Koito Industries Airworthiness Directive Released

Airworthiness Directives; Koito Industries, Ltd., Seats and Seating Systems Approved Under Technical Standard Order (TSO) TSO-C39b, TSO-C39c, or TSO-C127a

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive for Koito Industries, Ltd., Seats and Seating Systems. This AD requires determination of whether affected seats and seating systems and their components are compliant with certain FAA regulations, and removing those seats, seating systems, and their components that are shown to be unsafe from the affected fleet.

Affected seats and seating systems may not meet certain flammability, static strength, and dynamic strength criteria. Failure to meet static and dynamic strength criteria could result in injuries to the flightcrew and passengers during emergency landing conditions. In the event of an in-flight or post- emergency landing fire, failure to meet flammability criteria could result in an accelerated fire. This AD was issued to prevent accelerated fires and injuries to the flightcrew and passengers.

Directive located here.

To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.

Similar Posts

  • | |

    FAA Finalizes Recurrent Aircraft Registration Rule

    For Immediate Release
    July 19, 2010

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to create a more accurate aircraft registration database, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requiring re-registration of all civil aircraft over the next three years and renewal every three years after that.

    The rule establishes specific expiration dates over a three-year period for all aircraft registered before Oct. 1, 2010, and requires re-registration of those aircraft according to a specific schedule. All aircraft registration certificates issued on or after Oct. 1, 2010 will be good for three years with the expiration date clearly shown.

    “These improvements will give us more up-to-date registration data and better information about the state of the aviation industry,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt.

    Current regulations require owners to report the sale of an aircraft, the scrapping or destruction of an aircraft, or a change in mailing address, but many owners have not complied with those requirements.

    Re-registration of all U.S. civil aircraft by Dec. 31, 2013 will enhance the database with current data derived from recent contact with aircraft owners. The new regulations also will ensure that aircraft owners give the FAA fresh information at least once every three years when they renew their registration. The FAA will cancel the N-numbers of aircraft that are not re-registered or renewed.

    Re-registration and registration expiration
    Certificate issued (Any year) Certificate expires Re-registration required
    March March 31, 2011 Nov. 1, 2010–Jan. 31, 2011
    April June 30, 2011 Feb. 1–April 30, 2011
    May Sept. 30, 2011 May 1– July 31, 2011
    June Dec. 31, 2011 Aug. 1– Oct. 31, 2011
    July March 31, 2012 Nov. 1, 2011–Jan. 31, 2012
    August June 30, 2012 Feb. 1– April 30, 2012
    September Sept. 30, 2012 May 1– July 31, 2012
    October Dec. 31, 2012 Aug. 1– Oct. 31, 2012
    November March 31, 2013 Nov. 1, 2012–Jan. 31, 2013
    December June 30, 2013 Feb. 1– April 30, 2013
    January Sept. 30, 2013 May 1– July 31, 2013
    February Dec. 31, 2013 Aug. 1– Oct. 31, 2013
    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • |

    Press Release – FAA Proposes $585,725 Civil Penalty Against Corporate Air

    For Immediate Release
    SEATTLE – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $585,725 civil penalty against Corporate Air of Billings, Mont., for allegedly operating a Shorts SD-3-30 twin-turboprop cargo aircraft when it was not in compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations.

    The FAA alleges Corporate Air failed to maintain the aircraft under the company’s general maintenance manual, which requires daily post-flight inspections that include examining the exterior skin for corrosion. In addition, the maintenance manual requires structural inspections on the basis of flight hours or flights.
    The FAA alleges that Corporate Air operated the aircraft in violation of regulations on at least 81 revenue flights between Dec. 21, 2009 and Feb. 4, 2010 with corrosion that had not been detected during the post-flight inspections. The FAA also alleges that structural inspections were not conducted at the required intervals, between Mar. 16, 2006 and Feb. 3, 2010, in violation of federal regulations.

    Corporate Air operates charter and air taxi service under Part 135 of the Federal Aviation Regulations and makes daily feeder cargo flights under contract to a major next-day air package airline.

    “Keeping aircraft well-maintained and in good condition must be a top priority for any operator,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “All operators must comply with maintenance requirements.”

    Corporate Air has 30 days from the receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.
    ###

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | | | | | | | |

    Plane Crashed while Practicing for New York Air Show; Pilot Killed

    airshowA stunt plane crashed near Stewart international airport in New Windsor, New York, on August 28.

    Authorities said the Cornell W F/Sahakian JA Jr. Giles G 202 experimental plane went down while practicing for the New York Air Show, which is scheduled for this weekend.

    The pilot, who was the only one aboard, was killed in the crash. He was identified as Andrew Wright, of Texas.

    The FAA and the NTSB are investigating.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • |

    Press Release – FAA Proposes $330,000 Civil Penalty Against Heli-Dudes

    For Immediate Release
    January 6, 2011

    SALT LAKE CITY—The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is proposing a $330,000 civil penalty against Heli-Dudes LLC, of Salt Lake City, for allegedly operating sightseeing helicopter rides for hire when it was not authorized to do so, a violation of Federal Aviation Regulations.

    The FAA alleges that Heli-Dudes did not have an FAA operating certificate or letter of authorization when it conducted 30 sightseeing flights for hire between Feb. 6 and Feb 14, 2010, using a Robinson R-22, a two-seat, piston engine-powered helicopter.

    The FAA denied two Heli-Dudes applications for a Letter of Authorization in January and March, 2010. The first denial was because the company submitted the wrong employee drug-testing certificate. The second denial came because Heli-Dudes conducted for-hire flights when it was not authorized to do so.

    Heli-Dudes has 30 days from receipt of the FAA’s enforcement letter to respond to the agency.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • | |

    Press Release – FAA Adopts “Comprehensive Solution” to Widespread Fatigue on Aging Aircraft


    For Immediate Release
    November 12, 2010

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a continuing effort to address aging aircraft issues, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has finalized a rule designed to protect most of today’s commercial planes and those designed in the future from structural damage as they age.

    The new rule seeks to prevent “widespread fatigue damage” (WFD) by requiring aircraft manufacturers and certification applicants to establish a number of flight cycles or hours a plane can operate and be free from WFD without additional inspections for fatigue. Manufacturers have between 18 and 60 months to comply depending on the particular aircraft type.

    Once manufacturers establish these limits, operators of affected aircraft must incorporate them into their maintenance programs within 30 to 72 months, depending on the model of aircraft. After the limit is in the maintenance program, operators cannot fly the aircraft beyond that point unless the FAA approves an extension of the limit.

    “Safety is our highest priority. This rule provides a comprehensive approach to the problem of widespread fatigue in aging aircraft,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “Requiring carriers to regularly inspect their aircraft for possible fatigue is essential to ensuring the highest levels of safety.”

    “We’ve addressed the problem of aging aircraft with numerous targeted regulations and 100 airworthiness directives over the years,” said FAA Administrator Randy Babbitt. “This rule is a comprehensive solution to ensure the structural safety of today’s airliners and the airplanes of tomorrow.”

    An airplane’s metallic structures are stressed and can develop cracks when they experience repeated loads such as the pressurization and depressurization that happens on every flight. While airlines regularly inspect aircraft for cracks exceeding a certain size, WFD involves aircraft developing numerous tiny cracks, none of which would have raised concerns individually but which together run the risk of joining up and impairing the structural integrity of the plane.

    The new regulation applies to airliners with a takeoff weight of 75,000 lbs. and heavier. It also applies to all transport designs certificated in the future.

    The affected models, totaling 4,198 U.S.-registered airplanes, are listed in the rule.

    The FAA is working closely with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and other national authorities to harmonize this rule with their regulations as much as possible. EASA is now developing rulemaking to address WFD, and the FAA participates in that process.
    The final rule is on display today at the Federal Register: http://www.ofr.gov/OFRUpload/OFRData/2010-28363_PI.pdf . It will be published in the Register Monday, November 15 at: http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/.
    ###

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.
  • |

    FAA Funding Goes to the Senate

    The FAA has been funded by 23 short-term funding extensions in the last eight years. Today the Senate is expected to vote on long term FAA funding. (Friday, legislation funding the FAA till 2015 passed the House of Representatives).

    A labor compromise stuck in the bill says that no less than 50 percent of airline workers must favor a vote on unionization before that vote can take place. Essentially it repeals a National Mediation Board ruling that absentee votes in union elections are not counted as votes against forming a union.

    The House bill cut FAA funding to FY 2008 levels. The compromise bill keeps funding at FY 2011 levels.

    No one is saying the bill is perfect, but the extensions are expensive.

    To include the featured image in your Twitter Card, please tap or click their icon a second time.