Department of Transportation December 2, 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

This notice revises mathematical calculations of the total annual burden hours for OMB Control No. 2137-0022, indicated under the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section of the Docket No. PHMSA-2008-0018 (Notice 08-1) Information Collection Activities Under OMB Review; 2008 Renewals, published in the Federal Register on February 13, 2008 (73 FR 8400). 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 below will be forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comments. The ICR describes the nature of the information collection and the expected burden.

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 aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. The MCAI describes the unsafe condition as:

FMCSA announces a public meeting of the Agency's MRB. The MRB public meeting will provide the public an opportunity to observe and participate in MRB deliberations about FMCSA's medical standards, in accordance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA).

In response to a petition filed by Indiana Rail Road Company (INRD) on October 7, 2008, the Board is instituting a declaratory order proceeding under 49 U.S.C. 721 and 5 U.S.C. 554(e). The Board seeks to determine whether a track INRD proposes to construct from its east-west main line at Dugger, IN, to a new coal operation south of that main line will be a spur track exempt from Board approval under 49 U.S.C. 10906 or a line of railroad subject to the Board's jurisdiction and requiring Board approval under 49 U.S.C. 10901. The Board seeks public comment on this matter.

This document supersedes AD 2008-18-52 and publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Emergency Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-22-53 which was sent previously to all known U.S. owners and operators of MD Helicopters, Inc. (MDHI) Model MD900 helicopters by individual letters. This AD requires turning ON both Vertical Stabilizer Control System (VSCS) switches and turning OFF the autopilot (AP/SAS) switch; pulling certain AP/SAS circuit breakers; installing a placard near the AP/SAS master switch; installing an airspeed limitation placard on the instrument panel; and making changes to the Rotorcraft Flight Manual (RFM). This AD is prompted by 4 occurrences in which the left VSCS adapter tubes failed on the MD900 helicopters and the vertical stabilizer became uncontrollable, resulting in reduced yaw control of the helicopter. There were no injuries, but in one occurrence, due to the high speed quick yaw, the helicopter lost a window and a door. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

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.