Department of Transportation October 19, 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FMCSA invites public comment on its plan to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection (IC). The collection involves the assessment of FMCSA's strategic decision to integrate its Information Technology (IT) with its business processes using portal technology to consolidate its systems and databases and launch a modernization initiative to create the FMCSA COMPASS Portal. The information to be collected will be used to assess the satisfaction of Federal, State and industry customers with the FMCSA COMPASS Portal. FMCSA is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 to publish this notice in the Federal Register.

The FMCSA invites comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a new information collection. The new information collection is associated with an agency study by a research contractor which will investigate motor carriers that operate small passenger-transporting commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). The collected information would assist FMCSA with outreach initiatives to these newly regulated motor carriers of passengers. This notice is required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 777-200 series airplanes equipped with General Electric GE90-94B engines. This AD requires inspecting to determine the part number of the identification plate of the torque box on the thrust reversers (TRs), and investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from engine certification testing which revealed that TRs on GE90-94B engines have inner walls that could develop disbonding in the upper bifurcation radii. Disbonding was found in an equivalent inner wall used during the testing. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of a TR and adjacent components and their consequent separation from the airplane during flight or during a refused takeoff (RTO). These separated components could cause structural damage to the airplane or damage to other airplanes and possible injury to people on the ground. TR failure during a RTO could also cause the engine to produce forward thrust, resulting in asymmetric thrust and possible runway excursion.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2003-22-13, which applies to all AeroSpace Technologies of Australia Pty Ltd. (ASTA) Models N22B and N24A airplanes. AD 2003-22-13 currently requires you to visually inspect the ailerons for damage and replace if necessary; adjust the engine power levers aural warning microswitches; set flap extension and flap down operation limitations; and fabricate and install cockpit flap extension and flap down operation restriction placards. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by the airworthiness authority for Australia. The FAA inadvertently omitted Model N22S airplanes from the applicability of AD 2003-22-13. Therefore, this AD retains the actions exactly as required in AD 2003-22-13 and adds Model N22S airplanes to the Applicability section. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the aileron due to undetected pre-existing aileron damage and airplane operation outside of the approved limits. Aileron failure could lead to reduced or loss of control of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) issued by an airworthiness authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Turbomeca Arriel 2B, 2B1, and 2B1A turboshaft engines. This AD requires visually inspecting the splines of the high-pressure (HP) pump drive gear shaft and coupling shaft assembly for wear. This AD results from reports of uncommanded in-flight shutdowns of engines. We are issuing this AD to detect wear on the splines of the HP pump drive gear shaft and coupling shaft assembly, which could interrupt the fuel flow and cause an uncommanded in-flight shutdown of the engine on a single- engine helicopter. The in-flight shutdown of the engine could result in a forced autorotation landing or accident.

FRA is amending its existing regulations in an effort to address various mechanical issues relevant to the manufacture, efficient utilization, and safe operation of passenger equipment and trains that have arisen since FRA's original issuance of the Passenger Equipment Safety Standards. The miscellaneous amendments concentrate on the following five areas: Clarifying the terminology related to piston travel indicators; providing alternative design and additional inspection criteria for new passenger equipment not designed to allow inspection of the application and release of the brakes from outside the equipment; permitting some latitude in the use of passenger equipment with redundant air compressors when a limited number of the compressors become inoperative; recognizing current locomotive manufacturing techniques by permitting an alternative pneumatic pressure test for main reservoirs; and adding provisions to ensure the proper securement of unattended equipment. FRA is also clarifying the existing regulatory requirements related to the attachment of safety appliances and is mandating an identification and inspection protocol to address passenger equipment containing welded safety appliances or welded safety appliance brackets or supports. Finally, FRA is amending the regulations to permit railroads the ability to apply out-of-service credit to certain periodic maintenance requirements related to passenger equipment.