Department of Transportation August 12, 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This is to notify the public that PHMSA and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) are investigating the manufacture, marking, and sale of high pressure DOT exemption cylinders made and/or distributed by Global Composites International, Inc. (GCI), Ontario, CA. PHMSA and the OIG have evidence that suggests GCI manufactured, marked, certified, and sold an undetermined number of high-pressure DOT exemption carbon fiber filament cylinders when the cylinders had not been manufactured in accordance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR), DOT-E 12695, and the design qualification standards incorporated into the exemption. The evidence suggests that some of these cylinders were not wrapped with a sufficient number of carbon fiber layers to insure their structural integrity. In addition, the evidence suggests that many of these cylinders did not undergo the complete series of safety tests and inspections required by the HMR and may not possess the structural integrity to safely contain its contents under pressure during normal transportation and use. Extensive property damage, serious personal injury, or death could result from rupture of a cylinder.

This notice announces the availability of AC 45-2C, Identification and Registration Marking. AC 45-2C provides information and guidance concerning the requirements for identifying aircraft and related products with identification plates, and identifying aircraft with nationality and registration marks. The requirements are detailed in Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), part 45, Identification and Registration Marking.

The Federal Highway Administration is issuing this notice to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement will be prepared for a State Route 601 Highway Study in the above referenced counties in Mississippi.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing transport category airplanes listed above. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks of the upper surface of the aft lower spar web of the inboard and outboard struts, as applicable; and repetitive inspections for cracks of the upper surface of the intermediate web bay of the aft lower spar. This AD also requires repetitive inspections and torque checks of the bolts common to the aft lower spar chords and the fitting of the rear engine mount bulkhead for missing, loose, or fractured bolts, as applicable; and corrective action, if necessary. This AD is prompted by reports of cracking in the aft lower spar web and reports of missing and fractured bolts. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct cracking of the aft lower spar web, and to prevent missing, loose, or fractured bolts common to the aft lower spar chords and the fitting of the rear engine mount bulkhead, which could result in the loss of the aft lower spar load path and reduced structural capability of the pylon, which may result in the separation of the engine from the airplane.