26

Requires inspection and corrective action to prevent severe chafing damage of electrical cable and fuel cross feed drain pipe, which could lead to fuel leakage in the dry bay or the wing and consequent fire. AD effective Oct. 12; comments due Nov. 28.

Action emulates that of the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), based on report of electrically induced fire before takeoff. Corrective action includes re-routing of cable for adequate clearance.

Work estimated to cost $130 per airplane. No airplanes in U.S. registry; the work would have to be done if the airplane is imported.

Structural safety: Final rule ? Boeing B737-100 through -500 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-18911 Docket No. FAA-2005-20627 AD 2005-19-25

Requires eddy current inspections of rivet holes adjacent to the radio altimeter cutout for cracks, and provides for optional terminating action. AD effective Nov. 1.

Costs about $195 per airplane. Affects 3,132 airplanes worldwide, of which 1,004 are in U.S. registry.

Fuel system safety: Final rule ? Boeing B707, B720 and B720B airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19140 Docket No. FAA-2005-20785 AD 2005-20-02

Requires modifying the airplane flight manual (AFM) to prohibit resetting of a tripped circuit breaker for a fuel pump in any tank, which could ignite vapors in the tank and lead to fire or explosion. AD based on manufacturer's review of fuel system, which the FAA ordered under SFAR 88 to reduce ignition sources in fuel tanks. This was one of a number of actions expected to come out in the Federal Register (see ASW, July 11). AD effective Nov. 1.

Cost about $65 per airplane to modify manual. Affects 225 airplanes worldwide, of which 90 are in U.S. registry.

Structural safety: Final rule ? Boeing B737-100 through -500 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19143 Docket No. FAA-2005-18788 AD 2005-20-03

Requires repetitive inspections in area of forward entry door to prevent loss of door and consequent rapid decompression of the airplane. AD effective Nov. 1.

Cost is estimated at $130 per inspection cycle. Affects 3,113 airplanes worldwide, of which 876 are in U.S. registry. See related item, below.

Structural safety: Final rule ? Boeing B737-100 through -500 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19144 Docket No. FAA-2005-20356 AD 2005-20-01

Requires repetitive inspections and replacement of cracked stiffeners to prevent damage to the keel beam and consequent reduced ability to sustain flight loads. AD effective Nov. 1.

Cost per inspection cycle about $65 per airplane. Action affects 3,132 airplanes worldwide, of which 1,384 are in U.S. registry.

Engine safety: Final special conditions ? Airbus A318 airplanes with Pratt & Whitney PW6000 engines

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19206 Docket No. NM304 Special Condition No. 25- 299-SC

Concerns the ability of engine mounts to handle sudden deceleration of the engine in the event of a power loss. No comments received to original proposal. Action effective Oct. 27.

Applies to new airframe-engine combination for which existing regulations do not contain adequate safety standards.

Electrical system safety: Notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) ? Airbus A318-100, A320-111, A320-200, A321-100 and A321-200 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19232 Docket No. FAA-2005-22528

Requires inspection of electrical panel hinge pin, which can move out of position and contact adjacent electrical harness, with consequent arcing and/or failure of associated systems. Based on Airbus All Operators Telex (AOT). Comments due Oct. 27.

Cost of inspection estimated at $65 per aircraft. Affects 696 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Safety of emergency equipment: NPRM ? Airbus A330-200 and -300, A340-200 and -300, and A340-541 and A340-642 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19235 Docket No. FAA-2005-22524

Requires inspection of slides/rafts to determine if electrical harnesses are properly routed, and re-routing if necessary to correct improper routing, which could prevent proper deployment of the slide/raft. Action based on DGAC report of failed slide/raft deployment during a test because of an improperly routed wire harness. Comments due Oct. 27.

Cost of inspection about $195 per airplane. Affects 25 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Structural safety: NPRM ? Airbus A300 B2 and B4 and A310-203 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19237 Docket No. FAA-2005-22527

Requires inspection and corrective action for missing or incorrect rivets from the passenger-to-freight converted area to prevent structural failure of the main deck. Comments due Oct. 27.

Cost estimated at $5,200 per airplane. Affects only 2 A300 B4s in U.S. registry. If A310-203 aircraft are imported, they'll need the work done.

Flight control system safety: NPRM ? Boeing B767-200 and -300 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19233 Docket No. FAA-2005-22529

Supersedes existing AD by requiring new inspections of link assembly, and optional terminating action, to prevent separation of inboard or outboard flaps, and consequent loss of control. Based on reports of additional instances of fractured bearings of the link assembly. Comments due Nov. 14.

Cost estimated at $700 per airplane. Affects 855 airplanes worldwide, of which as many as 371 are in U.S. registry. See related action below.

Flight control system safety: NPRM ? Boeing B767-200 and -300 airplanes

Sept. 27 FR Doc 05-19234 Docket No. FAA-2005-22523

Requires drilling drain holes and installing drip shields and gutters, and other actions, to prevent stiff operation of the elevator pitch control system resulting from moisture collecting and freezing on the elevator system components. Comments due Nov. 14.

Cost of various actions adds to at least $4,200. Affects 900 airplanes in the worldwide fleet, of which 410 are in U.S. registry.

Electronic component safety: Final special conditions ? Premier Avionics Design for Cessna model 441 Conquest

Sept. 28 FR Doc 05-19289 Docket No. CE231 Special Condition 23-171-SC

Responds to Premier's application for a supplemental type certificate to install two digital altimeters, for which this document contains requirements for protection against high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). Effective date is Sept. 13 because of imminent certification. Comments due Oct. 28.

Electrical system safety: Final rule ? Airbus A300-600 and A310-200 and - 300 airplanes

Sept. 29 FR Doc 05-19229 Docket No. FAA-2005-20796 AD 2005-20-06

Requires modifications to prevent failure of the electrical circuit which supplies power to illuminate the six cathode ray tube (CRT) displays and the backlight to the standby horizon indicator, inability to read these instruments, and consequent deviation from intended takeoff or flight path. Numerous manufacturer service bulletins apply. AD effective Nov. 3.

Cost between $960 and $7,200 per airplane. Affects 189 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Safety of interior fittings: Final rule ? Boeing B767-200 and -300 airplanes

Sept. 29 FR Doc 05-19227 Docket No. FAA-2005-21170 AD 2005-20-05

Requires installing support straps to prevent failure of the 9 G tie rods, which can result in collapse of the center overhead bin modules during an emergency, and consequent impairment of evacuation. This is a final rule on action proposed earlier (see ASW, May 30). Effective Nov. 3.

Cost of new straps $1,600 per I-beam. Affects 747 airplanes in the worldwide fleet, of which 281 are in U.S. registry.

Structural safety: NPRM ? Boeing B747-200F, B747-200C, B747-400, B747- 400D and B747-400F airplanes

Sept. 29 FR Doc 05-19239 Docket No. FAA-2005-22526

Requires inspections for cracking and repair of fuselage internal structure to prevent rapid depressurization. Action based on extended pressure fatigue tests of B747s. Comments due Nov. 14.

Cost is $16,900 per airplane. Affects 706 airplanes worldwide, of which 107 are in U.S. registry.

Auxiliary power unit (APU) installation safety: NPRM ? Embraer EMB-135 and EMB-145 airplanes

Sept. 29 FR Doc 05-19238 Docket No. FAA-2005-22525

Requires modifying the drain system of the APU, installing a scavenge pump and, for certain airplanes, replacing the APU exhaust assembly to prevent fuel from leaking into the drain system of the APU compartment, which, combined with an ignition source, could result in fire or explosion. Comments due Oct. 31.

Cost between $10,200 and $13,200 per airplane. Affects 800 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Passenger seat safety: NPRM ? Embraer ERJ 170 airplanes

Sept. 30 FR Doc 05-19567 Docket No. FAA-2005-22561

Requires inspection of passenger seat tracks for missing rods, which absorb loads, to assure seats can withstand a hard landing or rejected takeoff and prevent possible injury to passengers. The Departmento de Aviacao Civil (DAC) advises that some rods might not have been installed during manufacture. Comments due Oct. 31.

Cost of inspection $65; if rods missing, parts cost $860 per airplane. Affects 43 airplanes in U.S. registry.

Electrical safety: NPRM ? McDonnell Douglas MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes.

Sept. 30 FR Doc 05-19565 Docket No. FAA-2005-22557

The existing AD requires the replacement of reading lights in the crew rest area with a redesigned light fixture. This action would expand upon the existing AD, as it appears that the old reading lights were inadvertently sent to other airplanes, and therefore these reading lights must be hunted down and replaced. If the lights are inadvertently left on, their heat can lead to ignition and smoldering of insulation blankets (a problem that also afflicted the cockpit map reading light, as discovered by the Transportation Safety Board of Canada in its investigation of the Swissair MD-11 crash). Comments due Nov. 14.

Cost estimated at $998 per airplane. Affects 81 airplanes worldwide, of which 14 are in U.S. registry.

Fire protection: NPRM ? Cessna Model 500, 550, S550, 560, 560XL and 750 airplanes

Sept. 30 FR Doc 05-19568 Docket No. FAA-2005-22558

Requires installing identification sleeves on wires for the engine and APU fire extinguishing bottles, and rewiring as necessary, to prevent mis-wired fire extinguishing bottles, which can result in a tripped circuit breaker and no extinguishing agent to a fire. Based on report of a mis-wired airplane. Comments due Nov. 14.

Cost varies from $150 to $360 per airplane. Affects 2,801 airplanes worldwide, of which 2,369 are in U.S. registry.

Source: U.S. Federal Register, see www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html

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