Significant Regulatory Activity

Air Safety Week,  Jan 28, 2008  

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Recently developed from a Sep 06 Boeing Service Bulletin: (perhaps in light of recent events)

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide the flightcrew with new ground procedures for shedding core ice during long taxi periods in freezing fog with visibility of 300 meters or less. For airplanes unable to perform the shedding procedure after prolonged taxiing in freezing fog with visibility of 300 meters or less, this AD requires certain investigative and corrective actions. This AD results from reports of engine surges and internal engine damage due to ice accumulation during extended idle thrust operation in ground fog icing conditions. AD is to prevent internal engine damage due to ice accumulation and shedding, which could cause a shutdown of both engines, and result in a forced landing of the airplane. Final rule effective February 27, 2008.

FAA APPROVED DEICING PROGRAM UPDATE WINTER 2007-2008.

This Service Newsletter provides notification that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Notice Number N 8900.22: FAA - Approved Deicing Program Updates, Winter 2007 - 2008 has been issued. Notice Number N 8900.22 provides information on holdover time guidelines, a listing of qualified deicing/anti- icing fluids, and the associated guidelines for the application of these deicing/anti-icing fluid mixtures to the airplane. See tinyurl.com/2jqzzw

The annual SMU Air Law Symposium February 21-22, 2008: for registration see tinyurl.com/2ok77n

Aircraft: AD 2008-02-13  727
Effect: AD requires repetitive external high frequency eddy current (HFEC)
inspections of the crown skin for cracks at certain stringer attachment holes,
and repair if necessary. AD results from a report of cracks at multiple
locations on certain areas of the crown skin. AD is to detect and correct
fatigue cracks of the crown skin, which could result in rapid decompression of
the airplane. Final rule eff  28 Feb

Aircraft: AD 2008-02-14  757
Effect: AD requires an inspection of certain lighted pushbutton switches in the
flight compartment for configuration `D' master modules and part numbers and
corrective action if necessary. AD also provides an option to inspect panel
assemblies for part numbers. AD results from a report indicating that the
integrated drive generator failed in flight due to a possible switch
malfunction. AD is to ensure that certain lighted pushbutton switches in the
flight compartment do not malfunction and cause the flightcrew to be unable to
control critical airplane systems. Final rule eff  28 Feb

Aircraft: AD 2008-02-16  767
Effect: AD requires reworking certain duct assemblies in the environmental
control system (ECS). This AD results from reports of duct assemblies in the ECS
with burned Boeing Material Specification (BMS) 8-39 polyurethane foam
insulation. This AD also results from a report from the airplane manufacturer
that airplanes were assembled with duct assemblies in the ECS wrapped with BMS
8-39 polyurethane foam insulation, a material of which the fire retardant
properties deteriorate with age. AD is to prevent a potential electrical arc
from igniting the BMS 8-39 polyurethane foam insulation on the duct assemblies
of the ECS, which could propagate a small fire and lead to a larger fire that
might spread throughout the airplane through the ECS. Final rule eff  28 Feb

Aircraft: AD 2008-02-17 General Electric Company CF6-50, -80A1/A3, and -0C2A
Series Turbofan Engs
Effect: AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections and checks of
the thrust reverser actuation systems. This AD requires revised inspection
thresholds and intervals, and would require the same actions and additional
inspections of the thrust reverser actuation system locking features. This AD
results from refined safety analyses performed on the thrust reverser systems by
GE and Airbus. AD is to prevent inadvertent in-flight thrust reverser
deployment, which can result in loss of control of the airplane. Final rule eff
28 Feb

Aircraft: AD 2008-02-12  McDD 717-200
Effect: AD requires modification of the conduit for the forward boost pump of
the center fuel tank. This AD results from the finding that a potential chafing
condition exists in the volute assembly of the forward boost pump for the center
fuel tank. AD is to prevent chafing of the fuel boost pump wiring that could
lead to arcing to the inside of the 45-degree angle fitting, which, in
combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in a fuel tank explosion.
Final rule eff  28 Feb

Aircraft: AD 2008-02-08  McDD 717-200
Effect: AD requires electrical bonding of the fill valves for the right and left
main fuel tanks, the fill valve and pipe assembly for the center wing fuel tank,
and the defuel shutoff valve. This AD results from a fuel system review
conducted by the manufacturer. AD is to prevent improper bonding of the fill
valves and defuel shutoff valve for the main fuel tanks and center wing tank,
which, in combination with a lightning strike, could result in a fuel tank
explosion and consequent loss of the airplane. Final rule eff  26 Feb

Aircraft: 2007-NM-276-AD  A310 and A300-600
Effect: Based on some recent in-service findings for fluid ingress and/or inner
skin disbond damage on rudders, Airbus has decided to introduce some further
structural inspections to specific rudder areas. This type of damage could
result in reduced structural integrity of the rudder. NPRM comment by 21 Feb

Aircraft: 2000-NE-42-AD  CF34 engines
Effect: AD currently requires a onetime inspection of certain fan disks for
electrical arc-out indications, replacing fan disks with electrical arc-out
indications, and reducing the life limit of certain fan disks. This proposed AD
would require the same reduced life limit of certain fan disks, on-wing
inspection of certain fan disks installed on regional jets, and would add a
requirement to perform an inspection on certain business jet applications that
have already had a shop-level inspection. This proposed AD results from us
determining that we inadvertently left out an inspection requirement. AD is to
prevent uncontained fan disk failure NPRM comment by 18 Mar