Results
2006-16-13: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.
2006-17-14: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires inspecting contactors 1K4XD, 2K4XD, and K4XA to determine the type of terminal base plate, and applying sealant on the terminal base plates, if necessary. This new AD revises the effective date of the existing AD. This AD results from incidents of short circuit failures of certain alternating current (AC) contactors located in the avionics bay. We are issuing this AD to prevent short circuit failures of certain AC contactors, which could result in arcing and consequent smoke or fire.
2006-16-17: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-135 and -145 series airplanes. This AD requires determining the torque values of the screws that attach the seat tracks to the airplane, and corrective action if necessary. This AD results from a report of undertorqued screws. We are issuing this AD to prevent improper torque of those screws, which in the case of a hard landing or a high deceleration impact condition could result in damage to the seat and possible subsequent injury to the passenger.
2006-16-06: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for GE CF6-80 series turbofan engines with certain stage 1 high- pressure turbine (HPT) rotor disks. That AD currently requires an initial inspection as a qualification for the mandatory rework procedures for certain disks, and repetitive inspections only for certain disks for which the rework procedures were not required. That action also requires reworking certain disks before further flight, and removes certain CF6-80E1 series disks from service. This AD requires the same actions but shortens the compliance schedule for HPT disks that have not been previously inspected using AD 2004-04-07, which this AD supersedes. This AD results from a recent report of an uncontained failure of a stage 1 HPT disk. We are issuing this AD to detect and prevent cracks in the bottoms of the dovetail slots that could propagate to failure of the disk and cause an uncontained engine failure. DATES: Effective September 5, 2006.The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of September 5, 2006. The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of certain other publications listed in the regulations as of March 12, 2004 (69 FR 8801, February 26, 2004). We must receive any comments on this AD by October 17, 2006.
2006-16-05: The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Pratt & Whitney PW4164, PW4168, and PW4168A series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive torque checks for loose or broken front pylon mount bolts made from INCO 718 material and MP159 material, and initial and repetitive visual inspections of the primary mount thrust load path. This AD requires the same actions, but at reduced intervals for front pylon mount bolts made from MP159 material. This AD results from analysis by the manufacturer that the MP159 material pylon bolts do not meet the full life cycle torque check interval requirement, in a bolt-out condition. We are issuing this AD to prevent front pylon mount bolt and primary mount thrust load path failure, which could result in an engine separating from the airplane. DATES: This AD becomes effective September 8, 2006. The Director of the Federal Register approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of September 8, 2006. The Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of certain publications listed in the regulations as of February 6, 2003 (68 FR 28, January 2, 2003).
2006-16-03: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain McDonnell Douglas airplanes, identified above. This AD requires installing or replacing with improved parts, as applicable, the bonding straps between the metallic frame of the fillet and the wing leading edge ribs, on both the left and right sides of the airplane. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to reduce the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks in the event of a severe lightning strike, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.
2006-15-19: This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation (Sikorsky) Model S-92A helicopters. This action requires, before further flight, replacing a certain main gearbox (MGB) upper main housing assembly (housing assembly) that has 2700 or more hours time-in-service (TIS) with an airworthy part. This action also requires, before further flight, revising the Airworthiness Limitations section (ALS) of the maintenance manual by establishing a new retirement life for the MGB housing assembly of 2700 hours TIS. This amendment is prompted by testing of the MGB housing assembly that resulted in premature fatigue failure due to a manufacturing process creating an oxide skin defect in the housing. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent fatigue failure of the MGB housing, loss of MGB lube oil, loss of main and tail rotor drive, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.
2006-15-08: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Honeywell International Inc. TPE331 series turboprop engines with certain part numbers of Woodward fuel control unit (FCU) assemblies installed. This AD requires initial and repetitive dimensional inspections of the fuel control drive, for wear or damage. This AD results from reports of loss of the fuel control drive, leading to engine overspeed, overtorque, overtemperature, uncontained rotor failure, and asymmetric thrust in multi-engine airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent destructive overspeed that could result in uncontained rotor failure, and damage to the airplane.
2006-15-03: We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes AD 2003-13-04, which applies to certain Pilatus Aircraft Ltd (Pilatus) Model PC-6 airplanes. AD 2003-13-04 currently requires you to inspect the integral fuel tank wing ribs for cracks and the top and bottom wing skins for distortion, repair any cracks or distortion before further flight, and do a fuel tank ventilating system installation. Since we issued AD 2003-13-04, the FAA determined the action should also apply to all the models of the PC-6 airplanes listed in the type certificate data sheet of Type Certificate (TC) No. 7A15 that were produced in the United States through a licensing agreement between Pilatus and Fairchild Republic Company (also identified as Fairchild Industries, Fairchild Heli Porter, or Fairchild-Hiller Corporation). In addition, the intent of the applicability of AD 2003- 13-04 was to apply to all the affected serial numbers of the airplane models listed in TC No. 7A15. This AD retains all the actions of AD 2003-13-04, adds those Fairchild Republic Company airplanes to the applicability of this AD, and lists the individual specific airplane models. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracks in the ribs of the inboard integral fuel tanks in the left and right wings, which could lead to wing failure during flight with consequent loss of control of the airplane. DATES: This AD becomes effective on August 23, 2006. As of August 15, 2003 (68 FR 37394, June 24, 2003), the Director of the Federal Register previously approved the incorporation by reference of Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 57-002, dated November 27, 2002; and Pilatus Aircraft Ltd. PC-6 Service Bulletin No. 118, dated December 1972, in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51.
2006-13-09: The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-400 and 747-400D series airplanes. This AD requires replacing specified tie rods of the center overhead stowage bins. This AD results from manufacturer analysis of the overhead storage bin support structure that demonstrated that the capability of certain existing tie rods does not meet emergency landing load requirements. We are issuing this AD to prevent detachment of the center overhead stowage bins during an extreme forward load event, which could cause injury to passengers and hinder emergency evacuation procedures.