Department of Transportation March 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

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. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as an incomplete discharge of the extinguishing agent in the fire zone, which could lead, in the worst case, in combination with an engine fire, to a temporary uncontrolled engine fire. We are issuing this AD to require actions to correct the unsafe condition on these products.

This action revises Class E airspace at Red Dog, AK. Two new Area Navigation (RNAV) Required Navigation Performance (RNP) Special Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and an RNAV RNP Special Departure Procedure (DP) are being developed for the Red Dog Airport. This rule results in the revision of Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface near the Red Dog Airport, Red Dog, AK.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) revision of a current information collection. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collection of information was published on December 5, 2006, vol. 71, no. 233, page 70579. 14 CFR part 141 prescribes requirements for pilot schools certification. Information collected is used for certification and to determine compliance.

FMCSA previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 8 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcement and 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.

Before a Federal agency can collect certain information from the public, the agency must receive approval from the Office of Management and Budget (``OMB''). Under procedures established by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), before seeking OMB approval, Federal agencies must solicit public comment on proposed collections of information, including extensions and reinstatements of previously approved collections. In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, this notice describes one collection of information for which NHTSA intends to seek OMB approval.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announces public listening sessions to obtain feedback from interested parties on the Agency's January 18, 2007, notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to establish new performance standards for EOBRs, require the use of these devices by certain motor carriers, and to provide incentives for the voluntary use of such devices by the industry. The listening sessions will provide all interested parties with an opportunity to share their views on the Agency's EOBR rulemaking. All oral comments will be transcribed and placed in the public docket identified at the beginning of this notice.

This document proposes superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Bell Helicopter Textron, Inc. (Bell) helicopters. That AD currently requires inspecting each affected tail rotor blade (blade) forward tip weight retention block (tip block) and the aft tip closure (tip closure) for adhesive bond voids, and removing any blade with an excessive void from service. That AD also requires modifying certain blades by installing shear pins and tip closure rivets. This action would contain the same requirements but would expand the applicability to include other part and serial-numbered blades. This AD would also clarify the requirement to re-identify the modified blade by adding ``FM'' after the part number and would require dynamically balancing the tail rotor. The existing AD was prompted by five occurrences of missing tip blocks or tip closures resulting in minor to substantial damage. This proposal was prompted by the determination that the AD should apply to other affected part and serial-numbered blades. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent loss of a tip block or tip closure, loss of a blade, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

FMCSA announces its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for 19 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement 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 previously announced its decision to renew the exemptions from the vision requirement in the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations for these 45 individuals. FMCSA has statutory authority to exempt individuals from the vision requirement if the exemptions granted will not compromise safety. The Agency has reviewed the comments submitted in response to the previous announcements and 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.

This action proposes to amend the following four Offshore Airspace Areas in Alaska: Norton Sound Low, Woody Island Low, Control 1234L and Control 1487L. This action proposes to describe the airspace west of 160[deg] W. longitude as it is currently depicted on aeronautical charts. Some of the existing controlled airspace is described as domestic Class E5 airspace around Kodiak, AK. This airspace instead would be listed within the Woody Island Low Offshore Airspace Area. The FAA is proposing this action to provide additional controlled airspace for aircraft instrument flight rules (IFR) operations, and to correctly describe the existing offshore airspace areas in FAA Order 7400.9P, Airspace Designations and Reporting Points, dated September 1, 2006, and effective September 15, 2006.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the specified Eurocopter France (ECF) model helicopters. This proposal would require, within the next 30 days, modifying the collective hold-down strap (strap) and thereafter inspecting it at specified intervals to ensure the rubber grommet is resting against the console or replacing the strap with an ECF designed strap that has a torsional spring at the lower end of the strap. This proposal is prompted by reports of two accidents occurring while the pilots were performing an autorotation. The pilots were unable to arrest the descent of the helicopter using collective blade pitch due to the collective stick locking in the down position when the collective was lowered during the maneuver. The actions specified by this proposed AD are intended to prevent inadvertent locking of a collective stick in flight and the flight crew not being aware of the locked condition leading to a subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 205/EUROCAE Working Group 71: Software Considerations in Aeronautical Systems.

The Surface Transportation Board will hold a public hearing beginning at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11, 2007, at its new offices in Washington, DC. The purpose of the public hearing will be to examine issues related to rail traffic forecasts and infrastructure requirements. Persons wishing to speak at the hearing should notify the Board in writing.

The Office of the Secretary published a document in the Federal Register on February 14, 2007, concerning a request for a renewal of a currently approved information collection. We are correcting the document as set forth below.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0070 and 0100 airplanes. This proposed AD would require a detailed inspection for wear of the attachment holes of the control levers of the braking system and applicable corrective actions. This proposed AD results from a report that, after landing, the flightcrew of a Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplane noted that an extreme difference in pedal angle was required to achieve equal braking action. We are proposing this AD to prevent failure of one or more brake control levers, which could result in uncommanded braking and loss of control of the airplane during takeoff, landing, or taxiing.

This notice proposes special conditions for the Boeing Model 787-8 airplane. This airplane will have novel or unusual design features when compared to the state of technology envisioned in the airworthiness standards for transport category airplanes. These design features include electronic flight control systems and high bypass engines. These special conditions also pertain to the effects of such novel or unusual design features, such as effects on the structural performance of the airplane. Finally, these special conditions pertain to effects of certain conditions on these novel or unusual design features, such as the effects of high intensity radiated fields (HIRF). Additional special conditions will be issued for other novel or unusual design features of the Boeing Model 787-8 airplanes.

This document responds to a petition for rulemaking regarding Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) No. 119, Pneumatic Tires for Vehicles Other Than Passenger Cars. Pacific Coast Retreaders (PCR), a distributor of new truck tires that are manufactured in China, petitioned the agency on February 1, 2006, to amend FMVSS No. 119, paragraph S5.1, Tire and rim matching information (b). Specifically, PCR petitioned the agency to accept tire load rating data for two bias ply truck tire sizes, 10-20 and 11-22.5, from the Chinese tire standardization organization Guo Biao 9744-1997 (GB 9744). NHTSA has determined that this petition is moot with regard to the 10-20 size tires because the maximum load rating labeled on these tires, in the single and dual wheel configurations, meets the requirements of FMVSS No. 119. With regard to the 11-22.5 size tires, the agency denies the request by the petitioner that FMVSS No. 119, paragraph S5.1(b) be amended to include the GB 9744 maximum load rating for this single tire size. The agency does not consider amending the standard to include the specifications of a tire standardization organization for one tire size.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for Teledyne Continental Motors (TCM) GTSIO-520 series reciprocating engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive visual inspections of the starter adapter assembly and crankshaft gear and unscheduled visual inspections of the starter adapter assembly and crankshaft gear due to a rough-running engine. That AD also requires replacement of the starter adapter shaft gear needle bearing with a certain bushing and installation of a certain TCM service kit at the next engine overhaul, or at the next starter adapter replacement, whichever occurs first. This AD requires performing the inspection ordered in paragraph (h) of this AD every 100 hours time-in- service (TIS), or annually. This proposed AD results from an error discovered in AD 2005-20-04. We are issuing this AD to failure of the starter adapter assembly and or crankshaft gear, resulting in failure of the engine and possible forced landing.

In accordance with the requirements of 49 U.S.C. 5117(c), PHMSA is publishing the following list of special permit applications that have been in process for 180 days or more. The reason(s) for delay and the expected completion date for action on each application is provided in association with each identified application.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announces its findings on the noise compatibility program submitted by the City of Danbury, CT under the provisions of Title I of the Aviation Safety and Noise Abatement Act of 1979 (Pub. L. 96-193) and 14 CFR part 150. These findings are made in recognition of the description of federal and non- Federal responsibilities in Senate Report No. 96-52 (1980). On September 9, 2006, the FAA determined that the noise exposure maps submitted by the City of Danbury under part 150 were in compliance with applicable requirements. On February 15, 2007, the Airports Division Manager approved the Danbury Municipal Airport noise compatibility program. All 3 of the proposed program elements were approved.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) that supersedes AD 62-24-01, which applies to all Raytheon Aircraft Company (RAC) Beech Models 45 (YT-34), A45 (T-34A, B45), and D45 (T-34B) airplanes. AD 62-24-01 currently requires you to repetitively inspect, using the dye penetrant method, the front and rear horizontal stabilizer spars for cracks and replace any cracked stabilizer. Since we issued AD 62-24-01, we determined that using the dye penetrant inspection method may not detect cracks before the crack grows to a critical length and causes failure of the horizontal stabilizer spars. Therefore, we are requiring the surface eddy current inspection method to detect cracks in the horizontal stabilizer spars. Consequently, this AD retains the actions required in AD 62-24-01 and changes the required inspection method from dye penetrant to surface eddy current. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the front and/or rear horizontal stabilizer spars caused by fatigue cracks. This failure could result in stabilizer separation and loss of control of the airplane.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This proposed AD results from mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as: