Department of Transportation February 9, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for some Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) MU-2B series airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to change the flight idle blade angle. This proposed AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to analyze the design, operation, and maintenance of the MU-2B series airplanes in order to determine their safety and define what steps, if any, are necessary for their safe operation. Part of that evaluation was the identification of unsafe conditions that exist or could develop on the affected type design airplanes. We are issuing this proposed AD to prevent confusion in blade angle settings. This unsafe condition, if not corrected, could lead to an asymmetric thrust situation in certain flight conditions, which could result in airplane controllability problems.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 and 777-300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for discrepancies of the splined components that support the inboard end of the inboard trailing edge flap, and related investigative, corrective, and other specified actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also require a one-time modification of the inboard support of the inboard trailing edge flap by installing a new isolation strap and attachment hardware. This proposed AD would also require repetitive replacement of the torque tube assembly. This proposed AD results from reports of corrosion on the torque tube and closeout rib fittings that support the inboard end of the inboard trailing edge flap, as well as a structural reassessment of the torque tube joint that revealed the potential for premature fatigue cracking of the torque tube that would not be detected using reasonable inspection methods. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct corrosion or cracking of the torque tube and closeout rib fittings that support the inboard end of the inboard trailing edge flap. Cracking in these components could lead to a fracture, which could result in loss of the inboard trailing edge flap and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain BAE Systems (Operations) Limited Model BAe 146 and Model Avro 146-RJ airplanes. This proposed AD would require modifying the control cable duct on the left bulkhead structure at frame 12, and for certain airplanes, the forward toilet bulkhead structure. This proposed AD results from a structural analysis by the manufacturer which revealed that rapid decompression of the flight compartment with the door closed could cause structural deformation of the left bulkhead structure at frame 12, and of the attached cable duct structure. The duct structure protects the cables for the primary flight controls. We are proposing this AD to prevent deformation of the cable duct structure in the event of a rapid decompression, which could result in restriction of the primary flight controls and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 18 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from vision standards if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

FMCSA announces that Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. (Volvo) has applied for an exemption from the Federal requirement for drivers of commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) to hold a commercial driver's license (CDL). Volvo requests that the exemption cover 11 Swedish engineers and technicians who will test-drive CMVs for Volvo within the United States. All 11 Volvo employees hold a valid Swedish CDL. Volvo states the exemption is needed to allow required testing of its CMVs under various climatic and environmental conditions within the United States. Volvo believes the knowledge and skills tests and training program that Swedish drivers undergo to obtain a Swedish CDL ensures the exemption would provide a level of safety that is equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety obtained by complying with the U.S. requirement for a CDL.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 10 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from vision standards if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The agency has concluded that granting these exemptions will provide a level of safety that will be equivalent to, or greater than, the level of safety maintained without the exemptions for these commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers.

Section 402 of title 23 of the United States Code requires the Secretary of Transportation to promulgate uniform guidelines for State highway safety programs. NHTSA is seeking comments on proposed amendments to six (6) of the existing guidelines to reflect program methodology and approaches that have proven to be successful and are based in sound science and program administration. The guidelines the agency proposes to revise are as follows: Guideline No. 3 Motorcycle Safety, Guideline No. 8 Impaired Driving, Guideline No. 14 Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety, Guideline No. 15 Traffic Enforcement Services (formerly Police Traffic Services), Guideline No. 19 Speed Management (formerly Speed Control), and Guideline No. 20 Occupant Protection. NHTSA believes the proposed revisions will provide more accurate, current and detailed guidance to the States. The revised guidelines will be made publicly available on the NHTSA Web site.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 737-100, -200, -200C, -300, -400, and -500 series airplanes. This AD requires an inspection for chafing of certain wire bundles located above the center fuel tank, corrective actions if necessary, and replacement of wire bundle clamps with new clamps. This AD also requires an inspection for damage to the fuel vapor barrier area located below the wire bundles, and corrective action if necessary. This AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer. We are issuing this AD to prevent chafed wire bundles near the center fuel tank, which could cause electrical arcing through the tank wall and ignition of fuel vapor in the fuel tank, and result in a fuel tank explosion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all British Aerospace Model HS 748 airplanes. This AD requires installing a baulking actuator system for the elevator gust lock; doing a functional test and an inspection of any previously installed baulking actuator system for wiring errors; doing repetitive inspections of the gust lock baulk lever for correct operation; and corrective action, if necessary. This AD results from incidents where an elevator gust lock re-engaged without input from the flightcrew, and may have caused a flight control restriction. We are issuing this AD to prevent uncommanded re- engagement of the elevator gust lock, which could result in restriction of the elevator's movement and consequent reduced controllability of the airplane.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls Royce plc (RR) RB211 Trent 500 series turbofan engines. This AD requires initial and repetitive borescope inspections of the high pressure-and-intermediate pressure (HP-IP) turbine oil vent tubes and bearing chambers for coking and carbon buildup and replacing the vent tubes if necessary. This AD results from a report of an RB211 Trent 700 series engine that experienced a disk shaft separation, overspeed of the IP turbine rotor, and multiple blade release of IP turbine blades. Since the design arrangement in the Trent 500 series engines is similar to that of the Trent 700 series engines, the same failure could occur in the Trent 500 series engines. We are issuing this AD to prevent internal oil fires caused by coking and carbon buildup, that could result in uncontained engine failure and damage to the airplane.