Global Regulatory Update, Sept. 16-22, 2018

EASA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-0202 for certain Rolls-Royce RB211-535s, requiring inspection of low pressure compressor blades, effective September 25, 2018.

EASA has issued safety information bulletin 2018-17 on the use of visible dye penetrant in liquid penetrant inspection of all safety critical hardware installed on engines, propellers, and auxiliary power units.

EASA has issued airworthiness directive 2017-0195R1 for certain Airbus A340s, requiring inspection and replacement of thrust reverser outer fixed structure, effective September 19, 2018.

EASA has issued safety information bulletin 2018-04R1 warning that some new generation 7xxx series alloys have a sensitivity to a phenomenon known as environmentally assisted cracking.

EASA has issued proposed airworthiness directive 18-127 for certain Airbus A330s and A340s, requiring inspection and modification of center wing box fastener holes at frame 40 vertical web, effective 14 days after airworthiness directive is issued.

EASA has issued proposed airworthiness directive 18-126R1 for Pilatus PC-6s, requiring inspection of rudder shaft assembly rivet configuration, effective 14 days after airworthiness directive is issued.

EASA has issued proposed airworthiness directive 18-128 for B/E Aerospace Fischer flight crew seats, requiring modification of seat energy absorber assembly, effective 14 days after airworthiness directive is issued.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-17-12 for all General Electric GE90-76Bs, GE90-77Bs, GE90-85Bs, GE90-90Bs and GE90-94Bs with full authority digital engine control software, version 9.3.2.4 or earlier, requiring upgrading this software to a software version eligible for installation, effective September 24, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-18-14 for certain Rolls-Royce Deutschland BR700-710A2-20s and BR700-710C4-11s, requiring replacement of paint-damaged electric engine control firebox assembly parts with improved parts, which have a more durable paint system, effective October 12, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive for certain Airbus A330-200s and -300s, and A340-212s, -213s, -312s and -313s, requiring and correcting repetitive inspections of certain fastener holes and related investigative and corrective actions, effective September 25, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-18-03 for certain Boeing 737-100s, -200s, -200Cs, -300s, -400s and -500s, requiring repetitive inspections for any cracks in the forward air-stair door cutout and applicable on-condition actions, effective October 15, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-18-08 for all Airbus A330-200 Freighters, A330-200s and -300s and A340-200s and -300s, requiring a detailed inspection and repetitive special detailed inspections of slat tracks at the front stop attachment to the track, effective October 15, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-17-13 for Rolls-Royce Deutschland Tay 620-15s, requiring reviewing the engine maintenance records and replacing the low pressure compressor fan blade with a part eligible for installation if the dry-film lubricant treatment limit is exceeded, effective October 16, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-18-13 for all Boeing 737-100s, -200s, -200Cs, -300s, -400s and -500s, requiring an inspection to determine the part number of the wing outboard flap track assembly, repetitive inspections of each affected wing outboard flap track for discrepancies, applicable on-condition actions and repetitive overhaul of each wing outboard flap track, effective October 18, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-17-25 for all Airbus A350-941s and -1041s, requiring replacing certain rudder and elevator servo-controls with serviceable servo-controls, effective September 28, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-18-17 for certain Saab 340As and 340Bs, requiring a revision of the applicable airplane flight manual, repetitive inspections of the horizontal stabilizer de-icing boots, replacement of single stitched de-icing boots with improved double stitched boots and re-identification of the modified horizontal stabilizer leading edge, effective October 18, 2018.

FAA has issued airworthiness directive 2018-17-24 for certain Airbus A350-941s, requiring application of sealant and protective treatment on the affected areas of the horizontal stabilizer and the rear fuselage cone structure and, for certain airplanes, modification of the trimmable horizontal stabilizer torsion box and re-identification of the elevator, effective October 18, 2018.

FAA has issued revised special airworthiness information bulletin HQ-16-14R1 informing owners, operators, repair stations and flight standard district offices that compliance with a new or revised airworthiness limitation section issued by a design approval holder or other entity as a type design change is not mandatory for in-service aircraft operating pursuant to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations part 91, unless the aircraft owner or operator voluntarily incorporates the change, it is mandated by an airworthiness directive to resolve an unsafe condition or it is required by a previously agreed upon maintenance program.