Department of Transportation 2006 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Mitsubishi Heavy Industries MU-2B series airplanes. This AD requires you to do the following: Remove and visually inspect the wing attach barrel nuts, bolts, and retainers for cracks, corrosion, and fractures; replace any cracked, corroded, or fractured parts; inspect reusable wing attach barrel nuts and bolts for deformation and irregularities in the threads; check the minimum breakaway torque of reused wing attach barrel nuts; replace any deformed or irregular parts; and install new or reusable parts and torque to the correct value. This AD results from a recent safety evaluation that used a data-driven approach to evaluate 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 AD to detect and correct cracks, corrosion, fractures, and incorrect torque values in the wing attach barrel nuts, which could result in failure of the wing barrel nuts and/or associated wing attachment hardware. This failure could lead to in-flight separation of the outer wing from the center wing section and result in loss of controlled flight.

The FAA withdraws a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) that proposed a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain EMBRAER Model EMB-145, -145ER, -145MR, -145LR, -145XR, -145MP, and -145EP airplanes. The proposed AD would have required modifying the routing of wire harness W407 near the fire extinguishing tube in the area of each engine, and installing new supports for related wiring. Since the proposed AD was issued, we have received new data indicating that the identified unsafe condition does not exist. Accordingly, the proposed AD is withdrawn.

The FAA publishes a monthly notice, as appropriate, of PFC approvals and disapprovals under the provisions of the Aviation Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1990 (Title IX of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1990) (Pub. L. 101-508) and part 158 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (14 CFR part 158). This notice is published pursuant to paragraph d of Sec. 158.29.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. The FAA requires the information in the interest of aviation safety to protect aircraft operations from the potential hazardous effects of laser emissions.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. The information collected is needed for the applicant's noise certification compliance report in order to demonstrate compliance with 14 CFR part 36.

This notice sets forth the FAA's proposed decision on the transferability of interim operating authority under the National Parks Air Tour Management Act.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is requesting public comment on a proposal to decommission all 54 Direction Finders (DF) and the associated DF approaches in all states other than Alaska. DF's have been used sparingly over the last nine years and the equipment is beyond its useful lifecycle. Improved radar coverage, pilot education and technologies such as area navigation (RNAV) and global positioning satellite (GPS) have reduced the utilization of DF steers and have essentially made DF's obsolete. A Federal Safety Risk Management Panel (SRMP) has determined that if pilots need orientation assistance, that our existing orientation methods, VOR, ADF, and GPS are reliable and meet the needs of our aviation community. Decommissioning would coincide with the Flight Services service provider's plan to consolidate the 58 flight service stations to 20 facilities.

This document proposes to modify Class E airspace at Chamberlain, SD. Standard Instrument Approach Procedures have been developed for Chamberlain Municipal Airport, Chamberlain, SD. Controlled airspace extending upward from 700 feet or more above the surface of the earth is needed to contain aircraft executing these approaches. This action would increase the area of the existing controlled airspace for Chamberlain, SD.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200 series airplanes. This AD requires a one- time deactivation of the auxiliary fuel system, repetitive venting and draining of the auxiliary fuel tank sumps, and revising the Limitations section of the airplane flight manual to limit the maximum cargo weight. This AD results from a re-evaluation of the floor structure and cargo barriers conducted by the STC holder. We are issuing this AD to prevent structural overload of the auxiliary fuel tank support structure, which could cause the floor beams to fail, damaging the primary flight controls and the auxiliary power unit fuel lines that pass through the floor beams, resulting in loss of control of the airplane. We are also issuing this AD to prevent structural overload of the cargo barriers, which could cause the barriers to fail, allowing the cargo to shift, resulting in damage to the auxiliary fuel tanks, residual fuel leakage, and consequent increased risk of a fire.

FRA is issuing comprehensive, minimum standards for locomotive crashworthiness. These crashworthiness standards are intended to help protect locomotive cab occupants in the event of a locomotive collision. Examples of locomotive collision scenarios considered in this rulemaking include collisions with another locomotive, the rear of another train, a piece of on-track equipment, a shifted load on a freight car on an adjacent parallel track, and a highway vehicle at a rail-highway grade crossing. Locomotive crashworthiness must be demonstrated by complying with either the final rule's new performance standards or an FRA-approved design standard.

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to certain Bombardier Model CL-600-2B19 (Regional Jet Series 100 & 440) airplanes. The existing AD currently requires repetitive detailed and eddy current inspections of the main fittings of the main landing gears (MLG) to detect discrepancies, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. The existing AD also requires servicing the shock strut of the MLGs; inspecting the shock strut of the MLGs for nitrogen pressure, visible chrome dimension, and oil leakage; and servicing any discrepant strut. This proposed AD would require installing a new, improved MLG main fitting, which would terminate the repetitive inspection and servicing requirements of the existing AD. This proposed AD results from stress analyses that showed certain main fittings of the MLGs are susceptible to premature cracking, starting in the radius of the upper lug. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct premature cracking of the main fittings of the MLGs, which could result in failure of the fittings and consequent collapse of the MLGs during landing.

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 727 airplanes. This AD requires repetitive measurements of the freeplay of the left and right outboard aileron balance tabs and of the upper and lower rudder tabs, and related investigative/corrective actions if necessary. This AD also requires repetitive lubrication of the hinge bearings and rod end bearings of the outboard aileron balance tabs. This AD results from reports of freeplay-induced vibration of the outboard aileron balance tabs and rudder tabs. We are issuing this AD to prevent excessive vibration of the airframe during flight, which could result in divergent flutter and loss of control of the airplane.

The MRB Public Meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about the revision and development of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation (FMCSR) medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

As authorized by Public Law 105-383 and Public Law 107-295, the Secretary of Transportation, as represented by the Maritime Administration (MARAD), is authorized to grant waivers of the U.S.- build requirement of the coastwise laws under certain circumstances. A request for such a waiver has been received by MARAD. The vessel, and a brief description of the proposed service, is listed below. The complete application is given in DOT docket 2006-25165 https:// dms.dot.gov. Interested parties may comment on the effect this action may have on U.S. vessel builders or businesses in the U.S. that use U.S.-flag vessels. If MARAD determines, in accordance with Public Law 105-383 and MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 388 (68 FR 23084; April 30, 2003), that the issuance of the waiver will have an unduly adverse effect on a U.S.-vessel builder or a business that uses U.S.-flag vessels in that business, a waiver will not be granted. Comments should refer to the docket number of this notice and the vessel name in order for MARAD to properly consider the comments. Comments should also state the commenter's interest in the waiver application, and address the waiver criteria given in Sec. 388.4 of MARAD's regulations at 46 CFR Part 388.

Pursuant to FAA's rulemaking provisions governing the application, processing, and disposition of petitions for exemption part 11 of Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR), this notice contains a summary of certain petitions seeking relief from specified requirements of 14 CFR. The purpose of this notice is to improve the public's awareness of, and participation in, this aspect of FAA's regulatory activities. Neither publication of this notice nor the inclusion or omission of information in the summary is intended to affect the legal status of any petition or its final disposition.

This document revises an earlier proposed airworthiness directive (AD), applicable to certain Saab Model SAAB-Fairchild SF340A (SAAB/SF340A) and SAAB 340B airplanes, that would have required modification of the hot detection system of the tail pipe harness of the engine nacelles. This new action revises the original NPRM by reducing the compliance time for the modification and adding repetitive inspections. The actions specified by this new proposed AD are intended to prevent false warning indications to the flightcrew from the hot detection system due to discrepancies of the harness, which could result in unnecessary aborted takeoffs on the ground or an in-flight engine shutdown. This action is intended to address the identified unsafe condition.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) by modifying the Class E airspace area at Keokuk Municipal Airport, IA. The establishment of Area Navigation (RNAV) Global Positioning System (GPS) Instrument Approach Procedures (IAP) to Runways (RWY) 8, 14, 26 and 32 and amendments to existing Non- directional Beacon (NDB) IAPs to RWY 14 and 26 requires the modification of the Class E airspace area beginning at 700 feet above ground level (AGL). This airspace area and the legal description are modification to conform to the criteria in FAA Orders.

This action amends Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, part 71 (14 CFR part 71) by revising Class E airspace areas at Scottsbluff, Western Nebraska Regional Airport/William B. Heilig Field, NE. The establishment of a Localizer/Distance Measuring Equipment (LOC/DME) Instrument Approach Procedure (IAP) to Runway (RWY) 12 requires the modification of the Class E airspace area beginning at 700 feet above ground level (AGL). This airspace area and the legal description are modified to conform to the criteria in the FAA Orders.

The FHWA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval for a new information collection, which is summarized below under SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION. We are required to public this notice in the Federal Register by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995.

This amendment adopts a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron Canada (BHTC) model helicopters. This action requires initial and repetitive inspections of each tail rotor counterweight bellcrank (bellcrank) with a specified part number and serial number. If external damage, a crack, roughness, or looseness between the bearing set and bellcrank is found or if bearing set axial play exceeds 0.015 inch, this action requires replacing the bellcrank with an airworthy bellcrank with two prefix letters in the serial number. This amendment is prompted by reports of failure and subsequent loss of a weighted portion of the bellcrank and reports of certain replacement bellcranks having design flaws. The actions specified in this AD are intended to prevent bellcrank failure, loss of a weighted portion of the bellcrank, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.