Department of Transportation 2008 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is issuing this notice to advise the public that the Notice of Intent published on November 7, 2002, at 67 FR 67893, to prepare a Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the proposed North Second Street Connector in Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee, is being rescinded.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Piper Aircraft, Inc. (Piper) Models PA-46-350P, PA-46R-350T, and PA-46- 500TP airplanes. This AD requires you to install a stall warning heat control modification kit. This AD results from ice forming on the stall vane heater during flights into icing conditions with the landing gear down. We are issuing this AD to prevent ice from forming on the stall vane, which may result in failure of the stall warning system. This failure could result in the pilot being unaware of an approaching stall situation.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all McDonnell Douglas airplanes identified above. This AD requires repetitive inspections of the lower skin and stringers at stations Xw=408 and Xw408, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of cracks in the skins and stringers at the end fasteners common to the stringer end fittings at stations Xw= 408 and Xw408 wing splice joints. We are issuing this AD to detect and correct fatigue cracking in the skins and stringers at the end fasteners common to the stringer end fittings at certain station and wing splice joints, which could result in wing structure that might not sustain limit load, and consequent loss of structural integrity of the wing.

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:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Cessna Model 560 airplanes. That AD currently requires installing new minimum airspeed placards to notify the flightcrew of the proper airspeeds for operating in both normal and icing conditions. That AD also requires revising the airplane flight manual to provide limitations and procedures for operating in icing conditions, for operating with anti-ice systems selected ``on'' independent of icing conditions, and for recognizing and recovering from inadvertent stall. That AD also provides an optional terminating action for the placard installation. This new AD requires the previously optional terminating action. This AD results from an evaluation of in-service airplanes following an accident. The evaluation indicated that some airplanes might have an improperly adjusted stall warning system. We are issuing this AD to prevent an inadvertent stall due to the inadequate stall warning margin provided by an improperly adjusted stall warning system, which could result in loss of controllability of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) to supersede AD 2008-11-17, which applies to certain Air Tractor, Inc. Models AT-200, AT-300, AT-400, AT-500, AT-600, and AT-800 series airplanes. AD 2008-11-17 currently requires you to install an overturn skid plate kit or a modification to the overturn skid plate already installed. Since we issued AD 2008-11-17, the manufacturer has notified us that Model AT-401B airplanes also need a modification to the overturn skid plate. Consequently, this AD would retain the actions of AD 2008-11-17 and add the requirement to modify the overturn skid plate installed on Model AT-401B airplanes. We are issuing this AD to prevent the front and rear connections of the overturn skid plate to the airplane from breaking, which could allow foreign debris to enter the cockpit during an airplane overturn. This condition, if not corrected, could lead to pilot injury.

This document publishes in the Federal Register an amendment adopting Airworthiness Directive (AD) 2008-17-51, 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, before further flight, fluorescent magnetic particle inspecting the aft threads of the forward directional control cable (control cable) for a crack and replacing the control cable with an airworthy part if you find a crack. If you do not find a crack, this AD requires that you demagnetize the cable threads until you reach a certain gauss level. This AD also requires visually inspecting the aft cable attach bracket for a crack and for interference with movement of the control cable or for deformation of the aft cable attach bracket. If a crack or interference with movement of the control cable or deformation of the aft cable attach bracket exists, this AD requires replacing the bracket with an airworthy part. This AD also requires modifying the control cable conduit and the rotating cone control rod and identifying the rotating cone control rod with a certain part number. This amendment is prompted by three reports of in-flight failure of the control cable and loss of yaw control resulting in emergency landings and subsequent damage to the helicopter. The actions specified by this AD are intended to prevent loss of yaw control and subsequent loss of control of the helicopter.

This rule increases the rail equipment accident/incident reporting threshold from $8,500 to $8,900 for certain railroad accidents/incidents involving property damage that occur during calendar year 2009. This action is needed to ensure that FRA's reporting requirements reflect cost increases that have occurred since the reporting threshold was last computed in December of 2007.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 727-281 airplanes. This proposed AD would require deactivation of Rogerson Aircraft Corporation auxiliary fuel tanks. This proposed AD results from fuel system reviews conducted by the manufacturer, which identified potential unsafe conditions but has not provided associated 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.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747 series airplanes and certain Boeing Model 757- 200, -200PF, and -300 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require replacing the control switches of the forward, aft, and nose cargo doors of Model 747 airplanes; and would require replacing the control switches of cargo doors 1 and 2 of Model 757 airplanes. This proposed AD results from reports of problems associated with the uncommanded operation of cargo doors. We are proposing this AD to prevent injuries to persons and damage to the airplane and equipment.

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 invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. The collection of this information is necessary to ensure safety of flight by ensuring complete and adequate training, testing, checking, and experience is obtained and maintained by those who conduct flight simulation training.

The FAA invites public comments about our intention to request the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to approve a current information collection. Certain organizations may apply to perform certification functions on behalf of the FAA. This information collection is required for compliance with the final rule that codifies special flight rules and airspace and flight restrictions for certain operations in the Washington, DC Metropolitan Area. The final rule published on December 16, 2008 (73 FR 76195). A notice for comments was published in error in advance of the publication of the final rule on December 3, 2008 (73 FR 73688), followed by a withdrawal of this notice published on December 8, 2008 (73 FR 74559). FAA will consider any comments received in response to the first notice.

FMCSA announces that the Motor Carrier Safety Advisory Committee (MCSAC) will hold a committee meeting on January 6, 2009. The meeting is open to the public.

This notice by the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the availability of proposed guidance on the application of a provision of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) concerning the acquisition of railroad right-of-way for transit projects. The guidance explains FTA's interpretation of the provision, which allows the acquisition of pre-existing railroad right-of-way, under certain conditions, before the completion of the environmental review for a transit project that would use the right-of-way. FTA requests comments on this guidance, which is available on the U.S. Government electronic docket site and on the FTA Web site.

This action revises Class E airspace at Ketchikan, AK to provide adequate controlled airspace to contain aircraft executing Standard Instrument Approach Procedures (SIAPs). Seven SIAPs, two Standard Instrument Departure Procedures (SIDs) and a textual Obstacle Departure Procedure (ODP) are being amended or drafted for the Ketchikan International Airport. This action revises existing Class E airspace upward from 700 feet (ft.) and 1,200 ft. above the surface at Ketchikan International Airport, Ketchikan, AK.

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:

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for certain GE CT7-8A turboshaft engines. That AD currently requires initial and repetitive inspections of the electrical chip detectors for the No. 3 bearing. This AD requires removing from service certain GE CT7-8A turboshaft engines within 6,200 cycles-since-new. This AD results from investigation for the root causes of two failures of the No. 3 bearing. We are issuing this AD to prevent failure of the No. 3 bearing due to contamination by aluminum oxide, which could result in a possible in-flight shutdown of the engines and loss of control or forced landing of the aircraft.

This notice contains a summary of a petition 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 the petition or its final disposition.

The FAA has determined that the minimum random drug and alcohol testing percentage rates for the period January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009, will remain at 25 percent of safety- sensitive employees for random drug testing and 10 percent of safety- sensitive employees for random alcohol testing.

The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) announces the selection of projects to be funded under Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 appropriations for the Public Transportation on Indian Reservations Program; Tribal Transit Program (TTP), a program authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).