Department of Transportation 2005 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model ATP airplanes. This AD requires doing an inspection of each bolt attaching the aft isolators to both engine subframes and replacing bolts if necessary. This AD results from reports of failures of the bolts attaching the aft isolators to the engine subframe. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the bolts attaching the aft isolators to the engine subframe, which may result in an engine separating from the airplane.

The FAA adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-300 series airplanes. This AD requires reinforcing the structure of the center fuselage by installing external stiffeners (butt straps) at frame (FR) 53.3 on the fuselage skin between left-hand and right-hand stringer 13, and related investigative actions. This AD results from a report that, during fatigue tests of the fuselage, cracks initiated and grew at the circumferential joint of FR53.3. We are issuing this AD to prevent fatigue cracking of the fuselage, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the fuselage.

This amendment adopts miscellaneous amendments to the required IFR (instrument flight rules) altitudes and changeover points for certain Federal airways, jet routes, or direct routes for which a minimum or maximum en route authorized IFR altitude is prescribed. This regulatory action is needed because of changes occurring in the National Airspace System. These changes are designed to provide for the safe and efficient use of the navigable airspace under instrument conditions in the affected areas.

An examination of the controlled airspace for Wellington Municipal Airport, KS has revealed a discrepancy in the Airport Reference Point (ARP) and the size of the Class E airspace area. This action corrects the ARP and modifies the size of the Class E5 airspace area beginning at 700 feet above the surface. The radius of the airspace area is expanded from within a 6.3-mile radius to within a 6.4 mile radius of the airport. This action brings the Class E5 airspace area into compliance with FAA directives.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce Corporation (formerly Allison Engine Company, Allison Gas Turbine Division, and Detroit Diesel Allison) (RRC) Models 250-C28, - C28B, and -C28C turboshaft engines. This AD requires a onetime visual inspection of the seal joint in each passage between airfoils at the hub and shroud of third-stage turbine wheels, part number (P/N) 6899383. This AD results from reports of three failed third-stage turbine wheels and from the manufacturer's analysis of those failures. We are issuing this AD to prevent loss of power and uncommanded engine shutdown due to failure of the third-stage turbine wheel.

In response to a petition for rulemaking submitted by Ms. Barbara Sanford, NHTSA published a Request for Comments (RFC) in the Federal Register on January 22, 2003 that included several questions regarding convex mirrors on commercial trucks. The Sanford petition asked the agency to amend our Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) for rearview mirrors to require that all commercial trucks traveling on interstate highways have convex mirrors affixed to their front right and left fenders in order to provide drivers of these vehicles an increased field-of-view during lane change maneuvers, which the petitioner stated is necessary to eliminate a blind spot caused by the elevated position of commercial truck drivers relative to passenger cars. Prior to receiving the Sanford petition, the agency had decided to conduct research on heavy truck mirror systems, including fender- mounted mirrors. For reasons discussed in this document, the agency is withdrawing the RFC and is terminating this rulemaking, because additional research is necessary to assess the potential safety benefits of convex mirrors in this application.

On September 25, 1991, DOT published a notice of proposed rulemaking to revise the definition of ``gathering line'' in its gas pipeline safety standards. Because the proposal proved controversial, final action was postponed pending collection of additional information. In this Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM), PHMSA is proposing use of a consensus standard to distinguish onshore gathering lines. PHMSA's gas pipeline safety standards do not provide an adequate basis for distinguishing these pipelines from production facilities and transmission lines. In addition, PHMSA is proposing to establish safety standards for certain higher-risk onshore gathering lines, and to relax current standards on certain low-risk onshore gathering lines. (Onshore gathering lines in inlets of the Gulf of Mexico are not affected by this rulemaking.) Operators would use a new risk-based approach to determine which of its gathering lines are ``regulated onshore gathering lines'' and what safety standards the lines must meet. At present, PHMSA's safety standards do not apply to onshore gathering lines in rural locations, while onshore gathering lines in non-rural locations must meet the same requirements as transmission lines. This regulatory approach is insufficient to assure that conditions on gathering lines that pose a greater risk to the public and property are addressed. And it does not take into account the lower risk some other gathering lines pose. The intended effects of the proposed rules are improved identification of gathering lines, improved public confidence in the safety of gathering lines, and safety requirements better tailored to gathering line risks.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus Model A330-301, -321, -322, -341, and -342 airplanes; and Model A340-200 and A340-300 series airplanes. This AD requires repetitive inspections for cracks in the aft face of the rear spar at the area adjacent to the bolt holes and the end of the build slot, and repair if necessary. The AD also provides an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report that, during fatigue tests of the wing, cracks were found in the vertical web of the rear spar between ribs 1 and 2 having initiated at the build slot. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking in the vertical web of the wing rear spar, which could result in reduced structural integrity of the wing.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public that a meeting of the Federal Aviation Air Traffic Procedures Advisory Committee (ATPAC) will be held to review present air traffic control procedures and practices for standardization, clarification, and upgrading of terminology and procedures.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its determination that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of Laredo for Laredo International Airport under the provisions of 49 U.S.C. 47501 et. seq. (Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act) and 14 CFR part 150 are in compliance with applicable requirements.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model ERJ 170 airplanes. This proposed AD would require doing a general visual inspection of the passenger seat track attachments to determine if the attachment rod is installed and to check the torque value of the attachment bolts, and doing any corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from the finding of missing rods, which attach the passenger seat tracks to the airplane structure to absorb loads. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct missing attachment rods, which could result in reducing the ability of the seat to withstand a hard landing or rejected takeoff and possible injury to passengers.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain McDonnell Douglas Model MD-11 and MD-11F airplanes. The existing AD currently requires replacement of the upper and lower reading lights in the forward crew rest area with a redesigned light fixture. This proposed AD would add airplanes to the applicability of the existing AD. This proposed AD results from a report of the old reading lights being inadvertently sent to an additional ten airplanes. We are proposing this AD to prevent a possible flammable condition, which could result in smoke and fire in the forward crew rest area.

The FAA is correcting a typographical error in an NPRM that was published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2005 (70 FR 54316). The error resulted in an incorrect Docket No. The NPRM applies to certain Bombardier Model DHC-8-400 series airplanes. The NPRM would require an inspection of the laminated shims for cracks, damage, or extrusion between the forward attachment fittings of the horizontal stabilizer and the top rib of the vertical stabilizer; a torque check of the attachment bolts in the attachment fittings of the front, middle, and rear spars; and corrective actions if necessary.

The FAA is correcting a typographical error in an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register on September 14, 2005 (70 FR 54251). The error resulted in in an incorrect Docket No. This AD applies to certain Airbus Model A340-200 and -300 series airplanes. This AD requires revising the airplane flight manual to incorporate new procedures for the flightcrew to follow to correct miscalculation of the takeoff and accelerating or stopping distance of the airplane during a ferry flight under certain conditions.

The FAA is correcting a typographical error in an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that was published in the Federal Register on September 13, 2005 (70 FR 53915). The error resulted in an incorrect Docket No. This AD applies to all BAe Systems (Operations) Limited Model ATP airplanes. This AD requires revising the Airworthiness Limitations Section of the Instructions for Continued Airworthiness to incorporate life limits for certain items and new inspections to detect fatigue cracking in certain structures and of certain significant structural items, and to revise life limits for certain equipment and various components.

In accordance with the procedures governing the application for, and the processing of, exemptions from the Department of Transportation's Hazardous Material Regulations (49 CFR part 107, subpart B), notice is hereby given of the actions on exemption applications in January 2005 to August 2005. The mode of transportation involved are identified by a number in the ``Nature of Application'' portion of the table below as follows: 1Motor vehicle, 2Rail freight, 3Cargo vessel, 4Cargo aircraft only, 5Passenger-carrying aircraft. Application numbers prefixed by the letters EE represent applications for Emergency Exemptions. It should be noted that some of the sections cited were those in effect at the time certain exemptions were issued.

In accordance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice announces the intention of FMCSA to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection associated with the agency's medical examiner Role Delineation Study. This information collection would gather data on the role of medical examiners and provide medical examiners (medical doctors (MDs), doctors of osteopathy (DOs), doctors of chiropractic (DCs), physician assistants (PAs) and advance practice nurses (APNs)) who perform FMCSA physical examinations of commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers a means of participating in an assessment of the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to effectively determine if a CMV driver's health meets Federal physical qualifications standards. The data obtained from the Role Delineation Study and other sources would be used to support the development of the National Registry of Certified Medical Examiners (NRCME) program.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER airplanes listed above. This proposed AD would require modifying the drain system of the auxiliary power unit (APU) by installing a scavenge pump and, for certain airplanes, replacing the APU exhaust assembly. This proposed AD results from a report of fuel leaking from the APU feeding line and accumulating inside the APU compartment because the drain system is inadequate when the APU is running. We are proposing this AD to prevent fuel accumulation and subsequent flammable fuel vapors in the APU cowling, which, combined with an ignition source, could result in a fire or explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Airbus transport category airplanes, identified above. This AD requires an inspection to determine if a certain lower pin (p-pin) of the retraction actuator of the main landing gear (MLG) is installed. If the affected p-pin is installed, this AD requires a one-time inspection of the p-pin for correct grease hole position and cracking; repetitive daily inspections for pin migration; and eventual replacement of all p- pins with new p-pins. For any p-pin that is cracked or shows pin migration, this AD requires immediate replacement with a new p-pin. Replacing the p-pin with one that is correctly manufactured (i.e., that has the correct grease hole position) is terminating action for the repetitive inspections. This AD results from a report that a cracked p- pin was found when the MLG was removed for overhaul. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the p-pin, which could result in degradation of the MLG structural integrity and possible hazardous landing.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for renewal and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and its expected cost and burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on July 20, 2005 [FR Vol. 70, No. 138, pages 41808 and 41809]. No. comments were received.