Department of Transportation 2009 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-400 and -400F series airplanes. This AD requires modifying certain thrust reverser control system wiring to the flap control unit (FCU). This AD results from a report of automatic retraction of the leading edge flaps during takeoff due to indications transmitted to the FCU from the thrust reverser control system. We are issuing this AD to prevent automatic retraction of the leading edge flaps during takeoff, which could result in reduced climb performance and consequent collision with terrain and obstacles or forced landing of the airplane.

This document denies a petition for rulemaking submitted by General Motors on December 20, 2001. The petitioner requested that the agency amend the Federal motor vehicle safety standard (FMVSS) on lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment to require the installation of daytime running lamps on passenger cars, multipurpose passenger vehicles, trucks, and buses that have a gross vehicle weight rating under 4,536 kilograms (10,000 lbs). NHTSA has reviewed the petition and performed an extensive analysis of real world crash data. Based on the results of our study we were unable to find solid evidence of an overall safety benefit associated with daytime running lamps and are therefore denying the petition for rulemaking. The agency maintains its neutral position with respect to the safety benefits from the use of daytime running lamps.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for International Aero Engines AG (IAE) V2500-A1, V2527E-A5, V2530-A5, and V2528-D5 turbofan engines. This proposed AD would require reducing the published life limit of certain high-pressure compressor (HPC) stage 9-12 disc assemblies. This proposed AD would also remove from service those HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies using a drawdown schedule. This proposed AD results from IAE updating the low-cycle-fatigue (LCF) life analysis for certain HPC stage 9-12 disc assemblies. We are proposing this AD to prevent an uncontained failure of the HPC stage 9- 12 disc assembly, resulting in an in-flight engine shutdown and possible damage to the airplane.

The FAA is superseding an existing airworthiness directive (AD), which applies to certain Boeing Model 747 airplanes. That AD currently requires repetitive inspections to detect evidence of wear damage in the area at the interface between the vertical stabilizer seal and fuselage skin, and corrective actions, if necessary. The existing AD also provides for an optional terminating action for the repetitive inspections. For all Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747- 100B SUD, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, 747-300, 747-400, 747-400D, 747-400F, 747SR, and 747SP series airplanes, this new AD requires repetitive inspections for wear damage and cracks of the fuselage skin in the interface area of the vertical stabilizer seal and fuselage skin, a detailed inspection for wear damage and cracks of the surface of any skin repair doubler in the area, and corrective actions if necessary. For airplanes on which the fuselage skin has been blended to remove wear damage, this new AD requires repetitive external detailed inspections or high frequency eddy current inspections for cracks of the blended area of the fuselage skin, and corrective actions if necessary. This AD results from reports of wear damage on airplanes with fewer than 8,000 total flight cycles. In addition, there have been three reports of skin wear damage on airplanes that applied Boeing Material Specifications 10-86 Teflon-filled coating (terminating action per the existing AD). We are issuing this AD to detect and correct wear damage and cracks of the fuselage skin in the interface area of the vertical stabilizer seal and fuselage skin in sections 46 and 48, which could cause in-flight depressurization of the airplane.

We are adopting a new airworthiness directive (AD) for the products listed above, on which the exhaust thermal insulation has been replaced since January 1, 1995. 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), which applies to certain Fokker Model F.28 Mark 0100 airplanes. That AD currently requires revisions to the airplane flight manual (AFM) to include procedures to prohibit use of reverse engine thrust power settings between idle and emergency maximum and to prohibit stabilized engine operation in a certain engine speed range on the ground. This new AD continues to require revising the AFM to include certain procedures. This AD also requires removing the normal maximum (second) detent for the reverse-thrust control. In addition, this AD requires revising the AFM to prohibit use of reverse thrust in flight and to limit operation of Max Reverse thrust. This AD results from issuance of mandatory continuing airworthiness information (MCAI) originated by an aviation authority of another country to identify and correct an unsafe condition on an aviation product. We are issuing this AD to prevent inadvertent operation in the prohibited stabilized engine speed range on the ground, which could result in uncontained engine fan blade failure due to high cycle fatigue cracking.

The FAA proposes to rule and invites public comment on the release of land at Pocahontas Municipal Airport under the provisions of Title 49, U.S.C. 47153(c).

In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.), this notice announces that the Information Collection Requirements (ICRs) abstracted below have been forwarded to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for review and comment. The ICRs describe the nature of the information collections and their expected burdens. The Federal Register notice with a 60-day comment period soliciting comments on the following collections of information was published on April 16, 2009 (74 FR 17762).

In this document FRA informs the public at large of the agency's interim position on certain interpretive questions arising out of the complex and important amendments enacted in 2008 to the Federal railroad safety laws that govern such matters as how long an employee in a certain category may remain on duty and how long the employee must be given off duty before the employee may go on duty again. In addition, FRA proposes an interpretation of one very significant provision of those amended laws that differs from FRA's existing interpretation of the laws before the 2008 amendments. Finally, FRA requests public comment on both the interim interpretations and the proposed interpretation.

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for all Boeing Model 777 series airplanes. This proposed AD would require inspections for scribe lines in the skin along lap joints, butt joints, certain external doublers, and the large cargo door hinges; and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from reports of scribe lines found at lap joints and butt joints, around external doublers, and at locations where external decals had been cut. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct scribe lines, which can develop into fatigue cracks in the skin. Undetected fatigue cracks can grow and cause sudden decompression of the airplane.

The FAA is issuing this notice to advise the public of a meeting of the NextGen Mid-Term Implementation Task Force.

FMCSA notes two corrections on the Federal Register notice announcing the Medical Review Board meeting scheduled for July 1, 2009 from 9 a.m.-4:20 p.m. at the U.S. Department of Transportation.

The FAA is correcting airworthiness directive (AD) 2009-04-18, which was previously published in the Federal Register. That AD applies to PW models JT9D-7, -7A, -7AH, -7H, -7F, and -7J turbofan engines. The two references to the engine manual in paragraph (h) and in Table 1, are incomplete. This document corrects those references. In all other respects, the original document remains the same.

DOT intends to establish a system of records under the Privacy Act of 1974 entitled the ``National Highway Institute Web site (NHIW) and Course Management and Tracking System (CMTS)''. The system will contain information on customers and instructors who use or contribute services to the National Highway Institute. The NHIW does not contain any information about individuals, just course and session data that is stored in CMTS. Additional information on this system is described in the Supplementary Information section of this notice.

This action establishes Class D airspace and Class E surface airspace as an extension of the Class D airspace and modifies the existing Class E airspace that extends upwards from 700 feet above the surface of the Earth (E5) at Ocala International AirportJim Taylor Field in Ocala, FL. A new Federal Contract Air Traffic Control Tower is being built and the current Instrument Approach Procedures at Ocala International AirportJim Taylor Field are being amended. It is regulatory, therefore, that Class D and Class E surface airspace be established, and the existing Class E5 airspace be modified. This rule increases the safety and management of the National Airspace System (NAS) around Ocala International AirportJim Taylor Field.

This action corrects the legal description of the Natchitoches Regional Airport, Natchitoches, LA, Class E airspace published in the Federal Register, changing the term ``northeast of the airport'' to ``south of the airport''. All other legal descriptions for the Natchitoches Regional Airport remain the same.

The FAA proposes to revise an existing airworthiness directive (AD) for General Electric Company (GE) CF6-50C series turbofan engines. That AD currently requires reworking certain forward fan stator cases and installing a fan module secondary containment shield. This proposed AD would require the same actions but would eliminate a certain service bulletin from the compliance method. This proposed AD results from a review that shows that only one of the service bulletins referenced in the original AD is applicable as a compliance method. We are proposing this AD revision to prevent uncontained fan blade failures, which can result in separation of airplane hydraulic lines, damage to critical airplane systems, and possible loss of airplane control.

The FAA proposes to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for Rolls-Royce Corporation (RRC) AE 3007A1/1, AE 3007A1/3, AE 3007A1, AE 3007A1E, AE 3007A1P, AE 3007A3, AE 3007C, and AE 3007C1 turbofan engines with a fan spinner part number (P/N) 23070964 or P/N 23078783, installed. This proposed AD would require replacement of the fan spinner. This proposed AD results from a report of a fan spinner releasing from an AE 3007A turbofan engine, during flight. We are proposing this AD to prevent the fan spinner from releasing, which could result in injury, damage to the engine, and damage to the airplane.

This action proposes to establish Class D airspace at Grand Prairie, TX. Establishment of an air traffic control tower at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport has made this action necessary for the safety and management of Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) aircraft operations at Grand Prairie Municipal Airport.

This final rule announces NHTSA's determination that there are no new model year (MY) 2010 light duty truck lines subject to the parts-marking requirements of the Federal motor vehicle theft prevention standard because they have been determined by the agency to be high-theft or because they have a majority of interchangeable parts with those of a passenger motor vehicle line. This final rule also identifies those vehicle lines that have been granted an exemption from the parts-marking requirements because the vehicles are equipped with antitheft devices determined to meet certain statutory criteria.

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 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 March 12, 2009 (74 FR 10804).

We propose to adopt a new airworthiness directive (AD) for certain Boeing Model 747-100, 747-100B, 747-200B, 747-200C, 747-200F, and 747SR series airplanes. This proposed AD would require a one-time general visual inspection for missing fasteners in certain stringer-to- stringer clip joints at the station (STA) 760 through STA 940 frames, and related investigative and corrective actions if necessary. This proposed AD results from a report of broken and cracked frame shear ties, cracks on the frame doubler and frame web, and missing fasteners in the stringer (S)-10L stringer-to-stringer clip joint at the STA 820 frame. We are proposing this AD to detect and correct missing fasteners in the stringer-to-stringer clip joints, which could result in shear tie and skin cracks and rapid in-flight decompression of the airplane.

This NPRM proposes to eliminate regulations which require contractors on National Highway System (NHS) projects of $1 million or more to submit Form FHWA-47. Since the FHWA no longer uses this information, the FHWA is proposing to eliminate this reporting requirement.