Department of Transportation March 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for various transport category airplanes. This proposed AD would require deactivation of PATS Aircraft, LLC, auxiliary fuel tanks. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer, which identified potential unsafe conditions for which the manufacturer has not provided corrective actions. We are proposing this AD to prevent the potential of ignition sources inside fuel tanks, which, in combination with flammable fuel vapors, could result in fuel tank explosions and consequent loss of the airplane.

The Federal Transit Administration invites public comment about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget's (OMB) approval of the following new information collection: Executive Order 12862, ``Setting Customer Service Standards,'' requires FTA to identify its customers and determine what they think about FTA's service. The surveys covered in this request will provide FTA with a means to gather data directly from its customers. The information obtained from the surveys will be used to assess how FTA's services are perceived by customers and stakeholders, determine opportunities for improvement and ensure FTA's customers receive the highest level of customer support. The surveys will be limited to data collections that solicit voluntary opinions and will not involve information that is required by regulations. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments was published on December 26, 2007.

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Request (ICR) abstracted regarding the Procedures for Selecting Lines to be Covered by the Theft Prevention Standard below has been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICR describes the nature of the information collections and their expected burden. The Federal Register Notice with a 60-day comment period was published on September 19, 2007 (72 FR 53619). The agency received no comments.

In Vol. 67, No. 179/Monday, September 16, 2002/Notices, FHWA issued a Notice of Intent to advise the public that an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) would be prepared for the proposed SH 122 roadway between SH 6 and SH 99 in Fort Bend County, Texas. The project is now cancelled; therefore, no further project activities will occur.

This notice proposes to establish Class D airspace at San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, CA. A contract Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) is being established at San Bernardino International Airport, San Bernardino, CA, which will meet criteria for Class D airspace. Class D airspace is recommended when the ATCT is open to contain and protect Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs) and other Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) operations at the airport. This action would establish Class D airspace extending upward from the surface to but not including 2,700 feet Mean Sea Level (MSL) within a 4.5 nautical mile radius of the airport.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of RTCA Special Committee 135: Environmental Conditions and Test Procedures for Airborne Equipment.

This document proposes adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model 369A, OH-6A, 369D, 369E, 369F, 369FF, 369H, 369HE, 369HM, and 369HS helicopters. The proposed AD would require repetitive tap inspections of each tail rotor (T/R) blade abrasion strip. This proposal is prompted by an incident in which an abrasion strip separated from a T/R blade. The actions specified by the proposed AD are intended to prevent disbonding and subsequent separation of an abrasion strip from a T/R blade, which could result in vibration, loss of the T/R, and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

The Surface Transportation Board seeks public comments on a proposal to require railroads to include a disclosure statement in any document that they consider to be a rail transportation contract under 49 U.S.C. 10709.

The FAA is revising an earlier NPRM for an airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Airbus Model A318, A319, A320, and A321 airplanes. The original NPRM would have superseded an existing AD that currently requires inspecting to determine the part number and serial number of the fuel tank boost pumps and, for airplanes with affected pumps, revising the airplane flight manual (AFM) and the FAA- approved maintenance program. The existing AD also provides for optional terminating action for compliance with the revisions to the AFM and the maintenance program. The original NPRM proposed to require modifying or replacing the fuel tank boost pumps, which would terminate the AFM limitations and the maintenance program revisions. The original NPRM resulted from a report that a fuel tank boost pump failed in service, due to a detached screw of the boost pump housing that created a short circuit between the stator and rotor of the boost pump motor and tripped a circuit breaker. This new action revises the original NPRM by excluding certain modified airplanes from the applicability, requiring the AFM/maintenance program revisions on additional airplanes, and requiring modification or replacement of additional fuel tank boost pumps. We are proposing this supplemental NPRM to prevent electrical arcing in the fuel tank boost pump motor, which, in the presence of a combustible air-fuel mixture in the pump, could result in an explosion and loss 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:

The FAA proposes to supersede an existing airworthiness directive (AD) that applies to all Boeing Model 747-400, 747-400D, and 747-400F series airplanes. The existing AD currently requires reviewing airplane maintenance records, doing repetitive inspections for cracking of the yaw damper actuator portion of the upper and lower rudder power control modules (PCMs), replacing the PCMs if necessary, and reporting all airplane maintenance records review and inspection results to the manufacturer. This proposed AD would limit the applicability, reduce the initial inspection threshold and repetitive interval, remove the reporting requirement, and require installation of a secondary retention device for the yaw damper modulating piston. Installation of the secondary retention device would terminate the repetitive inspection requirements. This proposed AD results from additional reports of failure or cracking of the PCM manifold in the area of the yaw damper cavity endcap at intervals well below the initial inspection threshold of the existing AD. We are proposing this AD to prevent an uncommanded left rudder hardover in the event of cracking in the yaw damper actuator portion of the upper or lower rudder PCMs, and subsequent failure of the PCM manifold, which could result in increased pilot workload, and possible runway departure upon landing.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757 airplanes, Model 767 airplanes, and Model 777- 200 and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require repetitive inspections for damage of the electrical terminal at the left and right flightdeck window 1, and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD would also allow for replacing the flightdeck window 1 with a new improved flightdeck window equipped with electrical connections, which would end the need for the repetitive inspections for that flightdeck window 1. This proposed AD results from several reports of electrical arcs at the terminal blocks of the electrically heated flightdeck window 1. In more than one of the incidents, the arcs resulted in open flames. We are proposing this AD to prevent smoke and fire in the cockpit, which could lead to loss of visibility, and injuries to or incapacitation of the flightcrew.

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

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Cessna Aircraft Company (Cessna) Model 525 airplanes. This proposed AD would require you to inspect for missing firewall sealant between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly; and, if you find that firewall sealant is missing, seal with firewall sealant between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly. This proposed AD results from a report that firewall sealant may not have been applied between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly during manufacture of certain Model 525 airplanes. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct missing firewall sealant between the aft firewall assembly and seal assembly, which could result in failure of the fire extinguishing system to prevent the spread of fire through the firewall gap. This failure could lead to an uncontrolled fire.

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:

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:

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: During maintenance water has been found in the elevator assembly. The unsafe condition is water or ice accumulating in the elevator assembly, which could result in corrosion and consequent reduced structural integrity of the flight control surface, or an unbalanced flight control surface. These conditions could result in reduced controllability of the airplane. The proposed AD would require actions that are intended to address the unsafe condition described in the MCAI.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 757-200, -200PF, and -200CB series airplanes. This AD requires doing an ultrasound inspection for disbonded tear straps not mechanically fastened to the skin, and related investigative and corrective actions, if necessary. This AD results from reports indicating that bonded skin panels may not have been correctly anodized in phosphoric acid before the tear strap doubler was bonded to the skin. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct a weak bond between the skin and tear strap. Such disbonding could reduce the ability of the skin to resist cracks and could adversely affect the structural integrity of the airplane.

This document publishes the final data on thefts of model year (MY) 2005 passenger motor vehicles that occurred in calendar year (CY) 2005. The final 2005 theft data indicate an increase in the vehicle theft rate experienced in CY/MY 2005. The final theft rate for MY 2005 passenger vehicles stolen in calendar year 2005 (1.85 thefts per thousand vehicles) increased by 1.1 percent from the theft rate for CY/ MY 2004 (1.83 thefts per thousand vehicles) when compared to the theft rate experienced in CY/MY 2004. As explained in this notice, NHTSA is not concerned at this time about this minor increase. Publication of these data fulfills NHTSA's statutory obligation to periodically obtain accurate and timely theft data and publish the information for review and comment.

This notice announces publication by NHTSA of the annual insurer report on motor vehicle theft for the 2002 reporting year. Section 33112(h) of Title 49 of the U.S. Code, requires this information to be compiled periodically and published by the agency in a form that will be helpful to the public, the law enforcement community, and Congress. As required by section 33112(c), this report provides information on theft and recovery of vehicles; rating rules and plans used by motor vehicle insurers to reduce premiums due to a reduction in motor vehicle thefts; and actions taken by insurers to assist in deterring thefts.

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

The FAA is adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 767 airplanes. This AD requires the following actions for the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer: Repetitive detailed inspections for discrepancies and loose ball bearings; repetitive lubrication of the ballnut and ballscrew; repetitive measurements of the freeplay between the ballnut and the ballscrew; and corrective action if necessary. This AD also requires initial and repetitive inspections of the ballscrew-to-ballnut freeplay for certain airplanes. This AD results from a report of extensive corrosion of a ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer on a similar airplane model. We are issuing this AD to prevent an undetected failure of the primary load path for the ballscrew in the drive mechanism of the horizontal stabilizer and subsequent wear and failure of the secondary load path, which could lead to loss of control of the horizontal stabilizer and consequent 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) 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:

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above. This 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: